Question:
It has come to my attention on another forum that disease is running rampant.
There are several breeders who I've heard recently are experiencing difficulties with their animals after buying or purchasing from other breeders. Despite quarantining.
This is not the first time that this has happened, nor will it be the last, I'm sure. But the onslaught of disease can be traced back to the animals purchased from the other breeders in each case that I'm thinking of.
What gets me is that the breeders in most if not all of these cases refuse to acknowledge that their animals had any part in the destruction of a whole herd.
When I first started looking at chinchillas, the deciding factor for me was a breeder who guaranteed her chins. If anything should happen, our fault or hers while he was still in her care, she said she was willing to look into helping out, either by taking care of vet costs (some or all, depending on the situation), replacing the chinchilla, or refunding money.
These breeders refuse to do anything let alone acknowledge that there could be something wrong with their own animals before they even left to go to their new homes.
My questions to you, are:
1)If you were a breeder who sold sick animals (perhaps you didn't know at the time that they were sick) , what would you do?
2)If you had bought sick chins, and the breeder refused to do anything, how would you feel, what would you do?
3)Depending on the reasons for why the animal got sick, and what it's sick from, would you buy from that breeder again? Would you tell others about your experience?


Answer:
1)If you were a breeder who sold sick animals (perhaps you didn't know at the time that they were sick) , what would you do?
If I sold an animal that was sick, I can assure you I would not have known. In my sales agreement I state that I will refund the chin or replace upon it's return to me. Should the buyer choose to keep the chin, it would then depend on the situation. I would like to help out however I can, as I would want to make sure it never happens again.
2)If you had bought sick chins, and the breeder refused to do anything, how would you feel, what would you do?
I would feel extremely angry and frustrated. I would certainly let everyone I know personally about the experience. And I tend to warn any of their other perspective buyers via pm with my experiences. If the breeder was local, I would be sure to be in their face till they dealt appropriatly with the situation. Should they be on the other side of the country, I would have severally reduced options.
3)Depending on the reasons for why the animal got sick, and what it's sick from, would you buy from that breeder again? Would you tell others about your experience?
Depends on how the breeder handled it.


Answer:
1. I have it stated in my contract, that everyone must sign when purchasing one of my chinchillas or guinea pigs, that upon seeing proof (either the chin itself or a vet note) that I will either provide a full refund for the animal or the replacement of such an animal.
2. If I unknowingly bought a sick chin and the breeder refused to do anything, I would be extremely angry. I put out alot if money for quality chins and to either have it be sick or need to be euthanized or something without a refund or a replacement would be very hard, also because I bond very closely with my chins as soon as I see them. I'm hoping that I don't have this problem as I only buy from people who guarantee their animals and from reputable breeders such as Carleen and Maureen.
3. It depends on why the chin was sick and how the breeder handled the situation.


Answer:
Thanks for your answers, ladies, but you didn't really answer the last one:
Originally Posted by I
Depending on the reasons for why the animal got sick, and what it's sick from
Meaning, provide circumstances where you might buy from them or might not.


Answer:
Meaning, provide circumstances where you might buy from them or might not.
Yeesh!
Would buy again: Isolated insident. No previous occurances recorded. Also having known the breeder previously.
Would not buy again: All chins start having same experience. Breeder does not acknowledge problem or assist in any way. General bad feeling/gut feeling.


Answer:
Quote:
Meaning, provide circumstances where you might buy from them or might not.
Yeesh!
Would buy again: Isolated insident. No previous occurances recorded. Also having known the breeder previously.
Would not buy again: All chins start having same experience. Breeder does not acknowledge problem or assist in any way. General bad feeling/gut feeling.
Same here!


Answer:
I just wanted to add that not everyone will be happy dealing with one 'reputable' breeder ... there are bound to be people who have trouble with one person where another does not.
From personal experience, I have dealt with breeders who earn rave reviews from others while my dealings with this person were far less than acceptable.
I would suggest that each purchaser should do his/her own investigations and take all comments (both good and bad) from others with a huge grain of salt. It breaks my heart to see great people lose their businesses, animals, and friends due to rumours and incessant third and fourth-hand commentary


Answer:
Definatly! You should always investigate and talk to the breeder themselves before you make your descision. However, in this proposed instance the hypothetical breeder has refused to do anything in a situation where action was warranted. Therefore this 'breeder' is not someone I would recommend. However anything I would say to potential buyers would be from my own experience, not heard.


Answer:
Lizz, I'm just trying to emphasize that there are cases where a "hypothetical breeder" would refuse to do something where action was warranted, even if they had done so for another person.
Just because a breeder was outstanding in one instance (or to the contrary, for that matter) does not guarantee that they will act the same way with another client.


Answer:
Yes, I saw what you were saying. Sorry if it seemed I didn't. I agree that that could very well happen.