The breeders sold me a show quality dog. (About Time's Italo) In their lengthy contract they retain the right to breed your male dog up to three times a year. They took our dog to their Vet in Colorado for hip X-rays. We were never given the results other than a verbal that his hips were loose but they were fine. Whatever that means. They proceeded with that knowledge to breed him on 5 different occasions for a total of 15 puppies. We noticed Italo was having some pain and discomfort in his hind quarters so we took him to our local Vet and asked him to do a hip X-ray. He said they did not look good and he forwarded them on to the OFA..The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, the foremost experts on hip dysplasia. Italo's hip results came back one grade below the the worst possible grade which is severe.
Not only is our dog experiencing pain and discomfort with his moderate hip dysplasia...(Go to the OFA site and type in About Time's Italo to see his results) but we now know there are 15 of his offspring that may be impacted by this genetic disorder. We feel it is shameful that this particular breeder is so money hungry that they would breed a dog with full knowledge he had less than desirable hips. They had the original X-rays. The Head of the OFA for 30 years, Dr Keller said HE SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN BRED. Please be careful. Read your contract fully and get your dog's hips X-rayed before you have to go down the road where you might possibly be facing hip-replacement for your beloved best friend.
Keith
Albuquerque,#2Author of original report
Fri, May 17, 2019
This breeder is deceptive..and also think they are smarter than everyone else. Very common in those that deceive. If you pay attention to their narrative it's always someone else at fault.
Keith
Albuquerque,#3Author of original report
Mon, October 01, 2018
This breeder used thousands of words and spent hours explaining away and making excuses for their bad buisness practices. Truth is in brevity. The OFA is the Orthepedic Foundation Of Animals. Search About Times's Italo. He has bad hips as verified by his X-Rays. Laura Essenmacher continued to breed him with the knowledege of the X-Ray and still sold 15 of his puppies. Please contact me if Italo is the sire to your dog.
Laura
Los Lunas,#4REBUTTAL Owner of company
Fri, September 07, 2018
This client entered into a detailed contract agreement up front when purchasing their puppy, then refused to meet their contractual obligations. This client failed to meet contract obligations and refused to provide preliminary hip x-rays and scores at 12 months of age. Client failed to meet contract obligations and refused to provide permanent hip x-rays and scores between 24-26 months of age. Due to client's failure to provide hip scores, we took the dog to the vet for hip x-rays on client's behalf once he was mature - with their agreement to pay for x-rays and hip scores. X-rays were done and client refused to pay the vet bill for the x-rays. As a result, submission for hip scores was never done, and we were left to personally cover their unpaid vet bill.
This client willingly chose to enter into a contract agreement that allowed for us to place our best pick puppy from a litter to live with them as their family companion, while we specifically retained the right to use the dog for breeding within our breeding program (for up to three breedings per year, at no financial obligation to client). After three unsuccessful breedings, this dog sired two litters (15 puppies), and then was retired from use in our breeding program after we retained pups to move forward a generation with. Client became disgruntled after first litter sired by this dog was born. They expected to receive a puppy and were informed that we did not have availability for them from the litter, and that (per contract agreement terms) we had no financial obligation to give them a puppy or stud fee. We offered options to work with them further in the future and place a puppy with them, but clients chose instead to search for a way to invalidate their contract agreement and get out of their obligation.
After REFUSING to provide hip x-rays and scores at twelve months of age (industry standard age to evaluate maturing skeletal hip and joint structure), and after refusing to provide hip x-rays and scores at twenty four months of age (industry standard age to permanently score matured skeletal hip and joint structure) … this client chose to x-ray and request scores on the dog after FIFTY MONTHS of age (by which point the natural process of aging, wear, and deterioration over 50% of the dog's lifespan has already negatively affected the results). This action was taken solely to find a way to weasel out of their contract agreement by claiming proof of dysplastic hips (as contract requires passing hip scores).
After they refused to x-ray and evaluate hips at 12 & 24 months of age, hip results at 5 years (the equivalent of expecting a 50 year old man to have the same skeletal structure and strength as he did at 20 years) are irrelevant. However, clients were informed politely by us that we were retaining pups from the two litters he produced to move forward a generation with in our breeding program, and we considered their male retired. We would have no further need for breeding him, and to go ahead and neuter him as a pet. Rather than being satisfied by the release of any further breeding obligation to us, this apparently angered these clients further as they had nothing to "hold over our heads" or "take away" from us … as since then they have resorted to harassing us, slandering our name, and trying to discredit our reputation with half-truths and outright lies across the internet for over a year now.
All contract terms were laid out clearly up front in a detailed contract that was signed, notarized, and fully agreed to by these clients prior to their decision to purchase this puppy. Despite their repeated breaching of contract terms, we made every possible effort to be accommodating of their preferences and demands over the following years, to no avail. Some people choose to live their lives in a vindictive and miserable manner and will simply never be happy. The fact that these clients are still attempting to harass us years after we released them from any breeding obligations to us and moved on with the two litters their dog sired, speaks volumes for their motivation in such postings. If this client purchased this puppy from us and the pup actually had dysplastic non-passing hip scores at 12 and 24 months (if they had actually met their contractual obligations to x-ray and score the hips at 12 & 24 months of age) we would have had the pup in question neutered, and refunded their purchase price or provided them with a new puppy … and none of this would even be a concern.
Full documentation on all agreements, communication, contracts, etc is available to be provided to any potential client/s that actually have concerns remaining after reading the above. Please contact us directly to request/review them, current contact informaiton provided on our website at AboutTimeCaneCorso.com