Complaint Review: Loyal Pups - Internet

I do agree that this is a very unfortunate situation.  I do not believe that Sherry Hill only produces sick puppies and I'm sure that she does have many very satisfied customers.  I, myself, am very satisfied with the sweet, adorable, extremely inteligent puppy that I have.  We got him when he was 6 weeks old and it didn't take 1 week for us to fall in love with him.  My problem is that he is very sick.  I have a beautiful puppy that wants to run and play and loves my children so much.  However, he can't sustain any kind of activity for more than 2-3 minutes. I fully understand that 2 healthy adult dogs can produce a puppy that may have a disease or illness that it's parents do not currently have.  That is not the issue.  These 2 parent dogs may be free of any heart murmurs themselves but the combination of their being bred produces this genetic defect because 1 or both of them carry the gene that results in the heart condition (sub-aortic stenosis) that Woodrow has.  Yes Boxers are pre-disposed to different health issues as are most all breeds.  That is why many breeders have genetic tests preformed on their adult dogs to determine if these defects will be passed on.  From what I have been able to discern it is a relatively inexpensive test to have done ( approx. $50.00).  My concern is for the future buyers.  Sherry is continuing to breed the same 2 parent dogs that have produced this defect.  She currently has on her website a litter of 9 puppies that all have deposits placed on them that may very well have the same defect.

To address some of Sherry's rebuttal to my intial report.  Yes my vet examined Woodrow within 3 days of us bringing him home and did not detect a heart murmur.  Sherry's vet also, according to her, examined him and did not detect a heart murmur.  I continued Woodrow's vet visits according to the schedule outlined for puppy vaccinations.  During the course of the puppy vet visits it was detected at 4 months that he had a grade 2 heart murmur.  I contacted Sherry about this on Thursday August 18th 2016.  At this time it was thought to be a minor issue and I was told to be observant of any changes in his health.  Things unfortunately did change and I again contacted Sherry with my concerns on Friday, October 14, 2016.  Woodrow was at this time 7 months old.  It was at his appointment on October 18th 2016 that my vet advised me to have a echocardiogram to determine the severity of his heart condition.  Please know as well that heart health is considered a speciality field. General Practitioners can only give a possible diagnosis and will always refer you to a specialist that has the capiblity of proper diagnosis with the equipment to do so.  I contacted Sherry to let her know that we were making plans to follow through with the vet's reccomendation and I also at this time asked if she would be willing to return the $700.00 that we paid for him to cover some of the costs of his care.  I did not at that time nor have I ever asked her to return more than the $700.00.  We have only communicated through texting during all of this and I have all of the texts saved and can easily prove that I never asked her to pay for his echocardiogram that ended up costing $581.00.  

Sherry also mentioned that I implied that I couldn't afford the vitamin supplement which she requires in order for her health guarantee to be valid.  I stated that I felt that the vitamin supplement was costly as you can only purchase a 3 month supply each time you would order which would cost over $50.00.  I discussed the vitamin with my vet and other breeders that told me that puppy food is fortified with all the vitamins that puppies really need and that the supplement was not nessasary.  

Sherry did make us the offer of returning Woodrow to her and giving us a new puppy when one comes available.  This is where  I have a big objection.  I feel that anyone who has a pet or has ever had a pet would never think of just giving up their pet because it is sick.  I did not buy an appliance and find it broken and need to return it to the store.  I bought a puppy and to treat it as though it is just an object is disgusting to me. I have 2 young children, who just like us, have grown very attached to Woodrow. He wakes them up every morning for school, he greets them everyday as they get off the bus, he sleeps in their rooms from time to time, they are constant companions.  At the age of 4 months we would have never considered giving him back to Sherry, so certainly at 7 months or any age we would never give him up.  I feel that is an unreasonable request that he be returned.  I attempted to reason with Sherry that if we returned him she would be the one responible for his care which has already become costly. Returning the purchase price to us would save her money in the long run if she was intending to give him the proper care.  She says that she directly puts back the money paid for each puppy into the care of her pets comfort.  Does that mean that she makes no money for the sale of the puppies listed on her website?  In Woodrow's litter there were 9 puppies sold for $700.00 a piece. So $6,300.00 was all immeaditely put into the care of her 6 adult boxer dogs.  I'm sure none of that was profit.  My point is that this is a business and to imply that she is not making any money and that she soley breeds dogs for pleasure is not reasonable.  She has listed on her website 1 male and 5 females.  These are not I would venture to say just pets they are for breeding puppies and making money.  Not counting the Shih Tzu's that she breeds as well.  

I am not trying to destroy Sherry's reputation.  This matter could have been resolved very easily.  Woodrow has a great home and he will continue to for as long as he lives.  I simply do not want anyone else to go through our situation.  It is heart breaking.

I have rehomed boxer puppies for 11 year and have outstanding reviews. I would be happy to give anyone that askes the name and number of customers that would tell you all there is to know about my establishment. Some I do allow to my home but some I do not. Julie Cox is the first person that has acquired a puppy with this heart condition in the 11 years of me placing these babies in the homes of wonderful families. 

All of my puppies are vet checked and cleared before they join there new homes. This puppy was also seen by their personal vet and had no heart condition to report on his first visit per Julie's own words . 

She contacted me to report a heart murmur when the puppy was 7 months old and wanted me to refund her the purchase price of $700 and asked me to also pay for the echocardiogram (she guessed to be around $400). Which she is denying at this point.

My first thoughts were sorrow for this beautiful puppy and for this family to go through this ordeal. I wanted to make this right so I asked her if she signed the one year genetic guarantee? She said she did not. A comment was made it was because she couldn't afford the $17 dollar a month vitamin that is reqired to keep the guarantee, saying they were to exspensive and not approved by her vet. I only have this because it is very important to keep the puppies on the same diet when they leave. It also is made in the USA, all natural, boost there immune sysem after leaving there mother and tons of wonderful other reasons that I will spare you to read in this report. 

Although she did not sign and send this back with her vet receipt within 3 business day to keep this guarantee intact (It is also on my website for all to read before placing a deposit or purchase of a puppy). I still felt obligated to help make this right. I did offer to keep the one year guarantee benefits without her for filling the obligation on her side to send in the paper work. As it clearly stated " if your puppy is found to have a life threating defect you will get a replacement puppy of your chose of breeding adults (pick of the litter)". She refused and continued to only settle for my agreement to refund money. I do not refund money because it is directly put back in to the care for my pets to ensure proper comfort and care. This is also stated on the website.

It is very true I do not allow strangers to my home to visit.  I have two children and Unfortunately in todays times it would not only be very unsafe for my family but for anyone to unkowingly bring parvo/any sickness to puppies that are not of age to be vaccinated. This is also clearly stated on my website with the comment if this keeps you from purchasing a puppy I understand but the safty of my family and pets comes first before a sale. 

I do find this to be very unfortunate and heartbreaking. I did everything I knew to do at the time . This condition was not something anyone could have know was going to happen. Both parents were checked before breeding and deemed healthy pets. Neither at which has a heart murmur. This puppy is from Hannah's litter and after contacting each sibling and past two litters, this is the only puppy with this condition. 

Altough Julie Cox continues to try to destroy my reputation by bouncing from every wesite with this review all I can do is say a prayer for her and her puppy. And to anyone that reads this I do have over 100 people over the past 11 years that can contest to the wonderful health of their puppy and the clean/healthy enviroment of the home they are raised in. Thank you for reading my side of this unfortunate issue.