“HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT ALL EVENTUALITIES THAT COULD OCCUR IS A GOOD WAY TO FIND OUT SOME
“I will be co-owner because (a) that’s how I always do it, (b) that’s how everyone does it or (c) I have the papers and you don’t.” This is known to happen and it creates huge problems stem- ming from unwanted and poorly formed co-ownerships. • Third, what does “if it turns out” mean? Who decides whether the puppy turned out? And at what age is it decided? Who pays for health testing that the Breeder demands? And if he doesn’t “turn out,” what happens? Does the dog get neutered? Does Breeder take him back and give Buyer another one? • Fourth, “you can show and breed” is extremely vague. The parties have no guidance on who pays entries, who pays for a handler, or whether Breeder can handle the dog himself. Similarly, assum- ing the parties get the dog fin- ished they still have no frame- work for issues like when can it be bred; who picks the breeding partner; and if female, who pays stud fees, and who owns the puppies. This particular kind of dispute over a bitch often ends up with the Breeder refusing to sign off the litter—either for spite, or until he gets a puppy back (or whatever else he may be seeking). Vague contracts with unanswered questions like these cause many dis- putes over show dogs. However, even if the parties do have a full discussion and make a detailed agreement about the dog’s future, the same type of ques- tions arise when the parties fail to put their agreement in writing. People for- get what they said; they wish they made a different deal; they refuse to admit what they agreed to. Not being able to prove what your agreement was is almost as bad as never having made the agreement in the first place. RESOLVING THE ISSUES: COSTLY AND DIFFICULT The AKC is usually no help in these issues: it is a pedigree registry, not a forum for ownership or breeder/buyer disputes. Breed clubs, similarly, have no role in such disputes unless, perhaps, one party has transgressed the club’s ethical code; even then, the complaints usually go nowhere. Sometimes the disputes go to court, which usually means each side will spend more than the puppy cost, and the puppy will be past breeding age by the time the dispute is resolved—if it ever is. Frequently, such disputes are never fully resolved. As a result, the dog
NEW FACTS ABOUT YOUR PROSPECTIVE BUYER AND THEIR EXPECTATIONS.”
may be neither shown nor bred, while the parties end up with lingering hard feelings and lifelong grudges (even vendettas) played out in social media forums and/or at dog shows. Even with- out a court trial or AKC bench commit- tee, a dog-related dispute can be “tried” in the ‘court of public opinion’ in this fashion. The loser in such a battle is often forced to pay a high price in terms of reputation. AVOIDING THE PROBLEMS IN THE FIRST PLACE To minimize such problems, a few common sense rules apply. Rule #1: Know your state laws regarding puppy sales and consumer fraud as it applies to the sale of dogs. If you don’t know the law or how to fol- low it, consult a lawyer. Rule #2: When you plan to sell a show prospect, write out a list of “what ifs”, including every nightmare you can imagine with a co-owner on a show prospect, that would feel like a real “deal breaker” to you. For example: what if the buyers refuse to show or breed it; they don’t give it proper vet care; they use it to breed “designer dogs”; they sell it to someone else without telling you; they spay or neuter it without telling you; they move five states away; they die or become permanently disabled. Then read your contract again (or start to write one, if you don’t have one). See if your contract addresses those topics. Ideally, your contract (a) prohibits the buyer’s actions that would cause the trouble, (b) mandates what must hap- pen, and (c) carries a substantial and
clear negative result when the wrong thing happens—for example, if Buyer breeds the dog without your permis- sion, you have the right to reclaim the dog and receive $5000 in liquidated damages. If you don’t set forth the liqui- dated damages, you will probably have to go to court to prove your damages. Of course, you need to be sure the rem- edies you put in your contract are allow- able under law, so you should consult an attorney versed in dog law, to final- ize your contract. Having a discussion about all even- tualities that could occur is a good way to find out some new facts about your prospective buyer and their expecta- tions. Better to learn this before they take possession of your show prospect puppy, than after. It’s been said that “an ounce of pre- vention is worth a pound of cure.” This certainly applies to selling show pros- pects. Do your homework, and have those difficult discussions with your prospective buyer before you place your pride and joy in their care, poten- tially losing that dog as an opportunity to perpetuate your breeding program. The little effort it takes to prepare a proper contract is small compared to what you stand to lose if a sale of a show prospect goes bad. Lisa Curry represents clients in state and federal courts and before the AKC. She also raises and shows AKC dogs. You can review her articles at www.lawfordogs.com. Lisa can be reached at 201-400-7407 or LCurry@lawfordogs.com.
108 • S how S ight M agazine , M ay 2018
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