I bought two dogs from Claudia Hough in 2012. One has a disease called EPI (endocrine pancreatic insufficiency) which is a genetic disorder and is genetically carried by one or both parents. The other dog has an allergy condition that is also genetic and carried by the parents. I spent $500.00 for these genetic tests to be run at the University of Texas and they both came back positive. She tries to explain it away with some ridiculous explanation as if she has a degree in biology and genetics. I was a biology minor in college so I know these explanations are ridiculous! There is no current test for EPI and any pups that are born with this condition will require lifelong treatment with an enzyme powder that must be mixed with their food at every feeding. This means that she can NOT have her stud dog, Yenn, tested for this condition. There is a 50/50 chance that he is the carrier and any pup sired by him could have EPI or the gene pool to pass it on. ANY parents that produce a pup with this condition must stop being bred IMMEDIATELY! Claudia Hough's solution was to go to a slaughter house, buy a pancreas and cut it into small pieces and freeze it. Then give the dog some at every feeding. I consider this a very retarded solution to this problem. She has obviously encountered this condition before as one would have no need of information like this unless they'd seen it before. Since her dog, Yenn, is a possible carrier I can only guess where she saw it. She knows about this situation but she still continues to breed this dog and thereby potentially selling genetically sick dogs. She has no intention of honoring any contract that she signs. She refuses to give us a refund, she refuses to replace the dogs and rarely returns any phone calls. If she does we're presented with another retarded explanation and excuses about no dogs being available or how bad her day is going. I had a friend call before I wrote this complaint and she told him that she had dogs for sale. She is NOT a reputable breeder but a "shade tree" puppy mill that sells sick dogs and steals honest people's money. I want a refund or two healthy dogs to replace my sick ones.
#2Author of original report
Fri, December 25, 2015
This response is beyond ludicrous! You seem to forget that it was YOU who called us in January 2012 and asked us to buy another dog. We did so even though we hadn’t planned on it for at least another six to twelve months. The dog was sick from the moment we left your house. It finally took almost another year to figure out what was wrong. You have the report from the University of Texas that CLEARLY diagnoses the problem as EPI (Endocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency) which is a “life long” condition to which there is NO cure. Luger will require medication and special care for the rest of his life. We’ve already spent in excess of $2,500 to keep him alive.
Your contract clearly states that a dog is either replaced or the purchase price refunded in the case of a sick dog. He was sick from the moment he left your house. You constantly dodged my calls or offered ridiculous options to treat him. The fact remains we’re owed a refund via YOUR contract. Are you going to now say that a hereditary disease is not covered? I’ve been into Shepherds longer than you and have had and trained a number of them. I don’t claim to be an expert and the legitimate breeders don’t claim that either. I was trained by Joe Kuhn who was one of the foremost breeders and experts on German bloodlines in this country. Any legitimate breeder that has been around for many years knows exactly who Joe was and his level of expertise. So, don’t try to discredit me as my exposure has been must better than yours.
I’ve had and trained multiple males several times and I have my reasons as to why I wanted two males. Luger did not drop a t******e and that alone entitled me to a replacement dog or a refund. Again, you’d duck the phone calls or come up with excuses as, “I’ve got a headache”, or, “I’m having a bad day”, or “I’ve got to get to the store for dog food”. I don’t care about your bad day or your headache. Your running to get dog food is not my issue. My issue is that you have a contract and you don’t want to honor it. I’ve been going through this with you for well over a year and the entire time you’ve done nothing.
Not only is Luger sick but Rex has been diagnosed with severe hereditary allergies. Again, you offer your retarded solutions of which one was completely and totally wrong and would have made his condition worse. Fortunately, I never listened to your solutions. You have the diagnoses from the University of Texas and Spectrum where most of the pet testing is done. You are fully aware that there is NO test for EPI and any legitimate breeder would stop breeding the parents of ANY EPI pup, IMMEDIATEY. Are you now going to dispute the analysis of a PhD in genetics from the University of Texas against your diploma from Hillbilly High? Your dog, Yenn, had a 50/50 chance to produce genetically sick dogs for which there is no cure and you know this and continue to breed him anyway.
To the “so called” people who support your position, let them buy sick dogs, spent thousands of dollars, then deal with your “shade tree” solutions and see how they like it. The only reason I agreed to take a female was because you said you didn’t have the money for a refund. Joe Kuhn would have replaced the dog or given a refund WITOUT question! So would the other legitimate breeders that were friends of Joe whom I know. This is not the first time that there have been numerous complaints about you selling sick dogs. I’m also fully aware of your issues in Wisconsin and why you had to close your kennel there. I also know about your issues with the Wisconsin Dept of Agriculture. Yes, I know all about that!
The first thing that people like you do is try to attack the person to make yourself look right. Well, you’re NOT right because you refuse to accept the responsibility of honoring YOUR own contract. You’re right we’re not employed, we’re RETIRED! When I had my company I developed software used by the Dept of Defense and the State of Ohio to monitor performance on their Unix based systems. I also developed performance software for IBM, Wyse, Motorola, Siemens, Chase Research and numerous other companies both here and internationally. What have you done? So, don’t try to give me your “slip shot” made up statements that are fabricated to try and make yourself look right. The person that owns this house ASKED us to come here. It’s a beautiful place on a lake that was empty for two years. She wanted us here! We’ll find our own place when WE want to look for it. I have my reasons as I have a degree in Economics and know when the time will be right. This would be totally beyond someone with your limited education. We also have the resources to pay for it in CASH! A condition that you most definitely don’t have! The bottom line is that we have a contract and you do NOT want to honor that contract. We want a refund for our sick dogs!
Sunset Training Center
Spring Grove,#3REBUTTAL Owner of company
Tue, December 22, 2015
It took me awhile to decide what to do about this and be convinced by friends and clients that this is the only way to go. This was a very unfair post, and though it pains me to do this to them, I have to do it. This person has a contract which guarantees against hip and elbow dysplasia, which I would totally honor, and I even offered to go above and beyond, and they know it. What this person doesn't seem to know that extortion is against the law, and a class H felony. After much thought and reflection, and good advice, I have decided to refer the matter to the District Attorney. I am sure this is not the first time this has happened to someone and maybe it will send a message that small businesses do have recourse when someone threatened to have you "pay up or I will ruin you". Most just pay up to avoid this kind of postings, I can't in good conscience do that.
943.30 Threats to injure or accuse of crime.
(1)Whoever, either verbally or by any written or printed communication, maliciously threatens to accuse or accuses another of any crime or offense, or threatens or commits any injury to the person, property, business, profession, calling or trade, or the profits and income of any business, profession, calling or trade of another, with intent thereby to extort money or any pecuniary advantage whatever, or with intent to compel the person so threatened to do any act against the person's will or omit to do any lawful act, is guilty of a Class H felony.
For a Class H Felony, the penalty is a fine of up to $10,000, or imprisonment of up to 6 years, or both.
I assume his situation has become desperate, however, that does not justify their actions. Obviously, I would not have placed two puppies, a year apart, with them if I had any clue their life would take such a downturn. He also put himself as a German Shepherd expert or I would not have placed two males with him, which he has since complained about, and wanted to return one in exchange for a female. Both are unemployed, his phone number keeps changing, always unlisted, always calls are blocked, I was told never to give it out to anyone, as they have told me that now they are hiding even from their family members. Their home is a house a friend was kind enough to allow them to stay in while its for sale, after his girlfriend lost her property. That creates serious issues as to his credibility, not because of hard times, we have all had them, but because he is in hiding rather than face people and acting in a manner I find unfair, desperate, and illegal.
That being said, anyone is welcome to call me and I will be more than happy to provide proof of all the inaccuracies in his statements. It is sad when we live at a time when things like this can happen to anyone. Someone can say anything, and it is becomes truth unless you can find a way to prove different, and how do you do that? Luckily, there are laws against this type of behavior.
I am extremely grateful to all the people that have been so supportive, my clients know I have always gone above and beyond what was expected and their kindness has been over whelming and has really touched me. Thank you!!
Sunset Training Center
847-650-5432