Sales Contract

We put everything in writing. Before a puppy leaves us, both sides sign a short agreement that sets out who is buying, which puppy, what has been paid, what we promise about that puppy’s health, and what we are asking you to promise in return. This page is that agreement in plain language, so you can read it at your own pace rather than on the day.

What this agreement covers

The agreement is a purchase contract between Chris & Bethany Bassets Ltd and the person buying the puppy. It records the sale itself, the health guarantee that comes with the puppy, the conditions attached to that guarantee, and what happens if either side cannot go ahead. It does not transfer ownership until the full balance has cleared.

You receive a copy signed by both of us. Keep it. If you ever need to make a claim under the health guarantee, that signed copy is what we will work from.

Who signs it

The buyer must be at least 18 years old and must be the person who will actually live with the puppy. We do not sell to third parties buying on someone else’s behalf, to brokers, to pet shops, or to anyone intending to resell the puppy. A puppy bought as a gift is fine, but the person taking responsibility for it needs to be the one signing and the one we speak to.

If two people share a household and want both names on the agreement, we are happy to do that. Both signatures then carry equal weight.

The puppy being sold

The agreement names the individual puppy, not a litter or a type. It records:

• The puppy’s name, sex, coat colour and date of birth
• The breed, which for every puppy we sell is Basset Hound
• The sire and dam
• Microchip number, which is fitted before the puppy leaves us
• The vaccinations and worming treatments given, with dates

No puppy leaves us before eight weeks of age. That is not negotiable, whatever the circumstances, and no amount of deposit changes it.

Price, deposit and balance

The price of each puppy is shown on its own listing and is the price we honour. Our puppies are currently priced between $600 and $800 depending on the individual puppy. The agreement records the exact figure, the deposit already paid, and the balance still owed.

The balance is due once the puppy reaches eight weeks: on the day if you are collecting in person, and at least three days before travel is booked if the puppy is being delivered or flown. We accept bank transfer, Zelle, debit and credit cards, and cash on collection.

Ownership passes to you once the full amount has cleared and the agreement is signed by both sides. We confirm every payment in writing the same day it arrives, and we will never ask you to send money through a channel we have not discussed with you first by phone.

What we guarantee

Every puppy is vet checked before it goes home, is up to date on worming, and has started its vaccination course. A written health record travels with the puppy.

Beyond that, the puppy carries a one year guarantee against life threatening hereditary and congenital conditions. The full terms, including what is covered, what is not, and how to make a claim, are set out on our Health Policy page, which forms part of this agreement.

What you agree to

In signing, you agree to the following. None of it is unusual, and all of it exists because it is what keeps a basset well.

• Have the puppy examined by your own vet within 72 hours of collection. This protects you as much as us, and it is a condition of the health guarantee.
• Keep vaccinations, worming and flea treatment current, and follow your vet’s advice on timing.
• Keep the puppy as a family companion in your home, not kennelled outdoors and not chained.
• Feed appropriately and keep the puppy at a healthy weight. Bassets carry long backs on short legs, and excess weight causes them real harm.
• Limit stair climbing and high jumping while the puppy’s joints are still developing.
• Never sell, surrender or give the puppy to a shelter, rescue, pet shop or laboratory. If you ever cannot keep the dog, at any point in its life, contact us first. We will take it back.

Registration and breeding rights

Puppies are offered with registration either with or without breeding rights, and the agreement states clearly which one you are buying.

A puppy sold without breeding rights is sold as a companion. You agree to have the dog spayed or neutered at the age your vet recommends, and not to breed from it. A puppy sold with breeding rights costs more and is agreed case by case, in advance, in writing. Breeding from a dog sold without those rights is a breach of this agreement.

Collection and delivery

The agreement records how the puppy is travelling home: collected in person at our place, driven to you by us or by a courier we trust, or flown as airline cargo. Each of those has its own timings, costs and paperwork, and all three are explained on How We Deliver.

Delivery costs are quoted separately from the price of the puppy and are confirmed in writing before travel is booked. Risk passes to you once the puppy is handed over, or once it is collected by the courier or airline you have agreed to.

If the sale does not go ahead

If you withdraw, the deposit is not refunded, but it can be moved to another puppy as described above. If the balance is not paid within the agreed window and we have not heard from you, the puppy goes back on the available list.

If we cannot complete the sale, for any reason at all, including a puppy becoming unwell before collection, you get every penny back. That includes the deposit. We will also tell you honestly why. Full detail is on the Refunds page.

Governing terms

The signed agreement, together with the Health Policy, How We Deliver and Refunds pages, is the whole of what has been agreed between us. Anything changed afterwards has to be in writing and agreed by both sides. If a court found any single clause unenforceable, the rest of the agreement would still stand.

The agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Kansas, and any dispute arising from it is dealt with in the courts of that state. Nothing here limits the rights your own state gives you as a consumer.

How to sign

Once you have chosen a puppy, we send the agreement filled in with that puppy’s details. Read it, ask about anything that is not clear, then sign and return it. We countersign and send you the final copy. Only after that do we take a deposit.