Complaint Review: Snowy Meadows Newfoundlans - Kimbal South Dakota

My wife and I purchased a Newfoundland puppy from Tammy and Bob Swanson at SnowyMeadow in Kimball, SD. We did research online to support all the OFA reports on the dogs in our puppy's pedigree. We visited the Swanson's farm/kennel and found their breeding Newfs to be in apparent great health, well cared for, and very "typey" for the breed. Their website is very forthcoming as well. We trust that our puppy will grow into a big, beautiful Newf, but we have confidence that we have not been "hoodwinked" by these breeders. Our experience couldn't be more different than the writer of this original letter. When we questioned Tammy about this report, she indicated that she has tried to contact the person who filed this report to no avail. She has supplied documentation to the SD Attorney General's office about this claim. She has not heard a word from this person since the report was filed. Always do your own research. But in this case, also be sure to read the rebbuttal which is linked to from this original report from Tammy Swanson. Sometimes it is a case of "let the seller beware."

My wife and I purchased a Newfoundland puppy from Tammy and Bob Swanson at SnowyMeadow in Kimball, SD. We did research online to support all the OFA reports on the dogs in our puppy's pedigree. We visited the Swanson's farm/kennel and found their breeding Newfs to be in apparent great health, well cared for, and very "typey" for the breed. Their website is very forthcoming as well. We trust that our puppy will grow into a big, beautiful Newf, but we have confidence that we have not been "hoodwinked" by these breeders. Our experience couldn't be more different than the writer of this original letter. When we questioned Tammy about this report, she indicated that she has tried to contact the person who filed this report to no avail. She has supplied documentation to the SD Attorney General's office about this claim. She has not heard a word from this person since the report was filed. Always do your own research. But in this case, also be sure to read the rebbuttal which is linked to from this original report from Tammy Swanson. Sometimes it is a case of "let the seller beware."

My wife and I purchased a Newfoundland puppy from Tammy and Bob Swanson at SnowyMeadow in Kimball, SD. We did research online to support all the OFA reports on the dogs in our puppy's pedigree. We visited the Swanson's farm/kennel and found their breeding Newfs to be in apparent great health, well cared for, and very "typey" for the breed. Their website is very forthcoming as well. We trust that our puppy will grow into a big, beautiful Newf, but we have confidence that we have not been "hoodwinked" by these breeders. Our experience couldn't be more different than the writer of this original letter. When we questioned Tammy about this report, she indicated that she has tried to contact the person who filed this report to no avail. She has supplied documentation to the SD Attorney General's office about this claim. She has not heard a word from this person since the report was filed. Always do your own research. But in this case, also be sure to read the rebbuttal which is linked to from this original report from Tammy Swanson. Sometimes it is a case of "let the seller beware."

My wife and I purchased a Newfoundland puppy from Tammy and Bob Swanson at SnowyMeadow in Kimball, SD. We did research online to support all the OFA reports on the dogs in our puppy's pedigree. We visited the Swanson's farm/kennel and found their breeding Newfs to be in apparent great health, well cared for, and very "typey" for the breed. Their website is very forthcoming as well. We trust that our puppy will grow into a big, beautiful Newf, but we have confidence that we have not been "hoodwinked" by these breeders. Our experience couldn't be more different than the writer of this original letter. When we questioned Tammy about this report, she indicated that she has tried to contact the person who filed this report to no avail. She has supplied documentation to the SD Attorney General's office about this claim. She has not heard a word from this person since the report was filed. Always do your own research. But in this case, also be sure to read the rebbuttal which is linked to from this original report from Tammy Swanson. Sometimes it is a case of "let the seller beware."

Snowy Meadows Newfoundlans This company is one of the Finest Breeders we have ever bought a dog from! Kimbal South Dakota The report I read from Ellie was not the case when we bought our dog from Tammy. We were treated very well by Tammy and got a wonderfull pet female AKC Newfoundland dog from Snowy Meadows in May 2007. Our Newfy is very healthy and well mannered. We named her "Splash" because the day we got her home she jumped right in the river in our back yard. We had great communication with Tammy before and after the sale! We couldn't be happier with our purchase! We feed Splash the food that was sugested by Tammy and the Vitamins and Splash is in Great health and has the most beautiful coat I have seem on a Newfy and we see alot of them. I am an Engineer and my wife is an RN. We could have bought a dog anywhere in the country but we chose Snowy Meadows Newfoundlans in Kimball, S.D. I would definately buy another dog from Tammy and would highly recomend her to anyone who wants a High Quality pet! Thank you for your time! Maurice, Fergus Falls, Mn

The reason I have not done this rebuttle before as I was only made aware of this today April 18, 2008 .This individual is wrong, they had buyers remorse, they sought help through the attorny general, I submitted the letter and I am providing a copy of, and the a.g. dropped the claim because this person's allegation were false! Tammy Swanson Snowymeadow Newfoundlands 35636 249th St. Kimball, SD 57355 May 11, 2007 RE: File no Dear Palmer Hanson, (South Dakota Attorney Generals Office) First off, let me thank you for looking into this matter and giving us opportunity to reply to the allegations made by Mrs. Elizabeth M. I am confident that once you see my evidence that you will be able to rule on this matter in my favor. I was contacted by Mrs. M in Jan because she wanted to purchase a Newfoundland puppy. At this time, she stated she had checked my website and was happy with the quality of dogs that I breed. I provide the following information about my dogs: enter here stuff like lineage, health certificates, training, shots, contract information, how to get more information etc.spell it all out!! Mrs. M and I corresponded back and forth several times about the puppy she chose, the purchase price, what fees were involved and the contract. She requested to make payments, which I do not normally do. However, she explained that she was disabled and on limited income. I felt sorry for her and agreed to the terms she wanted. I told her, as indicated in the contract, that there would be a $600 deposit and that she would have to pay the dog in full before she could get her. I also explained to her what costs she would be liable for, such as transportation. She agreed in e-mails to my terms, and agreed to the contract. I have and will provide all e-mails for you to see. She acknowledges having the contract and that someone printed it for her, and agreed to the terms. Beyond agreeing in writing, she has been making payments on the puppy, so she was fully aware of her responsibilities with this purchase. I have been holding this puppy for her now since January 23, 2007 since she made a deposit. I have incurred extra costs and labor to accommodate her needs. I have had to invest more in the puppy since she was at my kennel because I had to give her the additional required shots, heart worm treatments, daily care, food, bathing, grooming, training, etc. This kind of care would cost more than $10 per day at a boarding kennel. As of today, that is 108 days, a cost of $1080.00. The deposit of $600 is absolutely non-refundable as it states in the contract. So, if Mrs. M wants to pay me for boarding and cancel her contract, I will agree to those terms. However, since she's only paid $1400.00, and $600 is non-refundable, that means she would owe me an additional $280.00 to cancel. I will now address Mrs. M's specific allegations. 1. Mrs. M stated in her complaint that I was hard to get ahold of after $1400 of a $1750 puppy was paid for. To that matter I will tell you that I am always available through e-mail. During this time of year there is much work to be done with my kennel and on my farm. I am not available by phone for most of the daylight hours, but I do have an answering machine. 2. Mrs. M stated in her complaint that there wasn't an akc record for the b***h and sire of the puppy she purchased. This is not correct. The akc information is listed on my web site as well as at the akc web site. Perhaps Mrs. M didn't navigate the site properly, but the information is available. Had she raised this concern before contracting to purchase, I would have been able to accommodate any of her specific questions and guide her to the correct information. Therefore, her saying I gave FALSE information is totally incorrect! The information is there, is correct, and is available to anyone viewing my site. The only problem was that she either neglected to look up the information correctly or that she's making this accusation to try to strengthen her complaint against me. She had as much time as she wanted to get this information either from my site or from me PRIOR to purchase, rather than raise this as a complaint five months later. This is the type of information and research a person does before a major purchase, not after. 3. I did receive a registered letter from Mrs. M, but I did not sign for it. It was left on my gate. However, her making a demand for a refund does not necessarily entitle her to a refund. The contract states no refunds. Her reasoning here is that she has done research after her agreement to purchase, and that since she couldn't find the information she thought was pertinent, that she should be able to back out of a contract. That is not a valid argument. She is getting exactly the dog she bought, with exactly what's promised in the contract. I believe she's having buyer's remorse, and is looking for any excuse to get her money back. There are other Newfoundland dogs available, with lesser quality blood lines than mine, and therefore lesser cost. I think she did not do the research before hand, and is now trying to make a deal on a dog somewhere else. This also does not allow her to break the contract. 4. Mrs. M talks about the colors of my dogs and says that they aren't recognized by the akc. All of my dogs are recognized by the akc, the colors are legitimate colors, these are true Newfoundland's, and I am not making my own breed. This is also information that was available to Mrs. M prior to her contracting for the purchase of this puppy. 5. Mrs. M states that my dogs cannot be registered because they are not a true Newfoundland breed. That is totally false. My dogs are akc registered, the information is available online and/or by request. All puppies sold are eligible for registration with the akc. In this she has stated that I am committing a fraudulent act, and I truly resent that accusation. I breed a high quality dog with excellent blood lines. I research and study the blood lines of all my bitches and sires BEFORE I purchase them so that I know I will carry on a high standard and the best quality of puppy possible. I do not sell the lesser quality dogs as show dogs, but place them in homes as pets. Lesser quality does not mean that they aren't eligible for akc research, but means that there may be some flaws that make them ineligible for show. One such flaw could be a crooked tail, or overlap on the teeth. This does not make them any lesser dog, but at that point they would not be show quality or of breeding quality. Anyone getting such dog is fully aware of this prior to getting the dog, and signs papers stating they know this and that they agree to have the dog spayed/neutered before akc registration papers will be sent. 6. Mrs. M states that I have references, but that these people were unsuspecting. Is she trying to indicate that in my 15 years as a breeder, all the people who have purchased and raised my puppies didn't know what they were buying? All of this information is available to anyone that wants to purchase a dog from me. I have never misled anyone, I have never lied to anyone, I have never refused any information about my dogs or my kennels to anyone. I have sold many dogs that have gone on to become champion show dogs. This cannot be done without the proper breeding, registrations, health certifications and training. Again, I believe Mrs. M is having buyer's remorse and is trying to create a situation where is seems like I've misled her so that she can back out of her contract. She's the one who sought out my dogs because of the quality, training and health guarantees. I did not seek her out to sell her a dog that she would later feel is inferior to her needs. Her lack of knowledge and research does not make the contract invalid. 7. Mrs. M mentions shelter dogs and saving lives. Yes, that's always an option. I doubt she'll find a quality bred Newfoundland there though, and that's why she sought out my website to purchase one. However, if she wanted a shelter dog, that's where she should have looked in the first place. 8. Mrs. M mentions that it will take time for health issues to arise with the puppies I sell. I give a one year written health guarantee with my puppies. I give specific guidelines of what has to be done including vet visits, pet food, and general care of the dog. I cannot foresee every possible thing that can go wrong with any dog at any given time, but I do offer replacement puppies if a verifiable health issue arises and if the owner has followed the guidelines specified in the purchase contract. If a buyer doesn't feed and care for this type of large dog, or get their shots and proper vet checks, it's hard to tell what caused the health problem, whether it was genetic or poor care on the owner's part. I am enclosing copies of the correspondence thus far with Mrs. M, as well as copies of her contract. Please let me know if you need me to provide any further information and I will be happy to do so. Sincerely, Tammy Swanson Snowymeadows Newfoundlands As of April 18, 2008, there has been no further correspondence from Mrs. Mcelhannon to me or the South Dakota Attorney Generals Office.