Saddle Hill Farms
Puppy Contract and Puppy Information
Introduction
Thank you for your interest in a puppy from Saddle Hill Farms. We are proud to be able to raise happy healthy puppies for your family to enjoy. This is an overview of what to expect from us as the breeder and what we expect in return from you. PLEASE READ ALL OF THIS CONTRACT PRIOR TO RESERVING A PUPPY.
Visitation Policy
For the health of our puppies and for the privacy of our family, we will NOT allow anyone to visit prior to pick up date. Viruses could be carried into our home unwittingly by a visitor and it would be impossible for us to schedule visits with multiple families for each puppy . We understand families want to see their new puppy and we will send up dated pictures every weekend until pick up. We can schedule FaceTimes with our families as well. We currently feel more comfortable meeting people in a public area for pickup to make sure all parties feel safe. Unfortunately, the world is not the safest place and that is part of the reason we have made this decision. With that being said, we do offer to travel short distances from our home to meet people with their puppy. Long distances are on a case by case basis and extra fees may be charged.
Pickup
Your Puppy will be Vet checked and come with paperwork showing your puppy’s health maintenance. Pick up dates are usually arranged 1-2 weeks prior to pick up.
We do try to project when we believe puppies will be ready to go to new homes based on past litters (between 6-8 weeks). However, we reserve the right to extend the stay of a puppy on our premise until the time we see fit to release. Sometimes this could be due to the puppy’s weight, how long they have tolerated solid foods, or due to unforeseen circumstances in seller’s scheduling.
Costs will not be lowered or increased in the event the seller changes pick up date. If the buyer changes the pickup date to a later date this must be approved in advanced by us and an addition of $10 per day board fee will be added to the total amount owed every day the puppy is in our possession past the original agreed upon pick up window. Puppies must be picked up by no later than 8 weeks of age unless the seller chooses to extend the stay for the health of the puppy. Deposits will be forfeited if puppy is not picked up by 8 weeks of age. Receiving a deposit and or payment for a puppy means you agree to the terms in this contract
Deposit Policy
We reserve the right to choose what families will be the best fit for our puppies and reserve the right to decline to sell the puppy in the event we so choose. If a deposit to has been received, it will be issued back to the buyer if we decline to sell. Deposits are non refundable regardless of buyer’s circumstance. Deposits will be returned in the event something happens to the puppy while on our premise. If in the event you cannot keep/no longer want your puppy after pick up, we may at our discretion assist you in rehoming your puppy with another family for a fee we feel is reasonable. We never want one of our puppies to be in a shelter so we strive to be helpful to families if rehoming is needed. If you place a deposit for an upcoming litter and no pups are produced from the breeding, we will offer to move your deposit or refund your deposit. We will not refund deposits because a certain color/pattern or specific sex is not produced, only offer to move deposits to a future litter.
Limited Health Guarantee
We strive to provide families with healthy puppies that they can enjoy for years to come. We are here to answer questions and guide you into new puppy ownership to the best of our ability. Please note that your own trusted veterinarian is the best source of health information.
Our puppies will be vet checked and up to date on recommended wormer and vaccinations before leaving our home. We provide you with a copy of this paperwork when you pick up your new puppy. We warranty the puppy free from genetic defects that would lead to an early death in the first year of life. In the event that the dog is deceased in the first year of life due to a genetic inherited disease, the buyer must agree to fund a postmortem examination to be completed with a licensed veterinarian of their choosing. The report must be sent to the seller’s veterinarian within 72 hours of the examination. If our veterinarian determines the death was due to a genetic inherited disorder, the buyer has the option to replace their animal with another puppy (any breed, size, or gender they so choose) that is of equal or lesser value from Saddle Hill Farms Puppies according to when a puppy is available. The buyer has 14 days to decide if they would like a replacement and must notify the seller to be placed on our puppy list. We recommend applying for pet insurance trial period through Trupanion if you so choose.
Veterinarian costs after a puppy leaves our care are not covered by this guarantee. Owning a pet involves not just feeding and watering your pet, but also veterinary care along with other expenses. Now should be the time to think about spaying or neutering costs, possibility of injuries, and cost of pet care/maintenance. Please research the breed you are considering purchasing as different dog breeds have varying needs such as exercise, training, health maintenance, grooming, etc. Some of these needs require more time, or care depending on the dog.
Physical Characteristics
We try to project how large our puppies will be, their hair texture, color, and personalities but there are no guarantees as to size, color,adult hair, or temperament especially in designer breeds. We cannot guarantee a puppy will conform as expected, only provide you with estimates from past litters or via the parents size, hair and temperament. We will not be held liable for variations in said physical characteristics.
Your responsibility as the New Owner
We like to believe that nothing will ever go wrong when you bring your new puppy home. However, when the puppy leaves our home, we know there are things we cannot control. It is imperative that you take your new puppy’s health seriously and continue the recommended health maintenance set forth by your vet. Necessary vaccinations, parasitic preventatives, proper diet, exercise, living environment, recommended veterinary visits, and the love you provide your puppy are all key to having a happy healthy puppy. Your new puppy should be taken to see your vet within 3 business days after leaving our premise or the contract is null and void unless another agreed upon date has been established between us and buyer. Please provide the vet with the paperwork given at pick up so they can devise the best care plan for your pup and not repeat vaccinations or worming unnecessarily. Please keep your puppy’s records in a safe place and keep a file of all vet checks. Failure to provide your puppy with timely vaccinations or proper vet care will void this guarantee.
Exceptions to our Guarantee
A diagnosis of hip dysplasia, ligament tears, luxating patellas, or any other orthopedic diagnosis is not covered by this guarantee/contract. When no longer in our care, we cannot monitor or regulate the exercise, agility, or activity that our puppies are involved in, which could lead to an orthopedic diagnosis. We do not cover undescended testes, hernias, blindness, or loss of hearing. Show quality is not guaranteed, nor is adult size/weight, temperament, color/markings, or conformation. Although your puppy has received its first set of vaccinations and recommended wormer, that does not guarantee prevention of such illnesses/diagnosis. A diagnosis of cherry eye, coccidia, giardia, parasites, kennel cough or any other type of bacterial/ viral infections does not render your puppy unhealthy. These items/germs can live on the ground, in water, and other public places. With this in mind, we do not guarantee against parvovirus. Your puppy’s immune system is not mature until all vaccinations have been completed. Please be advised of the following recommendations to keep your puppy safe and sound:
1. When visiting the vet NEVER place your puppy on the ground outside or on the floor of the office. Make sure to carry your puppy in your arms or a sanitized pet carrier. Make sure office staff have disinfected exam tables prior to your puppy touching the surface. This may sound like an overreaction, however sick animals are brought in daily for exams and could be carrying something deadly for your new puppy.
2. New environments such as dog parks, stores, puppy “daycares”, or places where the health of other dogs is unknown should be off limits until your puppy completes their vaccination series.
3. If you own other pets, please make sure they are up to date on all vaccinations and parasitic preventatives before introducing them to the new puppy. As discussed earlier, germs can live in the ground, water, and unfamiliar places for many years if not disinfected. Please make reasonably sure there have been no infected pets in your yard. If so, disinfecting precautions may need to be taken in order to ensure the safety of your puppy.
4. Please keep any dangerous chemicals, small objects, or other possibly dangerous items away from your puppy as they like to chew/ investigate new surroundings.
Shipping puppies.
We have puppies across the county! We have dealt with ground shipping. We will be happy to recommend transporters we have dealt with in the past but it is up to the buyer to choose a transporter. Arrangements for pick up should be established prior to deposits being made. If transporters must change pick up date this must be approved by sellers. Additional board fees may occur as a result of delayed pick up. Forfeit of deposit may occur if pick up is delayed past 8 weeks of age.
We will not be responsible for the puppy when it leaves our possession. Refunds will not be issued if injury, disease, or death occur during travel. We cannot control what happens to puppies while not in our possession. We recommend seeking a transporter who has the least amount of animals along for the ride to reduce stress/ risk of contracting illnesses. Your puppy should NOT be placed in the same crate as another animal or dog. Request whether transporter has health certificates on all animals on board. Placing a deposit means you agree to these terms.
Breeding Rights
We work very hard to provide healthy, sound puppies. This is expensive and time consuming, the equivalent of another full time job we have dedicated much of our lives to. We miss vacations, family events, and reduce the amount of activities we do outside of the home because of our dogs.
With this in mind, breeding your puppy in the future is not something to take lightly. That is why we will now sell breeding rights for a higher fee on some of our litters. If you know you are interested in breeding rights you must tell us prior to placing a deposit. Breeding rights fee varies according to breed and will not be available for all puppies we sell per our discretion.
If you are not interested in breeding rights, spaying or neutering your dog between 6months- 1 year of age is best to prevent pregnancy. We ask you consult your veterinarian about this at your first well puppy check.
If the BUYER breeds the dog without purchasing breeding rights, seller shall be entitled to the immediate return of said puppy/dog and entitled to the sum of Five thousand dollars($5,000.00) for damages incurred to SaddleHillFarms for each litter produced against this contract. Buyer would also be responsible to cover all legal costs associated with violating this contract.
In conclusion
By sending us a deposit on one of our puppies you agree to all terms listed above and is considered your “signature” for this contract. We will accept full payments on Good Dog. Other online platforms, we will only accept deposits via Venmo or friends and family pay through PayPal. The remainder is due in Cash at pick up if using PayPal or Venmo for the deposit.
