Four Paws Shih Tzu - Debbie Kitselman - Debbie Rondeau Ripoff refuses to refund deposit for puppy that died before I took possession LaPine Oregon
Debbie was willing to answer my questions, UNTIL she had my $250.00 (half the puppy price). She became less and less communicative and when I pressed her for information about my little Eli, she handed me excuses about how busy she was. I wanted pictures of my Eli to watch his development and asked questions that she didn't answer. I was watching her website daily (looking for updated pictures of Eli) and was alarmed at the amount of puppies she was adding. I became suspicious and sent a rather pointed email with several questions, and she phoned me and answered most of them except for one request; I had asked to see copies of the parents' health records. (She had sent me pictures of them, before I had picked Eli as the pup I wanted. I have no way of knowing if they really were Eli's Sire and Dam.) She then sent a picture of him, a very unhappy looking pup. When I mentioned that, she said he didn't like being outside, it was cold.
Two days later she emailed me that he had DIED! A reaction to the puppy shots, she said. I now think he was already sick in the picture, not just cold. She also said to pick another puppy! I refused and told her I just wanted my deposit back, that I didn't want another puppy. She refused, saying it said on her web site that deposits are non-refundable. Well, I had interpreted that as meaning AFTER the buyer had possession of a puppy as she had no way of knowing how a pup had been treated. I had put a deposit on a certain pup and she did not deliver. She claims I can pick another puppy at any time, but I do not want just any puppy, especially from what seems to be a puppy mill. There is no way she could give that many pups the care they need.
Do not enter into a business deal with this woman. She cares nothing about the breed, only the dollars they bring in.
Julie
St Maries, Idaho
U.S.A.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Travis
Fitzwilliam,New Hampshire,
U.S.A.
Breeders
#5Consumer Suggestion
Tue, October 26, 2004
I posted this in another report against this lady...
I breed Jack Russell's, I have bought 1 dog from a pet store ( my first Jack) this poor thing is not a "true" jack. She has some issue's but that is what I get for buying her from a pet store. She is a great pet and we enjoy having her.
As a "breeder" I have my buyers sign a contract as to the care, where the dog will be going, what happens if they no longer want the dog, ect. I stand behind my dogs 100%. I give them up to 6 months to return the puppy if they are not happy, If they return it for non-health issue I don't refund 100% but I do refund something, but if it is a health issue that comes up in 2 years they get a full refund. I want to know what is going on with my puppies. I made that animal and it is up to me to make sure that animal is taken care of 100%.
I also do not sell my pups as "show quality" unless they are going to someone that is going to show them. In that case I state in my contract that I guarantee that that dog will be accepted for registration by my kennel club ( unlike the AKC my club dose not give a blanket registration for the litter, they do it dog by dog). If that dog is not up to the standards of the my kennel club I will refund 1/2 the money paid. As my show/breed dogs go for twice the price as a pet. If the puppy is sold as a pet my contract states it is sold as a pet and I want the dog altered asap. With that my kennel club will only record that dog. I do that so I know there is no unwanted dogs in shelters because I was to lazy to request they alter the dog. Only breeders knowing what they are doing & accept responsibility should be breeding.
I also would never ever shipped a dog unless I'm on that plane with it to meet the buyer. There are so many ways to get a buyer the dog, Meet them at a show or something. I want to meet the buyers ( this includes the kids and anyone living in there house) in person. I also want to know that they understand what they are buying. I also want the option to do a home visit, and follow up visit if I need to.
I guess what I'm saying is go to a breeder that you can trust and will stand behind what they breed. We should breed to better the breed not breed to make tons of money ( as there is not alot of money in it if you are doing the right thing). That dog you bought dose not look like a pure Shih Tzu. It is sad that this breeder will not stand behind what she has brought into this world. In my book that is a bad breeder. She is the type that makes us all look bad.
On the other hand you should have done your homework on her. If she is so great she should have been able to give you names of past buyers that you could have called, she also should have other breeders that can say good or bad. I know in my kennel club if a breeder dose not like you they won't sugar coat the truth. I hope you take this as a lesson and next time do your homework.
I may seem crazy in the way I place a dog, but I know where they all are and I have never had one sitting in a shelter unwanted. From time to time there new owners bring them by just to say Hi. After all I think of it as a big family.
Travis
Fitzwilliam,New Hampshire,
U.S.A.
Breeders
#5Consumer Suggestion
Tue, October 26, 2004
I posted this in another report against this lady...
I breed Jack Russell's, I have bought 1 dog from a pet store ( my first Jack) this poor thing is not a "true" jack. She has some issue's but that is what I get for buying her from a pet store. She is a great pet and we enjoy having her.
As a "breeder" I have my buyers sign a contract as to the care, where the dog will be going, what happens if they no longer want the dog, ect. I stand behind my dogs 100%. I give them up to 6 months to return the puppy if they are not happy, If they return it for non-health issue I don't refund 100% but I do refund something, but if it is a health issue that comes up in 2 years they get a full refund. I want to know what is going on with my puppies. I made that animal and it is up to me to make sure that animal is taken care of 100%.
I also do not sell my pups as "show quality" unless they are going to someone that is going to show them. In that case I state in my contract that I guarantee that that dog will be accepted for registration by my kennel club ( unlike the AKC my club dose not give a blanket registration for the litter, they do it dog by dog). If that dog is not up to the standards of the my kennel club I will refund 1/2 the money paid. As my show/breed dogs go for twice the price as a pet. If the puppy is sold as a pet my contract states it is sold as a pet and I want the dog altered asap. With that my kennel club will only record that dog. I do that so I know there is no unwanted dogs in shelters because I was to lazy to request they alter the dog. Only breeders knowing what they are doing & accept responsibility should be breeding.
I also would never ever shipped a dog unless I'm on that plane with it to meet the buyer. There are so many ways to get a buyer the dog, Meet them at a show or something. I want to meet the buyers ( this includes the kids and anyone living in there house) in person. I also want to know that they understand what they are buying. I also want the option to do a home visit, and follow up visit if I need to.
I guess what I'm saying is go to a breeder that you can trust and will stand behind what they breed. We should breed to better the breed not breed to make tons of money ( as there is not alot of money in it if you are doing the right thing). That dog you bought dose not look like a pure Shih Tzu. It is sad that this breeder will not stand behind what she has brought into this world. In my book that is a bad breeder. She is the type that makes us all look bad.
On the other hand you should have done your homework on her. If she is so great she should have been able to give you names of past buyers that you could have called, she also should have other breeders that can say good or bad. I know in my kennel club if a breeder dose not like you they won't sugar coat the truth. I hope you take this as a lesson and next time do your homework.
I may seem crazy in the way I place a dog, but I know where they all are and I have never had one sitting in a shelter unwanted. From time to time there new owners bring them by just to say Hi. After all I think of it as a big family.
Travis
Fitzwilliam,New Hampshire,
U.S.A.
Breeders
#5Consumer Suggestion
Tue, October 26, 2004
I posted this in another report against this lady...
I breed Jack Russell's, I have bought 1 dog from a pet store ( my first Jack) this poor thing is not a "true" jack. She has some issue's but that is what I get for buying her from a pet store. She is a great pet and we enjoy having her.
As a "breeder" I have my buyers sign a contract as to the care, where the dog will be going, what happens if they no longer want the dog, ect. I stand behind my dogs 100%. I give them up to 6 months to return the puppy if they are not happy, If they return it for non-health issue I don't refund 100% but I do refund something, but if it is a health issue that comes up in 2 years they get a full refund. I want to know what is going on with my puppies. I made that animal and it is up to me to make sure that animal is taken care of 100%.
I also do not sell my pups as "show quality" unless they are going to someone that is going to show them. In that case I state in my contract that I guarantee that that dog will be accepted for registration by my kennel club ( unlike the AKC my club dose not give a blanket registration for the litter, they do it dog by dog). If that dog is not up to the standards of the my kennel club I will refund 1/2 the money paid. As my show/breed dogs go for twice the price as a pet. If the puppy is sold as a pet my contract states it is sold as a pet and I want the dog altered asap. With that my kennel club will only record that dog. I do that so I know there is no unwanted dogs in shelters because I was to lazy to request they alter the dog. Only breeders knowing what they are doing & accept responsibility should be breeding.
I also would never ever shipped a dog unless I'm on that plane with it to meet the buyer. There are so many ways to get a buyer the dog, Meet them at a show or something. I want to meet the buyers ( this includes the kids and anyone living in there house) in person. I also want to know that they understand what they are buying. I also want the option to do a home visit, and follow up visit if I need to.
I guess what I'm saying is go to a breeder that you can trust and will stand behind what they breed. We should breed to better the breed not breed to make tons of money ( as there is not alot of money in it if you are doing the right thing). That dog you bought dose not look like a pure Shih Tzu. It is sad that this breeder will not stand behind what she has brought into this world. In my book that is a bad breeder. She is the type that makes us all look bad.
On the other hand you should have done your homework on her. If she is so great she should have been able to give you names of past buyers that you could have called, she also should have other breeders that can say good or bad. I know in my kennel club if a breeder dose not like you they won't sugar coat the truth. I hope you take this as a lesson and next time do your homework.
I may seem crazy in the way I place a dog, but I know where they all are and I have never had one sitting in a shelter unwanted. From time to time there new owners bring them by just to say Hi. After all I think of it as a big family.
Travis
Fitzwilliam,New Hampshire,
U.S.A.
Breeders
#5Consumer Suggestion
Tue, October 26, 2004
I posted this in another report against this lady...
I breed Jack Russell's, I have bought 1 dog from a pet store ( my first Jack) this poor thing is not a "true" jack. She has some issue's but that is what I get for buying her from a pet store. She is a great pet and we enjoy having her.
As a "breeder" I have my buyers sign a contract as to the care, where the dog will be going, what happens if they no longer want the dog, ect. I stand behind my dogs 100%. I give them up to 6 months to return the puppy if they are not happy, If they return it for non-health issue I don't refund 100% but I do refund something, but if it is a health issue that comes up in 2 years they get a full refund. I want to know what is going on with my puppies. I made that animal and it is up to me to make sure that animal is taken care of 100%.
I also do not sell my pups as "show quality" unless they are going to someone that is going to show them. In that case I state in my contract that I guarantee that that dog will be accepted for registration by my kennel club ( unlike the AKC my club dose not give a blanket registration for the litter, they do it dog by dog). If that dog is not up to the standards of the my kennel club I will refund 1/2 the money paid. As my show/breed dogs go for twice the price as a pet. If the puppy is sold as a pet my contract states it is sold as a pet and I want the dog altered asap. With that my kennel club will only record that dog. I do that so I know there is no unwanted dogs in shelters because I was to lazy to request they alter the dog. Only breeders knowing what they are doing & accept responsibility should be breeding.
I also would never ever shipped a dog unless I'm on that plane with it to meet the buyer. There are so many ways to get a buyer the dog, Meet them at a show or something. I want to meet the buyers ( this includes the kids and anyone living in there house) in person. I also want to know that they understand what they are buying. I also want the option to do a home visit, and follow up visit if I need to.
I guess what I'm saying is go to a breeder that you can trust and will stand behind what they breed. We should breed to better the breed not breed to make tons of money ( as there is not alot of money in it if you are doing the right thing). That dog you bought dose not look like a pure Shih Tzu. It is sad that this breeder will not stand behind what she has brought into this world. In my book that is a bad breeder. She is the type that makes us all look bad.
On the other hand you should have done your homework on her. If she is so great she should have been able to give you names of past buyers that you could have called, she also should have other breeders that can say good or bad. I know in my kennel club if a breeder dose not like you they won't sugar coat the truth. I hope you take this as a lesson and next time do your homework.
I may seem crazy in the way I place a dog, but I know where they all are and I have never had one sitting in a shelter unwanted. From time to time there new owners bring them by just to say Hi. After all I think of it as a big family.