BYB - Backyard Breeders

[Tort518]

This is just horribly awful!!!! Not sure why it would be controversial? They should both be called out for what they have done!! Disgusting people!!!! I haven't been on here in ages but decided to check in today.... I am just so sorry to read about something like this. :'( the poor babies suffer as do their new owners and it all just breaks my heart.

Welcome back Alicia!

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

Vet bills still mounting here. I want a healthy kitty at all costs. Wish I would have purchased pet insurance before I took her to the vet the first time. Then I might have been reimbursed for some of the expense. But now they would be considered preexisting and not covered. Cheap, she definitely is not. And I thought I was getting a bargain. Just hoping to be able to keep her.

Mary


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You've just pointed out something that we say to many people: if it seems too good to be true, generally it is :-( There's almost always a reason why a Savannah kitten might be offered for a bargain price... of course some breeders have inflated prices but there is a general price for most of the generations and if offered for a price outside that general range the kitten is usually nonstandard in color/pattern, unregistered (and may not even BE a Savannah), outcrossed (so one parent might be a breed other than a Savannah) &/or has a health issue (disclosed or not).

I hope that you can get your kitten healthy and then have years of happy pet companionship to follow!

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

I myself would like to know precisely what guidelines breeders are asked to follow before placing a kitten to a new home. What tests are required and preformed for the breeder to use the verbage "healthy cats". Is their a difference between what the breeder is REQUIRED TO TEST FOR & what a true breeder in love with what he or she does and goes the extra mile to ensure the highest quality of health of the kitten before placement.

I don't think that there IS any specific requirements, although I think that some states have laws on this. I seem to remember something about Florida having a pet lemon law that could be used. But generally even in those cases, you would have to take them to court and only get back the purchase price which often won't come close to what the vet bills for that kitten might be.

TICA has a Responsible Breeder Program which is voluntary, so you could ask if they have signed that voluntary code of ethics...

So yes there would be a big difference between what is "required" and what a responsible caring breeder might do. I personally require my kittens to have been to the vet twice for a health check (and hence their hearts listened to), two FVRCP vaccinations and microchip. I test all cats in my program for HCM (via cardiac ultrasound) and PK Deficiency (via DNA testing). I have tested all cats for FIV/FeLV but also test each litter of kittens (because I am slightly paranoid). It's definitely expensive to go that extra mile you mention!

I think it pays to have a conversation with the breeder BEFORE you put down any deposits or sign any contracts on what they do to ascertain their cats' health. And always read the contract carefully before sending any money too! We often get asked to get involved after something goes wrong, but often the situation is not covered by the contract, &/or the buyer thinks that they can have a refund of the purchase price when almost all sales contracts only offer a replacement kitten if certain conditions are met.

 

[MM3]

I don't think that there IS any specific requirements, although I think that some states have laws on this. I seem to remember something about Florida having a pet lemon law that could be used. But generally even in those cases, you would have to take them to court and only get back the purchase price which often won't come close to what the vet bills for that kitten might be.

TICA has a Responsible Breeder Program which is voluntary, so you could ask if they have signed that voluntary code of ethics...

So yes there would be a big difference between what is "required" and what a responsible caring breeder might do. I personally require my kittens to have been to the vet twice for a health check (and hence their hearts listened to), two FVRCP vaccinations and microchip. I test all cats in my program for HCM (via cardiac ultrasound) and PK Deficiency (via DNA testing). I have tested all cats for FIV/FeLV but also test each litter of kittens (because I am slightly paranoid). It's definitely expensive to go that extra mile you mention!

I think it pays to have a conversation with the breeder BEFORE you put down any deposits or sign any contracts on what they do to ascertain their cats' health. And always read the contract carefully before sending any money too! We often get asked to get involved after something goes wrong, but often the situation is not covered by the contract, &/or the buyer thinks that they can have a refund of the purchase price when almost all sales contracts only offer a replacement kitten if certain conditions are met.

Thank you for explaining.

 

[maalleh]

Savannah Rescue is involved in helping the babies in the Texas case, however, nothing will happen until after December 18th, due to the cats being used as evidence. Once the hearing is set, the court will decide what will happen to the cats.

Will you be able to share the court's decision with us?

Mary

 

[MM3]

i am not involved in the texas case

 

[cbain]

@cbain - he is in Ohio - he moved from IL to Ohio a while ago...

You are right Paige, Aaron's Savannah has moved to Ohio, I looked him up on FB and it's the same area code as mine so I got the address and googled it on maps and zoomed in, My mountion cabin in PA. looks far better than this house, I'll stop here. Problem is savannah cats are popular and people that really want a Savannah and can't afford one see his adds and think their is my Savannah at a great price and rush off a buy a heart ach . I have a friend who works in a deli that I go to and she is a cat lover, even goes to work on her days off to feed her stray cats and she want's a Savannah big time, a member of this forum has offered to help her out ,
with a young adult that she can afford when she is ready .some people fall for the good deal and pay hard, I can't imagine being a breeder with a pride Savannah kittens under foot , any breeder that has to go through their house with live crawing slippers that needs to shed some fur for a great home , I would love to have F2 male someday to a good home, no declaw home with hot beds , good food , out side run,cute vet our 2 F3 cats , they live the good life

 

[DocMac]

Whomever said that a Savannahs are expensive, one way or another, was absolutely correct. Don't get ripped off, but if the deal is "too good to be real", it is!


Josie
River Ridge Savannahs
West Virginia

 

[Alicia]

Welcome back Alicia!

Well thank you, it's good to be back! :D

 

[qcamrse]

I bought my F4 Savannah Buziba from Aaron's Savannah's. It has been a very long road since he sold me a very sick kitten. It took 5 weeks of vet bills and smelly, loose bowel movements. He also was extremely underweight and had both giardia and coccidia. And he also seems to have a food allergy to chicken. I asked myself -what did I get myself into?

While Aaron conversed with me a lot before the sale-after the sale he would not answer any of my phone calls or emails. It became very apparent he sold me a very sick kitten and didn't want anything to do with me afterwards.

I will do whatever I need to spread the word about Aaron's Savannah's so no one else has to endure what I did. It was an emotional trauma and also a lot of vet bill expense on top of my purchase which was not at a discounted price.

If there ever is any pursued future cases of charges against him I would gladly testify. He needs to be shut down. I shudder to think of the rest of the cats who are still there. I feel I rescued my dear cat - and he is now one of the lucky ones.


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