Candy's legal fees

It took … After 3 years, 2 months and 7 days, 1164 days, or in months 38 months and 7 days to get Candy back.

Every dog owner’s worst fear is that their dog will get out and they’ll never be seen again.

An even worse nightmare is for your dog to be willingly and generously shared with a trusted, like-minded animal lover and then not returned and ghosted.

After Carrie’s heart dog Andy passed, she purchased Candy from the breeder as Candy is an Andy Granddaughter and she was sure that would help fill the void. And She did…Candy is not your average Dalmatian. Candy is energetic, sweet, STUNNING, and she really makes you earn her loyalty and love. There were big plans/dreams for Candy. Carrie was actively showing and campaigning Candy. Carrie and Candy were more than halfway (54 Points) to achieving her bronze tile with 54 points total and since Candy was a young dog Carrie felt achieving her GCH Bronze and even Silver, Gold, and beyond were achievable. Carrie achieved a Top Owner Handler ranking #6 in 2020 in 4 months’ time of showing Candy as a special. Carrie and Candy had won back-to-back Group 2’s and other prestigious wins at regional Specialty shows. This was the dream of her Owner In her own words, she has told me “Some dogs are once in a lifetime dogs. These dogs need to be shown. Once in a lifetime dogs can and do win each and every time they are in the ring. Candy is one of those dogs. “

Being a Breeder is hard work. Being a breeder is heartbreaking when a co-owner that is admired and trusted signs a contract, discusses and agrees to the contract and then completely does the opposite. As a reputable breeder Carrie was so distraught and in disbelief about this whole situation.

All the while Candy was gone…. the sadness/depression was overwhelming, and questioning of humanity, and continual prayers to God for guidance. Carrie over and over in her head and heart trying to make sense of the situation to get an understanding of "why this terrible situation was happening"...such a lengthy and stressful battle; it could not be comprehended. For the love of Candy, her Owner took money out of her retirement (with penalties) to pay her legal team to fight to get Candy back. The battle was long, troubling, emotionally taxing and very expensive.

After 3 years, 2 months and 7 days, 1164 days, or in months 38 months and 7 days ….

Candy was ordered by the judge to be returned to Carrie on 7/8/24 pending a default judgement. On 7/15/24 a default judgement from the court was granted establishing Carrie as Candy’s rightful owner. For a dog that you paid for and that you own…can you begin to imagine having to do this? Candy is back home where she is loved, cherished and treated like the queen she is.

I asked Candy’s Owner if we could set up a GoFundMe account for her to try to recoup some of the money she had to pay, the penalties on the money she had to borrow, and for the legal fees that are still owed and ongoing to Candy’s attorney.

Thank you in advance for reading this cautionary tale about Candy’s journey.

If anyone is nervous about donating and having names exposed, you may donate anonymously. Every little bit will help right this wrong.

We love Candy!!!