Puppy Contracts?

[GinaB]

When I *eventually* start breeding my own labradors, I want to make up a contract/condition of sale. Eg That if anything goes wrong and they can no longer keep the dog or puppy, that regardless of age it will be returned to me, that kind of stuff. Can these be legally binding? Does anyone know where I could get a template?

 

[CAYLA]

We have a legally binding rehoming contracts..we have successfully taken adoptees to court...thanks to our lovely solicitor and contracts of course

 

[GinaB]

Oh that sounds good! I would be worried that something could happen and the dog could end up being passed pillar to post or end up dead (I am selling them as working dogs and I know a number of guys shot their dogs as they can no longer work so I'd rather they come back and retire with me)

 

[CAYLA]

Our states something like



HOMING AGREEMENT

you will have to AGREE to:

1) Under no circumstances to part with the cat/dog, except to return to the carer if for any reason, I can no longer care for the animal/s myself.

2)To obtain qualified Veterinary treatment in the event of illness/injury.

3)To acknowledge and accept that the carer (ADNE) may at any time reclaim possession of the animal/s, at his/her total discretion if it is deemed that the animal/s is being cared for in any way they find unacceptable.

4)To have the animal/s neutered before the age of one-year-old should the animal/s not have been neutered before the time of adoption.

5)To ensure the animal/s receive yearly booster vaccination for life.

6)I/we agree to give notice where possible to return the animal back into care.

7)That any vaccination fees or donations cannot be refunded, should the animal/s, be returned.

(8)To accept pre and post home visit will be carried out for all prospective adoptee's.

This is what ours looks like

 

[Blackhawk]

I don't have my dog's to hand, but it does have specific things in it like:

(Should point out that he's a rare breed first, as they may should strange!)

1) Dog will not be rehomed or sold to anyone and in the evnt that the owner is no longer able to look after the dog, it must be returned to breeder
2) Dog will not be neutered without notifying the breeder in writing
3) Dog will not be cross bred
4) Dog will not be used for stud without being hip scored and registered with breeding club and notifying the breeder in writing
5) Dog will not be exported

 

[prose]

I'll see if I can fish Stella's out. Her breeder actually took someone to court--and won--when she learnt that they'd bred a dog (all her pet-quality dogs are sold on spay contracts).

In the event of an owner being unable to keep the dog, the dog must go back to Stella's breeder, regardless of how may years have passed.

 

[echodomino]

We have a puppy contract which requests that puppies come back at what ever age, however, we've been told that it is very difficult to make them stick. You may need a solicitor to make the contract legally binding.

Ours basically covers the endorsements and the conditions for them, as all of our puppies go with "progeny not to be registered" and that we'll have pup back at any time.

 

[genie]

Hi.think contracts are a great idea..but can they be really enforced?.and how much does it cost to do this and take someone to court?.maybe its ok to take the odd one to court but what about doing it re several?......and the contracts I have heard about saying progeny not to be registered etc...thats fine but now we are in the era of the designer crossbreeds......labradoodle and dachshund X jackrussell...........heard of a pug X russel a few weeks ago...£350 a pup.and a;ll were sold!.....Is it easy enough to get DNA tested and prove the parentage of pups?.....Just wondering cos I haven't a clue here.

 

[MurphysMinder]

I always sold my puppies with contracts. These covered things like no tbreeding from them until hips were scored and I had assessed the dog generally as suitable to be bred from. The KC reg was also endorsed and I only lifted the endorsement if all the above were fulfilled. The contract also stated that the dog must not be rehomed without contacting me, but 2 of mine were rehomed, 1 to the rescue and 1 to the police, without my knowledge. I very much doubt if the agreement would have been legally binding and I was more interested in making sure the dogs were okay. I do think contracts are a good idea, if nothing else it makes people really think what they are taking on. I also had a clause saying I could take the dog back if I felt it was not being properly looked after, again not sure if this would have been legally binding. Of course the so-called designer crossbreeds do not need registrations to be bred from so don't think there is much you can do about that. I just wish people would stop paying stupid prices for these pups!

 

[CAYLA]

It is very costly...one of our cases topped the £2000 mark...but as we won the other party had to foot all costs

 

[genie]

but it could have gone either way on the day.then you would have had your own costs plus the other sides???.....mmmmm.....easier all round to just not breed I think.

 

[echodomino]

We've never come across any problems with regards to our contracts. We've only ever had one HWV back and a JR back and we've been breeding for 13yrs. Maybe we've just been lucky. There is absolutely nothing you can do in the long run to prevent people doing what they wish, with the exception of a legally binding contract perhaps, but they do stop and make people think and if you've found decent homes with decent people they tend to respect the contract. If people don't agree with what we've got in writing then they don't get the puppy, simple as. I think if you keep in regular contact with the owners of the puppies then that helps.

 

[CAYLA]

[ QUOTE ]
but it could have gone either way on the day.then you would have had your own costs plus the other sides???.....mmmmm.....easier all round to just not breed I think.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep...tis an awfull lot of money and as a rescue we get no financial support, but we where determined to get the animal back and we did