Thank-you everyone for all the good advice!

[tanza]

@Manah:

Okay, you all have freaked me out so badly about my puppy-to-be, I have decided to let the $800 go that my husband put down on a basenji pup, with a questional background, with health concerns, and rumors of puppy mills… That's a long sentence! But thank you Pat and dmcarty for your research and the cause of my anxiety and freak out! I will now be getting a puppy from Connie of Khani's Basenji's and I have a feeling you will all approve!

Thanks again for your research!

Tabatha

Wow, Tabatha…. I am blown away..... I know that the litter that Kathy and Connie are planning are tested to be DNA Fanconi free... so that is great... Are you waiting for a pup that is yet to be born? Or one of the pups that have yet to be placed?

[tanza]

@Manah:

Okay, you all have freaked me out so badly about my puppy-to-be, I have decided to let the $800 go that my husband put down on a basenji pup, with a questional background, with health concerns, and rumors of puppy mills… That's a long sentence! But thank you Pat and dmcarty for your research and the cause of my anxiety and freak out! I will now be getting a puppy from Connie of Khani's Basenji's and I have a feeling you will all approve!

Thanks again for your research!

Tabatha

By the way, I would if I were you still try and get your money back… and I think that if you were to tell them that you would advertise that the reason you didn't take a pup was due to the fact that they didn't do health testing... I would think they might think twice... and I would not just let it drop....

[Manah]

@tanza:

Wow, Tabatha…. I am blown away..... I know that the litter that Kathy and Connie are planning are tested to be DNA Fanconi free... so that is great... Are you waiting for a pup that is yet to be born? Or one of the pups that have yet to be placed?

I am getting a puppy that is yet to be born from either Donna or Sugar. I am the first on the waiting list for a blk female. So it looks like I'll be flying out to Oregon in March to get my little girl!

Thanks again Pat.

Best wishes,

Tabatha

[Manah]

@JazzysMom:

Good Choice of breeder. Who are you getting?

If you go to Khani's "our Dogs" page, and check out "Buka" {from Australia}…that's my Keoki's sire!

What a small Basenji world!

[lvoss]

Was there a written contract stating the $800 was non-refundable? According to this guide by the Oklahoma Bar for 18 year olds, http://www.okbar.org/public/lre/LegalGuide18.htm, contracts for goods over $500 must be in writing to be valid. So if there was no written contract you would have a good case for small claims court though I know you are not in the same state as the breeder maybe you can still convince him to give you your money back.

[WBL]

Wow, is the first thing I could think of. And next I would say I'm glad that you have choosen to do research and you got good help in the research.

I am sorry that you had to loose the money, I would go with what Ivoss said and do some research into seeing if you can get your money back, and if you are you can use it to get all kinds of puppy stuff

Might I ask where in Oklahoma this breeder is located? I only ask because my husband is from Oklahoma.

[jys1011]

One that in my experience has worked in getting your money back… find the corporate website of the company. They will usually indicate the name of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or the Chief Operations Officer (COO). Send out a nice informative letter to them directly (they usually have the address of the corporate headquarters) & send a copy of the letter to the store manager.

You can use such phrases like:

"I thought your organization was one that considered health concerns of the animals its top priority but the behavior of your employess shows otherwise."

"It is disappointing that a reputable company such as yours would not consider the health of the animals a concern and would actually penalize me by not returning my deposit because I am concerned consumer."

"I intend to communicate my experience to the ASPCA as well as the Consumer Affairs Organization and the Better Business Bureau in my area."

This usually turns some heads.

[tanza]

I agree, I would not let this person in OK get off so easy… I would pursue them to try and get a refund. Great information that Ivoss posted...

[dmcarty]

From my experience - when all else fails - tell them that you will report them to the IRS and the Oklahoma Department of Revenue. Nothing like not paying taxes on INCOME to make government agencies take notice. When I couldn't get one PM to stop - I thought heck if tax evaision got Al Capone - why not puppy mills.

It doesn't matter that they are not a 'business' it is unreported income and just having tax people sniffing around is enough to send most people to do the right thing.

I'm sorry if any information that I gave you caused you distress - I just wanted you to be informed about what I KNEW was behind the puppy based on the pedigree I could find with the info you gave me - so you could do the right tests. The one advantage (disadvantage) of being older than dirt is that we have some 'history' with certain of the puppy mills.

I wish you tons of good luck with your new baby whenever (s)he arrives!

[Manah]

Okay, a big sigh of relief… We're getting our money back! I can't believe how great things have turned out; thanks to you guys and your words of wisdom! Now time to celebrate and wait for my little puppy to be.

Enjoy your Monday off everyone!

Tabatha

[tanza]

@Manah:

Okay, a big sigh of relief… We're getting our money back! I can't believe how great things have turned out; thanks to you guys and your words of wisdom! Now time to celebrate and wait for my little puppy to be.

Enjoy your Monday off everyone!

Tabatha

Wow… that is great news.... super news....

[JazzysMom]

@Manah:

Okay, a big sigh of relief… We're getting our money back! I can't believe how great things have turned out; thanks to you guys and your words of wisdom! Now time to celebrate and wait for my little puppy to be.

Enjoy your Monday off everyone!

Tabatha

Great news!!!

Ahh, but now the w-a-i-t-i-n-g. That's the hard part.

[WBL]

Wonderful news!!!

[dmcarty]

Barooo's from the dogs at MIJOKR Basenjis - (and the 2 visitor baby girls)

Can't wait to see new baby pictures.

[tanza]

Hey Tabatha….
We are all here "waiting" with you!!!! It will go fast...

[Manah]

Thanks Pat! March seems so far away… But it will be worth the wait to get a healthy little girl.

Tabatha

P.S. What do you think of my little Husky/Pitbull mix Uzza (new profile pic)? She gets mistaken for a Basenji all the time!

[tanza]

@Manah:

Thanks Pat! March seems so far away… But it will be worth the wait to get a healthy little girl.

Tabatha

P.S. What do you think of my little Husky/Pitbull mix Uzza (new profile pic)? She gets mistaken for a Basenji all the time!

She is very cute!!!!:D

[dmcarty]

Just looked at where you live and it's MN - where in MN do you live? I live in MN too.

Geez I hate to dump on you again - but if you already have a female at home - you should NOT get another female. Even if it's a different breed - I always advocate opposite gender.

[Manah]

I live in Golden Valley. Where are you located?

As far as having two females… I have two right now; my other dog is a Beagle mix and they get along great. Both dogs are very mellow and Uzza is going on 12, and little Lily loves all animals including cats and rabbits!

Tabatha

[JazzysMom]

When we brought Jazzy home, we already had Gypsy, a female golden retriever mix. The girls get along great, and we've never had any issues between them.

Another female Basenji however, just aggravates Jazzy by existing. I wouldn't worry overly much about it.