Complaint Review: Mountain Valley ShihTzu

I purchased my first Shih Tzu (Sammy) from Donna around 2002. I saw her site online and chose Sammy the little white puppy with one blue eye.After several conversations with Donna over the phone we decided to take the trip from Massachusetts to Maine and pick Sammy up. We ended up meeting her in some parking lot where about 5 other people were waiting to pick up their pups as well. At first she handed us the wrong dog but my husband spoke up and pointed out the dog we were there for. I immediately fell in love with Sammy. He was the cutest little thing! Upon our first Vet visit I was told Sammy had a grade 6 heart murmur and wouldnt live a full year.

I was beyond heartbroken, in tears! I called Donna and told her what happened. She said I could bring him back and pick another dog so I said okay. We then took another trip to Maine on the way up I cried and cried. I didnt want to give Sammy back! I wanted to love him and give him a home so when we met up with Donna she had a larger Shih Tzu puppy with her. She gave him to me and I broke down saying I feel terrible. Donna then said "Just keep them both if you want" which is exactly what I did! We came home w/ both Sammy and Maxi! Oh by the way, I did have papers on both dogs.

Maxi was checked and in perfect health. 2 years ahead, Sammy is still alive and happy as ever! The worst happened with Maxi, he darted out my front door to the street and was killed by a car. I lost it. I couldnt eat, sleep do anything so after 2 weeks I called Donna and told her what happened and I wanted another dog for Sammy and also to ease my heart. So I went on her site and chose a beautiful brown Shih Tzu, Bella Elizabeth. To fast forward my story... Sammy and Bella had 3 litters of puppies (accidently) I kept one of the puppies from the last litter, Rascal Michael. I did get them fixed after that. Sadly Sammy died in 2008 of heart failure. He lived 6 years after being told less than 1 years old and I believe its because of the love we gave him.

Had I brought him back to Donna sadly, I dont believe he would've made it. So we have Bella and Rascal now. Mother and son. We've had Bella for 9 years, since 2004 and shes a healthy little girl. Sadly my Rascal who was born in 2006 inherited Sammys heart murmur he has a grade 3 so not as bad but he's as spunky as ever! So I tell my story because when I ever found out Mountain Valley Shih Tzu was a puppy mill my heart sank! Had I known, I never would have gone there. However, I woukdnt have been able to save my angels from a life of hell either. My experience w/ Donna Foss was not bad. Besides giving me a puppy w/ a grade 6 heart murmur, she did try to rectify the situation and noticed my pain too. I feel horrible for those affected negitively by Donna's services. I look at it as I saved my babies from hell and Sammy lived a great life just like Bella's living now. :-)