Joe Duggan (Reporter)
WHEN David Carter bought Richo from a pet shop he thought he was bringing home a pedigree labrador to his 12-year-old daughter.
Rico came at a premium price too, with David, 43, paying the shop in Fuengirola a woofing €350 for the one-month-old ‘pure-breed’ puppy.
So he was anything but impressed when a local vet informed him that Richo was a mixed breed and probably half podenco.
“I am devastated. They are charging a premium price for mixed-breed dogs yet they sold me a dud,” David told the Olive Press.
The expat, who lives Mijas, first realised something was up when he noticed Richo was much smaller than other labradors of the same age.
Returning to the shop, a concession inside supermarket Carrefour, David demanded an explanation.
“When I went in, they showed me a photo of Richo’s parents as some sort of proof,” said David.
“I showed them a photo of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth and said, ‘Well, that’s my mum and dad.'”
Although the shop originally offered David his money back in exchange for Richo, they have since changed their minds.
David now plans to take Richo to England for further tests to prove he has been sold a dodgy dog.
Could have saved €350 by going to a local pound and rescuing a dog would have loved your daughter every bit as much as a €350 possibly more.
dont you know what a lab looks like, serves you right, why not get one of hundreds of dogs in the rescue centres, they have many thoroughbreds too.
I hate dog snobs,
Absolutely agree. I’ve had pedigree animals & found that they tend to have more problems than “muts” & end up costing the guardians a real bundle in vet fees later on. None of this appears to have daunted Mr. Carter who went to buy something without doing his homework first. I would agree however that a pet shop should not have basically conned him.
I agree with Peter. Please don’t give the dog back they will kill it.
Peter, could not agree more. My rescue dogs are the most loving creatures you could imagine. Let us hope that Richo is still given a home and the love that any animal deserves.
It was Peter I was agreeing with.
I love Labradors too but now this has happened, why not keep the dog? What are his plans for it?
I agree that instead of paying for a dog and encouraging breeders, why not give a home to a dog from a sanctuary.
David……….I trust you are able to read¿?¿?¿ There have been countless amounts of info re
how to buy and how NOT to buy a dog. I have seen plenty of pure labs in rescue sanctuaries.,
or is it that a piece of paper saying the dog is a Pedigree of more importance to you than the
animal. I think it is deplorable that you will be taking Richo back to the UK for tests, & how
much is all that going to cost? Please stop being so full of your own importance and find Richo
a loving home with people that respect animals for what they are.
Sinvergüenza!!!!!
everyone is missing the point…………..its like being sold a Mercedes Benz and ending up with a BMW……THEY HAVE CONNED HIM…!!!!
Just stand by their stall every spare moment you have and tell anyone showing interest in a pup your story. Works wonders. Got a dodgy car hire firm to waive a sketchy €650 charge last year.