Hi, I am new to this site & would like to know if anyone could help me please.

A few weeks ago I re-homed my 3yr old Boxer who we had since she was 8wks old, she went back to the breeder as we are having to sell our house & move into rented accomodation, every house that we looked at refused to take her so we thought we had absolutely no choice but to rehome her which absolutely broke our hearts.
The breeder contacted me the next day to say she wasn't settling in, was barking all the time & didn't like her other 8 boxers & that her sister that was originally going to take her could no longer take her & she couldn't keep her, I again explained the situation & asked her if she could give her a few more days to settle, I heard no more & tried contacting her on numerous occasions for an update but had no response, eventually I had a text to say she was fine, had settled well & sleeps on their bed all the time & loves being with the other dogs, she told me she would call me that week & send me some pictures of her & that we would arrange for us to visit but nothing came of it, I tried again to contact her but nothing.
We have now found a house that is happy to take her & has so much space for her & is right next to a huge park & is still walking distance to the beach which she absolutely loves.
I contacted the breeder again & explained that we had found somewhere that we would be able to take her & that we were all missing her like mad & that it was breaking the kids & my hearts being without her, she text me to tell me she was now living with her sister, that I obviously didn't care about her, that she had cost her lots of money & that I couldn't have her back, I asked how she had cost her money as she was up to date with everything, microchipped, etc & in perfect health and went with food, bed, toys, lead, collar, etc again I have been ignored.
It has been about 6 weeks since she went to the breeder & I really don't know where we stand if anywhere with being able to get her back, the breeder has moved since we got her 3yrs ago & hasn't given me her new address.When she went we handed over her KC registration form, identichip form & vaccination card as we truely didn't think we would be in a position to be able to have her back.

Please can anyone give me any advice, we are so lost without her, the kids are crying & I feel physically sick not being able to see her, please I ask not to be judged with re-homing her as we thought we really had no other choice at the time.

I would have thought if it had been only a few weeks & you had had the dog for 3 years, the breeder would have understood. If as you say you have been in contact during this time you seem to care.
You must have been in an unenviable situation as alot of rentals dont allow pets so the obvious first port of call is the breeder. I cant understand why the breeder is not allowing you to have your girl back??
If the breeder is ignoring your contact then I dont think you are going to have much luck here..which I know is not what you want to hear..
Sorry but I dont think this helps much

Sorry, I may have missed something here, but where did you take your Boxer when she was rehomed 6 weeks ago, was it to her or did she collect from you? Also when you phone her what is the dial code, that will give you some idea where she has moved to in the country and maybe a search on BT will find her new address. I think I would move heaven and earth to find my dog in these circumstances and if she is continuing as a breeder then once you find the area she has moved to, (from her dial code) perhaps a trip round the local dog training classes will help in case someone knows where she has moved to. (Miss Marples has nothing on me when I get going), also there are many ways to trace people on the internet or council tax registrations. Once found I think I would be camping on her doorstep and making a lot of noise !!!! These ideas are just for starters......

Just thought, is there a boxer or ordinary dog rescue near you as she may just have put your dog there and now feels she cannot tell you this, it may be worth checking, also is your dog microchipped?

If shes in breed club try asking them if they would talk to breeder too. a little peer pressure might make her relent

Thanks for your replies.

The breeder came & picked her up from me as she said she was visiting her husbands friend locally at the same time but I know that she still lives in Houghton Regis, Dunstable, Bedfordshire.
I only have a mobile for contact now as she hasn't given me her new house number.
I've tried with her surname to trace her on google on BT, etc but can't get anywhere as it appears she is ex directory so it won't bring her address up.
Millie is identichipped but I gave the papers to the breeder to change over the details, I'm pretty sure I could get her chip number from the vets as they keep a record & then I will try the rescue centres there just in case.

That was the annoying thing she told me I couldn't have my dog back but she had puppies if I wanted one but as I told her it's not a puppy that I am missing I am missing my lovely dog Millie.
Strange thing is she had told me before that Millies mum had been spayed so couldn't be used for breeding again & the 2 sisters she had kept one had a litter around 5months ago & the other was in season the same time but didn't want to breed from her as she wasn't wanting to breed anymore so I'm not quite sure where these pups have come from all of a sudden.
She has Millies mum & dad, her 2 brothers from 1st litter, 2 sisters from same litter as Millie & then 2 boys from the last litter & now Millie.

This is absolutely breaking our hearts & I really don't know what to do :(

Have you tried googling her mobile no? I do this if anyone rings about pups. It will bring up any ads she has placed or websites she is listed on and perhaps you can get address that way. If not could you write to her and send the letter to the KC asking them to pass it on.

I understand that you want her back but wonder if she has rehomed her when you thought you were giving her up forever and now can't take her from that person when your circumstances have changed.

Good Luck

>When she went we handed over her KC registration form, identichip form & vaccination card as we truely didn't think we would be in a position to be able to have her back.

This is the crux of the matter - you voluntarily gave up your dog, with no discussion/options/agreement about what would happen if your circumstances changed.

I have every sympathy with your circumstances, I would have hated to be in your position BUT you sadly didn't leave yourself any room for manouvre with the breeder.  The sensible (and kind) thing for the breeder to have done is to suggest she take your dog back on a temporary basis until the dust settled.  The very least she should have done is stay in touch with you but she isn't under any obligation to.  I suppose that if your situation hadn't changed you'd have been pleased to have found your dog a good home and perhaps this is why she thinks it's ok to keep the dog?

Legally I'm not sure what you can do.  Morally the breeder ought be working with you and maybe it's this emotional angle that might serve you best.  Perhaps you could write a letter to the breed club to be forwarded to her.  Good luck

> I understand that you want her back but wonder if she has rehomed her when you thought you were giving her up forever and now can't take her from that person when your circumstances have changed.
>

That was my thought, but they could at least tell you so. 

I think you have to think of the dog in all of this - it has probably taken her a few weeks to settle into a new home and bond with her owner. To to come back to you would cause her more stress and confuson.

It is no different to handing her over to a rescue or selling her to somebody else - she is no longer your dog, and if the breeder wants to keep her I sadly don't think there is much you can do about it.

I have just had a call from the breeder, she says that her sister has the dog & that she is moving to Scotland & will not give her back to us, that she has already changed her KC details over & the breeder is refusing to give me her own address or house phone number & told me legally I do not have a leg to stand on & basically get on with it.
She also told me that Millie gave all her other dogs Kennel Cough, I don't see how as Millie was fully vaccinated & was showing absolutely no signs when she left my house & had not been in direct contact with any other dogs carrying the disease, I know it is spread by droplets so could have been picked up on walks, etc but she was in perfect health when she left me, can she be a carrier & not show any signs ? She said she was the only dog to not develop any symptoms but all the rest did?

I'm heartbroken here, can't stop crying & feel physically sick :( :(

I think a nice long artical for the boxer club newsletter with photos of the dog and of the children and the new empty garden and saying how heartbroken everyone is.  write it as an open letter to breeders to ask them to help when people get stuck and make terms that are clear to all when dogs are returned.
it Might shame this person into action.
other way is financial if you can afford it. theres possibility this women is greedy- try offereing money for her.

I feel sick reading your story, think it is incredibly sad.

Thank you, think I will try our local Boxer club & see what they can advise.
The woman asked me if I would give my kids up as easily & that she would never have got rid of her dogs for anything & I told her numerous times that I felt we had no choice that we didn't want to re-home her & that I was putting a roof over my kids heads first but basically that was wrong ?

What a sad story and my heart goes out to you & your family.  I wouldn't give up yet....how about contacting some national newspaper's with your story? I think someone else has already mentioned contacting The Breed Club too.  I hate to ask this question but is she spayed?  I am now wondering if she isn't, would they start breeding her?  I really hope this isn't the case.

She sounds very heartless to me. What did she expect you to do? Have your kids living in a tent so you could keep the dog? I really don't see that you had any choice!

Hi,
If you go to www.192.com and in people search tap in the surname you gave earlier and the location Bedfordshire it does find someone of that unusual name, although not sure if it is the right person. You do have to pay to get all the info with address, but it could be worth it if the names are right.

> I hate to ask this question but is she spayed ?

That was my first thought too .

try pipl as well.  If you put the name in it will come up with lots of places the person has an online presence.  You may get an address, facebook page or any links to a breed clud website etc  http://pipl.com/

Thank you everyone for your replies, it is much appreciated.
Millie isn't spayed, we tried ourselves to breed from her twice but had no luck so we were planning to have her spayed this Summer but due to the circumstances with the house we hadn't yet got it done & I told the breeder that it needed doing.

I tried those sites that were posted, thank you again, couldn't find anything on pipl but those are the people on the 192.com site so I'm going to purchase the credits & request their details & go from there.

Does anyone know with regards to the Kennel Cough, can she just be a carrier, give it to all the other dogs & not develop any symptoms herself ?

Will keep you all informed as she told me she would call me tomorrow after speaking with her sister & getting her husbands permission to give me her phone number & address, I'm not holding my breath that she will call me though.

Give Ann Podmore(Boxer Welfare)a call and tell her what has happened and see if she can help

I am not far from That area so will check for you....
Sounds as if she has either sold the dog on for money/ or got the dog in whelp/jmo.

I have every sympathy with you bec and am really glad that things have turned around for you, but I have to say that if I'd had taken a dog back and rehomed it, I also wouldn't disturb it again to let you have it back.  A dog is not a sofa that can be passed around to suit.  It also involves people making changes to their lives, as well as time, money and emotion when a dog is rehomed and so I think it's selfish to ask for her back.

This is a sad tale but I can understand that the breeder has re-homed and as far as they are concerned it is not up for discussion. No one is at fault the breeder took the dog back when asked and has re-homed, the owner handed it over because they were in difficulty and were no doubt please when the breeder took her. Circumstances have changed but one can't really expect to unravel what has been done for this dog and I can see the breeder will not want to be bothered now it has been sorted. The fact that the bitch may be bred is not really anything to do with the fact that the dog was willingly returned to the breeder along with its papers.

Just my opinion but I would like to know the exact circumstances under which the dog was handed back to the breeder. Was it made clear that this was a 'temporary' arrangement until the owner secured suitable accommodation?  I didn't get that impression from the OPs post.  So, I think the breeder has done no wrong.  However, if the owner asked for a temporary solution until they found somewhere to live where the dog was welcome, then I would have a gripe with the breeder.  There are always two sides to every story.

I'm confused, why would you hand over all the dogs papers if the arrangement was temporary. If the OP was paying for the breeder to kennel the dog then, yes, I can see that they have a right to ask for it to be returned and should be seeking legal help and this may be a case of theft.

However it would not be usual to had over the dogs papers apart from the inoculation records to someone who had agreed to kennel a dog and money would need to have been either exchanged or promised.

If a dog is handed back to its breeder because of an ongoing inability to home the dog then the breeder has every right to deal with the dog as they see fit. It is sad and I do feel for the original owner but they could have kennelled it at a commercial kennels, once it is handed back to the breeder   with the papers, presumably signed, you have handed back the right of ownership, if the papers were not signed then the ownership will not have been changed by the Kennel Club and the dog can not be shown nor any pups registered.

I'm sorry to say I strongly think from this 'breeders' comments and story, she intends to keep and breed from your dog.

Probably she 'fell into her lap' just as she fancied having a litter.

Tooolz, unless the paper work was signed by the OP the breeder can't breed pups and register them.

I'm aware of that but......I believe she has.....

"When she went we handed over her KC registration form, identichip form & vaccination card as we truely didn't think we would be in a position to be able to have her back"

"I have just had a call from the breeder, she says that her sister has the dog & that she is moving to Scotland & will not give her back to us, that she has already changed her KC details over & the breeder is refusing to give me her own address or house phone number & told me legally I do not have a leg to stand on & basically get on with it."

Morally - she should give your dog back. However... in her position I would be worried that something will happen again and you will have to give her up again... so that might put me off, however im not a nasty person, i would have offered to foster her for you for a couple of months whilst you sorted yourselves out!

Legally - you havent got a leg to stand on I am afraid. You gave her the dog back with the intention of that being permenant and that she rehome the dog to someone else.

I think a lesson is here to be learned - in future, dont panic. You actually had a variety of options and Ill bet you didnt use any of them.

Firstly - rental homes very frequently WILL take a dog IF you specifically ask the agent to ask the landlord, AND offer a higher deposit, add into the contract that you will have carpets professionally cleaned etc etc. The 'no pets' clause is added to rental listings as standard in most cases, NOT because every single landlord in the world hates pets! (I have lived in rented accommodation for decades, as have friends!).

Secondly - you could have kennelled her for a few weeks.

Thirdly you could have asked the breeder (though she ought to have offered this i think) to temporarily mind her, with you paying her costs, the same as kennelling.

This is a horrible and nasty way to learn these things and I am really sorry this woman isnt doing the right thing here, but I very very much doubt you will get her back now and legally you just have nothing, the dog was rightfully hers to do with as she pleased.

I think the OP said she was having to sell her house and move into rented accommodation so money may well be tight making kennels etc out of the question. I can understand that the breeder may not wish to disturb the dog again and once the dog was given back, apparently permanently, then the OP has not really any legal right to the dog, but the breeder did not have to be so heartless about the whole thing IMHO. She must have known how much the OP loved this dog and that this was a last resort for her so why be so nasty about it?

I am sorry and it is difficult to know the exact circumstances but this breeder is not being nasty, they took a pup they bred back, did they have room, was the sex of the incoming returnee going to cause a problem, could they afford the extra dog. If a dog was returned to me, the owner saying that they had tried every way they could to find accommodation for them and the dog and found it impossible, and then handed over signed papers I too would have started to make arrangements to re-home asap.

> breeder is not being nasty

The woman asked me if I would give my kids up as easily & that she would never have got rid of her dogs for anything & I told her numerous times that I felt we had no choice that we didn't want to re-home her & that I was putting a roof over my kids heads first but basically that was wrong ?

I think that the comment above is nasty and unneccessary - no matter how much we love our dogs the OP had no choice but to put her children first, there is no comparison between children and dogs!

I can understand that to you it must seem unkind and unsympathetic but would expect that she was trying to make sure that you had explored every avenue, of course, what you read on line does not give the full story nor can you 'hear' how things are said. Snatches of conversation are taken out of context and it is impossible to 'feel' the emotion.

It may have been extremely inconvenient for her to take back this dog so she would have pushed you to try harder, now you knew you had done all you could but she would think you possible had not and to some extent she will feel her attitude vindicated because now she has accepted the dog and made provision for it you want it back, possibly just the kind of situation she was trying to avoid. She may have been able to express better but not everyone is a diplomat when they have there backs against the wall.

All that apart can I ask did you fill in and sign the registration certificate when you handed it to her - if you did then you have no rights over what happens to the dog you handed back - if you did not the dog is still yours and you should seek the help of a solicitor.

I can fully understand both sides to this story, but surely if you have given up a much loved pet because of circumstances that are happening in your life it would at least be good to know that pet was happy in her new life. A few photos would not go amiss, just to show the dog with her new family and to make sure she is being looked after well and not just shoved into a kennel and used in a breeding program. When I rehomed a much loved dog (due to fighting between 2 dogs that couldn't be sorted ) I at least kept in contact with the new owners until I was satisfied that he had settled well, and they still send me photos every Christmas. I think the 'not knowing' where the dog is and how she is being cared for must really hurt and if this breeder has one ounce of kindness in her she will see this and at least have some contact to confirm the dog is happy.
Also if the dog spent 3 years with one family then I don't think that 6 weeks is enough time for the dog to forget his original family, some people leave a dog for 6 weeks with relatives when they go on hols and the dog goes home willingly with no problems when they return. So I don't believe that it will muddle or confuse the dog to be returned after just 6 weeks.
Lets hope this breeder has the decency to offer some kind of proof that the welfare of this dog is being considered first and foremost.

Thank you again for all your replies

I waited all day yesterday for some sort of contact from the breeder as she promised but nothing.
I've kind of got to the point of accepting that I will never see her again as everyone has said legally I haven't got a leg to stand on, the breeder never offered to take her in as a temporary measure until we had got sorted & I didn't even think of it as an option.
Kennels were not an option for us due to financial issues, hence why we are selling our house.
With regards to the rented situation, I asked specifically when we found houses we found suitable if they would take her & they all said no as she was a big dog & they would only take 1 cat or 1 small dog, I asked if they had any other houses available where they would take her & they didn't have any, believe me we kept looking but time was getting limited.

The breeder still has not sent the pictures she promised so that I can see her in her new home so I am thinking the worst all the time, I just want to see that she is ok now. I was told that we could visit her but have been refused an address or home phone number so this makes it impossible, then I was told she was moving to Scotland so I said well no chance of me ever seeing her again then as it is too far & I was told Scotland isn't that far, I live in Essex so I disagree.

I just feel that the breeder has turned on me & is punishing me now because of my situation, fair enough I understand what people are saying that I have no right as we gave her up because we couldn't afford to be homeless ourselves.
What gets me is that we are the only people out of the 2 litters of pups that she bred that have kept in touch since we bought Millie home, I was constantly emailing the breeder pics of her, ringing her mobile & texting her with updates & to wish the pups a happy birthday when 21st December came every year yet she hasn't got the decency to let me know that she is ok & even an up to date pic would be nice, it is only her sister that has her after all so this isn't impossible, for all I know she could have put her in a rehoming centre or had her put to sleep but won't prove to me that she is ok  :( :( :(

I think the breeder should have said 'we have a home for her' and gave you the option to rethink or check your circumstances.

i understand that the dog went back to her but to be so nasty is pointless.  i expect a lot of the above is true that could be happening.

With her microchip, you could go to her vets or even ring them and rep[ort the dog stolen, if she had kennel cough she would have to be treated.  When mine go to the vets they scan for the chip, even now, so could be flagged that way or in a rescue centre.  either way, you could find her, she'll have to go some time.  You could ring the kennel club and have the papers resent to you.  They will tell you if she has been reregistered and will know where the breeder lives (don't know if they'll tell you that).  Have you checked the puppy register on the KC site, she has pups or google boxer pups.  CAn't sell them without advertising.

You could even be naughty and contact the police, say she won't return the dog.  or try a civil suite to recover her.

She could even be on this site, her conversation with you after you posted was unexpected.

> Also if the dog spent 3 years with one family then I don't think that 6 weeks is enough time for the dog to forget his original family,

Totally agree.  I had one of my pups back (volunteered as I didn't want her kennelled), while the owners went to the states for 4 weeks.  She was 8 months old, so had been with her new family enough to settle in well.  When she arrived back here, she settled in with the gang as if she had never been away.  Yet, when the owners came to take her back home, she went wild to see them.

I'm sorry and I know I am acting like the Devils advocate but I do think that some replies are prolonging the pain for the OP. If she signed the dog over then there is no legal way she can get it back and suggesting there may be is also unkind.

But if she did not then it is worth pushing the situation.

The OP has been asked if she signed the dog over but I don't think that question has been answered. It is important to know the answer because if the dog has been registered with a change of owner and the dog was not signed over then there may be a case of fraud. However if it was signed over the OP has no case at all.

If she signed the dog over then there is no legal way she can get it back and suggesting there may be is also unkind.

I completely agree, hard as it is. But surely if the breeder actually loves dogs then she will understand the pain the OP must be feeling and a photo or some kind of confirmation that the dog is well and happy is not a lot to ask.
There are times when many of us need for one reason or another, to rehome a much loved dog, and we know the pain this causes, but knowing your ex dog is well and settled helps with that pain and would only take a few minutes of the breeders time - unless of course she has something to hide.

I'm with Nova, I don't think she has a leg to stand on.  OP gave that dog back with all paperwork(regardless of wether signed or not, breeder could've done this) and told the breeder it was a permenent thing.  I have been in both situations.  I got a pup back after a year, he was too much for owner, she couldn't walk him, separated with her hubby, I got every excuse.  Well, I took him back and after a week of 'testing' I decided to re-home as I keep un-spayed bitches.  He found a great home with a family and off he trotted happily.  His previous owner contacted me to tell me she was missing him too much and had changed her mind.  Too little too late.  Our arrangement was permenant.  I told her of his new home and situation but still she was too selfish to see how uspetting it would be to disrupt him again and put him back into a less suitable home.  I only told her how he was but for the privacy of the new owner, I never gave photos or info on where he might be. The decision to re-home is a hard one, I know, but it also takes time and a lot of thinking so it's never an over-night desicion.  OP should have thought long and hard as I think a temporary arrangement would've been better but handing over the paper tells me it was thought permenant.  I think the breeder is right.

We are only hearing one side of the story here and there are always two sides!  There can be many reasons, perfectly justifiable, why the breeder doesn't now want to keep in touch.  Her responsibility was to the dog that she bred and she has completly fulfilled that.

I consider myself to be a good, responsible and supportive breeder for many years, but I had a dog returned many years ago, actually from a good friend, and already had a family waiting for an older dog, which the original owner knew.  I rehomed the dog with her knowledge and consent and 3 days later she changed her mind - not dissimilar circumstances to the OP here.  I refused to ask the new family to return the dog and the original owner became such a nuisance, ringing for hours and hours every day to the point that I cut off communication all together. 

I know that with our breed welfare the 'old' owners are never given any details about the 'new' owners, and vice versa, because of the possibility of tracking down the dog and trying to reclaim it. Once surrendered and the papers signed, that's it.

I don't think it would kill for ONE photo of the dog next to a current newspaper to show she is still alive and well to be sent to x-owner.  with no evidence of the dogs health and welfare it is only natural the origonal owner is beside herself.

I think as  sad as the OP tale is, she really does not have a leg to stand on,  she signed the dog over  to the breeder,  and no mention was made of it beign a temporary arrangement... not to mention  the breeder took the dog back (how often do you hear  of them not ) yet the breeder is beign castigated for doing the right thing, she found the dog a new home, was she to know the owner was going to change her mind a few days/weeks later...

I think the OP needs to accept , she gave her dog up and it is now in a new home.... turn it round and ask, if the owner had not got a home that accepted dogs, she would nto have been asking for the dog back, and the breeder would then have been "praised"   by owner for  being caring!!

I don't think it would kill for ONE photo of the dog next to a current newspaper to show she is still alive and well to be sent to x-owner.  with no evidence of the dogs health and welfare it is only natural the origonal owner is beside herself

Would the owner be beside herself IF she had not found a home that accepts dogs??

Why should the breeder do any such thing, she took the dog back ( A plus in my book)  the owner did not stipulate where  or who she should re home it too.  nor did she ask to be given a running commentary on where  the dog went!

As someone says, there is always two sides to a story, we are only hearing one.

>I don't think it would kill for ONE photo of the dog next to a current newspaper to show she is still alive and well to be sent to x-owner.

(I don't think the dog was KIDNAPPED...)

It's not too much to ask for a photograph, but I doubt it will 'tell' the OP anything.  It's likely to just prolong the agony.  The OP trusted the breeder enough to have a dog from her, and trusted her enough to ask for her help in rehoming the dog.  Perhaps now the question has been asked and answered Bec needs to trust the breeder enough to believe she has found a good home for the dog, and let go.

For any other readers in a similar position perhaps they will consider a temporary or 'holding' home until their situation is resolved one way or the other.  It's a shame the breeder didn't suggest it, or the OP think to ask for it in this instance, but perhaps it could serve as a learning point for others.  I'm sorry Bec that this advice is too late to help you - sending hugs :)

Blimey some of you really do like to make a person feel like utter rubbish, as if I don't already feel like that, thanks very much !!
As I have said on numerous times it was not a decision that I took lightly, I felt that I had absolutely no choice as I needed to put the welfare of my 3 children as a priority, we tried to find a house that would take her but they all refused, it was either a case of they didn't accept pets at all or would only take a small dog, a Boxer isn't a small dog !!
I didn't know that we would be able to find a house that would take her otherwise I would never have let her go, I didn't think that temporary care from the breeder would be possible & she never offered it so yes the paperwork was signed as I felt I had no choice as I have said before.
As far as I was aware when we asked for her back that she was still with the breeder as she said that she would be keeping her in one text she sent me not that she would be giving her away, she also promised when she collected her to keep in touch with regular photos & updates & visits, a promise that she never kept.
As I said a few posts back I have had to accept that I can't have her back but I would like to know that she is ok, it's only the breeders sister that has her, I don't want her sisters address or phone number just the breeders so that I can keep in touch better instead of via a mobile or text messages, she also has my email so she could send a picture that way, anything would be nice.

Thank you to those that have been supportive with kind words, it is much appreciated.

Would the owner be beside herself IF she had not found a home that accepts dogs??

In response to this post from Jackbox : YES is the answer as we have been beside ourselves since the second we knew that we might have to re-home her when we were looking for a home so yes we have been besides ourselves the whole time & still are !!

Hi Bec,

I too understand your pain as i once many years ago had to hand a boxer back to the rescue where i got her from..short story was i rented a property and the agennt said dog was fine, moved in..happy and settled and then the owner said we couldn't have pets and the agent got it wrong.

I took her back and it broke my heart...i felt i'd let her down but i felt it was too upsetting to have followed up on her..i also at that moment felt that i had no choice...in hindsight maybe i'd have done things differently.

I will never forget that day and the pain i felt so do understand how you are feeling.

Many people will relate to your story, i have no advice just one of the many that wants to show support, ignore the ones that try to make you feel worse than you do already.

Annee x

I'm so sorry that you had to rehome your boxer, you must be heart broken :(

How well did you know her breeder? If you were happy enough to buy a puppy of her then surely you must feel Millie went back to the right hands to be rehomed, I understand it's hard to accept that you won't see Millie again but you must, as you have said at the time you handed her over thinking that was it & the breeder thought so too. Maybe the oportunity for Millie to be rehomed from the breeder to some else offering a good home popped up & it wasn't fair to deny her this new home?

Do you know if her breeder was into showing? You may be able to find her new details this way.

In response to this post from Jackbox : YES is the answer as we have been beside ourselves since the second we knew that we might have to re-home her when we were looking for a home so yes we have been besides ourselves the whole time & still are !!

My point being,  I understand your distress of having to re home your girl, but  if you had not been able to find a home where you are allowed pets, you would have accepted the out come of the breeder re homing her to a new home.. you would have relinquished any rights  and allowed the breeder to do her job without any demands from you,  ,  the circumstances for the dog/breeder has not changed, you could no longer keep her.  the breeder has re homed her, as any good breeder would, they take back and re home their pups, if she has told you she would not help, I could see where the negativity towards her is coming from.

But maybe the breeder feels the dog is in the best place, and has only its interest at heart,  to be honest if I was to take on a dog from a breeder (in these circumstances)  I would be a bit miffed if  the last owner was now trying to get it back.

Maybe the breeder feels she has a good reason not to allow you contact, or want you to contact her.  you sadly have to give her up and under the circumstances  its best to draw a lien under, it.. I can understand your pain,    but continuing  this , is only prolonging your heartache.

Maybe try one last time to talk to the breeder, (leave a message on her phone) and ask if under any circumstances in the future  they (new owners) cant keep her, will she (breeder) consider  giving you first refusal on her!!

Just  a side notE,  I would think many a breeder over the years has heard every excuse under the sun, why people no longer can keep their dogs... I am not saying your story is not true, but maybe this breeder has heard it all before and has become sceptical of  stories  she hears.... just a thought. and not necessarily directed at you.!!

Sunshine - I think you have given very poor advice re lying and saying the dog has been stolen and contacting the Police.
This is a very sad situation where the OP has now found herself able to take her dog back but did not know that when the breeder stepped in and took the dog back when the OP could no longer look after her. It's a sad state of affairs but the breeder did take the dog back when requested and has rehomed. I agree some pictures would be nice and some contact but your suggestions are deceipful and nasty towards someone who did help out when needed