foster puppy from breeders- who broke into our house and took the pup to sell?

Question

Acquaintences of ours are breeders of pedigree Bulldogs. 
They sell the pups for $2200 each. 

They had a litter of pups in June. We visited several times with the pups. They sold them all very quickly. 

About a week later (pups age 8+weeks), a family returned one of the pups. Our friends asked us if we could foster her until they found her a new home, and that they were not refunding the owners the $ for the pup (as per their contract with them). 

We took the pup. We also told everyone she was up for sale again, and took her with us to ball, market, everywhere- handing out the breeders card when people showed interest in her. 

We had her for 2 weeks. We told the breeder that if they didnt find a home for her, we would keep her. They said they wanted another $2000 for her. We said no, unlessthey were refunding the original owners the $.

A friend of ours wanted to buy the pup. We tried working with her for 2 days tocome to a suitable payment arrangement, but last minute she backed out because she felt it was too much $ for her to spend. So, back to square one finding the pup a home. 

The breeders told us that they were refunding the original owners $1000, and once the pup was sold again, we would get half of any $ over that $1000. 

Last week, we came home to find that the breeders had lefvt a note on our door- they had used the spare key we had hidden, came into our home, and took the pup- they had sold her while we were out for dinner. We were VERY shocked to come home and find the pup GONE. They said that when they opened the door, the puppy ran out to them, and they relocked the door and never entered the house (which is crap, because mysteriously, all her toys and her bed are gone). 

They sold her for $1700. Which means, as per our agreement, I should be entitled to $350. Now, they are saying they have to check with a lawyer to see if they have to give us that $, since we didn't sell her (there was NO mention of our deal being contingent upon our selling the pup, as WE were not the breeders, holders of pedigree papers, and could not accept $ for the pup OR set a price.). 

We feel VERY taken advantage of, and I am VERY upset by how everything happened. What should I do about this? I have explained our feelings about this to the breeder, and he just shrugged his shoulders and said it was a "last minute sale" and he couldnt get hold of me. I told him I was mad about him going into our home, which he totally denies- he says the pup ran out the door when he opened it (not possible, she was baby gated into our kitchen with her toys). 

I am unsure hwo to deal with this. I do want the $ as  per our arrangement, and I am even more adamant about it now, based on the guy lying and now back tracking about it.

♥ Cioccolata ♥ · Accepted Answer

And this is why you don't deal with greedy, evil backyard breeders.

Consider this a lesson learned and furthermore encourage everyone to NOT visit this person for a bulldog.  I would also tell your local bulldog club chapter and the AKC about everything that has transpired - they will want to keep notes of unethical breeders.

Also, tell these people that you're involving the police because they were "breaking and entering" your home without your permission, then get the police out to your house and get your key dusted for fingerprints.  Not only are they @ssholes, they're very shady people indeed and you need to have a written record of their misdeeds against you.

You're not going to see your money.  Consider this - you paid a few hundred to keep these crazies away from you.  In the future, get a written, signed contract for EVERYTHING.  Contracts hold water in court - "he said, she said" does not.

Hope this helps!

? · Answer

Change your locks.
Figure out a new place for a spare key. 
And cut off communication with those greedy a*s idiots. 
Don't do anything for those people, they can handle their own problems and stop sh*tting on you or anyone else. 
Unless you signed a contract about you getting have the selling price then unfortunately you really have nothing that can force them to give you the money, but you do have a note that shows they intruded, I'd call a lawyer to see if there isn't any loop hole you guys could find to get your money but I honestly think your just plain fvcked by these guys.
I'm sorry you have to deal with people like this, we all have at one point in our lives and it is draining and frustrating.
If you can't find a way then just drop it completely and forget about it, keeping moving forward and don't make an effort to contact them at all, be the bigger stronger person. They will eventually get whats coming to them, sooner or later someone will sh*t on them rrreal good back.

ms manners · Answer

You both sound ridiculous to me.

You fostered someone elses $2000 dog for two weeks, then arbitrarily decided you would keep it for free?  They may have swooped in and taken the dog when you were not there because they were afraid you would not give it back.

Did you get ANYTHING in writing as far as them paying you?  If not, then you are out of luck.  

If they used a key to get into your house, I doubt that you can even do anything about that.  They can just say you gave them the key, and there is no way to prove otherwise. (And why would you tell other people where you hide a key to your house?)

What you should do is learn from the experience:

Dont foster or offer to sell someone elses dog without a written agreement.
Dont assume you can keep someone elses dog without paying for it
Dont leave a housekey where other people can find it.

? · Answer

They sound like some really shady backyard breeders to me. For starters, responsible breeders do not ask people to foster a puppy that is returned to them. They take the time to work with them and make them suitable for another home, not pass the burden onto someone else. I really don't know what to tell you. I'd say change the locks, cut your losses and never speak to these people again. But let everyone know what a shifty operation they're running.

howldine · Answer

I think you should also demand a written apology because you and that pup did a lot of free advertisement for a sh itty breeder.  Yes, you should be paid and you might mention the threat of 'B&E' into your house as leverage to get the money.  

Live and learn- these people are UNSCRUPULOUS, AMMORAL, COWARDLY, and VILE.  Not a good specimen of the species "breeder."

Aphrodite ☼ · Answer

Why are you even wasting your time with a backyard greeder?  That is not a reputable breeder - that is just a selfish person using their dogs as a personal ATM.

If I had "fostered" that dog and had no written agreement with them, I would have kept it and never given it back to them.  See them suck on that for a while.
All they care about is $$$$$$$

Anonymous · Answer

I would ask them again to give you back your fair share of the money and if they didn't I would report them as breeders, to the vet, and breeders organization and continue to give them a bad reputation because apparently what they care about is money. It's a very difficult situation. Good luck.

Pamela · Answer

Unless you had a written contract with the breeder I don't think there is anything you can do. Verbals do not holdup in court.
A lesson learned here though. If you are going to hide keys don't tell people where they are.

Lorraine · Answer

TOTAL TOTAL GREED on the breeders behalf.

Gees...  I wouldn't want anything to do with that greedy b*tch.

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foster puppy from breeders- who broke into our house and took the pup to sell?

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