Complaint Review: Kim Kavin - DogMerchants.com

Kimberly Laura Kavin otherwise known as Kim Kavin, is violating Trademark use of “Patriot Poodles” on the website dogmerchants.com where Kim Kavin is promoting her Book, “The Dog Merchants,” her Personal Blog, videos and speaking engagements.  Trademark infringement is the unauthorized use of a trademark on competing or related goods and services. The owner of the Trademark, Patriot Poodles, has not authorized the use of the Trademark to promote the website, book or blog of Kim Kavin or her philosophy.  Also, the Trademark is misused and associated with a picture on the website that does not represent this Trademark.  Organizations and Kennel / Breeder Brand names are being used to promote Kim Kavin’s Book, Blog, videos, and speaking engagements.  As such, those whom wish to have their Organization or Kennel / Breeder Brand names removed from dogmerchants.com website should be allowed to “Opt-out” from being listed on this website indefinitely.  Their Brand names should not be used to promote the personal agenda and philosophy of Kim Kavin.

Although the intentions of Kim Kavin to provide for a place where people can review organizations and breeders, there is grave concern that the use of this data in one location can be harvested and used against these organizations, breeders and individuals.  In an age of cybersecurity and hacking, a well-known national organization that will remain un-named, can easily harvest this data from this website to use to intimidate, harass, terrify or threaten these organizations, breeders, individuals and their dogs. Due to the nature of the data being in one location, these organizations and Breeders fear for their person and for their dogs.  This organization has members who have been known and arrested for poisoning dogs and removing them from confinements at Dog shows and on private property.

Even though these organizations and breeders may post to their own websites, individuals with a hidden agenda have a more difficult time in obtaining this data as it is spread through the internet and not in one location.

With the upward progression in technology, the presence of hackers and other cybersecurity threats are also on the rise.   Steps to take to resolve this dispute;

1. Please remove the trademark data of “Patriot Poodles” and any information associated with this trademark from the website dogmerchants.com. Do not use it for any written or verbal publication.
2. In order for individuals and organizations to protect their information online, it is important that there is a mechanism in place that allows them to Opt-out indefinitely from being listed on dogmerchants.com. As Kim Kavin has mentioned several Organizations, Breeders, and individuals have requested to be removed.  Please allow them their privacy and remove them as requested.

I'm the founder of DogMerchants.com, a website where consumers can rate and review dog breeders, rescuers, pet stores, shelters or anybody else who takes money in exchange for a dog. The goal of the site is to help all consumers work with merchants who treat dogs responsibly, and to avoid merchants who treat dogs irresponsibly. Having this information available publicly should be a goal that all responsible breeders and rescuers share.

Since creating the site, I've received numerous compliments and words of encouragement from breeders, shelter directors, consumers and others, thanking me for creating a place where the truth about all dog merchants can be told from the consumers who know what happens when they actually get the dogs home. Were they really healthy? Is their temperament as advertised? Did the merchant do anything weird with the dog-purchase contract? 

I have no idea who posted this complaint about DogMerchants.com here on Rip-off Report, but in recent weeks, a flurry of breeders affiliated with the American Kennel Club have emailed me demands that I remove them from the website, so nobody can review their business practices. They do not feel consumers have any right to rate or review them, even with positive reviews. Some have sent emails that are outright threatening. I would imagine the complaint here is from one of those same people.

It's unfortunate if a breeder afraid of consumer reviews might post something like this here, in an attempt to intimidate me personally. I sincerely hope that everyone who cares about dogs comes on over to DogMerchants.com and leaves a rating and review of the merchant where they got their last dog, to help shine a light on the best as well as the worst merchants in the business--for the wellbeing of dogs everywhere.