Can I sue a seller for falsifying vaccination records. I bought a dog and he...

brett k · 29-10-09, 03:29

...died 6 days later from ParvoVirus? I bought a 7 month old Chinese Crested from a private seller who lives in another state, the woman presented me with a Recommended Vaccination Schedule from the Humane Society with the dog’s vaccinations hand checked (these checks included vaccinations for Parvo Virus). I brought the dog home and within 6 days he started vomiting and had diahreah, I took the dog to the vet within a few hours of the onset of symptoms and they suspected it had Parvo Virus. The vet hospital admitted my dog and it died a day and a half later. I paid $800 for the dog and the vet bill is in the neighborhood of $500. I called the woman and asked her to refund at least part of what I paid for the dog and her response was she sold me a healthy dog and she wasn't going to give me anything. The incubation period for ParvoVirus is from 5 to 10 days and from what I have read it's unlikely a dog would get this virus if it was vaccinated although it is possible. My dog was not around any other dogs the entire short time I had him and was certainly not around any dog feces which is where this virus is spread. "The disease is caused by a highly contagious virus that is transmitted mostly by dogs orally contacting infected feces." I think this woman falsified the vaccination records (her financial situation is very questionable) and I want to take her to small claims court to recover some of my money. We live in different states and I wanted to know how I should proceed or if it's just an expensive heartbreaking lesson not worth pursuing.

Julie D. · 29-10-09, 03:56

I'm afraid that you will just have to chalk this up to experience. There is no grounds to go to court, as there was probably no health guarantee or contract. If there was, that would be a different story.

Question Mark · 07-11-09, 14:52

You can sue for the value or replacement of the dog in most states. The vet bills depends on the limits set by your states or her states laws.

mymuttsrock · 11-11-09, 18:30

That's so sad, sorry for your loss. You may lose more by going to court and all of the costs.
ADOPT from now on!! There are plenty of dogs who need a good home.

dobiz_rule · 11-11-09, 18:31

do both states have puppy lemon laws? if so you can proceed and take her to court. you can also report her to better business bureau and the human society for selling sick dogs. does she advertise her dogs somewhere? if so you can post reviews about her as a breeder to make other purchasers aware of what type of a person she is

bob © · 11-11-09, 19:23

you will have a hard time proving she falsified vaccines.

consider it a lesson learned and never by from a back yard breeder again.

Santa Basset · 11-12-09, 09:51

I have known two fully vaccinated dogs from good breeders that died of parvo.

It's nasty stuff.

Part of the problem is that most dogs get their final shots at 4 months, but the maternal antibodies for parvo can last for longer than that, and they prevent the shots from being effective.

29-10-09, 03:29	#1
brett k Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3	Can I sue a seller for falsifying vaccination records. I bought a dog and he... ...died 6 days later from ParvoVirus? I bought a 7 month old Chinese Crested from a private seller who lives in another state, the woman presented me with a Recommended Vaccination Schedule from the Humane Society with the dog’s vaccinations hand checked (these checks included vaccinations for Parvo Virus). I brought the dog home and within 6 days he started vomiting and had diahreah, I took the dog to the vet within a few hours of the onset of symptoms and they suspected it had Parvo Virus. The vet hospital admitted my dog and it died a day and a half later. I paid $800 for the dog and the vet bill is in the neighborhood of $500. I called the woman and asked her to refund at least part of what I paid for the dog and her response was she sold me a healthy dog and she wasn't going to give me anything. The incubation period for ParvoVirus is from 5 to 10 days and from what I have read it's unlikely a dog would get this virus if it was vaccinated although it is possible. My dog was not around any other dogs the entire short time I had him and was certainly not around any dog feces which is where this virus is spread. "The disease is caused by a highly contagious virus that is transmitted mostly by dogs orally contacting infected feces." I think this woman falsified the vaccination records (her financial situation is very questionable) and I want to take her to small claims court to recover some of my money. We live in different states and I wanted to know how I should proceed or if it's just an expensive heartbreaking lesson not worth pursuing.

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29-10-09, 03:56	#2
Julie D. Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 23	I'm afraid that you will just have to chalk this up to experience. There is no grounds to go to court, as there was probably no health guarantee or contract. If there was, that would be a different story.

07-11-09, 14:52	#3
Question Mark Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 3	You can sue for the value or replacement of the dog in most states. The vet bills depends on the limits set by your states or her states laws.

11-11-09, 18:30	#4
mymuttsrock Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2	That's so sad, sorry for your loss. You may lose more by going to court and all of the costs. ADOPT from now on!! There are plenty of dogs who need a good home.

11-11-09, 18:31	#5
dobiz_rule Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 16	do both states have puppy lemon laws? if so you can proceed and take her to court. you can also report her to better business bureau and the human society for selling sick dogs. does she advertise her dogs somewhere? if so you can post reviews about her as a breeder to make other purchasers aware of what type of a person she is

11-11-09, 19:23	#6
bob © Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 33	you will have a hard time proving she falsified vaccines. consider it a lesson learned and never by from a back yard breeder again.

11-12-09, 09:51	#7
Santa Basset Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 10	I have known two fully vaccinated dogs from good breeders that died of parvo. It's nasty stuff. Part of the problem is that most dogs get their final shots at 4 months, but the maternal antibodies for parvo can last for longer than that, and they prevent the shots from being effective.