How to Say "No" to a Sale with Grace, Tact, and Panache, and Not End Up in Court - Page 1

I haven't bred my dog and have no intention of doing so this heat. However, someone, who I do not want to sell to because she runs a puppy mill and breeds bitches to death, has asked to buy a puppy. I told her I wasn't breeding my dog so I didn't have any puppies, but she got very pushy and ugly and accused me of all sorts of terrible things. She then threatened to "watch to make sure I was telling the truth." How do I say "No" to a sale without ending up in court?

We're moving soon, so I don't think this particular person will be a problem, but there could be other sales that I think/know would be detrimental to a puppy and I would want to refuse (gracefully with tact and panache, and not end up in court).

Thank you.

GSCat, is it illegal to refuse to sell someone a pup, even if you know it's not the right home for them?

I don't know why it would end up in court, you should have the right to refuse sale to anyone for any reason, no one can force you to sell a puppy to them.

Be completely honest with her, maybe it will make her think about what she's doing. You don't owe her anything. If you really do think she runs a puppy mill and neglects her dogs, please report her to the authorities.

My contract states I reserve the right to refuse sale to anyone for any reason.
These are my puppies ( when I have them) and when things don't feel right about some one...no puppy. I have even returned deposits when a buyer reveals something after, that is not ' right' . Ultimately, the welfare of the pups is most important and if that means refusing to sell to someone, then so be it. Let them buy from some one else.

I don't know if it's illegal to refuse to sell or not. And with all the recent court rulings about sales, equal access, discrimination, etc., I don't know which case law would apply anymore. When I get moved to the new state, that's something I'll have to ask a lawyer.

The woman's been reported numerous times by various people. Dogs have been seized, etc., and there have been fines and lots of "reinspections"/"follow-up visits." Somehow she's still breeding and selling dogs and there are no criminal convictions on publicly-available court records.

I've seen worse operations/conditions, but the conditions are still poor/crummy. I'm not an animal control officer/abuse investigator/agriculture inspector, so maybe she actually meets minimum standards and everything is on the civil side or administrative, which court records/agency records the public cannot see.

Still... I don't want one of my puppies going there for any reason.

joanro--

What do you tell the person when you refuse the sale? when you return the deposit?

Thanks

Even if the place is a freakin' dog palace, I wouldn't want to place a dog with that type of breeder--the dogs are nothing but equipment to that type, to be used for as long as they can generate little bundles of cash. Breeds that were developed to live and work in packs can thrive without having a direct human to dog bond, but that's not the life the GSD was meant to have.

As long as the reason you don't want to sell to someone isn't based on their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or the fact they're over 40 years of age, there's no law against such a refusal--those are the only protected classes when it comes to a discrimination charge. Sure, this idjit could sue you anyway--anybody with the cost of filing can do that--but the case will go nowhere.

Personally, I'd be blunt and state the facts: I don't want any animal I've ever been responsible for to be part of a mass-production operation, period. 

If you really feel the need to be more circumspect, simply tell the person that you don't have any pups that would be suitable for their purposes. 

Can't believe this woman is trying to intimidate you into selling her a pup that isn't even going to be conceived in the first place.

Thank you.

The woman forfeited her right to be sold or given ANYTHING by you as soon as she "got pushy & ugly and started accusing" you of things ! Why would you ever want to sell a puppy to someone who acts like that ??? Why does she deserve any gentle expanation ?  Just a firm "NO" should suffice !

(If, in the future, someone else asks you and you don't want to sell to them, treat each case on its own merits - if people are polite & reasonable with you [albeit persistent !] you can worry about how to let them down gently, when it happens.)

Gcat, I tell I don't have anything that is suitable for their circumstance. And if it's a mill, I tell them " No" , when they ask.