Help Me Howard: Dog Problems

WSVN -- Whoever said dogs are man's best friend never met Natasha Cantin.

Natasha Cantin: "She's my baby."

Natasha takes good care of her young Pomeranian, which is why she was a little upset the other day.

Natasha Cantin: "Last Monday I thought she was dying, she started bleeding. I was really upset. She's my life. She goes everywhere with me. She's always with me."

Now, at this point you might be saying, 'Oh, don't worry, the 7-month-old is just in heat, but Natasha thought that was impossible since she had paid to have the dog fixed.

Natasha Cantin: "When I bought her she was spayed, and I don't understand what is going on."

Natasha had bought Sofia from a pet store in Miami-Dade. Their state inspection report clearly states Sofia had a hernia repair and was spayed by a vet in Missouri, but Natasha's vet said "nope."

Natasha Cantin: "My vet couldn't find the incision they made for her, there is no scar."

When Natasha paid the pet store $650 for Sofia, the spaying was included, so she called the pet store.

Natasha Cantin: "We did once, and, since then, they haven't returned our calls. They are kind of avoiding us."

Since the dog is already in heat, Natasha cant get her fixed for awhile, so, to avoid a big mess in her home, Sofia has to wear these lovely looking doggy diapers.

Natasha Cantin: "Those pampers were $30, that's ridiculous. She takes it off at night, she doesn't like it, she was upset the first three days. She didn't want to eat or nothing, she was so mad."

And, in a few weeks, when Sofia has to be spayed, the cost to Natasha will soar.

Natasha Cantin: "About $300 to $400 or more."

But if you buy an animal that should have been fixed and find out it's not, who is responsible? Let's bring in that dog lover Mr. Finkelstein.

Howard Finkelstein: "While this is an animal, the law treats it no differently than if you bought an appliance, a car or a roof. In other words, you were promised something you didn't get, that's a breach of contract. Now the store has to pay to fix it, no pun intended, and other costs such as the doggy diapers."

When we spoke to the pet store, a manager told us, 'We bought the dog with a certificate saying it was spayed. We then spoke to the vet in Missouri whose name was on the report, she says she never spayed the dog, didn't sign anything saying it was spayed, and she is furious at the pet store.

Bottom line, the pet store has agreed to pay to get Sofia spayed for certain this time, and, while we are on the subject of surgeries, remember, they don't always come with a guarantee.

Howard Finkelstein: "Surgeries are different based upon what you are trying to fix. For example, if the dog had surgery to remove cancer, you couldn't demand it be done again if it was unsuccessful because some surgeries don't come with a guarantee, but a promise your dog has been fixed does come with a guarantee."

Sofia will be spayed in a few weeks, that means she will probably live longer, not have puppies, and, one thing Natasha is looking forward to...

Natasha Cantin: "I don't want to change no more diapers."

Patrick Fraser: "Now, Natasha's dog came from a local pet store who bought her from a kennel in Missouri. Many experts say the best way to buy a pure bred is to get it from a local breeder that way you have someone to go back to if you have a problem. Of course, a great option, go to the pound. It's cheaper and, if you get a mixed breed mutt, odds are they will have less health problems than a pure-bred."

Got a problem that is dogging you? Need someone to nip it in the bud? Contact us, we'll turn up the heat.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

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Email: helpmehoward@wsvn (please include your contact number when emailing)
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