i guess this question may seem strange to ask someone,but i felt i needed to ask anyway.well here goes,myself and my husband brought a lovely cavalier king charles last saturday from what we thought was a reputable and honest breeder.been looking for one for sometime,also saving.but realised that we couldnt afford to pay over £450 for one.so i looked around many times on the net to try and find a puppy,in the end i gave up.and found a breeder that was selling a four year old bitch in manchester.it sounded the lovely type of dog we so wanted for our family,and it didnt bother me that it wasant a puppy.i researched regarding health problems they can suffer,so wasant completely naive in some parts,but i guess i was in others.myself and my husband both spoke to the lady on the phone,and questioned her many times over any health problems we should know off before we come and see her,we had to travel along way.but that didnt bother us,because she sounded the perfect pet.she said that nothing was wrong,other than her having had three puppies that had died because her teets were not big enough.she also asked if we were having her as a pet or breeder,and she hoped it wasant to breed.i told her that i wasant interested in breeding from her,i just wanted a nice family pet who we could love and take walks out with.she then said she was pleased to hear that,as she didnt want her going through the pain of losing pups again.she had been through enough,and deserved to be loved and fussed.we came over to look at her,but we already knew that we would bring her home.my daughter was so excited.my friend has a cavalier,so we knew she would fit straight in with us.well we got there,and she had other cavaliers of course.infact one bitch had some puppies already suckling from her which were already taken.well anyway to cut a very long story short,we have come away with a lovely and adorable dog called tara.but since found out that she has health problems.we didnt get any papers with her,suppose we just fell in love with her as soon as we saw her.she just looked sad to me,and we all wanted to take her home.well we took her straight to the vets to get her checked over,and also for a booster.we asked the lady for previous vaccinations that she had,had.but she told us that she didnt have any.i know we may seem stupid to many,but you carnt help emotions when you see a loving face look up at you i guess.and also when someone seems so genuine to you.well it turns out that she has a heart murmour,and bad legs also.she came home scratching,and the lady told us that she had lost some hair through her pups trying to suckle from her.that was what made us take her straight away to be honest.got her saturday,was in vets on monday.she has just had some frontline because vet said that the scratching looked like fleas,but also thought that she had sprayed some on her before we came to get her.which we now know she has,as we phoned her.its taking sometime to sort out,but once that problem is.we can concentrate on her heart and legs i guess.all last night i was wondering if other people have faced what we are going through.bringing home what you thought was a healthy animal,to find out that he/she isant.and that you wont really have the full pet that you truly wanted.we would never let tara go,we fell in love with her straight away,she has been through a very rough time.someone else bred from her before this women got her too.even if her life isant totally good,we have to show her a loving home.so she can spend the rest of her days happy.we now know that we have made a mistake,but we thought this breeder was genuine.shes an adorable dog,and since having her,many people have said the same.but its never going to be easy,or cheap to make sure her life is as good be as it can.has anyone else been through this?and have they made the same decision as us to stick with the pet even though it will cost alot of money and time.stupid question to ask some may say,but i just guess i want to know that despite people thinking we are stupid.that we are also doing right by standing by our principles.would truly love someone to reply back too.am sorry its a long message,but had to explain everything.i suppose things happen for a reason.best regards anne-marie

I would do the same and you're not stupid for doing so. 

Helen

I'd be doing the same as well, Anne-Marie - once you've let a dog into your home and heart, how can you let it go again?   I certainly couldn't.

It's not going to be easy for you, but you know you'll get support from your friends here on Champdogs.

REgards

Margot

hi lokis mum.(margot)  thanks so much for your posting back regarding tara my dog.and what i am doing,it means alot to hear people say that i have done the right thing.it was a rather long posting,but once i started to talk i couldnt stop.with only getting her on saturday,then finding out she has a heart murmour aswell as a bad back leg.i guess that i panicked alittle.it also made me mad that people can do such things to dogs,then when they are of no use.then just get rid of them.but i wouldnt swop her for anything now,shes an adorable little dog.and i will do my very best to give her the life she deserves to have after what shes been through.wont be easy i am realising that now,but i shall do my best.its nice to know i have support though.take care..anne-marie

hi helen..thanks so much for replying back to my posting,it was rather long wasant it.just needed to get it off my chest i guess.thanks for supporting what i have done,its nice to know that people think i have done the right thing.shes a lovely dog,just need to take care of her now.give her the loving home she deserves.thanks,take care..anne-marie

Thank goodness she has found a nice home where she will not be bred from again.

You say she had been bred from by a previous owner as well? Wonder how those pups got on with the "little teats?" (Hope no-one's trying to breed fromTHEM, if any did survive!)
All sounds a bit of a mess; anyone who has the temerity to call themselves a breeder should know enough about dogs / whelping / their specific breed and THE DOGS THEY OWN to not breed from bitches with problems. AND to rehome them honestly!

Hope you manage to get her sorted out, and I wish you many happy years together.

Ann- Marie

i have been trying to contact you !!!!!!

No you're not stupid Anne-Marie. What a lucky little dog to have found someone willing to take responsibility for her for the rest of her life. if only more people were like you. What I would do though is tell as many people as possible about your experiences and you might prevent a few other people being taken in. Good Luck with your girl & hope you'll have plenty of happy times together

Your little baby will be forever grateful that you took her out of that home,this woman doesnt like like a very honest trustworthy person! Some people will say all the right things if they are desperate to unload a dog :(

You are not stupid,i would have done the same thing. I got one of my dogs  who's previous owner had returned her to her breeder,it was a 6 hour round trip ,and i knew that i would be coming home with her,no matter what! Her health is o.k,she has allergies and is a tad underweight,she also is very shy as her previous owner abused and neglected her,they also used to throw her out into the yard with their big dogs to see how little Emma could defend herself against them,emma is a shih-tzu,despite all of this she is friendly toward all people and other dogs.albeit a little standoffish at first.

Boy oh boy would i like to get my hands on those bastards,but they have disapeared!

Anyway,dont feel bad, i think you did the right thing for yourselves and little Tara, i hope you get to spend many,many happy years together.

Christine

hiya christine..thanks so much for the post back to me,so much has happened since we got her on saturday.we were in touch with her yesterday regarding whats shes done,but all she did was tell a pack of lies to us to be honest.we may be naive,but not totally stupid.but she obviously thinks so.its nice to know that people would do the same as me.i suppose its cos afew people have said am stupid where i live,i knew i wasant.tara is so lovely,and after the way she has been passed around.well am just pleased she is with us.there are some very unfair breeders out there,i am planning on getting another puppy after christmas.i always wanted two,will wait till tara settles in.then later get one.thanks for your kind words.take care..anne-marie

hiya anwen..thanks for the message,your so right.letting others know my experince just may make a difference.my tara is so spoiled,i already have a daughter called courteney.now i have another child called tara.lol.anne-marie

hiya clarence.....just wanted to say thanks for your posting to me,its lovely of you to say such nice things.it does make you mad when people do such things to dogs,then call themselves breeders.she has a face to die for,and would rather lick you to death than bark at you.she will be so well looked after,and spoiled rotten.thanks so much.take care anne-marie

hiya clarence...thanks for your posting,its nice to know what people think,afew people have told me that am daft.but i know am not,tara has health problems.but i love no less than i did when i first got her,and didnt know about them.shes an adorable dog,and gives so much love to all my family.everyone comments on how adorable she truly is.we have found out what the breeder put on her before we come to collect her,hopefully when we go saturday the vet can stop her itching due to it.its annoying what she has done,but then she didnt care in the first place.last night when we phoned her proved that.its nice to know that people on this site are always here to help.thankyou so much.i appreciate it alot.take care  anne-marie

Hi Anne-Marie
I had a similar experience a few years ago when we bought a 7 month old Lowchen from a 'reputable' breeder.  The day after we brought him home we took him to the vets for a check-up and we were shocked to be told that he suffered from grade 3 patella luxation - both his kneecaps were constantly dislocating.

Like you we felt we'd been conned and, had it been a defective washing machine or freezer we had bought, we would have demanded our money back.  But of course it wasn't.  It was a dear little dog who just needed to be taken care of and loved. And that's what we did.  Three years on and we have never regretted our decision.

So all I would say is try to ignore anyone who criticises you - everything happens for a reason and Tara was obviously destined to become a part of your family.  Enjoy her, she sounds adorable :D

Best wishes
Joyce

Anne Marie I have PM'd you

Give your little girl a cuddle from my boys she is lucky she found you

hi joyce..........oh thanks for such a nice posting back to me regarding tara my dog.am sorry that happened to you,your right it feels awful to know that you have been conned in such a way.but like you say,everything happens for a reason,and she was meant to be here with us.she already gets spoiled rotten bless her,has the attention of everyone.even the neighbours.she has a heart murmour,dislocated back legs,and at the moment a skin condition from what the breeder sprayed on her before we picked her up.but eventually we hopefully will get it sorted for her,so that she has a half normal life regarding her health.she follows me about everywhere,and if i leave the room for just five minutes she whines.and those adorable big eyes,well thats what made me keep her.and am pleased that i did,it just panicks you as to what lays ahead i guess.thanks,take care.means alot what you said.

Glad I was able to help a bit, Anne-Marie.  I know how easy it is to feel down about something which you feel is your fault, even when it isn't (if that makes sense :) ).

[I've had a horrible morning in work so your appreciation really cheered me up, thanks.]

im so glad tara found you, im sure shell make a lovely pet despite her problems!
i would have kept her too!
it sounds like fate to me!

(i have a tara too,but a border collie,she had had 4 homes before me-at 18 months)

hi michelle..thanks for that nice posting,yeh i reckon your right,things happen for a reason,and its obvious she was meant to be with me.it just come as a shock when i went to the vets to get her checked over.to find out all her health problems,despite the breeder saying differently.but she will have a good life here,she has fitted in so well.and we only got her on saturday.back to the vets  very soon,to get treatment started.one thing that makes me laugh though,is that she snores so loud it nearly lifts the roof off at night.lol.you wouldnt think such a snore could come out of such a small adorable dog.thanks for your words.take care.anne-marie

cute!
you should hear my nellie,shes retired from competitve obedience now cos shes so noisey when working,she would make very loud noises abit like a seal & put everyone else off!-though the judges would say they couldnt believe such a little dog could make so much noise.

my best friends used to have a lovely king charles called Roly,who was run over when young,he lived for years & years,bless him & managed really well

ann marie all i can say is lucky tara and in the end lucky you for having the oportunity of caring for her. i am sure your relationship will be very rewarding despite the difficulties, would i do the same, absolutely.

hi pru....yeh am pleased that we found tara,she so lovely.i could never walk away from her now.even though her snoring is so loud.lol.but hey,that just adds to the way we all love her.i have found that cavaliers always like a nice warm lap to lay on.whenever i sit down,you always know she will be there with those adorable eyes ready to sit on you for a cuddle.a propers mummys girl she is.

Hi Ann-marie

what colour is Tara ?? im picturing a Blenheim xxxx
Mucca

hi mucca..yeh your right she is,and sooooooooo adorable.shes sat alongside me at the moment whilst typing.she never leaves my side,even if i go to the loo she has to follow.am trying to get her out of wanting to be with me so much though.as not always will i be home,eg going shopping etc.and plus,i would like a wee wee on my own without tara rushing in.lol.and oh boy does she know when the food cupboard gets open in our house,my daughter constantly has her hand in the food cupboards,so tara is always trying it on.but i am watching her weight,although afew treats she can have.i dont want her over weight with heart and bad leg.so many people have stopped and admired her whilst shes been out with me,i havent taken her out much to be honest.after finding out about her leg,i dont want to drag her around.but we do go to pick courteney up from school in the afternoon.i have never had so much attention in my life.lol.carnt wait till we bath her,she smells doggy at the moment.got some shampoo from the vets.she will be all nice and fluffy.lol.

bless her she sounds so sweet - Tara is so  lucky to have found you and you are lucky to have found Tara you sound such a lovely family xxxx bless!!!

err whats wrong with dogs coming to the loo with you? quite normal if you ask me!

when i worked at a stables we had a horse with a heart mumur,which did not affect him at all,lived to a very old age & was very fit & active!!!

lol...i know what you mean Michelle...i have 2 regulars with me all the time ...lol

if i have a bath,they are all convinced im drowning & despartley try to help by trying to drink the water! (dont encourage this of course,cos of soap,but it is quite funny all the same!)

lo...my girl once took a dive in to her Mums bubble bath....lol

Hi Anne-Marie

If every owner was as caring as you then there would be no ill-treated dogs!  Tara sounds as though she has landed firmly on her feet with you and I'm sure you'll give each other a lot of joy.

I don't know if this helps, but 2 years ago I rescued a cat with a Grade IV heart murmur from a shelter where he had been stuck for months as nobody wanted to take him on - I suppose they didn't want to be landed with huge vet bills.  I took one look at him and fell in love!  2 years on and we've had no problems with Monty, he races around the garden chasing squirrels and beats up our whippet regularly!  I wouldn't swap him for the world.  I check his heart regularly and it's getting no worse, and the condition doesn't limit him in any way.

If you'd like to see a pic then PM me your e-mail.

I LOVE Cavs and Tara is one lucky girl, I'd have done exactly the same thing in your position.

Good luck

Mary-Caroline

hi mary-caroline.....yeh,am pleased she has got us,she gets seriously spoiled.and has only been with us since last saturday.she is going to have one big present list come christmas.she really makes us laugh,her character is so great.thanks for the advice,its nice to know,and hear others peoples experiences.she goes back to vets tomorow,see what he says.will be in touch soon.take care..anne-marie

i used to have this pair of pjs bottoms,that i so loved wearing.ohhhhhhh they are so fluffy and warm,i looked pretty daft in them,but hey who cares.but now,tara has them.she seems to sleep better at night when shes layed on top of them .she slept ok before,but for some reason loves these.but i must admit,they do look better on her than me.lol.does anyone elses cav snore as much as mine,i never knew a dog could snore as much as tara does.my hubby said she sounds like an old man.lol.

LOLOL Our first cavalier should have been snoring for England ;) The current ones do snore but quietly just as well having 4 of then it would be deafening :)

hiya michelled......well i must say,am getting pretty used to my little visitor trotting with me to the toilet.makes me laugh,as yesterday she knocked the toilet roll off.and decided to do an andrex advert,and chase the thing round the bathroom.lol.only thing is,she does try to sit on my knee whilst am on the loo,she may have bad back legs.but wow can she jump.anne-marie

one of mine doesn't just come to the loo with me she wants to sit on my knee while I'm there....