Mastini Della Forte Anthony Gurrola Tony Gurrola April V Rennie April Gurrola Unhealthy dogs unhealthy puppies vulgar when confronted backyard show breeder Amarillo Texas
In July of 2011, I purchased a puppy from Anthony Gurrola of Mastini Della Forte. He showed signs of extreme dominance and aggression by the time he was 4 months old.
He was well socialized in my grooming shop and obedience classes, but to no avail. He was horrible with other dogs and people. At the age of 2, he was diagnosed with Addison's disease. I opted to euthanize him.
I contacted Tony and April and they offered to replace him for me, free of charge-I told them specifically that I wanted another male. They offered me several female puppies, and a male puppy out of the same mother as the Addisons dog with the bad temperament, which I turned down.
Several months went by so I finally contacted April in February of 2014. I offered to pay a reduced amount of money to get on a list for a male puppy, but no real response back.
In August of 2014 I was contacted by April telling me that they had 2 male puppies available for $1750. I told April I was a bit taken aback by that amount, figuring I was willing to pay some money, but that was more than half of the pet price of $2500. They then offered to sell me either male for $1250. I agreed, and opted to have an ear crop/tail dock done by his vet, who is also a Neapolitan Mastiff breeder, for an extra $450 (they tried to talk me out of it, but finally agreed), and a delivery fee (we were going to meet Tony) of $125.
Condensed version is that the puppy supposedly died under anesthesia (I received no real proof of this, supposedly there was a necropsy done on the puppy at TX A&M, but Tony and the vet wouldn't release the results to me even though I paid for this puppy). Tony sent a rather nasty message to me about the puppy dying and it being my fault because I wanted the ears cropped.
I realized later that they had actually switched the puppies and cropped the wrong puppy-not the one that I was supposed to get-the "dead" puppy in the picture that they sent me had the wrong color collar on it-when we asked April about it, she said that was the puppy that we agreed on, which was not at all the case.
I had to ask for the $125 delivery fee back, which I did receive after about a month.
In September 2014, April contacted me and told me they would send my money back for the puppy. As of today, 12/13/14, I have received nothing.
I was also contacted by the people that got the red/blue collared puppy that I was supposed to get, and they informed that he had dropped over dead at 15 weeks of age, showing no prior symptoms of anything, so either way, my puppy would have been dead.
This whole situation has been an expensive and heartbreaking ordeal.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Showing dogs looks good in print, buyer beware
#4Author of original report
Sun, March 22, 2015
Tony portrays himself as an expert breeder and handler. Showing dogs and bringing them to their championship does not a great breeder make. Are Tony's dogs beautiful? Yes, of course, but beauty only goes so far. Good health and temperament are severely lacking in his breedings, with many dying at very young ages. I know for a fact that 3 of the puppies from my boy's litter are dead and gone, all by the age of 2 years or less.
I have been to Tony's residence at the back of his vet friends property. I would hardly consider dirt pens with chainlink dividers a country club breeding facility.
Tony also makes a reference to my inability to take care of this breed. I have much knowledge in the breed, having owned 2 neos prior to this. I also have vast experience with dogs and dog behavior in general, being a groomer for 20+ years. All that being said, if Tony thought I wasn't a good fit, he absolutely shouldn't have sold me a dog.
I opted to euthanize this dog because Addison's is a very difficult disease to manage, and prognosis wasn't great. That coupled with his temperament led me to this very difficult decision.
Tony did offer me several puppies and an adult male. Anyone well versed in this breed would respect greatly the reasons that I had for turning down these puppies and the adult male. Neos tend to be very dominant, and I have a very dominant small female dog that would have most likely been in danger with a female neo (they had offered me several females). The 2 year old male? Tony knew I had several dogs, and that an adult male neo isn't easy or most likely even possible to integrate into a pack, it isn't like I could try him out and if it didn't work out, just run him right back down to TX from MN. I later saw that dog for sale on Tony's website saying that he must be an only dog-must have been a reason for that, maybe dog aggressive?
April contacted me last summer to inform me that they had 2 male puppies available for me to choose from for $1750-he stated that another buyer held off for me to get a puppy-I can't imagine that to be true if they offered me my pick of the 2 male puppies, and the other puppy went to another woman out in California.
Tony says that they would never switch puppies, but I have all of the documentation that they did. I am not sure why they did, but they did.
After my puppy supposedly died, Janice Wolf from Canyon Road Animal Hospital (the property that Mastini Della Forte is located at the back of, Tony's residence, and also where the ear crop was performed) stated to me that she would be bringing the puppy to Texas A & M for a necropsy. I contacted her several times to find out what the results were, and the last I heard from her is that Tony ordered her not to give me the report, that I would have to take it up with him. Not sure why he wouldn't want me to see the report if the reason of death was due to anesthesia?
Tony says that I have been slandering and harrassing him since this happened, I have only had contact with April one time since this happened, and she contacted me to tell me they would send me back the money for that puppy. That was back in September of 2014. I have yet to receive the money. I have never once slandered Tony, I have only told the true story about what happened.
I have documentation of my whole story. If anyone wants to contact me about this feel free to message me on Facebook. I am a well respected groomer, known worldwide. Anyone that knows me, knows that I would never tell a story like this unless there was truly an issue. Please heed this warning. Do your research and buy from a reputable breeder.
rimpelsilk
kuttabul,Alabama,
The same happened to me
#4General Comment
Wed, February 11, 2015
I have had the same experience with Tony Gurrola where he swopped a puppy owed to me due to his other partner Janice E Wolf owed me a puppy for spending my money I sent her via paypal for the shipping of my dog (Hannah) and I had paid twice for her flight. I also had sent her for free a dog (Daniel) from my kennel and paid the flight to Dallas and the agreement was to prepare a dog to send to me in Australia. I imported Artu Patrizio Italia along with my dog Sophi Patrizio Italia to USA for Ms Wolfe due to my friendship with the breeder in Italy and only through me did Ms. Wolfe import Artu.. I was supposed to receive Sophi and the dog Demi but Demi failed the test for Ehrlichia canis twice for ticks and was unable to come to Australia. I paid all fees and charges for this and have records to prove this. Sophi was taken to LA and the person who drove her there told me she was picking ticks off her at the USDA office while Ms. Wolfe organised the paperwork. Demi was then replaced with Hannah which was when I found that the money I sent for the flight and taxes was spent on a deposit for a camper van so I had to quickly pay again for her to be able to fly.
Mr Gurrola worked for Ms Wolfe showing her dog Bruno and other dogs and she told me he kept him at his rooms behind her home always in a kennel with little or no exercise. He left with Bruno in the middle of the night with April and due to confinement and then sudden exercise during their trip he died. April also reported Ms. Wolfe for bad treatment of all dogs and sent many the photos she recorded. I still have those photos.
Ms Wolfe agreed due to my extra costs paying for Demi and also the double payment of Hannah's flight she would send me a puppy, once she had another litter.
This was agreed.
Anthony with his partner came on hard times and contacted Janice to beg for him and April to return.
Ms. Wolfe is a vet and decided due to work committments she no longer wanted to own all dogs in her name. She signed half shares over to Mr. Gurrola.
This is where my problem began.
I was shown a puppy (which was not the puppy I received) and Ms. Wolfe and I agreed this puppy but due to her work she stated she was unable to prepare the dog at her house for the shipping to Australia but agreed with costs to me to prepare the paperwork. Ms. Wolfe was paid in full for all the preparation once the pup was moved and she was no longer preparing him to come to Australia. Mr. Gurrola, she stated was very angry she had promised to complete our agreement.
Mr. Gurrola was very rude and threatening when he found out the agreement and demanded the pup (Marlon) left the premises at 7 weeks.
Ms. Wolfe assured me that the puppy would be prepared for me but failed to inform me that the pup had 2 kinks in its tail and also was very sick on hand over and even charged me for the treatment for this puppy although it was already sick.
Due to my carer being informed that I knew about the faults she failed to tell me of the faults the puppy had. I found out when I decided to move the puppy so he could be checked correctly with another vet. When I sent someone to collect the pup from Mr. Gurrola's property he informed the collector of the faults on the tail. When the pup arrived at the destination I was then informed by the new carer that he had a none symetirical face, two kinks and was limping on his front leg.
I had to make the responsible decision to allow the second carer to place him for free to a family because due to all of his issues he would of not been excepted for a flight to Australia and would not of been passed into our Quarantine.
I informed Ms. Wolfe who denied owning any more dogs for breeding although her name is on most of the dogs paperwork with the kennel club then refused to have anymore contact. Mr. Gurrola and April have hounded me on social media for telling my story when asked although I do not blame them directly I feel their involvement hindered me from getting a decent puppy from Ms. Wolfe for money she still owes me.
Since then the dog I sent to Ms. Wolfe has made Champion with help from many and finally Mr. Gurrola. Ms. Wolfe offered me to take the dog back that I had sent because she felt afraid of Mr. Gurrola and wanted this whole ordeal to end. I found him a home but was informed by April that this was not going to happen due to Mr. Gurrola being angry. He has disappeared from their website and I am no longer in contact with Ms. Wolfe to be informed either of his whereabouts.
There is always a way to carry out business and to threaten someone and add abuse is not the way to do it. Mr. Gurrola should of alllowed Ms. Wolfe to fulfill our agreement and allow the vet to feel as a decent person she had done as promised.
Mr. Gurrola was a 3rd party in this matter and choose to not know the true facts before he abused myself.
anthony gurrola
amarillo ,Texas,
reputable breeder of over 15years
#4REBUTTAL Individual responds
Thu, February 05, 2015
I am Anthony Gurrola, I have been showing Neapolitan Mastiff's since 2003. I have been showing other breeds since 1999. Having the first History Making Neapolitan Mastiff in the USA. We have over 15years of experience in Neapolitan Mastiffs. Owning history making Neapolitans as well as being breeders of the year in the United States Neapolitan Mastiff Club (USNMC). I am in good standing with the American Kennel Club (AKC) and our breed club. We take breeding very seriously at Mastini Della Forte. We do pedigree checks, and only breeding only the best of the best. I own and have bred the top ranked Neapolitans for years now. I finished 2014 with 8 of the top 20 Neapolitans in the Nation. To be called a Backyard breeder by Veronica is a complete lie. I have imported 9 bloodlines worldwide to better what I have. I spend thousands bettering Mastini Della Forte's name and the Mastini that represent my kennel. Backyard breeders do not show or invest money into their dogs. My Neapolitans are family.
Veronica Rankin Frosch bought a Male Neapolitan Mastiff from me in 2011. I advise all my puppy buyers to properly socialize the puppy through adulthood. I have a signed contract from Veronica agreeing to take care of her Neapolitan Mastiff. Neapolitan mastiffs are not for everyone. Some display same sex aggression at time of sexual maturity. This breed has certain traits that people must take into consideration. At 26 months old Veronica had her male Neapolitan mastiff put to sleep. I have a contract in place and I guarantee my Neapolitans I breed for 2years against bad hips and heart. Veronica's Neapolitan was put to sleep she stated with a condition called Cousin’s or Addison's disease. Veronica stated that on this day 6/24/2013 her Neapolitan was not wanting to play she took him to the vet. Upon some blood work he came back positive for Addison's. Veronica did not seek a second opinion she had him put to sleep. Addison’s is a treatable disease. I researched this condition and found out if indeed he had Addison’s Veronica would have had the first Neapolitan Mastiff with this condition. I read her message and felt horrible. I guarantee my Neapolitans for 2years he was put to sleep at 2yrs 2months old. Not from anything my contract would have covered. I still opted to replace her Neapolitan with a new puppy, going above and beyond anything I should have done. I have exact messages from Veronica and myself stating on 6/24/2012 I would replace her puppy. Veronica understanding I was not required to replace her Neapolitan stated
Veronica: "Seriously? OMG I am tearing up as I am tearing up as I am typing this.. Thank you so much.. All I can is WOW..You are restoring my husband’s faith in human beings, which is big for him thank you"
A long time period went by. I offered her a young male and juvenile several time. On 7/4/2014 I offered Veronica a puppy. Veronica told me this was bad timing and had to pass on the puppy. I told Veronica we have offered you several Neapolitans young and puppies. We could not continue to do this. I was contacted by Veronica she was ready for a puppy a month later. I had a waiting list at this point for male puppies. She was willing to pay to move up in line to get a puppy now. I Veronica we had a waiting list. All my males’ puppies are spoken for very early as soon as the pregnancy is confirmed. I told a puppy buyer with a deposit on a male about her situation and he offered to give up his puppy for another later breeding. Veronica was charged half price 1750.00 for her replacement puppy and for the ear crop. Veronica has accused me of switching puppies. I have never nor would I Ever switch a puppy.
I replaced her Neapolitan Mastiff on 8/3/2014 with another male. Veronica asked to have his ears cropped and tail docked. I told Veronica we stopped cropping ears and tails 4years ago. Neapolitan Mastiffs do not do well under anesthesia. I advised Veronica strongly against not doing an ear crop. I advised Veronica shall the puppy die from complications I would not replace him. Veronica stated she was vein and wanted the look. Worst case happened and Veronica's replacements died from complications of anesthesia. This was the first puppy I ever lost during an ear crop. Furthermore I do not replace replacement puppies. Veronica fully understood and agreed to all of the above. Veronica has slandered me and has been harassing me. If I were indeed guilty I would have been in a courtroom already. This nonsense. Again I have all message between us and I have solid proof black white what was said between Veronica and I. Please feel free to message me or contact me at mastinidellaforte@hotmail.com or my website www.mastinidellaforte.com I would be happy to take the time and speak with anyone.