One family’s experience
Carol, Matt, Bella & Hope
From Barbara’s published account of the Fee family’s experience.
Carol had always adored her two Storybook Maltese puppies, Bella and Hope. The little white fluff balls had been with her for years, bringing joy, love, and laughter into her home.
They were her companions through the highs and lows, always curling up beside her when she needed comfort. But as the years passed, her beloved puppies grew old, and one by one they passed away peacefully, leaving a deep void in her heart.
Carol longed for another Storybook Maltese puppy, wanting to fill the emptiness with the same joy she had known for so long. But her husband, Matt, was hesitant. “We don’t need to spend so much money on another purebred,” he said, convinced they could find a cheaper alternative.
Determined to make Carol happy but not wanting to spend so much he found a backyard breeder offering Maltipoo puppies at a fraction of the price. The breeder assured him that the puppy would be a perfect addition to their family. Excited about the savings, Matt brought home the new puppy.
But as the months went by, it became clear that this puppy was far from what they expected. The tiny, delicate dog they had envisioned grew into a large, almost 20-pound dog, completely different from the petite, gentle companions Carol was used to. This dog was wild, constantly running through the house, chewing on furniture, and tearing up the floors. No amount of training seemed to help. The situation quickly became overwhelming.
The puppy, although lovable, was simply too destructive for them to handle. It shredded their favorite armchair, ripped apart the carpets, and even managed to gnaw at the kitchen floorboards. Carol was heartbroken—not just because the puppy wasn’t what she’d hoped for, but because their once-cozy home was falling apart.
After months of stress and damage, Carol and Matt made the difficult decision to rehome the puppy. They found a family with a large yard and more time to devote to the energetic dog. But the damage to their home remained.
When they finally tallied up the cost of repairing the floors, replacing the furniture, and fixing the damage caused by the ill-suited puppy, they were shocked. The repairs cost them far more than they had ever expected—enough to have bought three Storybook Maltese puppies.
As they stood in their newly repaired living room, Carol sighed. “If we had just gone back to Storybook Maltese in the first place, we would have saved money, time, and all this heartache.”
Matt nodded, regretful. “You were right,” he admitted. “It really does cost less in the long run to do things the right way.”
From that day forward, Carol and Matt became firm advocates for responsible breeding. They learned firsthand why it’s so important to go to a good breeder—because, in the end, the quality, care, and long-term well-being of the puppy truly outweighed any short-term savings.
