She would not let us come to her house either. Said that she was going to be in Louisiana and could we meet her there.
When my husband saw the puppy he said this is not the one in the picture on her site. But we took her anyway. Now she is a year old and many people ask us what kind of dog she is. We had her DNA tested and the report came back that she is not full blood West Highland Terrier. I wrote to Melissa and she immediately became hostile and said she would be talking to her lawyer.

If you have any questions or concerns about me, my policies or my dogs please contact me directly. Thank you

I told someone to call the police on you if the extremely suspicious things they were saying are true. I didn't personally say you are or are not anything. I said the things they're claiming scream puppy mill (and they do, look it up). If someone told me they heard a gunshot from the neighbor's house, I would tell them to call the police. That doesn't mean I'm accusing their neighbors of murder. Calm down.

I understand your concern about letting strangers in your house, believe me I do, but you are breeding puppies. It's the line of work you chose to get into. It's a completely reasonable request from a potential customer to see the conditions the puppy has been growing up in and to view the parent's size, temperment, etc. I realize when you bought your puppies, you probably had no problem buying them out of a McDonald's parking lot, but most people want a little more professionalism in choosing their next family member. You honestly can't blame them for that, can you? Seriously?

A reputable breeder does genetic screening so things like disease and deformaties do not get passed down, they only breed one or two breeds, they are happy to let you view their puppy's parents and living quarters, they screen their customers in person and have an application process their customers must go through, they never ever ship their puppies, and their dogs live in ideal conditions. If most of those things don't apply to you, you are most likely not a reputable breeder. You're a lady with unsterilized dogs and a bunch of cages.

What makes me an expert? I'm not. I did buy a puppy several months ago and I read many articles that were written by experts on selecting a breeder/puppy. Just going by what you have written (not the complaints about you) there are enough red flags that any expert would quickly recommend not buying from you. That's not my opinion, that's a fact.

If you didn't mean to stir the honey pot then why did you comment on somthing you know nothing about. You do not know me and to go as far as to tell someone to call the police on me. Are you serious? Who are you and what kind of person says things like that. I am sorry screening a client over the phone or thru email does not constitute enough trust that i am willing to open my home to them. People can say what they want and it is not feasible nor realistic for me to hop on a plane and interview a client in person before i agree to sell them a puppy. Do you have any suggestions on how i may improve my screening process because you seem to be such an expert on how reputable breeders should do things. I guess only reputable breeders can go that extra mile is that what you are saying? A few years ago a young girl only 14 years old in a small rural town (Greenbrier Arkansas) just like mine less than 30 minutes from where i live was kidnapped, raped, tortured, and then murdered by someone who contacted her online. Guess what she had put her trust in him. You can see it however you want and it does not matter to me how you look at it. My family comes first always. I am an RN and i have had a ring side seat to tragedy and what people are capable of doing. My reasons are my reasons and i feel that i have justified them enough.. On one last note There is a leap of faith that a breeder who sells online must take when approving a forever home for a puppy they sell. Yes they hope that things are as they appear to be but honestly how much trust can be establish thru phone conversations. Anyone with any sense can understand that. Yes i will turn a family away if i have my doughts and i do screen my clients the best i can. I do care about where my pups go and i always have their best interest at heart. I care about my family more. The day i turn my HOME into a pet store or a petting zoo will be the day i put a sign in my yard saying "OPEN TO THE PUBLIC"

Thud, you are ONE HUNDRED PERCENT correct, and obvously you DO know a lot about buying a puppy.

The only place I differ is puppy mills are also interested in only one thing - making money. So in that sense they are just as bad as many breeders who pop puppies out just to make $. A reputable breeder simply does not do that - period, end of story. And a reputable breeder DOES screen buyers in person.

Fantastic advice: anyone planning to buy google "puppy buying tips". Super post!

Hello Jon. I heard you have this fascination of some fictional character from the NBC sitcom (The Office) Bob Vance from Vance refrigeration.

Ok, I don't mean to stir the honey pot, but:

"it is a matter of safety and what i am comfortable with"

Why would you sell a puppy to someone you're not comfortable having in your house? Reputable breeders actually care where their puppies go and screen their buyers. By your own admission, "You never know what kind of nut job you are dealing with". You should figure out what kind of nut job you're dealing with before you hand over an innocent life to them.

I agree that the term "puppy mill" is overused. There is a gray area between reputable breeder and puppy mill that most breeders fall into. This is the area that dogs are bred specifically for financial gain. While they're not technically puppy mills, the dogs end up being treated more like cash cows and less like loving family members and consequently, their living conditions may not be horrible, but they're less than ideal for a dog's life.

Anyone buying puppies should do some web searching for "puppy buying tips". There are plenty of sites that explain what red flags to watch for when selecting a breeder. If I was a breeder, I would check that myself and evaluate any red flags I may have.

Now in response to the second complaint. No i do not let strangers who contact me online come to my home. I have small children and i live very rural. It is not a matter of hiding anything it is a matter of safety and what i am comfortable with. My husband works alot and is often not home during the hours that clients would want to come and pick up their puppies. I offered to meet Elane at McDonalds because my daughter had a ball game that morning and i thought it was a convient place. Elane took everything i said way out of context. When she contacted me about the puppies she was interested in I asked her if she would like to put a deposit down on the puppies. She said she would need to speak with her husband. I sold the puppy to another client before she contacted me back and she was upset. I can only hold a puppy with a secure deposit. Just because a breeder is not comfortable with letting strangers come to their home does not make them a puppymill. This term is used incorrectly by so many people. Puppymill is a term to describe a filthy noncaring breeder cares nothing for the dogs. A puppymill breeder does not care who they sell a puppy to. They offer no kind of guarantee on the puppies they sell. The do not try to work with a client once a puppy is sold. They do not post instructions on thier website concerning the next 48 hours once a puppy is sold because they do not care about the next 48 hours. I found this board by accident and i am defending myself when i have done nothing wrong. It is heartbreaking to know that people will attack other people without just cause. If these complaints were in regards to the welfare of the puppies health or if they were more than just blind accusations then they are justifiable but this is nothing more than a witch hunt. Now here are three types of people who unjustly will attack someone and go so far as to actually make unfounded false accusations online. Is it any wonder that breeders are reluctant to let strangers come to thier home. You never know what kind of nut job you are dealing with. Please visit my website www.poshpuppylove.com and after reviewing my site if you feel i am a puppymill then please call me. Thank you

The first complaint I have to agree with Ms. Basinger. A puppy is ready to go to it's new family typically around 7-8 weeks, depending on the opinion of the breeder. Once you have commited to purchasing the puppy, you are responsible for all vaccinations that need to take place after the breeder says the puppy is ready to be picked up. You can't commit to buying a puppy and then not pick it up for weeks and expect the breeder to fund the vaccinations out of their own pocket.

The second complaint concerns me. She would only sell you the puppy at the McDonald's parking lot? Refuses to let buyers view her operation and parents of the puppies? That screams puppy mill. If any of those allegations are true, you should definitely report her to the Humane Society and your local police station. If a breeder won't let you view their operation, it's probably because there are things there they don't want you to see.

If i am asked to hold a puppy for a client past the age of ready which is usually 8 weeks of age then i am basicly boarding a puppy and any vaccinations are the responsibility of the clients. If a puppy is not ready to be released then i will assume responsibility for vaccinations. I provided the first vaccination for juanitas puppy at six weeks of age. The puppy was ready to go at eight weeks but she did not want to come and pick her puppy
up until it was nine weeks old and she expected me to provide the nine week vaccination at my expense. I guess i could have kept her puppy until it was old enough to have had all the puppy shots at my expense. I refunded her the deposits because i had concerns for the welfare of the puppy. My first priority will always be my puppies.

G