Complaint Review: von shipman rottweilers - battle ground Washington

Jennifer has waaaaaaay overstated her one-sided case here; embellishing my statements to her and conveniently omitting what she said and wanted to do with her dog, that she had no contractual right to do.  There is always more to the story...

Her dog was as healthy as a horse when she got her from us.  Knee ligament issues can be hereditary, they can also be sustained by injury.  This dogs parents knee's are sound.  And though she has listed her dog as also having hip problems, I do not think that is the case.  She never mentioned that to me.

When Jennifer first called me concerning their dog they got from us, we had a very cordial conversation, in which I offered my support and advice on how to husband/care for her dog's recent cruciate injury, to recovery, without surgery since they could not afford the high-end recommended TPLO surgery.  She did state to me however, if there was a less expensive surgery available, they could have perhaps found a way to have it done.

I was dismayed, when the next day, they did an about face turn, with her husband calling saying they couldn't afford her pain medications and wanted to return their dog.  Per our contract if people don't want their dogs or can't keep them, they have to return them to us.

I asked him why he could not afford Rimadyl or an inexpensive alternative, a $4 bottle of aspirin?  To which he replied, we just need to bring her back.  I then asked him, why did he get a dog, and the first time she has an issue, is ready to bale/give up on her?  I was promptly hung up on.

Then Jennifer called, saying that she was now going along with her husband and they wanted to bring their dog back despite the first conversation I had with her where she was at ease and taking my advice on how to keep and care for their dog.

You can imagine my disappointment and frustration with both of them, because we strive to place our dogs in stable committed homes, where they will be cared for, but their dog was broken, and they didn't want her anymore.

I said a lot of things to Jennifer that night, but I DID NOT SAY ANYTHING TO HER, SHE SAID I DID, with the exception I DID tell her I hoped she never had kids, in the context of, if something serious went wrong with one of them, she wouldn't stand by them and care for them, as she was not wanting to do for her four-legged kid/dog.

I NEVER SAID THAT IF SHE HAD KIDS, I HOPED THEY WOULD BE TAKEN AWAY FROM HER.  Those are her words and spin on our conversation, to make me look as bad as she possibly can, and in so doing, excuse herself, absolve her decision, and gain sympathy.  

I also NEVER called her a liar or a monster or said that she was a piece of sh%&t!  Again, that is her spin and her perception of how I felt about their decision.  Which I thought was very bad form -- to abandon their dog.

That being said, I agreed, per the contract, that they could and should return their dog if they didn't want her and directed her to terms of her return as outlined in the contract.  First, they needed to worm her before bringing her back, etc.  To which Jennifer flatly refused to comply with/do.  She then went on to THREATEN, if I didn't take her dog back without complying with the basic terms of worming, she would make arrangements the next day to take her to the "pound" or have her euthanized (which was not necessary).  Per the contractual terms, she could not take this dog to the "pound."

At that point, I was downright upset and angry at her.  And after further debate, even though I wanted her dog returned on the contractual terms, I finally acquest and said, fine, bring her the next day, as is.  I then DID say that SHE DISGUSTED ME.  That was the end of our conversation.

Her husband called back again later that night, leaving a message that they had decided to keep their dog.  I called them back promptly, leaving a message, apologizing for my part of the heated conversation between us, saying, since they did not want to care for her, I would rather they keep their appointment and bring her back so I could make sure she would be cared for.  I was worried about what they were going to do with the dog at that point.  I never heard back from them.

As to this dog's papers, I have them in hand.  I have not sent them because after having difficulties with them, and worrying about their continued care of the dog, (I thought there was still a very good chance they would return the her or I would have to repossess her for lack of care, as they said they had no money for medications: pain meds or wormer), I am concerned if they do return her, there is a very good chance her papers would not be forth coming.  Because they had little to no regard for, nor wanted to comply with the contractual terms of her return in the first place.

I have still yet to receive a yearly update and picture of her dog as she contractually agreed.  Further, blatant disregard for the contractual terms.

We have many happy clients.  Do we have a perfect record in our breeding program?  No.  No breeder does.  But the issues we have had are a very small percentage and minimal.  In NO WAY are we generally, and on the whole or even remotely close, as Jennifer asserts, breeding unhealthy, broken dogs, or that I don't care about the dogs I breed.  SHE IS WRONG!  SHE IS ALSO MAKING LIBELOUS STATEMENTS.

She thought it best to not contact me again?  What she seems to care most about at this point, and deems best, is trying to damage our reputation based on their dog's injury and their dealings with us pertaining to her.  SHE IS ANGRY AND IS SEEKING HER POUND OF FLESH.

That said, any more complaints, and indeed this one, of this nature will be dealt with legally.  People should think twice before they go off defaming people on the Internet.

If anyone else has a problem with me or concerns for a dog they purchased from us, has any questions or wants to see hundreds of our references, I am happy to discuss and disclose.

We scrutinize the homes we place our dogs in and have a four page contract that is revolved around the protection and well-being of our dogs, with health and hip guarantees.  Does that sound like we don't care about our dogs or are back yard breeders?  We do offer lifetime breeder support and a wealth of knowledge, experience, and will replace any dog we breed that has a serious congenital disease/disorder or crippling hip dysplasia that cannot be husbanded along and requires euthanasia.  Why would we purposely breed unhealthy dogs who would need being replaced?  I don't think that would be the case if what Jennifer is claiming was true.  

We have never had to replace a dog!  EVER!  

I gave her the tools/information to husband her dog to recovery, without surgery, even though initially she said to me that if the cost of a surgery was $1,000 to $1,500, they may have found a way to do it (strange though, in the proceeding conversations, they couldn't afford $8 for wormer or a $4 bottle of aspirin!).  If she does not utilize our advice (who is NOT listening to who?), and can't take care of her dog, she should return her as the contract states, and deal head on with us squarely, not try to mislead people with her libelous accusations, conveniently leaving out her statements, provocation to us, and outright lies of what I said to her,

Finally, as an aside Jennifer (because I care about the well-being of this dog), I called around, you can get cranial stabilization procedures done for substantially less ($800) than for the surgery your vet's have advised for $4000.  If you are leaving your dog in a constant state of unmedicated pain and can't care for her properly, with rest, until she heals naturally, return her, Because that is cruel and you have agreed contractually to attend to her medical needs.

Sincerely,

Kelly Shipman

My dog has the same issues as stated in the previous complaint! These animals are suffering and Kelly should not be able to get away with continued breeding! She is not a reputable breeder and she doesn't care about the well being of the animals. When we found out that our dog had bad knees she would not even listen to us! I was insulted, berated and called a monster and a lair! But the fact still remains that my dog is and will forever be in pain! Please be ware of this awful woman and her poor dogs! Don't let yourself be a victim! 

I was very taken back to learn of this complaint.  Upon reading it, I promptly called the only client I knew who lived in the area stated, with a male pup of that age, to see if he had generated the complaint report.  To which he denied having done.  He further stated that he did not know what his daughter had been up to.

Here are the facts as we see them:

1) The legal owner of this dog did not write this complaint.

2) All personal inquiries have been and are responded to either by e-mail or phone.

3) If papers are not supplied at the time of sale, this is and was explained.  Updates are and were given, upon request if for any reason they are or will be delayed.  All our dogs have valid AKC registrations once processed.

4) Hip health guarantees are honored for genetic disease upon formal, licensed Veterinarian's documentation.  None have been received

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5) If a client of ours has an issue of health with their dog, they agree to notify us.  Prior to this complaint, no such notice was received or given.

6) Complaints like this have no basis.  Further, stating, "so that means that she is also breeding dogs that have known hip problems, she is a crook and these dogs are helplessly suffering through her greed" on the Internet, is not only false, it's libelous.

We have serviced a good many clients over the years and have a great relationships with many of them.  If there ever is an issue with a dog, we stand behind it, give correct and factual information addressing their concerns, and work with our clients, in person to make it right.

If upon receiving veterinarian reports of any sort of seriously debilitating hereditary disorder, the owners are entitled to another dog.  We have never replaced a puppy.

Full blown hip dysplasia,  this is how it plays out on a daily basis.  Our sweet dog only 9months not even full grown, struggles to stand up in the morning to go outside and go to the bathroom.  He whines until the anti-inflamitory pills take effect.  Then he is ok until he wants to play and can only play for a little bit and he gets uncomfortable he cant sit right, he doesn't want to lay down, you can just tell he doesn't know what to do with himself with this pain.  He has trouble going to the bathroom as when he tries to hunch up and go poop, he falls on his butt.  I'm so pissed off at this lady,  selling me a dog that goes lame within 9months of his life.  It hurts to see this happen.  So much for hip and health guarantee. 

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I am updating my report as in my emotional state i wrote opinions that i do not know are factual.  I will say that i do not know if Kelly shipman knows that she is breeding dogs with known hip problems, that was a personal opinion.  And that i do not know if she is a crook, that is also an opinion on my part.  But our family still have yet to see papers, and the family dog still has hip problems.