What kind of dogs do you breed?
>> Pyredoodles.
That is standard poodle and
Great Pyrenees.
>> Judge Judy: When did you take
a deposit on a puppy
from Ms. St. John?
>> In February of this year.
>> Judge Judy: And you took a
deposit for a puppy that,
at that time, was not born.
>> Yes.
We entered into a verbal
agreement --
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
You took a deposit on a puppy
that was yet to be born.
>> Your Honor, yes, that's true.
>> Judge Judy: And the gestation
period on your dog is 63 days.
Is that correct?
>> Gestation is typically 65 to
68 days.
>> Judge Judy: And you took the
deposit in February.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Just answer my
questions.
I know exactly where I'm going.a
deposit to hold a puppy.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: So let's say you
tried to breed your dog in
February.
February, March -- that means
sometime around the beginning of
April, you would have had
a litter.
>> That's true.
>> Judge Judy: You didn't.
>> We did not.
>> Judge Judy: Then if you tried
to breed her again sometime --
>> I would like to clarify that
we have two moms.
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
She picked one.
You discussed with her and she
discussed with you having a
puppy from a particular dog,
whose name is...?
>> Song.
>> Judge Judy: Song.
>> No. I guarantee a puppy.
I never guarantee --
>> Judge Judy: Oh, then --
Listen.
I've bought puppies from
breeders.
I select the mother.
I select the stud.
I give a deposit.
That usually...
It sometimes takes up to three
months.
But no breeder says, "I have
many dogs.
So, you want to be on a wait
list, you have to give me a
deposit, and sometimes it can
take 65 days, and sometimes it
can take 365 days."
In your case, it's closer now to
365 days.
>> For that mother.
>> Judge Judy: So, unless --
>> And I do want her to have a
puppy from the mother she wants
to have it from.
>> Judge Judy: Well, that's...
Just a second.
That's the one she selected.
She selected Song.
I assume you saw them on the
Internet.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: And that was
your arrangement.
Now, how much of a deposit did
she give to you?
>> She initially sent $200, and
our deposits are $400.
So then she sent...
Instead of sending another $200,
she sent $300.
So we received a deposit --
>> Would you just tell me --
>> Of $500 --
>> Judge Judy: You received
a $500 --
>> In two separate checks.
>> I don't care whether it was
she sent it to you in wampum.
[ Laughter ]
You have $500 of her money.
Is Song expecting?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: When?
>> She will be delivering
in about a month.
>> Judge Judy: I don't believe
you.
>> She's about halfway through.
>> Judge Judy: Unless you can
prove that to me, then I'm
telling you I don't believe you.
Then you gave me the answer that
I -- you prove that to me.
>> I don't believe I can.
I have pictures of her previous
litters.
>> Judge Judy: No, I don't care
about her previous litters.
I care about a vet's statement,
an X-ray showing that she is
actually carrying a litter
of puppies.
Because she's got a $500 deposit
with you, and so far, she's
been waiting nine months.
And that's an outrageous amount
of time.
Because you're not out
any money.
You're not out any money.
You didn't promise these puppies
to anybody else.
As far as I know, you take
deposits of $500 from people and
hold their money and say,
"Eventually, you'll get a puppy.
Could be this year.
Could be next year.
It could be 20 years from now.
I take your deposit.
You don't get a refund on your
deposit."
And we have February, March,
April, May, June, July, August,
September, October, November --
10 months later, there's still
no life in being, still no puppy
in being.
So you have to give
her her money back.
>> Well, I'm not going to do
that -- we have a no-refund
policy.
>> Judge Judy: Oh, yeah,
you have to give her...
That's why we're here.
That's what your suit --
>> I told her there are no
refunds, and she will get
a puppy.
>> Judge Judy: Well,
that's too bad.
I don't care what you told her.
Then you're a scammer.
>> Absolutely not.
Everyone is happy, and everyone
always gets a puppy.
>> Judge Judy: Then you are
>> Judge Judy: What happens if
Song, who you've tried to breed
now for 10 months, you've tried
to breed, and right now you
can't prove to me that she's
pregnant, you've tried to
breed...
What happens if she,
unfortunately, can't become
pregnant anymore?
Are you telling me you keep the
deposit, and you're out of luck?
>> She will have a puppy.
>> Judge Judy: That's not what I
asked you.
She chose Song.
She chose a puppy from that
litter, and right now, as far as
I know -- and you have no proof
to the contrary -- she's waited
10 months, and as far as I know,
Song can't have any more
puppies.
Maybe she developed a blocked
something that she can't have
any more puppies, which suggests
to me that if we follow your way
of thinking, "She gave me a
deposit.
It's nonrefundable.
I was hoping to give her
a puppy.
Unfortunately, Song couldn't
have any puppies.
So I have her money,
and she gets nothing."
Well, that's ridiculous.
>> There was no guaranteed
time frame.
>> Judge Judy: It's not good
business.
It's not good business.
Judgment for the plaintiff in
the amount of $500.
We're done.