A Sad Story...

[EmrldShdwQueen]

Ok first of all let me apologize for how long this is...It has taken me a long time to say something about this...it happened several years ago but over these years I have continually looked this person up on google. I find bad reviews but before I can find them again, they have vanished. So I assume this is the kind of person that likes to sue someone that says something bad...and somehow mysteriously finds all the bad reviews about himself and takes them down. Honestly I was a bit terrified of what would happen because I don't like to start drama...but I know this person is still in business I see the ads up all the time, and the site gets worse and worse...I just can't stand it anymore without saying something. I had a personal experience and actually had a puppy from him, so I don't think I'm doing anything wrong.

I bought a puppy from this man who has a site healthypups.com. He advertises for pages and pages about how healthy his puppy is and how purebred dogs are terrible and unhealthy, etc. etc. You have to wade through 16 pages to get to his contact info and his puppy pictures. He mostly raises mixed breeds. This was several years ago...I would have to really think about timing long and hard to figure out the exact date...I did not get a yorkie or yorkie mix, but he DOES sell them, so I thought this was relevant here. I was in college and I wanted a small breed puppy. I had finally moved into an apartment where I could have 2 pets. I already had my cat and wanted to get a small dog as well. I had researched yorkies for years and knew I wanted one, but I couldn't afford it at the time. He advertises in the college newspapers because his puppies sell for cheaper prices, so he is targeting students I assume.

I came across the website and his prices were some that I could afford. I read the whole thing and finally called him up to ask him what pups he had available and their prices, etc. and when I could come see them. When he answered he was very short with me and rude, and when I asked him about the puppies (which I could hear TONS of them barking and screaming in the background) he told me to look at the website and call back when I decide what I want...and he hung up on me. I felt terrible but there was no one else in the paper with puppies that cheap, which at the time should've told me something but I was not a breeder yet and didn't have experience with buying from one...so I stupidly looked again at the site and decided I would be interested in either a chihuahua, chi mix, yorkie, or yorkie mix. I called him back and told him, and he quoted me $200 for the chis and mixes, and $400 for the yorkies and yorkie mixes. He said he had several available and I made an appointment the next day to go out and see them.

I drove about 1 hour out and arrived at his house which was waaayyyy out in the middle of nowhere not close to any other houses, and I could immediately see a huge kennel in the backyard. I walked down to it and he greeted me at the screen door and just let me walk right in. What I saw just horrified me. There were probably at least 100 puppies just in this one tiny concrete room, all in chicken wire cages and concrete pens all over the room, on top of one another and piled in together. There were a couple litters still with their moms and they had no beds...the moms looked pitiful, just so sad and not healthy. It smelled absolutely terrible, there was poop and pee everywhere ALL over the room...on the floors, walls, running underneath my feet. I had on flipflops and I remember the dirty water (well I HOPE it was water) flowing under my feet and it kept getting on my toes...I was about to throw up. He led me around this little room and showed me various litters. I mentioned again that I wanted to see the yorkie and chi litters, and he pulled out one puppy from a random cage of a BUNCH of different breeds that looked nothing alike and said, "this is the only chihuahua I have and the yorkies are in the back and they are $600". So already he had changed his price from what he quoted on the phone, and this "back" that he spoke of was through another room in the kennel...I have no idea what it looked like in there but I was not allowed in that room. He had a little desk at the front of this room where he had all his paperwork...I don't know how he could stand to sit in there like that.

All the puppies were screaming and crying, one got its foot caught in a cage wire and a bigger puppy that he had with a tiny puppy attacked the tiny one and was trying to kill it. It was just terrible, words can describe how I felt. He told me to look around and tell him if I found anything I wanted. I asked him what was in the $200 to $400 price range that he had quoted on the phone, and he pointed to two different cages by the wall that each had about 6 puppies in it, they were all rat terriers so he said. He said that was all I could afford...and yes he said it just like that. I kept circling the room...I wanted to help them all...they were all just so pitiful and dirty and unhappy...but I knew the only ones I could afford were the little rat terriers. I went back to look at them again...and as a side note he kept yelling at the top of his lungs while I was in there to the pups to "shut the h*** up". I really didn't want a puppy from this man after seeing all of this, but I thought...just like many people do...that if only I could save just one of them...

So anyways, I kept looking at these rat terriers and most of them were jumping all over each other on the concrete and messing around in their own poop...one pooped on another's head...ughh it was terrible. And one tried to jump out while I was standing there and he walked over, smacked it back down into the cage and said, "you stay there!" or something to that effect. He stood right beside me and I was just looking down at them...I didn't know WHAT to do. He reached for one of the smaller puppies that was cowering at the back in a pile of pee just shaking...picked her up and said, "this one is the cheapest because she's not pretty or friendly." I immediately felt terrible for her, she had the saddest eyes I've ever seen. He stuck her back in the pen and she went back to cowering in the corner. I reached for her again and she jumped away...I finally got her in my arms...so nasty and dirty that she got stains all over my shirt...and she was just so quiet and scared. I knew I had to save her.

I told him I wanted that one and he said $300. I said all I had was $200 on me but that I could go to the ATM. He said there wasn't one around and that he would take $250 and I could write him a check for the $50 and give him the $200 cash. I paid him and he sat at his desk, pulled out a blank health record from the drawer, and started filling it out without even glancing at the date...anything. I don't know how in the WORLD he could possibly remember all the dates he wormed her with as many dogs as he had, etc. but he was sitting there just writing in front of me. Then he grabbed her back from me, gave her a shot and put some worm medicine in her mouth...nemex I think...and then gave me this little health record and I left.

She was scared to death, she threw up 4 times on the way back and was shaking so hard. I got her home, cleaned her up in the bathtub, and I just held her all night because she wouldn't stop shaking. In the morning I took her to the vet and as soon as they saw her health record there they said, "oh no, not another one of this guys puppies." The vet checked her out...he said she looked ok for the moment but they were afraid to worm her and give her another shot since he had "supposedly" just done it. He said to keep an eye on her and if anything happened to bring her in immediately. I took her home and she was just not a playful puppy. She would go hide in the corner and wouldn't come out, she didn't like to be held, shook constantly...just didn't act right. Well about 5 days later or so she started to vomit her food up...she couldn't keep anything down at all...and there was blood in her stool, which was wattery. I took her into the emergency vet because it was in the middle of the night when it all started. They did a blood test and fecal. This vet knew me very well because my cat went through a terrible first year of her life and almost died 3 times...so I had been to that emergency vet several times. Her blood came back ok but she had about 5 kinds of parasites in her fecal. He was almost positive that was what had caused her sickness, so he wormed her with 2 different things and sent me home with another 2 kinds of medicines to give her for a few more days. Well, she did not improve...she just kept getting worse. I took her into the vet again but I was getting pretty upset at this point...because I was a college student who didn't make much money and I had just gone through this the previous year with my cat and had spent thousands on her vet bills...and it was happening again.

Looking back, I never should've taken the puppy because I should've had the common sense to know that by her conditions and demeanor she was not healthy...but at the time, like so many other people that I'm sure have puppies from him, I just thought about getting ONE of them out of there. The vet repeated her bloodwork, did a few more tests, etc. and tried her on several medicines. I can't even remember what all of them were and all the testing, etc. but the vet suspected something genetic that she would struggle with her whole life. I remember just crying myself to sleep night after night during all of this...and I tried to call the breeder about it and left messages, he would never call me back of course. I didn't know what I was going to do.


....continued in next post.....

[EmrldShdwQueen]

Well, as it turned out a lady that lived near my parents back home that knew them was talking about how she had a little male rat terrier and wanted a female to keep him company. She and her husband were both teachers I believe, and my mom told them about my little girl and how I didn't have much money, etc. and that they weren't sure what was wrong with her. The lady called me and we talked, and they decided that if I would be willing to let her go they would take on the responsibility of her vet bills from that point on, their little boy had diabetes I think and they were used to having a baby with a genetic disease...and had a special place in their hearts for them. I did not want to let her go...in the short time that I had her I had grown so attached to her, but I KNEW it was the right thing to do for her...they had a stable income and could afford all her vet bills, and I knew they could do more for her at that point than I could...so I let her go to them. They eventually pinpointed her kidneys I believe, and she has to take some sort of medicine for the rest of her life. Bless that couple for taking her and for giving her the life that she needs and deserves...she is happy now with her "brother" and doesn't have to feel pain every single day.

It was a terrible experience, the WHOLE thing. I had stocked my new apartment with puppy things, collars, treats, bowls, beds, toys, on and on and I was so excited about getting a baby I could afford. What I got was an extremely unhealthy puppy that hadn't been cared for...just stuck in a cage and food thrown in every so often...dirty and so sad...and hundreds more dollars in vet bills and a breeder who didn't care enough to return my phone calls. I was so upset that I had to give all her things away to the people that took her, I couldn't even look at them anymore without crying.

This person goes on and on all over his site about how purebred pups are unhealthy and how he's such a good and responsible breeder, etc. and this is how he is raising the pups. Now that I'm a breeder myself and have a lot more knowledge of that sort of responsibility, I can see just how horrible this was...I can't imagine throwing my puppies into a corner and never touching them, never cleaning up after them, screaming at them, etc.

Again, I hope that this doesn't cause any trouble and I'm sorry this is so long...but I know people are strapped for cash right now...and people see such a small price and read all the things he has to say on the site, and think they're getting a good deal from a good breeder. I just wanted it to be out there...he sells several different kinds of mixed and pure breeds...11-12 I think. I hope no one else here has had the same experience there...

[andibaby]

OMG! This is sooooo sad for you and all those little babies. How hard that must have been. I am sure I would've done and thought the same thing-'If I could just save one'. It took a ton of courage to give up that baby you grew so attached too. That says alot about a person. Kudos to you for being able to put that baby's needs before your feelings. This story almost made me cry. I hope that guy rots.

[Bellas_mommy]

I hate to hear that there are sweet little babies out there suffering so horribly because of SELFISH, HATEFUL so-called breeders. And it makes things so much worse when these people target people like college students who typically don't have the money or the knowledge regarding selecting the proper puppy. I am currently in college and just spent an arm and a leg for a Yorkie. So I know that it can be extremely tempting to see a good deal.

I'm so sorry that you had to go through that horrible experience. But I truly do commend your attempt to save that poor little girl.

And its good to see that you have taken that horrible experience in stride and have become a respectable breeder.

[EmrldShdwQueen]

By the way, I did just go back to his site again and looked over everything...he does have a picture of his kennel and one of the "puppy rooms" on there...but believe me it looks NOTHING like that in person...not anywhere near as clean or put together...I guess they cleaned it that one day to take a picture...

[Breny]

Awwwww so sad I looked at the website...its so strange??? And all the pups are in cages

[chloesMama]

It makes me sick that he is still in business. It is sad when you hear stories like this, but it is so good to tell them because there are alot of people ( I use to be one of them) that think, "Hey, this is just how everyone gets a puppy."

That's why I'm thankful that I found this site before I purchased another dog . I purchased my Yorkie without having any real knowledge as to what makes a good breeder. I did loads of research on the TYPE of dog I wanted , but none on what makes a good breeder. I really assumed that they would just "be good" somehow I know now how stupid I was....I just got lucky with my two dogs.

It's sad that these people can't be stopped and if they are they just get a new name and start all over.

[YorkyDiva]

Oh Nicki this whole thing made me cry. Thankfully you did save one baby from such a horror.

[phfgkl]

Nicki, have you tried turning this idiot in to the humane society? These pups all look so sad, it breaks my heart, and I can imagine what that experience did to you. Bless your heart

[LuvMySissy]

Oh Nicki - how horrible. What an awful experience to go through. Just think, he is probably also one of those people who think we're strange for doting on our babies.

[bjh]

Nicki, thanks for sharing you story. It breaks my heart thinking of all those poor dogs and puppies living like that. Can't anything be done to shut him down? So sad.

[scrapindee]

Nicki, Maybe contact the news department of the tv station? This is so sad.

[AshasMom]

I visited this site, and looking at all those poor babies in cages made my stomach turn. I can't believe this is allowed to go on. And, he claims he has passed all inspections??!! I would follow up on those claims if I were you. Thank you for bringing this to everyone's attention.

[hugz4all4]

all I can is WOW... that website is crazy and non of those puppies even look remotely healthy . Most of them are dirty, they arent cute puppies at all and a few of them have red nasty eyes. . My heart is breaking for them, they all looked so sad. .
Im glad you posted what you did, the more people know about how bad this kennel is the better. There has got to be some way he can be shut down!!

[TatumsMom]

Originally Posted by hugz4all4

all I can is WOW... that website is crazy and non of those puppies even look remotely healthy . Most of them are dirty, they arent cute puppies at all and a few of them have red nasty eyes. . My heart is breaking for them, they all looked so sad. .
Im glad you posted what you did, the more people know about how bad this kennel is the better. There has got to be some way he can be shut down!!

Exactly what I thought after reading through most of the pages. He sounds nuts! The most outrageous thing I read was where he wrote (under a supposedly purebreed Yorkie) was "Yorkshire Terrier purebred! We raise a few of these because they draw huge amounts of people to the kennel because sooo many people think they're the cutest dog ever. However, I would not recommend anyone buy one if you want an affordable, intelligent and trainable, or healthy over time pet." WHAT?! Ugh! This guy needs to be shut down if his kennel looks as bad as you say. So sad.