Stokeshire Designer Doodles Deposit, Refund & Reservation Policy
Reservation Fee Amount & Purpose
A $500 + applicable sales tax reservation fee secures your place on the waitlist for a specific Stokeshire litter.
This one-time fee is applied toward the final purchase price of your puppy and confirms your intent to proceed with placement.
Refund Eligibility (Pre-Breeding Only)
If cancellation is requested prior to confirmed breeding, 90% of the reservation fee is refundable. The remaining 10% covers administrative and processing costs.
Breeding is defined as either live cover or artificial insemination confirmed through veterinary or breeder records. This timestamp is maintained in internal records and is not subject to client notification.
Sales tax is non-refundable, as it is remitted directly to the State of Wisconsin in accordance with tax law.
Non-Refundable After Breeding
Once breeding has occurred, the reservation fee becomes fully non-refundable, regardless of individual circumstances. This includes, but is not limited to:
Change of mind or loss of interest
Incompatibility with travel or schedule
Personal, financial, or family hardship
Preference-based dissatisfaction (e.g., gender, coat, color, or size unavailable)
Delayed or missed communication
Dual reservations with other breeders
Miscarriage, loss of pregnancy, or no puppies produced from the breeding
Your payment constitutes acceptance of these conditions. This non-refundable clause protects the integrity of our breeding decisions and allocation process.
Transferability
Reservation fees may be transferred one time to a future litter within 24 months of the original payment date.
Transfer requests must be submitted in writing prior to Puppy Selection Day.
Transfers are granted only if space is available on the desired litter.
Failure to request transfer prior to selection will result in forfeiture.
Final Payment Deadline
The remaining balance is due no later than 72 hours before your scheduled go-home date.
Failure to complete payment on time may result in:
Loss of reserved placement
Forfeiture of your deposit (with no refund or credit)
Release of the puppy to the next eligible family
Pick of the Litter (POL) Option
Non-Refundable, Non-Transferable Commitment
The POL upgrade fee is always non-refundable and non-transferable. This applies in all cases, including if you later decline to proceed, if your preferences are not met, or if you choose to pass on available puppies.
Breeder Obligation
If a female fails to produce viable puppies, Stokeshire will work to ensure that your POL upgrade is honored on the next qualifying litter.
Client Obligation
If viable puppies are produced and you elect to pass on the litter for any reason, your POL upgrade fee will be forfeited.
The POL upgrade is a preference-based privilege, not a guarantee of a specific puppy.
Breeder Discretion
Stokeshire reserves the right to:
Limit or cancel breedings if fewer than 3 families are committed
Override POL placements in rare cases based on the best interest of the puppy (e.g., temperament, medical concerns, or therapy placement)
Red Fern Scholarship Contribution
A portion of every reservation fee supports our Red Fern Scholarship Fund, which helps place therapy-grade puppies with children and families experiencing hardship.
Your participation directly furthers this mission.
Legal Enforcement
By placing a deposit, you agree to all terms in this Reservation Policy. This constitutes a legally binding agreement governed by the laws of the State of Wisconsin. All disputes or disagreements shall be resolved under the jurisdiction of Taylor County, WI.
Chargeback Notice: Any chargeback or payment dispute will be challenged using your signed or digitally acknowledged agreement, including timestamped checkout records and transaction logs. Fraudulent claims may result in removal from our program and legal action.
Communication & Stay-Informed Policy
At Stokeshire Designer Doodles, we prioritize transparency and fairness by publishing all important dates and updates on our website well in advance. This includes estimated and confirmed dates for heat cycles, breeding, birth, selection appointments, pickup, training graduations, and any other key milestones.
It is the sole responsibility of each client to stay informed by regularly checking their litter page and our website for these updates.
While we also send courtesy emails for major milestones, we cannot guarantee email delivery due to spam filters, email provider blocks, or user inbox settings. Failure to see or receive an email does not alter any of your financial obligations, selection deadlines, or waitlist status.
Key points of this policy:
All essential dates and updates are published transparently on our site for your review at any time.
You agree to actively monitor your litter page and our main website to remain informed throughout the process.
Missing or not opening an email will not delay or excuse your obligations to complete selection, payment, or pickup on schedule.
⚠ Non-Response:
If we do not hear from you within 7 days of your scheduled Puppy Pick Day appointment, your deposit will be forfeited and your waitlist position may be reassigned to the next family.
By submitting your deposit and proceeding with your reservation, you acknowledge and accept this responsibility to stay informed throughout your adoption process.
Legal Rationale & Reservation Policy Enforcement
At Stokeshire Designer Doodles, we value transparency and fairness. As licensed breeders in the State of Wisconsin, we operate in accordance with state regulations, ethical breeding standards, and consumer protection guidelines. To eliminate ambiguity and prevent misinterpretation of our Reservation Fee Policy, the following rationale and conditions apply:
1. Legal Definition of Breeding & Non-Refundability
For the purposes of this policy, "breeding" is defined as either artificial insemination (AI) or live cover confirmed by our veterinary or breeding records. Once this event has occurred, the reservation fee becomes nonrefundable, without exception. This is not based on estimated due dates, but on the factual occurrence of a breeding act.
The reason for this is clear: initiating a breeding—especially with a limited waitlist—commits us to significant, often irreversible, investments of time, care, and resources. Our ethical commitment is to breed only when demand justifies it; if a list drops below our minimum threshold (e.g., fewer than 3 committed families), we may choose to cancel the pairing to avoid surplus or unethical practices. The nonrefundable deposit ensures clients participate in that commitment.
2. Common Misconceptions That Do Not Qualify for Refunds
To eliminate potential disputes or attempts at circumvention, the following do not qualify as reasons for refund after breeding:
Change of mind, including interest in a different breed, breeder, or lifestyle change
Financial hardship or job loss after the reservation
Timeline changes (e.g., litter delays, heat cycle shifts)
Puppy preferences not met (e.g., desired gender, coat, color, or size unavailable)
Medical issues, relocation, or any personal events altering your ability to receive a puppy
Non-response to emails or scheduling requests
Confusion over policy visibility, provided that submission of payment was accompanied by agreement to this policy
We advise all clients to ensure they are in a stable position to bring home a puppy before placing a reservation. Our policy has been reviewed for clarity and fairness and is enforced uniformly to protect the integrity of our program.
3. Chargebacks and Disputes
By submitting your deposit, you explicitly agree not to initiate a chargeback or dispute through your financial institution in contradiction of these terms. We maintain detailed timestamped records of deposit acknowledgment and policy acceptance. In the event of a chargeback attempt, we reserve the right to:
Submit all documentation to the processor for legal rebuttal
Pursue recovery of funds, including fees and damages, via small claims court or collections
Bar future participation in the Stokeshire program
Our goal is not to escalate—but to maintain the fairness, professionalism, and integrity that our clients and dogs deserve.
4. Binding Agreement
By proceeding with your deposit, you enter into a legally enforceable agreement. This policy is governed by the laws of the State of Wisconsin. Any disputes arising under this agreement shall be resolved in the jurisdiction of Taylor County, Wisconsin.
Updated 8.21.25