Missing Puppy Papers: Seller Says it's a Courtesy to Provide Them

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- When Sharon Schulz bought Remmi, a chocolate labrador, she says she was told he is AKC registered.

"He said no problem, we never had a problem getting papers before we always get them," says Schulz.

Schulz bought Remmi from the Puppy Village in April for $400. She says she's made several attempts to get the properly filled out AKC dog registration application form from the store.

"They've just given me the run around each and every time," says Schulz.

The sales contract says Remmi came from a private breeder, it also says the store only sells companion pets and that, if and when it gets the papers, it is delivered as a courtesy, not part of the sale.

Schulz added, "They did not tell us up front if they had told us in the store. I could have made a better choice to get the dog or not accordingly."

Schulz says she loves Remmi and she just wants what was told to her.

"I think we've been looking forward to something we're not going to get. I'm a little disappointed," says Schulz.

And now she's turning her disappointment into a warning to other consumers:

"Please make sure you have the paper in hand, don't wait, don't spend the money if you're not going to get the papers because it is just a heartache."

The owner of Puppy Village and he says the store never guarantees papers, they're delivered as a courtesy.

Marty Isenberg said, "We've tried our best to get the papers, but can't. The breeder has just disappeared, we can't get the papers."

A tip from the American Kennel Club:

Under AKC Rules, any person who sells dogs represented as AKC registrable, must maintain records that make it possible to give full identifying information with every dog delivered even though AKC "Papers" are not yet available. Do not accept accept a promise of later identification.

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