Complaint Review: Robert & Connie Ives BOB CELENTANO Bob And Connie Herrin Gizmo Star Chihuahuas

I bought a dog from them in the beginning of 2006. She had scabees when we got her and they refused to give us her AKC number.  If we lived closer we would have taken legal action... but since we could not pin down their physical address and were so far away we left it alone.  They claimed we gave it to them.  Bob smelt so bad of BO when I pick up the puppy... Lesson learned... if you can not visit their house do not buy no matter what.

For those who still attempt to defend this puppy mill, here is the latest news report involving Bob Ives. I guess he also has property not in the CA or AZ area. Wonder how many mills he owns throughout the USA to avoid detection and prosecution? PLEASE do your research before buying any purebred dog. Don't support Puppy Mills.

LocalNews8.com

Inkom Man Who Neglected Dogs Going To Jail
Posted: May 7, 2009 02:51 PM PDT

Updated: May 13, 2009 08:15 AM PDT
By Michelle Costa, Local News 8 Reporter, Eastern Idaho & Western Wyoming's local news source

POCATELLO - The Inkom man accused of abandoning animals in his home will be spending time behind bars.

52-year-old Robert Ives will be going to jail for one month.

He was sentenced this afternoon to 180 days in jail, of which 150 days were suspended.

Ives pleaded guilty to six counts of permitting animals without care. This is down from the original 13 misdemeanor charges.

Ives left animals abandoned and starving to death in his home for weeks at a time.

Ives is charged with animal neglect for about a dozen dogs.

Those animals went to the Pocatello Animal Shelter, and luckily, each of the lost canines has found a home.

He'll also pay $1,200 in fines and be on probation for 5 years

I am one of the customers that purchased a puppy through this company and my family ended up heart broken. They talk about not letting people come to their house so as not to let anyone bring diseases like parvo to their puppies but they are the ones who sold my family a puppy with parvo. In 2007 I purchased a beautiful puppy from them that within one week died from Parvo. This puppy came into my house full of parasities and with this deadly disease that could of infected my other dogs, thank god I am a resposible owner that vaccinates her dogs. So please dont tell me there are great people because they could of cared less about selling my family a sick dog and about how heart broken we were watching this puppy die in front of our eyes. I think they should not be allowed to sell dogs anymore and if they were not hiding anything why dont they give people their actual name, address, and telephone number.

The Humane Society of the United States reports a phenomenon called "hoarding". It is a mental illness that affects some animal lovers. They begin collecting animals often over-whelming their home, cleanliness, health and finances.

The Humane Society indicates the "hoarders" believe they love and care for their animals but fail to be able to maintain the average standard of cleanliness or vet care required by all the animals they collect. The "hoarders" frequently don't spay or neuter so have litters regularly.

"Hoarders" have been among animal professionals, breeders and non-breeders alike. There are a few people in rescue organizations who have become "hoarders" as well. Legal action is taken when the well meaning "hoarders" are actually neglecting to care for the number of animals because their resources are stretched to the max.

Not keeping dogs in kennels is not a guarantee that the dogs are taken care of properly.

IF Gizmo Star Chihuahuas owners are such an above board business, taking proper care of their breeding stock, WHY all the aliases? WHY all the different mail service addresses? WHY are they hiding? I believe they are hiding from legal action by many dissatisfied customers. They may have started as responsible breeders 25 years ago but they have very suspect business practices today.

Before you buy from a breeder online, compare their adult dogs to photos on www.akc.org or the particular breed club and see if they even resemble the breed. Some of the dogs Gizmo Star Chihuahuas has listed online today look like Italian Greyhounds because the nose is so long but Gizmo Star Chihuahuas lists them as "purebred" "registerable" Chihuahuas.

I'll repeat myself; Buyer Beware before buying a puppy online. Do your homework before you spend your hard earned $$ for a poorly bred or cross-bred puppy. The total cost is lower to find a reputable breeder who REALLY cares about the breed, their breeding stock and their puppies.

I'm very sorry that you've had a bad experience with Bob & Connie. I've known these people since 1979 and they ADORE their puppies. I've had the experience of visiting them many times, and I can tell you that these dogs live better than a lot of humans.

There were NO cages in Connie's home, except for a cage/area where the new mother chihuahua would be nursing her babies - and that was for the safety of mom and babies.

It was so funny to see the dogs run around the house, playing, barking, having a great time. Have you ever walked into a house and had about 15 chihuahuas rush you? It's an experience! Connie used to make home-made "doggie stew" for the pups. Believe me, these dogs were NEVER abused.

As far as the registration paperwork goes - I'm totally ignorant of what happens with purebreeds, so I can't comment.

I know that Bob & Connie DID refuse to have people come over to their house just to "see" the puppies/dogs. One reason for that is because of an incident in the past when one of their "competitors" KNOWINGLY visited them and brought them a pup infected with PARVO. Connie lost so many of her dogs because of that incident that she and Bob decided "no more!".

And lastly, Connie was battling cancer and lost her battle in Mid-December. She was much too young to die at age 50.

Elaine

Learn you state's Pet Lemon Laws and if your issue falls within the law, contact your District Attorney to pursue prosecution. This Puppy Mill uses both CA and NV mailing services.

California - The Polanco-Lockyer Pet Breeder Warranty Act (HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE, SECTION 122045-122222). Covers contagious or infectious diseases for 15 days; congenital or hereditary defects are covered for up to 1 year. This lemon law is for dogs and cats only.

Nevada - Section 574.490 of the Nevada Code. Covers health problems for up to 10 days. Provides refund of purchase price, replacement of equal value, or reimbursement of vet bills, in an amount not to exceed the purchase price of the pet.

If, like me, you feel you've been defrauded by an online business be sure to file written complaints with:

Better Business Bureau - online fraud
US Postal Inspector - online fraud
Federal Trade Commission - online fraud

Each of the organizations have departments set in place to assist in solving internet fraud complaints.