ComplaintsforK9 Rescue and Rehabilitation

• Initial Complaint

  02/03/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Applied for *****' (a puppy, on petfinder.com) adoption. **************** (owner) then contacted us for interview, then we met in-person when she dropped ***** off for a "week trial period" (after being over 2 hours late). A Veterinarian lives with me and was appalled by his condition. ***** was emaciated, hardly able to stand, dehydrated, found to have fleas, and with 24 hours had developed a wet barking cough with clear nasal discharge. When we contacted ******, she first tried to blame it on his new dog food and denied the fleas. Upon further conversation she disclosed that she has 60 dogs and only provides flea treatment to 3 of them. Additionally, she said she had been withholding water from ***** so that she can "time when he needs to pee". Finally, we got to the heart of the issue when she told us to gather his belongings and meet her at her preferred Veterinarian at 11:00 the following morning (who she works for)! She cancelled on us twice that morning. Then finally at 11:45 just told us to just drop him and his stuff off at the Vet. At 14:00 we called the Vet, we were then told ****** has taken him. I then contacted ****** who confirms she did take ***** and that he isn't for adoption at this time. Even though we had a signed contract of my adopting him and could provide care for him at our home. She refused to turn over him or his medical records.It has been almost 10days since. ****** contacted me today demanding we return *****' tags. We inform her that we returned them with his other belongings. She rebutted 'she couldn't find them'. I then told her to no longer contact me, as we did not have a pleasant experience with her. She then responded by calling me "aggressive, ignorant, and out of line". She then tells me that she has placed me on the **************** Do Not Adopt Registry as "high risk". We want our names removed from the Do Not Adopt Registry and would like her practices investigated for the safety and well being of the animals in her care.

  Business response

  03/02/2023

  ***** was a malnourished puppy when he came into our care. He was emaciated and had knuckling issues as a result of his previous lack of care. After 5wks of extensive care, including vet exams, full body X-rays and ongoing instruction from our vet that has over 30th yrs experience, we felt that ***** could be placed in a home that would be able to care for him appropriately. Based on our initial conversation, application, and the fact that a newly graduated vet lived in the home, we felt that this may be a good home for *****. We scheduled an appointment and I took ***** to meet the family.  While there, he ran, played and interacted with everyone in the home.  During this time I was very clear about his ongoing needs concerning exercise, down time, food and body exercises to help strengthen his ligaments.  After she had ***** in her possession, she became aggressive and condescending when I asked questions about his care.  The initial text updates I received was that ***** was doing great. We had him in our care for 5wks so we knew him and his limitations well.  After almost two days, I was told he was hacking and that he had pneumonia. This was not ***** came to us formal diagnosis, just their assumption. I told them I would come to pick him up that night but she refused.  I texted my vet and made sure we could get him in first thing the next day.  I arranged for them to drop him off at my vet with all of his belongings. Our vet was shocked at the demanding note she received about treating *****. She said clearly this person had no knowledge of ongoing medical training and current practices. And she demanded vet records. My vet would never release records to someone that did not own the pet. When at the vet, we did four scans of his chest and found that ***** had bronchitis.  She could not confirm whether it was allergic bronchitis due to something he was exposed to in this home, or if it was aspirated bronchitis, possibly due to something he ingested that he should not have been given. After the diagnosis and based on the insistent food and activity treatment of ***** that was not in his best interest, the decision was made to not return ***** to this home.  They were only fostering him, had him only two days. After I took him back and let her know he was no longer available, she again became aggressive and bullying in her responses.  I have text messages of all communication and at no time, until I finally blocked her, was I accusatory or aggressive.  I can provide all messages if needed.  I was also notified that he had a couple of fleas.  He had NO fleas when he arrived in their home.  Her statement about giving only 3 dogs flea treatment is inaccurate. We dont use flea treatment  treatment during the coldest winter months of Nov thru Jan.  The amount of dogs in our rescue consists of those in our rescue shelter and numerous ****** homes. We have no fleas. We have NO flea issues.  

  Customer response

  03/09/2023

   
  Complaint: 19329087
  
  I am rejecting this response because: if fails to address why I was placed as "high risk" on a do-not-adopt registry. Much of what she said in not factual. She is rude, flighty, and a poor communicator. Does not do well with direct questions and responsibilities.  I have the same messages and contract of adoption NOT ******. Additionally, i never contacter her Vet in any way. So that was all ficticious. Additionally, the Vet i live with is NOT a new grad. Additonally, the preliminary diagnosis was pneumonia- we needed the xrays to make a diagnosis: hence the Vet visit. **********, she gave no instruction to his diet or care so her saying i failed to adhere to any plan is hogwash and was no reason to remove the puppy fro.our home. Further more was asked for the records because she had promised she would release them!

  But regardless, at this time I only wish to have my name remove from the do-not-adopt list as there is no grounds for me to be on such a list- it is an action out of spite and pety feelings. Her response fails to address this concern. 
  
  Sincerely,
  **********************

  
  

  Business response

  03/20/2023

  The dog in question was NEVER adopted by this person.  Our process is to ALWAYS have a family ****** for two weeks first, to make sure the home is a good fit for the dog, and vice versa.  She signed an application, and a section for ****** WITH INTENTION TO ADOPT. I have the signed application / ****** request in my files.  We never signed an adoption agreement, therefore, she never owned the dog, nor was qualified to receive his file.  The vet in this home is 25yrs old.  She may not have JUST graduated from vet school, but it wasnt long ago.  She works under the guidance of more experienced, seasoned vets. She was very nice and we talked extensively about ***** condition, resulting from early malnourishment before coming to this rescue.  ***** is the older sister, and clearly the person that runs the home.  She did NOT adhere to any guidelines for activity nor food.  Before placing ***** in the home, between my vet and myself, it took us 5wks to get his intestinal track working properly.  He was restricted from any grains, and because of his bones, he was put on adult / all life stages food. The purpose of this is to slow down the bone growth so the ligaments, tendons and bones will grow at an equal pace.  I provided a bag of food that would last at least 5 days.  ***** refused to give him this food (I have text messages confirming so), for what reason, I dont know.  Other than her lack of knowledge and clearly not researching this situation, and her apparent need to do what she feels she wants to do regardless of what was already set down by my vets. Between the two, my vets have NINETY years of experience, so I trust the guidelines set down for *****.  ***** sent a demanding, rude note to my vet, talking to her through the note as if she was unskilled and ignorant.  If I need to include the note, I have it in our files. Because of the food that ***** gave to *****, it took me a week to get him straightened back out and for the diarrhea to stop.  While in their care, he did not receive the regulated activity, as I instructed, per my vet.  There was NOTHING done for ***** in this home that made me feel sure he would receive the proper care for his disability. In addition, her abusive, bullying behavior from the beginning confirmed our decision that we would not allow ***** to be adopted into this home. The decision stands concerning her placement on the Do Not Adopt list.

  Customer response

  03/27/2023

   
  Complaint: 19329087
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  1) No recommendations of care were ever given to us or reported to us- this is confirmed by the 3 other adults in my home who spoke with her while she dropped ***** off. 

   

  2) It was per my Veteinarian advice that i gave him the food I did- i was following a license Veterians orders. 

   

  Given that I cared for ***** under the supervision and care of a Veteinarian  and that NO care instructions were ever given. My placement on the Do-Not-Adopt registry is unfounded. 

   

  I deserve to be removed from that registry. 

   

  Additionally, being assertive is not being bullying. It's a fine line, but one I was forced to walk given her poor communication. 

   

  Additionally, I never spoke nor wrote to her Veteranarian. 

   

  My concern, only remains that my name is supposedly on the Do Not Adopt registry. An issue I have considering my long-standing and Sterling reputation with the animal community (AKC, Good Champion, and Service Animal certifications). 

   

  Remove my name from the Do-Not-Adopt registry, she has no reason to have put my name on there. 

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************

• Initial Complaint

  07/10/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  We adopted a dog from this rescue in October 2020 through the above referenced rescue. It has been a horrible experience and I just gave the dog back tonight. And I come to find out she is not even a registered dog rescue her LLC expired in ***************************** the ******************* as a nonprofit corporation. She let us adopt a seven week old puppy that she failed to mention had food aggression issues I called her the next day to ask her and she knew the dog had food aggression issues and did not disclose it. I have been trying to communicate with her since March about my feelings that we would not be able to keep the dog because her food aggression issues were so bad and I have a nine-year-old child. I finally put my foot down and she agreed to meet me at 5 oclock tonight she did not show up until 545 and was completely rude and unprofessional including taking items out of my vehicle and putting in her own car without checking with me.

  Customer response

  08/03/2021

  Refund request.  Business failed to discuss food aggression at adoption time 

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