WARNING TO DOG BUYERS AFTER MUM’S SICK PUPPY HEARTACHE
WHEN Vanessa Wade saw the advertisement for a gorgeous PoodleBichon cross online, she knew it would be the perfect puppy for her family.
After paying a deposit and patiently waiting for the day she could collect her new pet, she excitedly rushed to Briton Ferry, near Port Talbot.
But her “healthy” puppy turned out to be anything but – in fact it was seriously ill.
When Vanessa brought home the £1,500 Poochon she discovered it had a potentially fatal heart condition that she claimed was not disclosed to her by the breeder.
The mum from North Lincolnshire now wants to warn others about the dangers of buying animals online after her family’s heartbreaking ordeal.
In July 2020, Vanessa wanted to buy her then 15-year-old daughter Ellie a small dog for her to look after.
The 51-year-old came across a post on a website where people advertise pets for sale, showing what looked like the perfect puppy for the family.
The ad boasted of three young Poochons for sale who would be ready to go to a good home in a few weeks’ time.
Located in Neath Port Talbot, they were described as five weeks old, already de-flead and de-wormed as well as being microchipped. The advertisement asked for a £300 deposit.
“I spoke to the breeder at length and was assured that vet checks had been carried out and that the puppies were waiting for their first vaccinations. Trusting his word, I paid a deposit of £300 into his bank account,” claimed Vanessa.
“I messaged often to see how the puppies were until we were able to collect our new addition.
“Fast forward to the end of July and the day finally arrives when we can bring her home, we planned for her meticulously, buying the very best of everything for her, we loved her so much already and just wanted her home.”
Vanessa said she had been told to go to an address at Giant’s Grave Road in Briton Ferry to pick up her puppy.
But when she got there, she became suspicious.
“We made the long drive over to Wales and went to the address we had been given only to be told that no one of that name lived there.
“We instantly panicked and began to think we had been scammed, I called the breeder and after the second time trying he answered and told us to stay where we were and that he would bring the pup and her mum to us,” she claimed.
After about 15 minutes, Vanessa claimed the breeder arrived with the puppy and told the family to follow his car to a different address.
“Obviously we couldn’t go into the property because of Covid, so we didn’t think anything of handing over the other £1,200 for the puppy, she was after all the most beautiful little thing I had ever seen.”
Vanessa described the puppy – which they later named Muffin – as being tiny and terrified but still living up to all their expectations.
The family fell in love with her instantly, but a few things felt a bit off, Vanessa said.
“He said if I had any questions about the dog to let him know. I asked him for her date of birth – which you can need for insurance – three times and I didn’t get an answer. He said it was on his phone at home and that he didn’t have it with him,” she claimed.
“I was given a certificate showing she had been vaccinated; however, the name on the certificate wasn’t his name or one I recognised. There was no record that she had been microchipped on the vet records but he said I had to contact the vet for that as it is confidential and they wouldn’t tell him.”
Then on the drive home, Vanessa realised poor Muffin had fleas, despite the advertisement previously stating all three puppies for sale had been treated for them.
But worse was to come when the family took Muffin for her first veterinary appointment one day after they purchased her.
“[That day] my entire world collapsed around me, our beautiful little puppy was diagnosed with a grade four heart murmur. On a scale of one to five (and five being the worst) we were told by the vet that she would probably die in her sleep and that we would have to make a decision on ‘letting her go’.
“I sobbed and sobbed. How could they have sold us such a sick and desperately ill puppy?”
That night, Vanessa said she cried herself to sleep, but feeling a bit stronger the next day, she tried to contact the breeder.
She claimed they had gone cold and stopped replying, but she managed to track down someone whom she believed was linked to the breeder.
“They eventually admitted to knowing that the puppy had a heart defect, but tried to worm out of it by saying that they sold us the wrong puppy and that if I returned her I could have another puppy or my money back.
“However, we were told when we collected our puppy that the other two in the litter had gone to their new homes the day before so they didn’t have any more puppies and in any case returning her wasn’t even an option, we had become too invested in her.”
Vanessa said she wanted a second opinion on Muffin’s condition and managed to get her registered with the best veterinary clinic she knew, booking her in for an appointment.
“At this appointment we were told that, yes, she did have a very serious grade four heart defect. They came to the conclusion that it was most likely to be PDA, which stands for patent ductus arteriosus,” she said.
“It means that when she was born one of her heart valves failed to close so it was now pushing blood into her heart and lungs, putting both of those organs under terrible pressure. We were told that she probably wouldn’t die in her sleep but would deteriorate if not treated, via very expensive surgery.
“Heart failure is inevitable and puppies with her condition seldom make it to a year without medical intervention.”
Vanessa said it gave her family a lot of hope, but Muffin was unable to have surgery until she reached a certain weight. It took five months for her to reach the three kilograms needed for her treatment, over which time the family lived in constant fear that Muffin might deteriorate.
On January 6, Muffin had her lifesaving surgery. It cost the family nearly £4,000 in addition to previous tests and scans costing £800. Next month the family will have to spend a further £800 for follow-up scans.
Though the family struggled to meet the costs, having to sell personal items in order to do so, Vanessa said it was the only option they had. They wanted Muffin to be well no matter what the cost may be.
The worst might be over, but Vanessa said she would continue to worry about the health of Muffin – who currently is as happy, healthy and boisterous as any other young puppy.
“I want to speak out to raise awareness, I don’t want anyone else to have to go through this horrendous experience.
“It’s not just the fact that you’ve got a desperately ill puppy, it’s the fact she could die on you one day.
“Always make sure you see a photo of the dog with mum and dad in situ and make sure that you don’t pay the deposit until you pick up the dog. Just don’t do what I did basically.
“Be vigilant when thinking of buying a dog because it will absolutely break your heart if this happens to you.”
Vanessa contacted the police, but claimed she was told it was instead an issue for trading standards. However, without an address for the people who sold her the dog, Vanessa said they were unable to take action.
She said the RSPCA had been made aware of the situation, though she hadn’t heard anything from them since September. The RSPCA has been approached for comment.
Wales on Sunday was given a contact number for the person Vanessa claimed she bought the puppy from. The person who answered claimed they knew nothing about the situation. They hung up when we started asking questions.