Story Archive

How Much for That Doggy in the Window

Retired car salesman Anthony Claessens and his wife couldn’t afford $495 for a purebred bichon frisé puppy from a pet store in Oceanside, Calif., so they financed the animal — for 27 monthly payments of $95.99, or a total of $2,591.73. When the couple got home, Anthony read the paperwork and was shocked to find he had not purchased the dog, but leased it — and the contract noted that “If you do not exercise your right to buy the Pet [at the end of the lease], you will return it to us at a place we identify.” That’s right: even after all those payments, they would still not own the dog, but could pay $93.52 to end the lease, or $187.04 to buy the dog — “plus official fees and taxes.” Oceanside Puppy pet store owner David Salinas says 90 percent of his customers finance their pet purchases, and “It is only a surprise to the customer if they are not reading their contract.” The Claessens canceled the lease, returned the dog, and got a new bichon frisé puppy — for free, from their local animal shelter. (RC/San Diego Union-Tribune) ...So it is possible to go from incredibly stupid to incredibly smart with one simple decision.