Complaint Review: Shade Mountain Kennel - Baltimore Maryland

I wish I could be one of those happy, smiling faces on the pages of their website. One of those "I'm so happy with my new puppy!" testimonials and could be beaming about how happy and complete our family finally is...

...unfortunately we are talking about Shade Mountain Kennels here...'

To give you a little bit of a backstory, my boyfriend, Shaun and I have been together for almost 6 years. In that 6 years we haven't discussed marriage, we haven't discussed children, all we've discussed is our dog. Some people want the big diamond ring, others want the big fancy house, all I ever wanted was a dog. A fluffy child and companion to complete our home. I've always been an animal lover but dogs have always held a special place in my heart. 

We stumbled upon Shade Mountain Kennel in our search once we had finally narrowed down the type of dog we wanted. We had found other breeders but they either didn't have good reviews and we didn't trust them or they were too far away and possibly a bit crazy. When we found Shade Mountain we thought, this is it, we've found our dog.

Shaun had spoken with Alana and she informed us that she had one female puppy left. Bingo. That was exactly what we were looking for. It seemed almost too perfect, like the stars had finally aligned and we were being summoned to our fate.  Shaun set up an appointment to meet with her tomorrow morning. That is August 15, 2013. 

Words cannot describe the feeling that I had. I imagine it's something similar to the feeling that new mothers feel when they feel their babies kick for the first time. My entire lifes love and passion and goal was finally coming true and tomorrow nonetheless.

Needless to say it was a pain to find someone to fill in for me at work, a mad dash to the pet store to finalize the last few things we needed and an attempt to calm the bubbliness and excitedness that I had inside so I wouldn't combust.  Friends and family expressed how happy they were for us and how they knew this was what we had wanted for so long and congratulated us on it finally coming true. Patting us on the back just as if we had announced we were pregnant.

I can't describe the level of happiness I felt. It couldn't have come at a more perfect time either. There were a few lawsuits and scandals going on with my work surpassing the typical office drama and I was emotionally and physically drained. This puppy gave me new life. 

I printed our her picture and showed everyone who ooh'd and aah'd at her adorableness, making jokes about how she "looked just like me.".

That happiness, that elated feeling of being on cloud 9 was ripped from my heart faster than I have ever experienced. Shaun forwarded me a text at 9:00 at night from Alan from Shade Mountain that read:

"This is Alana with the English Goldens.  I really hate to do this to you but we are going to keep the puppy. We were debating about it and I just got a chance to discuss it with my husband and that is what we decided. She has been here for a while and is used to us.  I just think with her temperament she will do better here with us. I'm really sorry about this. It's hard to do but I do think it's best. I'm sorry for any inconvenience. We will be having another litter that will be ready around Christmas with Sophia and Deus..."

at 9PM the night before we were set to arrive, she texts us that. No phone call, no formal email, a text message. This felt like being pregnant and the ultrasound tech texting me to say they didn't have a heartbeat from the baby anymore. I was comatose from this devastating news. 

I cannot believe there are people on earth like this, cowards, disgusting, sad, pathetic little people who lie up front and tell a family they are about to be the happiest they've ever been, only to rip it away from them before the dust has even settled.

The most depressing thing will be telling my friends, family, co-workers and the people at Petsmart when I return all of the puppy items that somehow, through our years of decision-making, we didn't make a good decision. We thought we had gone to a reputable kennel with people who were honest, up front and true but we were at the complete opposite.

Alana from Shade Mountain is the type of person who says she is going to be there, but then stands you up at the last second. Alana is the type of person who cuts you off in traffic and almost causes you to crash then flips you the bird. Alana is the type of person who doesn't hold the door for people. She's the type of person who claims to be a good, honest person, when in reality she is nothing more than a disgusting, coward piece of scum. The lowest of the low on earth,

At least thieves, rapists and murderers never allow you to think that they're your friend. I'd rather gouge out both of my eyes or contract some mind-shatteringly painful disease than ever have to cross paths with this terrible, sad excuse for a human being.

I know that karma will give her exactly what she deserves, it's just a shame I won't be around to watch it.