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I purchased a chocolate Labrador retriever from Buckler Valley Labradors on December 23, 2013. I drove to Ohio and picked up the puppy myself. I did sign a contract with a health guarantee. During the following weeks we noticed that the dog did not react to audio stimuli. In February, our veterinarian confirm that the puppy was deaf. We contacted the breeder, who stated that her sister was also returned deaf. Sarah Buckler, the breeder, stated that she didn’t know what happened. She told us she would mail materials for a cheek swab sample so she could have testing completed but she never sent.
Sarah did offer to replace the dog with the next litter. Our family was already attached to this puppy and wanted to keep her but didn’t feel we should have to pay the full price of a healthy dog. The breeder typed up an addition to the contract to be signed, notarized and returned in order to get 50% of the purchase price back. We did this but now the breeder is still refusing to give the partial refund. If the breeder decides to refund the money, I will post an update.
I am sending this letter because I want to keep this from happening to someone else. I am not sure is the parents are still being used to breed.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I received a puppy from this breeder and am in love with my dog. I honestly could not be happier. Today was his first snow and it was amazing to just see him run and prance around.
The reason why I opted to reply to this "complaint" is because at first it almost prevented me from buying a dog for them. I called and asked Sarah a great deal of questions about this. She explained everything, and even showed me posts the accuser had on their Facebook that suggested the dog was hit by a car, and they tried to scam the breeder. This is why they couldn't provide ANY verification for their claim of a deaf dog. While she was a lot nicer than I will be, it is clear this claim is a downright LIE!
The fact that this is still on this board, without any verification and a clear rebuttal that suggests the claim is totally false is irresponsible by the company, and unwarranted defamation on a good breeder. This website should feel an obligation to remove the false claim, but I guess in this day and age where fake news presented as fact is acceptable and encouraged, we lose integrity and pride in what we post.
Please do not let these false claims discourage you like it almost did me. I am so glad I have my Moose, and you will be too!
If they truly loved the puppy, does being deaf really matter. If a deaf dog would be to inconvenience why not just make the exchange? We have a wonderful puppy from Buckler Valley. I feel they are truly committed to breeding quality dogs and have and will continue to recommend them. The beheading threat reflects the rationale of the complainant.
We got a puppy from Buckler Valley and she is wonderful! She's the best dog I've ever had!
great and the lab puppy is very healthy and beautiful. Her name is Ruger and we have had her a year now.
I got a puppy from Sarah and she was
I have had nothing but positive experience with Buckler Labradors, and everything is usually according to a contract with a puppy purchased from any breeder. Any defective puppy it appears would need veterinary proof of deafness, a vet record copy. Why didn't the puppy buyers just provide vet records and get the refund or replacement stated? Looks like to me Mrs. Buckler has been willing to abide by her contract but Not the buyer. Buckler is an experienced knowledgeable breeder of labradors and stands behind what she does, I know that to be so. I bred labs for years, and all breeders sooner or later encounter a person that wants a refund but wants to keep the puppy AND get the money back or another puppy, not the way it works. When there is a contract you go by that contract always. There must be proof doesn't sound like they provided it.
I am this puppy’s breeder. I sold the pup in December and at the end February they notify me the pup is deaf. I offer to replace her they said yes but when I told them to bring the deaf pup they said they gave her away to a family with a fenced yard that can handle a deaf dog. So I demand contact info Mrs. Starnes changed her story and said they just could not part with her and would rather have a refund. Something I don't do according to my contract that they signed. I offered 50% refund and need proof the dog was deaf. I requested the swabs for a parentage test and to submit to the Chic program to track and hopefully find a test in the future to prevent deafness in dogs. After a lot of back and forth and her husband threatening to shoot the dog and mail me her head I gave a strict return the pup for a 50% refund or get the replacement pup but I get back the deaf dog. They never sent any kind of Proof the pup was deaf. No vet reports and any kind of testing results. They signed the changed contract and notarized it as requested but did not mail it to me until after the date given for when the replacement pup was ready for pickup. They never notified me they would agree to the changes to the contract so I held the pup like the original contract said too. So I held the pup until 10 weeks old for them and then had to resale her. Now they want the refund again without returning the puppy her husband said he wanted to kill because she could not come when called. I fear she may already be dead. They mailed the contract on June 5th. The date for puppy pickup was June 1st. I did not receive the contract until June 14th as it was not overnighted to me. They signed it at the beginning of May and waited until June 5th and never notified me of anything the whole time. Not 1 email or call knowing I was holding them the first pick of the litter I had. Then they also signed a non-disclosure agreement to not post complaints about me unless I did not follow the contract. I have followed it completely. They must return the dog for any refund. The original contract they signed was already void before I even offered to replace the puppy or give the 50% refund as they did not follow the rules I had in place to help insure the pup stayed healthy. I require all my buyers to buy NuVet Vitamins to insure the pups I am guaranteeing against hips dysplasia is getting the vitamins and minerals needed to grow. They were required to use my code when ordering and they never ordered it. So the guarantee was only good for 3 days. If Mr. and Mrs. Starnes want their money or the replacement puppy they must provide the deaf one and she must be alive and in good health other than the defect they claim she has and it the hearing problem is proven to be from neglect or abuse no refund or replacement will be given. That is very simple and reasonable. I expect this post to be removed promptly as it is a clear violation of the contract they signed and notarized.
This is the contract they signed. The first paragraph was explaining what had occurred until Mr. Starnes threatened me and the said he was going to shoot the dog and mail her head back to me. It was not meant to be part of the contract but they felt it needed to be there when they printed it off. The last paragraph were they signed clearly says they had to return the dog and my email reflected that as her husband said he was going to kill the pup and that was not right when she had a safe place to go were she could be trained and a home that did not care about her disability and love her for her.
Under NO condition shall anything regarding this sale will be posted or expressed to the public for the changes to the contract as both parties agreed to enter into the changes.
Any personal opinions posted publicly will be considered slander and Mr. and Mrs. Starnes will be responsible for any damages and legal fees required to have them removed and lost sales.
This contract is to be signed by both spouses, notarized and sent back to receive your $400.00 refund amount.
Any failure to sign and return to Buckler Valley Labradors will result in no changes to said contract and your replacement will be ready for your pickup on June 1, 2014 at 2622 Flatwood fallen Timber Road, Lucasville, Ohio 45648
Failure to pickup your puppy and return of the deaf puppy by June 14, 2014 will result in you not getting your replacement puppy.
Your contract was void a long time ago when you did not purchase the Nuvet vitamins but as long as not farther actions are needed and the harassment stops I will do the 50% refund or the replacement as long as you bring the deaf puppy back.
So 2 things were done wrong. They did not notify me they accepted the changes so their replacement was waiting for them as the original contract said on June 1st 2014 and they did not return the dog her husband wants to kill.
I still agree to refund the $400 after they did not meet requirements again but minus the boarding they cause on purpose by not sending the contract or notifying me they wanted the refund instead of the replacement and were signing and sending the changes.
That they still do not find excitable. So I am handing this over to my lawyer and ending the discussion.
I think you might have misunderstood the 50% offer... I am thinking that she offered you 50% off another dog if that is what you wanted. I have never heard of a breeder giving back money after 2 months but I am not sure about Ohio laws. In addition, I can not find ANYTHING in the Ohio laws about refunds.