Bad breeders and unethical behavior.

[AZChins]

Just so you know, this isn't about anyone on the forum.

Somewhat local to me is a breeder, who has been not very ethical with the breeding of her chinchillas and also with her breeding practices. She has sold chinchillas that have died very soon after going to new homes and she knew that they were sick. In one case she has owed money to a family, who lost their chin after they paid her quite a bit, and she doesn't answer emails. She has texted them repeatedly that the check is in the mail, but it never arrives. She basically just placates everyone with words and then never follows through.

I've actually had several customers that have had major problems with this breeder. I had a lady tell me today that she wished she had just driven out to see me for chins and stayed away from the person who was "closer" to her. Also, she's been selling the chins out in public at fairs and such...this is Arizona, you just don't go out in the heat and do this type of thing!

In the case of this breeder the animals are suffering and people are getting hurt. There have been bad breeders in the past and they generally just go away after they kill of their few chins or get in trouble on their own. I don't like having to turn people in or take action on my own to get them to stop.

What should be done about this type of person? Would it be better to just let them quit on their own or to raise a stink with the authorities?

There's more to it, but I don't want to give away too many specifics and be hounded if this person happens to look at chin forums and I just don't know it. I'm a little frightened of retaliation...

 

[kerri101]

Thats very sad Im sorry you know this....its sad for the chins and sad for the buyers of chins.....everyone seems to be suffering except the chin breeder who is breeding sick chins and running around dodging people. I wonder if there is a way to file an anonymous complaint that would not put anyone in a awkward position....I know its hard to turn the other way when you just know these things....honestly if customers start complaining and the breeder has a health guarantee consumers can file complaints....I would guess that if enough complaints are filed someone may investigate......also to word of mouth spreads pretty well these days its very easy to loose customers when you provide a crappy service....I just want to cry thinking of chins being sold outside in AZ weather I seen it at the flea markets of selling of other animals in 95+ weather and I did complain the animals didn't even have water or shade!

 

[Lillybabe]

I wonder if these breeder is legally breeding per state regulations? It's possible if you made an annoynmous report that she is doing other illegal things and would get caught. I worry about the chins she has now ending up displaced but at the same time it is horrific if she keeps breeding and causing more and more animals to suffer. I would definitely do something. I think if you reportered her that the authorities would keep your name out of it if you requested that they did. I know that you're afraid of retaliation but is there some way you could make what this woman is doing public without getting your name out there?

 

[andreya]

Can you get some of her customers who have come to you to file complaints? Do you know if she has a business license? If she doesn't and isn't pay taxes on the income she's getting ripping people off with her sick chins, it may be enough to get her shut down? Unfortunately these kinds of people don't quit on their own, they just keep breeding as long as people are buying. She obviously doesn't care about them so it's just a means of cash flow for her as long as she can get them out the door before they kick the bucket. Ugh. =(

 

[AZChins]

She definitely is selling chins and has a business...I would think she has a business license. I'm not sure if they will actually do anything where she lives though.

 

[VolunteerChin22]

Honestly if she's got enough irate previous customers she probably wouldn't have any idea who filed it.

I'd do it. I don't think I could sleep at night knowing someone was doing that. You may be able to file a complaint with the better business bureau as well. That would at least make it public knowledge.

 

[tunes]

I wonder if these breeder is legally breeding per state regulations?

Chinchillas are an agricultural product. If they have food, water, and shelter they aren't going to do a thing. Those are the only "state regulations" they are going to require.

Susan - It sucks that there is someone like this breeding chins, but you know they aren't the only ones. We've got a member on here breeding rescue chins and selling them as part of her herd. She takes them in as this good-hearted rescue person, then turns around and breeds the crap out of them. I've seen numerous people buy from her and she talks a line a mile long. There is nothing that can be done about it. She's been called on it and she continues to do it. Coming here and unloading about it to other people who actually care about chins in general is about all you can do. I don't see even see as it's a debate because, obviously, everyone is going to agree that this person is unethical and a complete idiot.

 

[Spoof]

She definitely is selling chins and has a business...I would think she has a business license.

Then have the disgruntled customers write to the USDA about the conditions they've seen, experiences, etc. If she is selling chins anywhere but her home she must be USDA certified according to law. If she isn't they'll investigate. If she is, she'll get a surprise visit.

 

[Lillybabe]

Chinchillas are an agricultural product. If they have food, water, and shelter they aren't going to do a thing. Those are the only "state regulations" they are going to require.

Wouldn't she need some sort of license or something to have livestock if that's what chinchillas are considered? I know I certainly couldn't breed chickens out of my house in the state I live in. There's laws about where it can be done, etc.

It's sad that someone's doing this to chinchillas though, or any animal. Poor little guys. It's even sadder that someone here with all the resources on this forum is breeding rescues. That is just stupidity in my opinion. I had one rescue and I would never have bred him. What if I had and I had ended up with kits with malo? I know there is no guarantee even when you know the history but it's bad ethics to breed rescues.

 

[starleomach]

Lillybabe, You do not need a USDA liscense to breed and sell chinchillas unless you are selling to a petstore. If you sell out of your home you don't need anything. There are so many people breeding rescues, There is a breeder near me that does it. Takes in rescues and breeds them actually a few cause I just heard of another when someone came to buy their chinchilla a friend, that weans and sells kits at 4 weeks. I have had people bring me her sick chinchillas. There are also a lot of people who say...I am not a breeder, my chinchillas have babies once in a while but I am not a breeder...Yes they are. It is hard. There are a lot of shady people in the world

 

[Mt. Zion Chins]

I don't know about AZ but in NJ you do need a state permit to own and sell a chinchilla. I have to pay $100 a year to legally sell chins in NJ even though I sell from my home and they are my pets also. A permit to own a chin in $10 a year. If they find out about selling or owning a year without a permit they can and will take your chins away and you know what they will then do with the chins.

 

[Spoof]

Each state has it's own rules and regulations and thankfully Louisiana has none regarding chinchillas.

USDA is at the federal level, so as long as you are breeding and selling out of your home only you do not need to be certified. If you do so in a public place outside of your home or to a pet store or wholesaler you must be certified. The exception to that is if you yourself own a storefront and have the chinchillas there in your store.