I selected 2 piglets from the oinkdaddy.com website. I paid in advance $649.50 for the 2 piglets that were listed as $300 each plus tax. I drove 7 hours round trip to pick up the 2 piglets i had selected and paid for. When i arrived, I was given 2 piglets but noticed neither of them looked like the online photos i had viewed and one was not even the original piglet i had selected/purchased. I was then told that they accidentally gave one of the piglets i purchased to someone else. Since i had already paid and would not receive a refund and had already drove so far i decided to just take the animals home I took them to the vet like i was supposed to, and everything seemed fine.
1 1/2 months later the replacement piglet i was given instead of the piglet i had selected/purchased had to be put down. I sent the breeder an email the next day explaining what had happened. That the piglet seemed fine yesterday morning but when i arrived home from work he was very ill and wouldnt get up. That i immediately called the vet and took him to the emergency vet clinic in Alvarado. When i got there his temperature wouldnt even register. The vet said that usually means its 92 degress or lower and that at that point his organs would be shutting down. I asked the vet what i should do and she said the best thing to do would be to euthanize him so he wouldnt have to suffer anymore. you could tell he was having a hard time breathing and was extremely lethargic. I cuddled him and tried to say my goodbyes. The vet performed an autopsy and determined the piglet had a 6inch bowel obstruction/blockage and that portion of his intestines had become necrotic. I asked the vet if there was anyway i could have prevented this or if i had done something to cause this and she said no. That she only found food and gas in the piglets’ intestines. I explained to her that the piglet had been eating, drinking, and having regular bowel movements. She said the obstruction was probably going on for some time since it was 6 inches and the bowel was able to pass through until now which is why he didnt seem ill before. (which honestly means the piglet could have had the bowel obstruction when the breeder gave him to me).
the breeder responded to my email by sending- "that is so sad to hear, yet I would have gotten his temperature up, hydrated him, flushed him, and given him some dextrose. Some vets are quick to euthanize, and I have had people from around the country turn to me for advice, and sometimes my advice on their sick piglet has worked. many micro mini piglets are social and need the companionship. Should you decide to get a companion for the piglet you still have, I would place Zippi, Jake, Joker, etc for a lower than posted price." i let my vet read his email and she assured me that i did the right thing by having him euthanize. She said even if we had known of the blockage and did emergency surgery, the piglet would have passed as soon as he was given the gas to sedate him. She also commented that you're not a vet and that vets are never quick to euthanize unless the animal is beyond help and suffering. i looked at the 3 piglets the breeder suggested (zippi, jake, and joker) in his email but they were much older than the piglet i had purchased. I let breeder know that i was worried about the piglet i still have being lonely and wrote that i was interested in 2 other pigs listed on his site. One of the piglets i was extremely interested in was the litter mate of the piglet that had passed and she looks almost exactly like him. In the next email i received the breeder wrote I can offer you a discount for the older males that I listed, yet would still take off $25 for Ruri, Kanela, or Niro. Kanela and Kabota were littermates. - I responded by reminding him that i wasnt given the right piglet to start with and i honestly thought he would give more than a $25 dollar discount considering the circumstances and that i didnt think i should have to pay $375 for Kanela. He emailed me back the following. "The best price that I can do for you on Kanela is $350. I have been selling the very young piglets for $550 to $1000. IF she was two months of age, she would have been priced at $625, so there is almost $300 reduced on Kanela to get her to $350.I will place her for $350 with you, if that is agreeable with you, if not then I can offer $50 off on other piglets."
At that point i was pretty upset since Kanela was listed on his website for $400 - so pricing her at $350 was only a $50 discount. She was also already over 6 months old so it didn’t matter that she could have been priced higher when she was younger. I expressed that I would not be purchasing another piglet from him because i felt that all he cared about was money and advised him that i would be posting about this on several reporting websites because i honestly think its not right. I ended the email by explaining again that he gave me a different piglet than I agreed to purchase (which is honestly a bait and switch tactic and is illegal). I only had the piglet for 1 1/2 months, i took him to the vet and did everything i was supposed to do and it wasnt my fault he passed. i wrote that i thought it was ridiculous that he would try to charge me so much for a new piglet when he should have been willing to give me a replacement of equal or lesser value or allow me to pay the difference in price for Kanela. He emailed me back saying i was threating him by saying i would post about what happened but it wasnt a threat. i simply meant i would post about my experience and allow people to make their own perception regarding the situation. He then asked for my vets information and wanted to call them and have them fax all required information regarding the piglet that had passed, which is understandable and i did give him my vets info. Then he emailed me to "read the health contract again - this was not hereditary or congenital so there is no free replacement." I honestly thought regardless of any contacts that he would be compassionate, understanding, and willing to make this right but $50 off a piglet isnt much of a discount considering i just paid him $649.50 a month and half ago.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Talullah
Colorado,United States
Update 2020
#5Consumer Comment
Mon, September 07, 2020
This is an old post but the partner of Tracy Bernardo and contracted breeder in crime, CJ Tolber, had an incident. If I understand, he is allegedly the real breeder of tlc pigs and piggy Essence. Here is an excerpt: "Craig "C.J." Tobler was found guilty of cruelty to animals and neglect in June; he was sentenced Thursday to 30 days in the Caldwell County Jail and up to 24 months of probation. Tobler will have to pay a $4,000 fine and do 100 hours of community service." " Tobler's sentencing came three years after a former employee, Shana Best, found an injured and neglected dog in Tobler's property. Best had just started working for Tobler on his 46-acre ranch in Caldwell County, which has been put up for sale. Best said she found the dog, a French bulldog named Brock, resting on his right side with his front legs skinned from the elbows down, bite wounds on his back legs and face and an abscessed right eye. She scooped him up and ran off the property with the dog.” Animals seized: ‒ Roughly 125 pigs. ‒ 11 donkeys. ‒ About 30 chickens and roosters. ‒ 10 barn cats. ‒ About 56 other animals, including hedgehogs; exotic birds, such as Illiger's macaw; llamas and Neapolitan mastiffs. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.statesman.com/NEWS/20180728/Lockhart-rancher-faces-new-charges-after-deputies-seize-261-animals%3ftemplate=ampart
Jena
San Antonio,Texas,
USA
My Family Now Purchased Niro
#5Consumer Comment
Thu, April 16, 2015
i'd have to agree with you, we have had an amazing experience working with CJ and now have a family member that we truly love and enjoy. My family purchased Niro ( the piglet that the original writer mentioned was one of the offered replacements) at the end of January this year (2015). He is now referred to as Mr. BoBo Jangles...BoBo for short. We've followed all of CJ's advice and he's been prompt in getting back to us if we had questions or concerns about BoBo or his care. Whenever you deal in purchasing living creatures, you run the risk of unexpected events (sickness, disease, sadly even death) occurring that are beyond anyone's control.
I am truly sorry that the original poster lost their piglet, but to expect a free/ or next to free replacement for a death that was also not proven to be the fault of the breeder doesn't seem reasonable. He is running a business. Now as for as it being a different piglet than was agreed to in the contract, that seems like you could have negotiated more at that point, before you agreed to the other pig. To claim that CJ is only interested in money is a bit over the top. The contracts are pretty straight forward and he requires buyers to provide feedbak and up dates monthly.
Sometimes things just happen and as sad as it is, it boils down to things outside of human control. I would advise anyone who is purchasing any type of animal to read the contract over and over, before you sign and send money to any breeder. If you have questions, ask before hand and talk to vets, animal experts, and different breeders before hand so you have an idea about things that could potentially happen when you purchase an animal...especially ones that have been bred and where the genetics are so different from the origin animal, like a livestock pig. Again, I am so sorry that the original poster lost their piglet, but we have had nothing but positive experiences with CJ and our BoBo.
BlessedtheLord
Texas,Oink daddy is a liar!! I would not recommend him to anyone
#5Consumer Comment
Wed, December 31, 2014
I bought a pig from Oink Daddy and when i got my pig it didnt look like the pig i picked on the website either. I followed all instructions and guidelines of the contract but the pig continued to get bigger and bigger. I spoke and emailed Mr. Tobler several time and followed all his instructions but no matter how hard i tried the pigs kept gaining. I took the pig to the vet and they said Mr. Toblers modified feeding recommendation for my pig was unethical and the pig wouldnt get enough nutrients if i kept following them. The vet said doing so would starve my pig. After that Oink daddy still said my contract was null and void because i didnt satisfy all the requirements. I did everything i was supposed to do so the contract would be good and he still told me i violated the contract somehow and i wouldnt be getting any money back. My pig is no where near the "estimated" weight Mr. Tobler guaranteed. its over 60 pounds now and still has a year to grow (pigs dont stop growing until they are 3yrs old). Oink Daddy is a liar, not a breeder but a greeder because he only cares about making money and his weight guarantee is a joke. There is no way you can keep the pigs that small unless you starve it to death.
Sharontease
Temple,Georgia,
Oinkdaddy Awesome!
#5General Comment
Tue, December 30, 2014
I purchased a teacup piglet from Mr. CJ Tobler in March 2014 and this has been one of the best purchases or addition to my family. This has been one of the best experiences of my life. Mr. Tobler has been very proactive and attentive to my questions and concerns. I have had nothing but positive feedback and genuine compassion when I have spoken to Mr. Tobler, either via email or phone. He has returned every email and every phone call. I feel that Mr. Tobler's claims of providing genetically proven and true teacup piglets to be honest and proven. I have a 1 yr old female pig that is 14 lbs and very healthy. I have documented communication with Mr. Tobler for every conversation regarding the weight, care and maintenance of my pig. He has always been honest and very forthright with information. Initially I was in contact with Mr. Tobler every week and then monthly and now I randomly will send an email with a weight update for my pig. She was projected to be 16 lbs by her first birthday and she was well under that projected weight on her birthday and she still is. As a result of the detailed instructions and care that I have received from Mr. Tobler, I referred him to my niece who also purchased a piglet and is just as happy as I am with her addition to the family. I would recommend Oinkdaddy to anyone who is truly interested in having a genetically proven teacup pig. I have always felt that Mr. Tobler cares about his animals and cares about placing these animals in loving homes with families that will provide the care that he has instructed. Mr. Tobler has never struck me as a person that is only interested in money. Money has never been an issue and never been a contributing factor into the care that he provides. I feel that he goes well beyond what any other breeder or seller would provide. He truly cares about all of his piglets.