Complaint Review: Home Stretch Dog Haven - Moravia,Staten Island, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan New York

My daughter saved 300 dollars to buy my a dog for my birthday. She insisted on rescuing one from the shelter. We found a dog online and was told that we had to go through a rescue. On a online forum someone told me to reachout to Gretchen Fickereisen from Home Stretch Dog Haven. Gretchen portrayed herself to be an expert and even though the dog  has shown signs of aggression that all will be fine. She pretended that she knew the dog, later to find out she didnt.

She constanly asked for an "adoption fee" of 300.00. This fee had to be paid via venmo. Not paypal, not cash app because those companies have strict policies on fraud. The evening before the dog was to be dropped off 300 was sent via venmo. The next day she arranged for the Staten Island Shelter to drop the dog off to me and my family. I was told later that the driver had to stand 50 yards away from the van as the handler put him in the van. He was growling, lunging and trying to attack the driver.

Ten minutes prior to dropping the dog off the driver called me and said "we are going to have problems" He got to the house and told me the ordeal of trying to get him in the Van. I was still hopeful because Gretchen said "Dont worry."

We opened the back of the van and the dog lost his mind. Growling, showing his teeth lunging towards the plexiglass that divides us. The driver said in all his years this is the worse he has ever seen. I tried to give him a treat through the gate it only got worse. All this with my daughter looking on from a distance. The driver, a nice man told me "we open this gate one of us is getting mauled. I cant do it he said. I agreed so he left taking the dog back to the shelter some 60 miles away.

I went inside and called Gretchen from Home Stretch Dog Haven told her what happened. She said "I am so sorry I am new to this" ...wait I thought she was an expert? Then I find out that she has been in business since 2016. Not knowing what to believe I asked for my money back. She said she will get back to me. I contacted  her 24 hours later and was told via text. Sorry....No refunds. So my daughter is out 300 and no dog. Gretchen and her company now ignore me.

I post what happened on her website she immediately deletes it. Does not answer the question. Where is my money? She shows pictures of the dog that was supposedly adopted like its some major accomplishment.

In reality there is no bad dogs just bad owners and bad situations. I have owned many pits. She put my family  in harms way by putting a dog that has a tendency of aggression in a bad situation where he felt he had to attack. I pray he is alive and well but that does not change the fact that what she did reeked of incompetence and only out for the 300 bucks!

I have since spooken to the shelter and they told me, "we will call her thats not right" she refuses to take there call. I have spoken to other reputable rescue services they say "totally unethical " So I ask again, where is my daughters money! Lets do a tally 300 she stole from me, 300 from placing the dog again, some 400 in donations and a 500 Stiphen from the shelter. Non profit? You are a crook 

She deletes all I post on her website but she cant delete this! More bad press coming her way. 

Stay away from Gretchen Fickereisn , Home Stretch Dog Haven and I hear she is some kind of Family Therapist......good lord!