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Bad hips
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We bought a show quality male from About times' Cane Corso. About Time's Italo. The breeders, Laura and Richard took him to their veterinarian in Colorado to have his hips X-rayed. We never received the results but were told his hips were loose but OK. They chose per their show contract to breed him anyway. They proceeded to breed him on 5 different occasion for a total of 15 pups. After observing pain and sensitivity to his hind quarters we took Italo to our Vet who did a complete set of X-rays. Our Vet sent those on to the OFA and Italo was diagnosed with moderately severe hip dysplasia, which is one step down from the worst grade which is severe hip dyspasia. It would appear the breeders had full knowledge of his hip condition as they know how to read an X-ray as well as their Vet who they use for all of their litters. After chasing down the original X-ray from their Vet, that too was sent into the OFA and the head of the Orthopedic Association of Animals for 30 years, Dr. Keller came back with the determination that this male should have NEVER BEEN BRED. He felt it was irresponsible of the breeders for a dog with this degree of dysplasia to bred. So there are 15 pups out there and we can only hope they have not inherited the hips of their sire.
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Business's response - by About Time C.on 9/7/2018
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This client entered into a detailed contract agreement up front when purchasing their puppy, then refused to meet their contractual obligations. This client failed to meet contract obligations and refused to provide preliminary hip x-rays and scores at 12 months of age. Client failed to meet contract obligations and refused to provide permanent hip x-rays and scores between 24-26 months of age. Due to client's failure to provide hip scores, we took the dog to the vet for hip x-rays on client's behalf once he was mature - with their agreement to pay for x-rays and hip scores. X-rays were done and client refused to pay the vet bill for the x-rays. As a result, submission for hip scores was never done, and we were left to personally cover their unpaid vet bill. This client willingly chose to enter into a contract agreement that allowed for us to place our best pick puppy from a litter to live with them as their family companion, while we specifically retained the right to use the dog for breeding within our breeding program (for up to three breedings per year, at no financial obligation to client). After three unsuccessful breedings, this dog sired two litters, and then was retired from use in our breeding program after we retained pups to move forward a generation with. Client became disgruntled after first litter sired by this dog was born. They expected to receive a puppy and were informed that we did not have availability for them from the litter, and that (per contract agreement terms) we had no financial obligation to give them a puppy or stud fee. We offered options to work with them further in the future and place a puppy with them, but clients chose instead to search for a way to invalidate their contract agreement and get out of their obligation. After REFUSING to provide hip x-rays and scores at TWELVE MONTHS of age (industry standard age to evaluate maturing skeletal hip and joint structure), and after REFUSING to provide hip x-rays and scores at TWENTY FOUR MONTHS age (industry standard age to permanently score matured skeletal hip and joint structure) … this client chose to x-ray and request scores on the dog after FIFTY MONTHS of age (by which point the natural process of aging, wear, and deterioration over 50% of the dog's lifespan has already negatively affected the results). This action was taken solely to find a way to weasel out of their contract agreement by claiming proof of dysplastic hips (as contract requires passing hip scores). After they refused to x-ray and evaluate hips at 12 & 24 months of age, hip results at 5 years (the equivalent of expecting a 50 year old man to have the same skeletal structure and strength as he did at 20 years) are irrelevant. However, clients were informed politely by us that we were retaining pups from the two litters he produced to move forward a generation with in our breeding program, and we considered their male retired. We would have no further need for breeding him, and to go ahead and neuter him as a pet. Rather than being satisfied by the release of any further breeding obligation to us, this apparently angered these clients further as they had nothing to "hold over our heads" or "take away" from us … as since then they have resorted to harassing us, slandering our name, and trying to discredit our reputation with half-truths and outright lies across the internet for over a year now. All contract terms were laid out clearly up front in a detailed contract that was signed, notarized, and fully agreed to by these clients PRIOR to their decision to purchase this puppy. Despite their repeated breaching of contract terms, we made every possible effort to be accommodating of their preferences and demands over the following years, to no avail. Some people choose to live their lives in a vindictive and miserable manner and will simply never be happy. The fact that these clients are still attempting to harass us years after we released them from any breeding obligations to us and moved on with the two litters their dog sired, speaks volumes for their motivation in such postings. If this client purchased this puppy from us and the pup actually had dysplastic non-passing hip scores at 12 and 24 months (if they had actually met their contractual obligations to x-ray and score the hips at 12 & 24 months of age) we would have had the pup in question neutered, and refunded their purchase price or provided them with a new puppy … and none of this would even be a concern. Full documentation on all agreements, communication, contracts, etc is available to be provided to any potential client/s that actually have concerns remaining after reading the above. Please contact us directly to request/review them.
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