Seller Changing Price After Sale?

This may sound a bit bizzare but I need some real legal help. Six months ago, in January my pet mouse passed away. Instead of burying her I decided to have her freeze dried so I could always see her. I called every taxidermist in my home city and only found one who would do a mouse. I spoke with the owner himself and he said it would cost $50, so I took her there, made a $20 downpayment and left.  He said he would call me when she was ready.

After hearing nothing from him since then, I called him today for an update. He said that he is unable to do it for $50 because he would not make a profit from it. I asked him why it took him six months to tell me this and he said that he procrastinated a little. He said that he will return the mouse and the $20 downpayment.

I want to know if there is any law that can help me. I do not want the money back, I want the mouse freeze dried as agreed upon and that I paid for. The reciept I have is just the kind from those pads you write on any only has my name, the date, the amount, and a description of how I wanted the mouse. Is there anything I can do?

pikachu205:

Is there anything I can do?

Sure.

But you are going to have to put your money where your mouse is.

Get Mickey and your $20 back.

Find someone else to to the work. If it costs more than the original $50 that was contracted you can sue the rat for the difference.

But what legal standing do I have for suing him?

Not a lot since you didn't suffer a loss.  His only negative was procrastinating.

pikachu205:

But what legal standing do I have for suing him?

Breach of contract.

You had an agreement that he do the work for $50. He didn't do it.

If you have to spend more than $50 to get it done by somebody else, he owes you the difference.

That's overly simplified, of course, but small claims court for small amounts of money is also simplified.