I remember mentioning to my daughter that my now-gone beloved Max was about 5 years old. My daughter laughed, and reminded me we had gotten him during her first year of college--10 years prior! And, I am nowhere near 85. Time easily gets away from us, and we always want to believe our dear fur family members are younger, and therefore, we have lots of time with them.

This was meant to be for this little pup. I would just drop it. More so in that the couple is quite old and in failing health. They were probably greatly relieved to have been able to place India in a loving home, maybe even desperate if they really did make up her age. I would be upset too if I thought they were trying to dupe me but I would consider the likelihood of that possibility relative to past experiences with them. Besides, what are you going to do about it? Since she provided papers with birth date, it doesn't really sound like she was trying to deceive.

India is adorable!

I personally would not bother for the age or the $350 and would just drop it given the age and failing health of the PO's. I had mistakenly read that the half you paid was $700.

We adopted the little kitty in my avatar last summer. Her PO said she was about 3 years old, but when we tracked down her vet records, she was actually 6! So, not quite as large of a difference as you. Again, we don't know if he just lost track of time, intentionally lied about her age to get her adopted more quickly, or he adopted a cat that was older than he thought. Bottom line, we love her whether she is 3 or 6, and we also had to spend about $400 getting all her bloodwork and her shots up to date and a microchip, but we kind of knew that going in.

Even at her age, given her pedigree, I am not sure if $350 was really egregious?

i think the issue is that no one likes to feel taken advantage of. Since you will see her anyway, I would asks her very matter of factly about the confusion. Maybe it was an innocent mistake or error. I would feel better if that were the case, if I were you.

But given the totality of the circumstances, I would not seek or demand any compensation.

forgot to add .... She is just gorgeous

I am not even 50 yet and I cannot remember the exact ages of my dogs without asking my children, who calculate this way "Well, we got Nicky when I was 8, and I'm 19 now, so....11!" . Not only that, but I continue to think of our youngest dog as a pup, even though she is actually past middle age--she is just so much younger than our other (very geriatric) dog that I cannot get it through my head she's not a baby still.

I have adopted two very senior dogs in the past, including one who was already in heart failure when we brought her home and lived only two years with us. I never regretted it. The enjoyment she got out of life was a blessing to see. Knowing she had a soft bed, her favorite foods and the cats to boss around just made my day!

Sorry, I didn't read all the posts. Would it complicate matters if you took India to a vet for a well baby check to get another opinion and perhaps an estimate? I'm with dh and a skeptic but a what the he'll puppy lover. Po lied, whether it was deliberate or mistaken, it impacts your family and dd.. How unfair if it's the beginning of a sick parade to the vet. Not a bad lesson for dd in many ways. And she is the innocent sweetie in this case. Still.

Thank you all for your thoughtful ideas
and suggestions. Let me make one thing clear, though. There is no way we'd give India back or bring any legal action against her PO.
I've been getting happy pics messaged
to me all day, every day, of DD and India. Exploring campus on early evening walks, playing, napping etc. Here's a pic she sent me today. The Girls were running errands and stopped by Starbucks for a cappuccino and a pupucchino. India was only allowed to eat 1/4 of it for health reasons, though, but she loved it

And afterwards, India napped on DD'S bed while DD studied for her (summer school ) class tomorrow.

I abhor confrontation, so you know right away what my bias is. I would have to wonder what outcome one would hope for by bringing it up and showing them the papers. If they did this intentionally, you will let them know that you found them out which may be personally satisfying. If this was an honest mistake on their part, it would mainly serve to embarrass them. On the other hand, bringing it up may be a relief to give them a chance to make it right. I would be more concerned if you anticipated future business dealings with the couple but as you said that they will stop breeding now, I would say nothing and just move on.

And, my goodness, that dog is such a cutie.

I cannot add anything else, except what a bundle of love she is!

Congratulations on your new family member! I absolutely agree with your mindset and understand your frustration. DH and I tend to adopt older dogs and while I expect those strays to have their age "rounded down", to change a dog's known age from 11+ to 7 is just not right. But at this point, it really doesn't matter, does it? Your daughter is thrilled with her new dog (what a charmer!) and you are of course thrilled with that! Really, who cares about the details of how that came about?

You can confront elderly breeder and her husband and maybe they will offer to take her back (nope! Look at those pictures!) or refund your money. Sounds like the money doesn't particularly matter (and I agree with that and with those who mention what a single vet visit runs these days) and that it is the principle. There's no question you are on the correct side but what does that really mean? At best you confront her and she admits to misleading you (but you already knew that). Now you go home with a moral victory but so what? You now know that you let her know she misled you in hopes of getting the best home (along with a decent amount of money) for her dog that is now part of your family. At worst she is in fact confused on the dog's true age and now you've brought that to the forefront. Doesn't help the dog, doesn't help her, doesn't help you.

If it were me, I hope I would take the high road, pat myself on the back for being the bigger person (not often I get to do that) and enjoy that wonderful dog for as long as I can. Again, congratulations and she looks like an absolute treasure.

Not sure there is a solution here. If the PO returned the money and said "I am just happy she will be well cared for" that does not change your future with that animal. You are all all ready attached, you said. You are not giving the dog back. The "damage" is done. As you know the purchase prices is ALWAYS the cheapest part of owning an animal. PO 85 and 100 show wins, breeding stock, existing health, tells me it was very likely the dog was more than 7. I would imagine the Vet you took it too knew too. Breeders/show people know their animals better than amateurs. This is their job/livelihood. Where it seems unlikely the age influenced her memory I would move forward. There is nothing gained by confronting this woman.

Puppuchino... what's in that??

I was thinking about India last night. She must have been very special to the breeder. They will often move older dogs on so they can become a prince/princess of their own home. They hang on to what the refer to as their "heart dog". Some breeders might have said I have an older female that I would love to give you. This is usually only offered to someone they know that will give her a wonderful home. If that were the case without doubt you would have had the medical issues taken care of.

She is adorable & so lucky to have your DD.

India is precious. I just want to hold her!

India is beautiful! DD has a wonderful, sweet pet, the PO has peace of mind that she has found a home for India, what could be better? I know how often I say, oh I just got that, only to realize that it's been a few years. I am sure that at eighty five eleven probably feels like 6 1/2 or 7.

India is so sweet and cute! DD must be thrilled to have her and to have bonded so quickly. I'm sure you and your DH were feeling duped right away, knowing you, or more especially your DD, would have fewer good years with sweet India than initially thought. That would make me most upset than any amount of money and I guess that alone, especially after knowing they had bonded, hurts my heart as it I'm sure it does yours.

As to confronting the PO, I'd let her know somehow that you know and see how she reacts, but at the same time, let her know first that India and your DD are a 'couple' now and everything is fine.

Sweet dog! Would you or your daughter honestly have taken her if the PO was upfront about India's age? In addition to requiring you to pay for her vet bills?

Chalk it up to experience and know that you are giving an old girl the best years of her life. If this dog spent most of her years in a cage, that tells me everything I need to know about the breeder. The PO is also old, and an old dog breeder..., she probably thinks you are still getting a good deal on her dog, but it may have completely been an honest mistake, the not remembering exactly how old the dog really was; or not a mistake at all. Just the way she felt was best to get the old dog the surgery and into a home.

I would mention to the breeder that you saw the dog is 11 not 6-7 as she had stated. Then wait to see what she says. If she offers the $ back you can always have your DD donate the $ to a local dog rescue. If not then well you still have a sweet pet and know that you got that old dog out of her cage.

I wanted to add my good friend adopted a dog who was 8 years old. A couple was breaking up and the guy could not have two dogs in his new place. He was a truly wonderful dog--so gentle and well behaved, and he lived to be about 14 before he passed away.

Sorry haven't read all the replies.

Your daughter has taken on a dog with one paw in the grave. This dog will have a good end of life home. The PO should be happy about that. If she was alert enough to handle this whole transaction she knew of the real age.

just be honest and tell her how you feel. Then, pause and give her a chance to answer. I think that ultimately you can not expect returned monies but if you get it that will be good. Either way, that doesn't mean she needs to go on thinking she got away with this unnoticed.

At this point the goal is really more about expressing your displeasure on the lack of full disclosure to help eliminate negative feelings crowding your brain.

I really don't see any good coming from a confrontation except making sure the PO knows you're on to them or making them feel bad about mistaking the pups age. Seems like, in this case, forgiveness and knowing you are doing right by that sweet ol' pup would be enough to ease your resentment.

What Magda said. I would just let it go. You know this woman and have dealt with her in the past. Hopefully it was unintentional. The dog is adorable and sweet and your DD has fallen in love with her and from the looks of the pix, I would say India feels the same way.

I imagine anyone receiving a packet of papers on their dog would go through them, pulling what needed to go to the vet including birth date. So if the PO was in fact fully aware of India's current age, she also knows her new owners will know it too.

I understand your somewhat disappointment, it never feels good to wonder about the motive. I agree with your husband. I would have to bring it up to her even if I acted like Mickey the dunce. I would have to see what she had to say. I'd bring the papers with me and just say "I found this confusing" and take it from there. I know your daughter loves the darling India but, had you known the age, you may never have considered taking her and therein lies the issue.

The main concern about "letting this go" is that this owner still has another dog that she intends to rehome (at least, that's what I gathered from the OP's original post). Perhaps alerting her to the age issue will encourage her to be more accurate with the information she presents to the next potential owner.

India is precious, and I am so glad she has found her forever home. If it were me, I would probably mention her age to the PO, with no expectation that it would change anything.

I don't think India necessarily has "one paw in the grave" just because of her age. Personally, I think senior pets are the best, and if I were to adopt again (we have a full house right now, besides which, pets usually find me rather than the other way around), I'd definitely seek out a senior cat or dog. They really are very special.

In any case, I'm glad your daughter is keeping her. India deserves a great, pampered life. :)

As much a disappointment it is to have less years ahead with India, older animals have such a hard time getting adopted if ever. Time flies anyway with the younger ones. So I'm glad for her that there was this mishap, intentional or not, and she has the family she deserves and everyone loves her too, regardless. If it was a lie, she was only trying to take care of India, imo.

Blue, not saying that homing a senior dog isn't fulfilling. It's all about the topic of being misled. It was thought that daughter would have around six years of loving before the very senior expensive vet bills roll in after already spending $$$. It is one thing going into that knowingly and another to be misled.

I can't recall the particulars, but I recently had a situation where I thought someone was pulling a fast one. I didn't "confront" them, but I did bring it up and I found out I was wrong. That made me feel so much better.

That is the only goal I would have for Lynn in this. There may be a good explanation and it may have been innocent. It's worth finding out, rather than having a bad vibe over the whole thing.

That is one of the cutest dogs!!! Adorable!

Do you have any medals with dates going back earlier than the stated age of 6.5-7 yrs to back up the birth certificate? I would ask the PO about the age discrepancy because what if she got the dog mixed up with another one? What if you don't even have the dog on the certificate? I wouldn't be confrontational. It's entirely possible she got mixed up or misremembered her age.

In the long run, the 350 would be negligible to me, seeing the joy she brings your daughter. There's not many things you can buy for that price that can make someone so happy (of course the vet bills are more). I think the dog was meant for you all.

My rescue bird, Scout, cost 125. I paid that just to get her out of the home she was in. Than I paid 700 in vet bills, and bought her a $3000 cage. The owner told me she was 3-4 years old. When I took her to the vet, she was in such poor condition that he thought she was an elderly bird (now she looks so great, he changed his mind and said she is a young bird). To be honest, I was happy to hear she was old, because I felt that Scout would live the rest of her life in happiness and not die sad. Even though it sounds like the elderly woman was a good owner, I bet the dog is infinitely happier with your DD. I think it is a win win situation. But I would still clarify the age with the PO.

This is a friend, an elderly woman who is no longer breeding due to health issues and her DH looks less healthy? She bred dogs and showed this one -- she knows they have papers and she knows the vet has records and that you know that too. What makes you think she would possibly think she could or would knowingly pull a fast one on a friend? What could you possibly gain from asking - at the risk of hurting, offending and upsetting a friend you say is having health issues. There are few things more upsetting than thinking you are losing your mind - unless it would be that you think you upset a friend because you are losing your mind. I just don't imagine any scenario where she would not be very upset. Is it worth it?

I lost my mom at 81 and dad at 86 -- both with cognitive decline, but each for different reasons. I spent a lot of time around them and others their general ages. I would chalk it up to experience and "there but for the grace of God go I" -- because if we are fortunate enough to live long enough, we will forget things and get confused too. I would be happy that -- as said above, India is where she should be, DD is so happy and your friend is happy too. You can deal with vet bills regardless of age. It is a bit of a disappointment, but isn't it great that India gets to live her senior years being and making someone so happy? What more do your really need?

Didn't mean that to sound like a soapbox drama, but it is from experience and from the heart.

ETA: A dog is generally considered a senior at 7 years, so even at 6-!/2 - 7 years, the dog would at least be entering senior citizen status.

India is adorable and will be loved and treasured by your DD.

In the course of caring for my ill & aging parents over the past decade, I've spent a lot of time around a variety of elderly people. Many work very hard to give the appearance of still being sharp to the casual observer but struggle with managing changes in their lives. I'm thinking that might be the case with the OP. Finding homes for her aging dogs is likely only one challenging aspect of her life at 85, especially if her husband is older and failing. I'm betting she was confused about India's age.

It's hard to think my two dogs will be 12 this year! People who see them romping, alert & active don't believe it. They just had their annual check up last week and my vet (who has seen them since 12 wks) predicts they've got several more good years. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for them and for India. That must be the hardest part for you to reconcile - the idea that her years with your DD will be shorter than you expected.

You might mention it to the OP in a "by the way, " kind of way if it would satisfy your curiosity to see if the mistake was deliberate. I don't know if I would, if I wasn't hoping to recoup money from the transaction.

In the end, I think you've given a memorable gift to your daughter and a perfect home for India. Congrats on the new family member!

Good thought Amc. It made me think the elderly lady could possibly be putting her affairs in order so to speak.

However, I still think you should express your feeling in a non confrontational way to clear your head.

rockybird mentioned that maybe the papers are not for your dog. This is what had crossed my mind. Do you think that she gave you some papers thinking they are for India but are for another dog instead. It would be super easy to get papers mixed up!

Papers should have the dog's name on them so it should be obvious if they were not correct -- unless she called the dog by something other than its registered name.

Amck2 said what I was behind what I was thinking -- I've watched my MIL, DM and DF all fight to hold on and present a capable front. The brighter a person is, the more they will figure out ways to fool folks for longer periods of time. And there is a lot of pride involved. Even to the end, my dad was able to fool a lot of people most of the time.

Lynn, if you really need to clear your mind, do what you need to. I'm just saying that I've watched and dealt with enough wonderful and very honest people who have gone through physical and cognitive decline that I could put it to rest just knowing DD is so happy and the vet bills won't be a worry or hardship. Sometimes things just happen the way they need to.

Cute! It sounds like India has done very well for herself--what a great retirement situation! :)

I'd just bring up the issue by mentioning that the papers weren't quite right due to the age and you wanted to be sure you got the correct set. It seems unlikely but it might be worth looking into. And even if it isn't, it's a way to broach the subject.

I'm really kind of surprised at all the answers suggesting that the OP be apologetic, vague, or "delicate" in broaching the subject due to the age of the woman she got the dog from. Or, not mentioning it at all because she's too old to handle it. I hope I'm not treated with kid gloves when I'm 85! What's wrong with just being honest and forthright in an inquiry about it? Asking about the situation is not the same as accusing her of wrong doing.

Well the India's previous owner called me yesterday afternoon to see how she was doing. I told her that she was doing fine and adjusting well to her new home with DD. But, that we were all still shocked after finding out on her AKC papers that she was not six and a half or 7 years old as we had been told, but 11 years old. I, point blank, asked her if these were the correct papers for this dog. When she she replied, "I dont know. I think so", I realized then that she knew. She may not have been thinking clearly when she originally told me that India was 6 1/2 or 7 y/o, but I do now believe that she realized soon after, but didn't tell me. More than likely, because she wanted a good home for India with people she knew were good, loving Tibetan Spaniel owners, and who could afford the future medical bills. We are, and we can. And, we're all now in love with India. So, she's DD's baby, who will be loved and spoiled and live the rest of whatever life she has left, as a beloved little princess and pal. DH and I won't mention this again to the PO. Our daughter is happy with India, and that's all that matters now.

This isn't the greatest pic, but here is India and my own Sasha together right before DD headed back to college with her. BTW, Sasha is India's daughter.

You did well Lynn and you know your answer. Now you can put it to rest. Well done.

' I, point blank, asked her if these were the correct papers for this dog. When she she replied, "I dont know. I think so", I realized then that she knew. '

How do you know she knew from her response?

She trusted you with what I bet was her heart dog, one she never planned to re-home.

I just love looking at this beyond adorable little pup, knowing she will be living happily ever after.

So how old is Sasha?

You and your family are really wonderful people. India (and her PO) are very lucky.

Magdalena, Sasha is 5 years old. Thank you all for you kind words and your advice. DD posted this today on her FaceBook page. I think it says it all:

"I've only had my little India for a week, and she has already bettered my life in immeasurable ways. I can't even imagine my life without her now. "

I'm so glad Sasha and your sweet daughter will have some great years together.

India is a sweetie and your sounds as wonderful as you! Hoping for many happy years with India. My little KoKo was eleven years old on April 20 th and people still think she's a puppy.

"The frustrating thing is that we've just unsuspectingly adopted an elderly 11 y/o dog who may develop significant health issues in the next few years."

If the age of the dog was 3 or 4 years, or 3 or 4 months for that matter,they all will eventually have some health issues,if a pet is fortunate to live to an elderly age anyway. If she did lie, at least the dog is in a loving home. I would just let it go.As for the vet bill,well,if you get a pet and expect to keep it for the entirety of its life,.vet bills will happen anyway. At least she disclosed the dogs health condition and split the cost, rather than just giving the dog to your DD for free, and saddling her with the whole bill when she found out the dogs condition on her own. Besides, what's $350 for something with a face that CUTE?

Sweet little doggy! But I would think the white patches on her face would be an indicator that she is in her senior years...?