Complaint Review: Foo Lu Chinese Shar Pei Kennels - Mary And Fred HUndertmark

I too have purchased Two Shar-Pei from Mary and Fred and although I have two of the most loving and loyal family members, Ming 11 and Mei 6, they are not without health issues. I know the breed...

I purchased my second Shar-Pei from them aprox 6 years ago. I picked out my Shar-Pei from an e-mail, paid for her via credit card and picked her up aprox 4-5 weeks later. The very day that I brought her home I stopped by my vets office in order to have my vet meet our new addition. She asked me to make an appointment for the following day because Mei Ling had an eye problem. After many doctor's appointments to include specialist's from Angel Memorial in Mass, it was determined that Mei Ling has glaucoma which she was either born with or she got shortly after.. Definately before I picked her up..

I called Mary and Fred immediately after the first comments from the vet so no environmental conditions could have caused the problem at least from my side..
Trust me she tried that bull with me too..

I was told that she would refund my money if I returned Mei but other than that she would not help us at all.

Can you imagine being told by an eye specialist a week before Christmas that your puppy has to have an eye removed. Imagine asking the breeder to help a little with the cost and they tell you no.

They made good money on Mei and she has one eye to see from..

I have this all documented at the VCA South Hadley Animal Hospital..

My Vet is sick by the way Mary and Fred treated us and can't understand why I did not try to take them to court..


I have two of the most loved Shar Pei with the best personalities.. I would not trade them for anything..

My problem with Mary and Fred is this.....If there is a serious health issue with a dog you buy for them .. In my opinion and from what I have personally experienced....you are on your own..

For those who think that I am hiding and don't want to give a name, think again..
I have given enough information so that I can be found if need be..

Foo Lu Kennels CSP Mary & Fred Hundertmark 2016 Iver Johnson Way
Woodstock Vt are operating their business under a loophole on the Vermont Law.
In Vermont, breeders or animals are required to register with the state . Registered breeders are subject to inspections of premises and of their animals health.
The Hundermartmarks' are not registered. They state they are only breeding their own animals and do not need to register. The Dr. Rood's office under the State Agriculture stated the Hundertmarks are operating under a loophole in the Vermont law and current Vermont legislaturers and humane society's are working to close that loophole. They are using the incident against the Hundertmarks as an example
of the failure of Vermont laws to protect the animals and the consumers.

The Hundertmarks breeding animals are breeding litters that are genetically disposed to Shar pei Fever. Morpheus, a puppy bred by the Hundertmarks and purchased at Foo Lu Kennels cause of death was Shar Pei fever . The Hundertmarks continue to breed their animals knowing this. It is unresponsible for a breeder to continue to breed animals knowing they have this genetic disorder.

The local animal rescue and humane society in Woodstock are aware of the Hundertmarks reputation. The Vermont Legislaturers heard three accounts from
previous Shar pei owners of the loss of their Shar Peis from Shar pei Fever that came from Foo Lu kennels. Consumers who are seeking puppies to add to their family should be made aware of the deceptive practices of Foo Lu Kennels and save themselves the pain, expensive veterinary care, heartbreak, and the suffering their pet will endure. I am placing this information and warning on the internet for future consumers as they do their research.

My family and I loved the dog Morpheus deeply and were crushed by his death.
The Hundertmarks then lied stating they would reimburse the cost of the dog.They tried to state the puppy got a spider bite and they were not responsible for the puppies health. Morpheus was treated by an extremely reputable emergency veterinary hospital that had three specialists. All concurred that Morpheus passed from Shar Pei Fever. One doctor stated it was the worst case they had seen .
If you are reading this because you are considering buying a puppy from this kennel please consider the information presented.

It is tragic to have any infant sicken, much less die, but our society seems eager to find blame for such sad occurrances, as if there always must be a culprit, if the complaining family's own infant had died I suppose they would accept the blame (not). Their seemingly baseless complainant disparages the names of devoted Shar-pei breeders, folks who have carefully raised Shar-pei pups as a not as a major income generator, but because of love of the breed.

I welcome calls from anyone interested in a first hand reference concerning them which goes back more than 20 years. Before they moved to Vermont, I'm guessing 25+ years ago, they had established a named for themselves in western Massachusetts as a young family that raised Shar-peis IN their home, not in some cyclone fenced back yard, with their oen children.

I was then living in Amherst. MA, and as I researched my new interest in Shar-peis. their name continually came up amoung faculty at UMass and Amherst College. I was sorry to learn that they had moved from an adjacent community tp Amherst, to Vermont, because I didn't want a puppy mill puppy, and at the time the breed was dificult to find. I then checked with The Barker, the official magazines of Shar-pei enthusiasts, and learned that they were breeders in good standing but had moved to Vermont.
Their recommendations were so strong that instead of contacting closer breeders I drove to Vermont to see for myself. I was charmed by the fact that their Shar-pei pups, their kittens, their young children (and a pet rabbit) all were playing together on a scrupuloiusly clean linoleum living room floor.
I bought my first Shar-pei from them on that visit in 1985. I am now the happy owner of my THIRD from their home, over 23 years.

Their kids are now grown, but still there are no cages or kennels, and when they have an (always) carefully bred new litter, one visits them inside their home, as part of their family, given time to get to know them all, and with all the proper AKC and vet reports for each which of course one expects from a responsible breeder.

One's heart bleeds for anyone who goes through the angst associated with the illness and death of any puppy, but death is part of life, despite the most rigorous precautions of the most respected breeders, and trashing the reputation online of a loving and respected breeder (who may be every bit as close to the deceased pup as you are) is contemptable, especially these folks, who have proven themselves over 25-30 years, making scores of families and children happy breeding healthy and happy puppies to the best of their ability.

I find it particularly slimy that whomever posted their reputation ruining rant against the Hundtermarks had not the integrity to post their own name address and contact information. We all must be wary of such hit and run behavior and doubt its veracity. When you see a defamitory post against an individual like that one, where the writer hasn't the courage to include their name and contact information, consider it for what it is: worthless.
It is time we all stood up against such rerehensible behavior.
C. Prentice

This letter is in response to the attack on Fred & Mary Hundertmark.

I have owned several Shar Pei's throughout the past 15 years, and have done business with several breeders, as well as breeding a few litters of my own. There is no breeder more dedicated and committed to breeding healthy Shar Pei's, than these people. They are very honest, caring breeders, that truly are the best of the best. I always check with them first, when looking for a dog, to see what they have available. My nine-year-old male Shar Pei "Raphael" was purchased from the the Hundertmarks, and he still goes on a 3-mile walk (or run on cool days) with me each day. He looks and acts like a three year old, and I love him dearly, as I do with all my Shar Pei's. If anyone is looking for a Shar Pei, these are the best breeders to buy from. Mary, Massachusetts

We have a strong rebuttal to Leota's allegations, misstatements and untrths. Leota states she saw the parents of the puppy and at least 10 other dogs at our home. We only own eight so she obviously can't count well and demonstrates a marked tendency to exaggerate the truth. She had the pup checked out by her vet shortly after purchase and the pup was given a clean bill of health. When the puppy became ill we were not notified. In fact, she didn't notify us until 2 hours before his death. When we were notified I offered to go and get him and bring him to Vermont for treatment as we had reservations about the care he was being given. Leota refused to let us take the puppy back.

It became evident in the law suit she brought against us, even though she had been refunded the full purchase price of the puppy, that the pup had been treated with a medication that carries the warning "may cause some side effects. Serious but rare side effects can occur without warning and in some situations result in death". The State of Vermont obviously agreed that we were not at fault as the court found a judgement for us and against Leota.

In regard to her statements regarding "Shar-Pei Fever" we stand behind our dogs and our breeding. We try very hard to breed healthy pups with sound temperaments. We have been doing so for over 25 years. In almost every litter of pups we sell to repeat customers - the best recommendation that you can get.

Leota was fixed on Shar-Pei Fever before she bought her puppy. She refuses to understand that the common opinion of the experts is that the fevers occur over time and that they may lead to a plaque-like buildup in organs, mainly but not exclusively, filtering ones like kidneys and liver. The condition may lead to amiloidosis which can be fatal. For a puppy to run a relatively low fever one day (and be treated with a potentially deadly medication) and die the next is hardly indicative of a condition that usually takes years to result in death.

In all the puppies we have ever sold this is the only one that died so young. We are very sorry for the death of "Morpheus" and would have prevented it in any way we could have. We are sorry Leota is so angry for but she needs to take responsibility for her part in the chain of events. He was born on our bed and a part of our family for several months, he left and three weeks later he was dead - we miss the little guy.

Foo Lu Kennels knows it is breeding dogs that carry Shar Pei Fever. Mary and Fred Hundertmark the owners of Foo Lu Kennles have received documantation from three different veterinarians informing them that puppies from their litters have died of Shar Pei fever and complications that have risen from the disease.

Dogs with FSF should not be used in breeding programs. The Hundertmarks have not neutered or spayed either of the parents that have given birth to dogs that carry the Shar Pei Fever. They have a minimum of 12 breeding dogs at their home. A reputable breeder would be concerned about the fact a puppy died from this genetic disorder and would no longer breed either parent. A reputable breeder is concerned health and future lines of the breed.

Foo Lu Kennels sells puppies for $900+. Their health warrantee (if they honor it) covers the first two years for genetic defects. Shar Pei fever and Amyloidosis most commonly strikes between three and five years of age. The health warrantee would no longer be valid for the consumer and Foo Lu Kennels would no longer
be responsible.

Consumers beware if you plan to purchase a puppy from Foo Lu Kennels/Mary and
Fred Hundertmark. Don't let them "fool you".

I am sorry about your loss. I would just like to add that I have purchased more than one puppy from the Hundertmarks and have never found them anything but GREAT to deal with. We just recently lost the first dog we purchased from them she was 16!

Before making aligations you first must understand Shar-Pei fever and do your research, I have and detecting this is not as easy as one would think and yes like hip dysplasia in other breeds you try and breed away from it but time and time again it may very well show up.

I think it is unfair to blame the Hundertmarks because in my opinion I beleive if they thought or knew they had a female or male carrier they would not breed it. Let's face it if their breeding stock had Shar Pei fever they would not be alive long enough to breed several litters now would they?