We would like to take a moment to give everyone a brief overview of our contract (below in its entirety) and the reality of both breeding AND owning dogs. Before you decide to purchase a Cedar Valley Newfoundland, we want to make sure you have a very clear idea of what is involved in owning a Newf, what our contract covers, and what it doesnt. We feel surprises shouldnt be part of buying ANY puppy, and that honest information is better than "sugar coating" things!!! The information below may seem strange to be forced to think about when you are so excited about getting a puppy, but it NEEDS to be addressed before you welcome a Newf into your life, heart and home.
We wish we could guarantee that your puppy would never have any health problem of any type, but we cannot.
Our health contract covers very specific diseases, disorders or ailments for a very specific period of time. Basically, we cover those things that we feel we have the most control over as breeders.
Our health contract covers the first 12 months of your puppy's life.
We cover CRIPPLING hip dysplasia, verified by a preliminary OFA XRAY evaluation showing SEVERE hip dysplasia. If the OFA prelim report comes back as BORDERLINE, MILD OR MODERATE, we dont cover it under our health warranty. We feel this is a fair way to cover hip dysplasia, since the hip XRAYS are viewed by OFA (Orthopedic Foundation For Animals). This prevents your vet from saying one thing, and our vet from having a different opinion. We also feel it is very fair in comparison to other breeder contracts for Newfs. Just because a dog doesnt have great hips definitely doesnt mean they will be crippled. Many dogs with hip dysplasia never show any symptoms at all. Some dogs with hip dysplasia have symptoms that can be managed with pain meds. However, when a dog has severe hip dysplasia, they have a higher rate of having significant orthopedic problems. This is the reason we define crippling hip dysplasia as being hip dysplasia evaluated by an OFA prelim as being SEVERE. Most breeder contracts only cover hip dysplasia if the dog has to be euthanized as a result of the condition. In addition, most breeder contracts never offer a refund of any sort, they offer a replacement puppy. In most cases, to get that replacement puppy you have to return your dog to the breeder.
We feel it is MUCH more fair to have you keep your dog and offer a 50% refund on your purchase price. I cant imagine very many people would give up their dog to get a replacement puppy!!
We also cover any non-treatable life threatening HEREDITARY disease or defect detected in the pups first 12 months. A non-treatable life threatening disease or defect is one in which there is no treatment available and the prognosis for the disease or disorder is death.
We wish we could cover other problems that may occur with your pup, but unfortunatly, we cant.
We do the best we can to produce healthy puppies, but sometimes things dont turn out as we hope. Unfortunately, there is just not enough known about the control of most diseases to prevent them through breeding practices. We test the parents for hips, hearts and elbows. We either test them for cystinuria, or know they are cystinuria clear through parentage. We also monitor problems we do see in puppies, and have on several occasions retired a Sire or Dam because we felt we were seeing more problems than we should out of a particular dog. What we suggest is that you view your purchase of a Newf puppy much like you would a decision to have a child:
You hope and pray for the best, but are prepared for whatever problems that new baby may have.
We want to make sure ALL of our puppy buyers understand that puppies are living, breathing little beings with genetics that are as complicated as humans. There are SOME diseases and disorders that we can reduce the incidence of, but we cannot entirely eliminate the possibility that your puppy will develop a problem of some type. Unfortunately, the Newfoundland breed is riddled with health issues. Sadly, most purebred dog breeds have numerous health issues. The reason for this is simple:
Purebred dogs have a very limited gene pool. When a problem is discovered in a breed, there is not an option to outcross to another breed to try to "breed it out". In addition, those problems are often not understood well enough to breed them out within the breed itself.
For experienced breeders, to say "Never breed that dog/bitch again" if they produce a puppy with a problem is not a realistic option.
Over the years, we have become very familiar with dogs that produce problems they themselves do not have. In fact, any experienced breeder can tell you they have seen this occur with most dogs they have at one time or another. If we retire every dog who ever produces a problem, then who do we breed?
The longer you breed, the better you undertstand that things are rarely ever that easy.
What we do is to keep track of what our dogs are producing. If we start seeing more problems than are "normal" for the Newfoundland breed, we retire that dog/bitch from our program. In addition, if we see that a particular breeding produced a lot of problems, we never repeat that breeding again. I wish there was more we could do, but unfortunatley, dog breeding is much more of an "art" than it is a science!!!!!
Newfs are prone to LOTS of health issues such as ACL injuries, eye problems, allergies, skin problems, joint problems and others too. Please note that these types of things are not covered in your health warranty for a puppy. Also, please be aware these things can be very expensive to treat. These are some of the reasons that we STRONGLY advise pet insurance on your Newf puppy. Just as an FYI, a surgery to correct a torn ACL runs approx $3600, a surgery to repair an ear hematoma runs about $700 or so, a surgery to fix a broken leg runs about $800.......SO...pet insurance is something you may really want to think about.
As with human babies, SOME puppies will develop problems as they grow and mature.
Some of these problems can be frustrating, irritating, expensive and complicated.
Our goal as breeders is to reduce these problems as much as we can. Unfortunately, we cannot ELIMINATE many of these problems, because not enough is known about the modes of inheritance of MOST diseases and disorders.
At best, we have educated guesses and hypothesis on how to control some disorders.
We want to make sure that all of our puppy parents understand that they are making a LIFETIME commitment to care for and love this puppy.
PLEASE, before you make a commitment to owning a puppy (of ANY breed, whether purebred or mixed breed) make sure that you are at a point in your own life where you can make a commitment to care for and love this puppy.
We also want to make sure that you are comfortable with our contract BEFORE you get a puppy from us. PLEASE look it over and make sure you understand what we cover, and what we don't.
We will ALWAYS answer questions, give you information, and help in any way we can. But we also need to make sure you realize that you are purchasing a breed that has more than its fair share of health issues, and you must be prepared to take care of this little guy/girl throughout its life.
While we will ALWAYS take back a puppy we have bred (and on occasion, dogs we HAVENT bred!!!!), regardless of age or health, our goal is to provide lifetime homes for ALL of our puppies.
And PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, if you run into a problem and feel that you can no longer keep your dog, CALL US. It is part of our contract, and the LAST thing we want is for one of our puppies to end up in Rescue or in the Pound. We have MANY people willing to take an older dog, and can place older dogs in wonderful forever homes if something happens and your situation changes.
If for some reason the dog could not be placed due to medical problems etc, we would keep him or her here and care for him/her ourselves.
We just want to make sure all of our puppy parents take stock of the realities of owning a puppy BEFORE they get that cute little ball of fur home!!!!
Everyone always hopes there wont be any problems, and so do we. But the reality is there CAN be problems, just as there can be problems with any other living creature.
It can be heartwarming, fun and an awesome experience to own a Newf. It can also be trying, it WILL be a LOT of work for a while, it can be expensive, and on rare occasions, it can be heartbreaking.
THAT is the reality of bringing a puppy into your life!
Cedar Valley Newfoundlands Contract and Health Warranty
Breeder:
Mary Shelby
PO Box 108
Dittmer MO 63023
636-285-1363
www.cedarvalleynewfoundlands.com
cedarvalleynewfs@yahoo.com
Purchaser:
Whelping Date:
Sex:
Color:
Sire:
Dam:
Purchase Price: $1250 (for non CH sired puppies)
$1500(for CHampion sired puppies)
*************T*************This puppy is being sold on AKC Limited Registration. AKC Limited Registration means you DO NOT have breeding rights and CANNOT show this dog in Conformation Events. This dog CAN participate in all other AKC events such as Obedience, Agility, Water Work, Tracking, Carting, Search and Rescue, Therapy Work etc.**********
This puppy has been examined by our vet, Franklin County Animal Hospital, Washington MO and his/her exam was found to be within normal limits.
This puppy was examined at 9 weeks of age by Dr Cecilia Marshall, Staff Cardiologist, Veterinary Specialty Services, Manchester MO. This puppys exam found no audible heart murmurs.
Purchaser Agrees To:
Take puppy to their chosen veterinarian (DVM) within 72 business hours after puppy leaves breeder premises.
Continue puppy’s vaccination series to its completion.
Provide ANNUAL veterinary checkups and follow the vaccination schedule recommended by your DVM for the life of this puppy.
Provide flea and heartworm control as recommended by your DVM.
Provide this puppy with adequate water and protection from the elements.
Feed your puppy one of the recommended foods below:
Purina One, Purina Pro Plan, Kirkland Lamb and Rice, Kirkland Chicken and Rice, Science Diet, Eukanuba, Eagle Pack, Nutro, Innova, Canidae, Blue, Natures Recipe, Natural Balance, California Natural, Solid Gold, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Diamond Lamb and Rice, Diamond Premium Edge, Orijen Large Breed Puppy.
Your puppy NEEDS high quality dog food, which costs more than supermarket dog foods. Feeding supermarket dog foods OR the BARF diet during the time your puppy is under our health warranty will specifically void this warranty.
Keep your puppy at an adequate weight for his size and bone structure as recommended by your vet.
Spay or neuter your puppy and forward proof to breeder by 18 months of age unless there is a medical reason your vet wishes to delay spay/neuter until your puppy is older. If spaying/neutering has not been done by 2 years of age, a written explanation on Veterinarian’s letterhead will be forwarded to breeder.
(See attached note from breeder about spay/neuter of younger animals)
NOTE: If your puppy is not spayed/neutered and “accidentally” produces a litter of Newfoundlands I WILL NOT change the registration from Limited to Full. Without FULL registration, you will be unable to sell the resulting puppies as AKC registered Newfoundlands.
Breeder Agrees To:
Refund purchase price plus shipping charges for any puppy found to have serious medical disease, abnormality, or disorder at the INITIAL vet check (within 3 business days hours after puppy leaves breeder premise) If the puppy is being returned under this clause it MUST be returned within 5 business days of arriving at purchasers premises.
Ensure that puppy has received all age appropriate vaccinations and wormings that were due while puppy was under breeders care.
REPLACE puppy or REFUND 50% of purchase price if puppy is found to have SEVERE HIP DYSPLASIA or a HEREDITARY LIFE THREATENING disease or disorder diagnosed BEFORE puppy is 1 (one) year of age. Any other diseases, disorders, or illnesses are specifically excluded under this health warranty.
Parasites and/or protozoa are specifically excluded from coverage under this health warranty.
All refunds or replacements are subject to the TERMS OF REPLACEMENT found at the end of this contract.(Definitions of severe hip dysplasia and hereditary life threatening disease or disorder as they apply to this contract can be found under TERMS OF REPLACEMENT)
Breeder and Purchaser Agree:
No guarantee is made that this dog will reach any particular size,weight or have any particular features.
There is NO Lifetime Guarantee or warranty of any kind on this puppy/dog.
This pup IS NOT fully protected against distemper/parvo etc until its FULL vaccination series is complete (normally a minimum of 4 shots). It is HIGHLY recommended that you DO NOT bring your puppy to unregulated areas (ie: dog parks, PetSmart or other stores that allow dogs etc) where there are strange dogs present. Restrict your puppy to regulated areas (puppy classes etc) and dogs that are KNOWN to be vaccinated and disease free until the vaccination series is complete.
This dog may not be resold, given away or change ownership in any way without prior approval of breeder. If you can no longer keep this dog you CANNOT give this dog up to a shelter, rescue organization etc. This dog MUST be returned to breeder if a mutually acceptable home cannot be found.
No monies will be paid to purchaser by breeder if the dog is returned to be placed into another home.
This dog MAY NOT be euthanized (except in an emergency situation) without the breeders authorization.
Breeder retains the right to inspect the living conditions of this dog at any time and remove this dog if conditions are not safe and sanitary or if the dog is in danger or in need of immediate medical attention. If breeder removes the dog per this clause, the dog will not be returned to the purchaser and no monetary compensation will be given.
This contract shall be subject to the laws of the state of Missouri, county of Jefferson and each party agrees to submit any dispute to the jurisdiction of the appropriate Court in Jefferson County, Missouri.
NO OTHER AGREEMENTS EXIST BETWEEN PURCHASER AND BREEDER EXCEPT THOSE SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED IN THIS CONTRACT.
TERMS OF REPLACEMENT
You WILL NOT be required to return your "original" dog to get a refund or replacement per this contract. Please Note: We DO NOT offer 100% cash refunds:
The replacement/refund is strictly bound by the terms below:
The life threatening disease or disorder, or severe hip dysplasia cannot be the result of an injury.
The dog MUST have been maintained at the proper weight at all times.
The dog MUST NOT have been bred or allowed to have a litter.
The “refund” or “replacement” will be sent as soon as possible. We cannot produce our puppies on demand, so therefore it may be a year or more before a replacement or refund is available to send to you. In no instance will a refund/replacement take more than 3 years.
A ‘refund” is 50% of the initial purchase price. We do not offer 100% cash refunds, nor do we pay for any vet bills, tests or any other expenses incurred once the puppy is in your possession.
Shipping charges are not included in the refund.
A “replacement” is a puppy of the same quality, color and sex, unless a different color and sex is agreed upon by both breeder and purchaser. All travel expenses are the responsibility of the owner.
Receipt of the 50% refund OR the replacement puppy ends breeder responsibility under this contract.
To receive a replacement pup or refund, this puppy/dog must have a severe, non treatable life threatening congenital, hereditary or genetic disease or defect OR severe,crippling hip dysplasia evaluated as SEVERE on a preliminary evaluation by The Orthopedic Foundations For Animals (OFA) on or before it reaches 12 months of age.
A non-treatable life threatening disease is one in which the probable prognosis is death.
If a disorder can be treated and controlled medically, it is NOT life threatening.
The disease or defect must not be treatable by either pharmacological or alternative medicine treatments, such as medications, supplements, acupuncture, chiropractics , etc.
Severe, crippling hip dysplasia MUST be diagnosed by an OFA pre-lim evaluation.
This will involve your vet taking OFA XRAY films of the hips. A copy of those XRAYS is then submitted to OFA (Orthopedic Foundation For Animals) for evaluation. The OFFICIAL OFA evaluation must come back as SEVERE hip dysplasia. OFA Hip Evaluations showing any degrees of hip dysplasia other than SEVERE hip dysplasia are SPECIFICALLY excluded from this warranty. A copy of the official report must be forwarded to breeder.
Elbow dysplasia is specifically excluded from this health warranty.
This entire health guarantee is null and void IF the puppy has a history of accident, abuse, neglect OR a history of an injury resulting in ANY broken bones.
By signing below, you agree that you FULLY understand and agree to the provisions and limitations of this contract. NO OTHER warranties exist, verbal or implied.
Breeder: _____________________________________
Purchaser: ____________________________________
