C W.
A Heartbreaking Experience That Could Have Been Prevented
We purchased a Goldendoodle puppy through PuppySpot for our daughter—her very first puppy. Like many others, we were encouraged by the numerous positive reviews and felt confident we were making a safe and thoughtful choice. Sadly, our experience was devastating. Our puppy arrived sick—diagnosed with three parasites and showing signs of distemper. We followed PuppySpot’s guidelines, getting him to the vet immediately. While the parasites were quickly confirmed, the signs of distemper worsened, and before we could receive the test results, our puppy had to be euthanized due to his rapidly declining condition. It was heartbreaking. Our daughter, who had lovingly cared for him, had to endure the trauma of watching him suffer and ultimately saying goodbye just a few weeks after bringing him home. We understand that life is unpredictable and sometimes, tragically, puppies get sick. Our issue is not with the loss itself, but with the systemic failures in PuppySpot’s process. There should be stronger health protocols before puppies are delivered to families. A basic "wellness check" from the breeder is not enough. If more thorough testing had been done, our puppy's condition could have been caught early—potentially sparing our daughter the trauma and giving the puppy a chance at treatment. Even more upsetting was the process of pursuing PuppySpot’s health guarantee. Despite having every piece of requested documentation from our veterinarian, we encountered delay after delay. Each week we followed up, we were told more information was needed—even when we were simply being asked to resend the same documents. Six weeks after our puppy’s passing, I finally refused to hang up until I was transferred to someone who could resolve the issue. Only then did PuppySpot agree to honor their health guarantee, and only after I emphasized that the guarantee was not contingent upon the puppy’s death, but rather the health upon delivery. What could have been handled with compassion and integrity was instead drawn out, frustrating, and deeply disappointing. This experience has led us to the decision never to use PuppySpot again, nor recommend them to others. We’ve since worked with a local breeder and the difference has been night and day. We received regular updates, follow-ups, and genuine care and involvement throughout the entire process. While working with a local breeder may require more upfront effort, it provides peace of mind, a sense of control, and—most importantly—an ethical, supportive experience during such a special time. I hope PuppySpot takes this feedback seriously. The emotional impact on families, especially children, is real. These are not just pets—they are new family members. Every step should reflect that responsibility.
Response from PuppySpotJun 1, 2025
We're truly sorry to hear about your experience. We understand how devastating it was to lose your puppy and the impact it had on your daughter. We appreciate you bringing these issues to our attention. We are taking your feedback regarding our health protocols and the health guarantee process seriously. We are committed to reviewing our procedures to ensure they reflect our responsibility to the families and puppies.