Opinions

[Steph]

Ok so here's my dilemma...

I recently had a 4 month old baby die in his new home. This is a first for me and was really troubling. I've had others die of course once they were older, etc... but not a baby like this.

The owner called me and asked if I would like him necropsied. I said "I think it would make everyone feel better don't you?". She agreed, end of conversation. I never said "yes" or "you HAVE to necropsy him". I simply said if it was me I would have done it and it would make us all feel better by providing answers.

The necropsy comes back and shows severe Fatty Liver Disease with a coagulation complication. I had just recently done a lot of research on FLD and found that coagulation problems are a symptom.

I was not asked nor did I offer to pay for this necropsy, I was not asked nor did I offer to replace this baby.

These are my reasons:

1. It wasn't something I did. This baby was in his new home for well over a month. My guarantee is 2 weeks unless it's a genetic issue that's proven. Obviously FLD is not a genetic issue (or one could argue it is a genetic issue in that ALL hedgehogs are at risk).

2. This baby was in a "co-breeding" situation. I didn't know it at the time he was purchased or I wouldn't have sold him. I don't care for co-breeding situations. Too many variables, this being one of them. There is just no way to say for certain what happened to an animal when it's not in your care.

3. This breeder had just told me she didn't need any more males and really didn't need the one she bought from me.

My question is: Was I wrong to not replace him and/or offer to pay for the necropsy??

Apparently the other breeder/owner thinks I was and told me so after the fact, much later on.

I don't think I'm completely an un-reasonable person. I am outspoken and firm in what I believe in, but I am not above admitting when I am wrong. I felt in this situation I was absolutely not wrong and I still feel that way, but I just wanted to get some opinions on the situation from some un-biased sources.

[HedgieMate]

I'm not a breeder and have little experience with hedgehogs. In that sense, I'm completely unbiased and here's my two cents.

Judging from what you said in this post, I think you've done nothing wrong and your reasons are justifiable.

However, there is always more than one side to a story. Has the other party presented any reasonable argument as to why he/she thinks you should pay for the necropsy or replace the baby? Without having heard the other side, it's difficult to pass good judgement on the situation.

Is the other party holding any grudge against you? Just because he/she misunderstood what you said on the phone and jumped to the wrong conclusion? Can you offer a partial payment towards the necropsy or partial refund? Although I can understand why you may view such an offer completely unnecessary or even wrong, it might help the other party feel a bit better about this incident. (BTW, I'm sorry that your baby died so young in the new home. Hope it will not happen again.)

[Nancy]

That's a tough one Steph. This being another breeder I feel the circumstances are different than if it were a new first time hedgehog owner. What triggered the FLD? Did he show symptoms, had he seen a vet? At 4 months was he already being bred? Were you aware that the hedgehog was ill before he died and being in a co-breeding situation, had he been passed from person to person already?

There are alot of variables here that don't exist with a first time hedgehog owner. If it were a new hedgehog owner then I would replace the baby unless the necropsy showed abuse, neglect or injury.

Being that he was with breeder/s then I don't think I would replace him simply because he had been away from your home for a month and the cause of death was not genetic.

As for your paying or sharing the cost of a necropsy, that is a tough call. As a breeder I would want a necropsy done for my own peace of mind to know that it wasn't genetic, abuse, neglect or injury and I might share in the costs and being a co-breeding situation the costs should be shared by all those involved. I would expect to be told my share of the costs before agreeing to it though.

I would be troubled by the fact that the breeder told you before hand that she didn't really need more males and didn't need the one from you. Why did she get him then and if she doesn't need more males, why does she want him replaced? Does she want the replacement to be female which would be ringing some serious alarm bells with me.

Tough call on this one Steph. :)

[illinidairychic]

Again tough call. I find it disturbing that they didn't tell you he was co breeding before hand. Also your contract (or whatever) is 2 weeks. And since the hedgehog was with them for over 2 weeks I would have to say they are SOL. I mean you can't buy a car drive it past it's warrenty and then demand half the costs for repair (I'm well aware a car is much different then a pet but I don't have a better comparision right now) My call would be that you DON'T have to and given it's a breeder, they should understand complications in hedgehogs and that they do happen.

[mommy2ryan]

I am not sure what co-breeding means?

I had a situation where I had a hedgie that passed quickly after we got him. We loved and cared for him and found that he had passed one morning a few weeks after we got him.

Our breeder did replace him a while after he passed. I did not think it was right to do it right away so we waited quite a while before getting a new one.

Honestly, I think it was quite generous of our breeder to replace her and I would not have expected it.

We have had our new lil girl for several months with no problems.

[hedgehog69]

its a tough call,but they should have at the least told you that they were planning on breeding him and they should not have been breeding him at that early of an age and when co-breeding there is all kinds of factors that could come into play so in my opinion I would NOT replace him but maybe offer to give them a slight discount on their next purchase from you.

[mommy2ryan]

but if you were not happy with what they were doing with him I would offer anything

[barton]

You absolutly do now have to do anything you laid out the terms of your contract and are covered by that. I definatly do not think you should replace the hedgehog with another especially considering the co-breeding and the fact that the FLD could have been caused by the new owners. However pitching in some money for the necropsy is something that you might consider doing because it was your hedgie and it is also of benefit for you to know why he died not to mention it is hard to say whether he suddenly got FLD in the one month he was with them or had it when he was with you. If it weren't so sketchy I would say definatly do not pay anything but given the cirumstance I would probably chip in a bit.

[SilverKitty]

I'd probably pay for a portion of the necropsy but not the entire thing. I would definately not pay the entire thing though--just a portion, maybe not even half. I'd not replace the hog either because of the breeding situation. They were hidden about their intentions of the hedgie and apparently were not too worried about it's health and all (it was only 4 months...come on). You can refuse anyone a hedgie...you have your reasons...that's all you need. Just what I'd do though.

[Lieblech]

I think you should have replaced or at least re-embuirsed 1/2 of the money.