One more letter

July 22, 2008 · 7 comments

Dear Breeder of Maggie (really want to put link to their website here, but am torn),

While we appreciate what you did for us, taking Maggie to your home and ‘training’ her not to be aggressive, you would benefit from not being so damn arrogant and jackassy.

When you brought her back to us, she was, admittedly, better behaved.  She sat and stayed, she didn’t bark as much, and we were able to take her places.  But as you were leaving, you uttered 5 little words that rubbed me the wrong way: ‘she’s a little crate aggressive’.  At first we didn’t think anything of it, as she doesn’t spend much of her time in her crate.  Then it occured to me that by saying those 5 little words, you basically admitted lying to us the whole time she was with you.  You said you saw NOTHING wrong with her, nothing aggressive, no problems – you would trust her with YOUR two year old (if you had one).  But see, if you saw nothing as you said, then why would she be crate aggressive?  Yeah, thought so.

And since you never put her in the situations we suggested to you, and since you kept her in the kennel and not in your home like you said you would since she wasn’t “high on the seniority list”, you couldn’t know what we were truly dealing with. You couldn’t understand our fear and apprehension. Or you just wouldn’t.

And when we emailed and called you to tell you that she snapped at two little kids she’s known her whole life with us, you NEVER responded except to set up a drop off point.  And when my husband and son took her to you while I was trying desperately not to cry uncontrollably, YOU didn’t have more than a few words to say to them.  You were a jackass.

I understand that you breed dogs, and that you use them as hunting dogs and they aren’t part of your family, but Maggie? She was part of our family!! It was not easy giving her up; we love that damn dog!  We wanted to beat the odds and keep her, but the uncertainty of her aggression were too much for us to risk. It would have been nice if you could have acknowledged that.  It would have been nice if you would have said that you were sorry it didn’t work out.  Hell, it would have been nice if you would have replied to the email in which I poured out my heart, asking you to take care of her and maybe give updates for the sake of my boys.

But you didn’t.  You acted as if you were doing us a favor, as if there could not possibly be anything wrong with one of the dogs that you bred. You basically blamed us for her aggression, saying it was training issues.  All the training in the world doesn’t keep a dog from snapping when there are no known triggers. I almost hope she bites you.  Hard.

If I were a lesser person, I would slam you all over the internet, in dog groups and wherever else I could. Alas, I am a good, forgiving person.  But never would I recommend someone get a dog from you – for any reason.  You have perpetuated the stereotypes about the Chessie, you have ruined an entire breed for us and everyone we know.  I hope you’re happy.

Maggie’s human mama

{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }

Lori July 22, 2008 at 5:10 pm

Aww. That sucks! I’m sorry she was insensitive. I think sometimes people forget that pets are part of the family, not just “animals”.

Loris last blog post..People are Like Onions (or Parfaits)

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J.J. July 22, 2008 at 6:24 pm

I would post their name. They deserve it.

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flutter July 23, 2008 at 12:46 am

I am just so sorry.

flutters last blog post..here’s a doozy

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Clara July 23, 2008 at 11:01 am

I’m sorry to hear about Maggy. Shame on those breeders, they are insensitive. Go ahead, blast their name on the internet. Maybe that will be a wake up call to them for the future.

Claras last blog post..

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Shine July 23, 2008 at 2:39 pm

Ugh, what a heartbreak, for everyone! So sorry it had to end that way! Glad the boys were never hurt though and it never escalated to a situation where you might have been sued. Sad situation, but know Mags will find her place somewhere and be happy too!

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amanda July 25, 2008 at 10:38 pm

Damn, so very, very sorry.

amandas last blog post..Nexterday

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bejewell July 29, 2008 at 9:01 am

That makes me so sad. We’re struggling with a similar issue with our rat terrier Big Lou, but there’s no breeder to follow up with and Lou is 12 and ornery and I really don’t know what our options are. As my husband said to me the other night, “What do you do with an old dog?”

Anyway, what I’m trying (but failing) to say is I totally sympathize and my heart goes out to you. Incredible what an effect those little furry boogers have on our lives, isn’t it?

Hang in there!!

bejewells last blog post..I Am A Serial Killer

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