Puppy contract

[zoomer]

I have to respectfully disagree --- I feel that if you are bringing lives into the world, you are responsible for those lives. You have to protect them as much as possible. My friend gave her dog away last year and didn't provide a contract. She was ecstatic that the home was in a city nearby so she could visit her dog every week. After a week, the guy had given her dog away, and now she has no idea where the dog is and will probably never see him again. For all she knows, he could be in a really bad home. That's why I feel you should always know where the dog is so that you can keep in contact with the owners. Visa's breeder doesn't really keep track of her pet puppies, and last year she heard from another breeder that one of her dog's had it's faced stabbed several times by someone that broke into the dog's house. She didn't have the dog's contact information so she couldn't offer them help or condolences. I don't know, I know several breeders that take people's credit card numbers, photocopy their birth certificates, or get their employer's information. It may seem extreme, but isn't it worth it?

I agree. You have a total right to have their credit card number if they really want a puppy they'll give it to you. And your contract shows you care about the puppies, I agree with everything on it and I think you should know they're credit card number. It's not silly at all.

[K9soul]

Honestly I'd not give my credit card number or any other vital information like that in which, if it got in the wrong hands, could be used to really wreck my life. That's not saying I'd necessarily suspect the breeder of any bad intentions, however they would have to store this information somewhere, and that means it is possible that somewhere, somehow, someone else who shouldn't might have a means to get access to it whether it's by computer hacking programs or someone breaking in and stealing it. I certainly think there's nothing wrong with requesting regular updates and any address changes, but I think I would personally do careful screening to begin with, request strongly that the person stay in contact, and at some point have to accept that the dog is out of your hands and you have done all you can to ensure it has a good home with responsible owners.

I was in close contact with Willie's breeder until we stopped showing him and he was neutered. At that point other than occasional updates we didn't talk to her much. When I moved to Minnesota, he was 8, and I did not call up and tell the breeder. We hadn't been in contact for a few years by then anyway, and he was no longer being shown, was not a breeding prospect. She knew the caliber of people we were that we'd never rehome him. I just had so much going on in my life at the time, I didn't even think about it.

Now, those of you saying "it's no big deal" (at least as far as I can tell) are younger, and haven't lived on your own and haven't experienced being burned or the very real threat of identity theft. I'd suggest you read up on it a bit. It is serious and it is becoming more and more of a common crime: IDENTITY THEFT

All it would take is someone finding out that a breeder collects credit card numbers, and then finding a way to get a hold of them. That is why in America at least, Privacy Act laws are very, very strict, and I doubt that contract would be legal here.

If you are determined to go with it, I'd definitely take Lady's Human's advice and make sure with an attorney that it is legal. In that case, if you had people willing to hand over those kinds of things and take the risk, more power to you and I'd just hope you never "lost" any of those things in some way, that would be a lot to be responsible for. . Personally I just would never take the chance..

My 2 cents.. or perhaps it was closer to a dollar

[binka_nugget]

Looks good!

I don't think #2 is too big of a deal. I'd be weary of any breeder who didn't require current addresses. It shows that the breeder is geniunely concerned about where their dogs end up. It's not like it's that big of a hassle to send an email or call the breeder and simply tell them the new address. The most it'd take is 5 minutes. :\

I don't know if I'd hand over a credit card number though. If I didn't know you personally, I think I'd keep looking around for other breeders.

[wolfsoul]

If the credit card thing is a big deal, I think instead I will ask for their place of employment and phone numbers of 10 references. I bet that would make it easy to track someone down.

[Corinna]

E=mail it to cataholic she is a lawyer here in the states maybe she could help you out. I don't think she gets to the dog side much.

[Danegirl2208]

If the credit card thing is a big deal, I think instead I will ask for their place of employment and phone numbers of 10 references. I bet that would make it easy to track someone down.

Thats is also a good idea..Malakais breeder required 5 refrences and info on my place of employment

[Lady's Human]

TALK TO A LAWYER!

References? No big deal. Place of employment? No way.

The main reason for speaking to a lawyer when writing a contract like this is to make sure that the contract is legal and enforceable. The US has stringent (not stringent enough, but) privacy laws that strictly define what you can and cannot ask for in relation to a contract, and what you can do with that data, how long you can keep it, etc. I'm sure Canada has similar laws in effect.

Not trying to be mean, nasty or offensive, but if you are this concerned with the ability to get the puppy back from the owner, are you sure you should be breeding? At some point you have to be able to let go.

[cali]

over all its a great contract, the credit card bit is the only one that worries me, I would NEVER give out my credit card number. I know you, and I know you would not go useing peoples numbers, but if you were a total stranger to me and I wanted a puppy, and was told to give my credit card info I would go "scam" and walk right out the door.