PLEASE, search for the French Bulldog Club Organization to learn about French Bulldogs before purchasing one. There is breed information and a breeder referral list under resources. You will learn everything you need to know about purchasing a healthy Frenchie. The breeder should provide you with a 3 generation pedigree as well as the OFA certifications for hips, patellas, cardiac (heart), and eyes (CAER). It is my hope you can learn from my experience…
After speaking with Jenn & research into RickJennFrenchies we were willing to pay their premium price being told a puppy from RickJenn Frenchies included genetically Health tested parents with OFA certifications, 1 month of free Pet insurance, and a lifetime health guarantee.
We purchased “Drax” from the Guardians of the Galaxy litter. He did not come with any health paperwork or the name of their veterinarian. All we were given was a list of shots. When I asked the date shots were given Jenn then wrote the date on the list. The one month of free pet insurance was not included. We were not provided any health testing information or pedigrees.
We took Drax to our vet clinic. 4 different vets listened to his heart and said he has a grade 2-3 heart murmur. It is very concerning to learn (after we had Drax) his littermate has moderate pulmonic stenosis giving him a much higher chance of having this per a Veterinary Cardiologist.
We looked in to purchasing pet insurance & learned the murmur would need to be disclosed & insurance would not cover the heart as it is pre-existing.
I contacted Jenn to let her know of the heart issue. Jenn told me her vet never heard the murmur & assured me everything was fine as we have a lifetime health guarantee & a murmur at this age would be considered congenital & covered. In further conversation Jenn explained the lifetime health guarantee does not offer any financial reimbursement for congenital defects unless the puppy has a life threatening or life altering issue. If Drax does have pulmonic stenosis like his litter mate he could possibly live a fairly normal life with echocardiograms, medications and bloodwork. A very costly venture that may not be life threatening or altering which means the full expense of medical care for the congenital defect is on buyer. Drax could also require surgery or expire young.
Jenn’s advice was to have a cardiac evaluation done on the pup & we would have to pay around $725. This was unsettling after paying a very premium price for what we were told was a healthy pup. We would never have agreed to purchase this puppy at the premium price had we known of the murmur and his litter mates diagnosis.
Under Returns/Refunds in the contract it states if the puppy was unfit for purchase or has a genetic disorder the buyer may keep the puppy & receive monetary reimbursement. If you return the puppy you will receive reimbursement of the original Purchase Price.
Jenn would not consider any kind of partial reimbursement. She would not return the deposit stating it is non-refundable. The contract states a Full refund of the purchase price (which is clearly defined as deposit plus balance due).
We were hoping to find a compromise. We didn't want to return the puppy. We were willing to love him, and give him whatever care required with partial reimbursement. It was clear in conversations with Jenn there would be no compromise or monetary reimbursements if we kept Drax as his condition was not defined as “life-threatening or life altering”.
The only choice we had was to return puppy or pay a very premium price for a puppy with a heart issue.
We wanted this puppy. We made a painful decision to return Drax due to a genetic health issue. He should never have been sold to us for the premium price with a heart murmur. Jenn would not return the deposit. We believe we were due a full refund as the contract stated. I contacted Visa/Paypal and after submitting all documentation including the contract, they did their investigations and ruled in my favor. So I eventually did receive the deposit back.
edited for accuracy