[JacknNiki]

Hi everyone - i found this site while trying to find some research on inbred dogs.

We have a year old Keeshond who is recently become blind.

When Niki was about 6 months old her one eye started looking very strange - one day it would cloud over and then the next day it would go away - finally after this happeneing a few more times we took her to the vets and he thought maybe an infection and gave her meds - this didnt solve the problem so we went back and were referred to a specialist who diagnosed Niki with lens luxation and glaucoma and also told us this was a hereditary condition in the genes.

The pressures in her eyes were equal to being totally blinf in one eye at 58% and the other eye was on its way with the pressure at 37% - normal is around the 10%-20% mark.

We have been giving her 2 types of drops 3 times a day to keep the pressures down and this has helped her with any pain while it works which could be days, months or the rest of her life.

So i tell my breeder about this and she is shocked and says there is nothing wrong with the parents but it was heriditary she would allow us to return the dog for a refund or keep her for half refund - she also said this little was an accident so she sold them for $200 cheaper then her usual amount.

She then asked for the specialist reports to show her own vet - no problem i sent them to her.

That was about a month agao and have not heard back.

Now while i was looking around her website i see the 2 parents of Niki and also see that they are brother and sister! This shocked me because all she had said was this was an unplanned little and the dogs got to eachother when they were out.
But if she would have told us they were brother and sister we would have been discouraged from buying one of her pups right then.

I have done Alot of research and i see that inbred will bring out any bad genes and if eye problems were in the line they would come out to full extent - well now i see that this is more then likley what happened.

So now what can i do? Poor Niki has to suffer for the rest of her life and we will be having high vet/specialist costs and meds for the rest of her life - and possible surgery if the drops stop working.

I have emailed her what i found out but have yet to hear back from her - not sure if this was a mistake or on purpose as i read inbred can also bring out the best genes and can make good show qualitly dogs - the mom and dad are both show dogs.

I dont want to assume the worst but i am just upset she wasnt upfront about this before we bought Niki :-(

Any suggestions?

Thanks
Cathy

[Yogi]

As one who is an AKC breeder, I disclose all sire and dam information. If anything it helps those looking for quality dogs as mine carry excellent pedigree.
Line breeding though I do not do this, is more accepting where a granddaughter to grandfather etc is done. This can also assist in good breed and show stock where inbreeding though not often, can result in genetic issues as you have.
This is not desired by most breeders and generally is still frowned upon. Many breeders who have "accidental" breedings like this still will cull their pups as opposed to selling them.
I would still attempt to contact the breeder. Make your decision as to keeping her with partial refund or returning her which I doubt you will do. If she is an AKC breeder or CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) breeder, you can file a complaint with them. Sorry for this, but unfortunately breeders like this do exist.

[lil mutt]

That bad breeding habit probably caused what your Niki is suffering now. You should email her with all your findings and if she don't take appropriate actions then maybe you an contact the organization that give's her permit (if she has) to breed..

[JacknNiki]

Thank you for your replies and suggestions.

I have been in constant comtact with the breeder since we first found out about Nikkis eyes and she at the beginning was very concerned and asked me for the specialist reports to take to her own vet.

She did offer to take Nikki back for a full refund but after a year with Nikki we were not interested the least in doing that. She then even asked us if we would consider putting Nikki down and that was also somehting that we were not interested in at the least.

She continued telling me right from the beginning that this was an unplanned litter and her options were to either drown the pups at birth (somehting she said she could not do) or sell them at a reduced cost.

I feel pretty stupid for not thinking why drown them at birth or sell at reduced cost just because it was an unplanned litter? What was the big deal.
She never once said anything about the parents being brother and sister. I found this out on my own thru her website showing dad winning something and then below showing the mom stating "Jack sister following in her brothers footsteps"

I was also told right from the beginning that we would be getting papers ect and that the littler was registered but each time i asked she would say i thought we gave it to you and that it would be mailed but nothing ever came (again that maybe should have been another red flag)

They also kept the male pup in the litter telling us they were going to get him into showing. Why would they keep one knowing it was inbred?

I do believe this was an accident and unplanned but feel we should have been told in the beginning and let us make the choice of what we wanted to do with the risks that could come up ect.

We love Nikki and will get thru it but she will need medication the rest of her life, not be able to see, and possible surgery if and when the meds stop working for her eye pressures

I just feel we should get the refund for her "reduced cost pup" but in the end we ended up paying ALOT more for her then a reduced cost with all the speciaist and medications :-(

She still hasnt replied since i told her about my findings.

Any other suggestion are welcomed

Thank you

[Marc]

Unfortunately, nearly every law in the country treats animals as property. The best you could ever expect from her is a refund. I'm not certain, but for that you may have to surrender the dog to her. I am pretty sure you wouldn't be entitled to any vet bills that exceed the value of your dog. You should check to see if suing for the money you paid means giving up your loved pet.

It sounds like you are attached to your dog and the best thing at this time is to continue to be the good owners you already are. How dare she even mention drowning the pups for her stupidity. It is us who are responsible to the animals. Not them who should suffer for us.

Perhaps at the very least, you should write a letter stating your intention to consult an attorney if she doesn't refund your money without surrenduring your dog. If that doesn't work, have an attorney write a letter. Next step, go to small claims court.

[dugogota]

The breeder sounds sketchy. But regardless, Niki deserves the best life she can have. Good for you for not only keeping her but also refusing to put her down. If it were me, I would give Niki the best life possible and it sounds like that is what you have decided which is good news for your sweet Niki.

[JacknNiki]

Well after alot of talk between us she is letting us keep Niki and also refunding what we paid.
She did say she is retired and will be paying us back in $100 installments - i would perfer the full amount at once but i guess this will do and we will just be done with her and be sure to never purchase from her again - she is a good breeder I ama sure but by not being honest upfront about her litters is not somehting I am looking for in a bredder.

Thanks everyone

Cathy