Guillermo A.
This is the story of Shortie
This is the story of Shortie, a parti Pomeranian puppy I purchased from this site. This has been a nightmare for me and the poor puppy. I paid for this Pomeranian pup $3500 plus another $750 for transportation. The dog was supposed to have come to me by October 1, 2023. It didn't. According to Pawrade, the dog needs to be at least 2 lbs. to travel. I kept checking until I was told last week that the puppy was 2lbs and four oz., so he was ready for travel. Then I was told that the puppy needed to be checked by the vet, so more waiting. Then, I received communication informing me when the puppy was supposed to travel. I was told the dog was booked to arrive in Burbank, CA, today. Yesterday, I received another call from Pawrade to say that the puppy checked health-wise but still had a 1cm fontanelle and weighed 1lbs. and 13oz. He probably lost a lot of weight in a few short days. The fontanelle should have closed at 12 weeks; nonetheless, the likelihood that it is a persistent fontanelle is there since we don't know whether it will close or not; of course, this requires additional vet visits to monitor this defect and ensure it doesn't develop into hydrocephalus or worst. I consulted with my veterinarian, at my expense, and was told that it was likely to be a genetic defect passed from his parents to him and that it may never close. Only time will tell. Whereas we don't intend to breed the dog, dogs with this condition shouldn't be bred. This led me to believe that the breeder runs a puppy mill in which dogs with known genetic abnormalities continue to be reproduced without consideration of the consequences. It will be someone else's problem, they assume. The breeder should have known that one of the parents carried this genetic abnormality and still bred the dogs, which was of consequence for the puppy. Of course, Pawrade sent me paperwork disclosing this defect and that they have no responsibility for the dog's wellbeing. However, I decided to take the pup as is for $3500 plus transportation expenses. I signed the paperwork, and later, I got another paper for the transfer of ownership, which I signed. This morning, I received another message from Pawrade telling me that the pup didn't make the flight to Burbank and that they would reschedule. And here we are. My experience with Pawrade this time around could have been better but it was not. It seems like they work for the breeder's interest, and the hell with the clients forking thousands for puppies with known genetic defects, making you take the pup as is, and paying the breeder top dollar for a dog that may require significant medical care. Then, to add insult to injury, they can't even get transportation together for the pup for no other reason than the breeder oversleeping or, who knows, maybe the puppy got sick. What else could it be? I am unhappy with this experience; getting my money back without significant penalties is dead on arrival. I will not recommend this venue if you want a puppy.
Response from PawradeDec 1, 2023
We are sorry that you are not completely satisfied with your experience with Pawrade. But we do need to address some of your concerns here. We can not and will not send out a puppy before it reaches 2 pounds of 12 weeks, whichever comes first. This is not just a Pawrade policy but a requirement by the USDA. Not only would it be dangerous for the pup and unethical but also illegal. We certainly understand that folks are very eager to get their new pup but we will not put them at risk for the sake of expediency. We give all of our pups a complete head to toe exam by a USDA licensed vet before they can go to their new homes. If any issue is found, no matter how small, we notify the client. We NEVER hide anything. We document this with a Preexisting condition form. Your pup did have a minor issue that is VERY common in the breed and almost always self corrects as the pup grows. It is true that your pup did miss its first flight. The breeder did have an issue and did not make it to the airport in time. Breeders are regular folks and can make honest mistakes or have complications in life like we all do. We immediately notified you and rescheduled the next first available flight. We also issued you a generous credit for your trouble. Your pup ultimately arrived safe and sound.