http://alaskaoregonwesternwashington.bbb.org/WWWRoot/Report.aspx?site=114&bbb=1296&firm=22068403

I purchased a shih tzu for $700 from Debbie Rondeau of Four Paws and got ripped off, because my puppy, Nikko does not look like a shih tzu.

(insert: Nikko with the blue collar next to a purebred shih tzu puppy. No one was aware that Debbie also bred and mass produced Papillons along side her "shih tzu's" - this dog is an obvious mix of the two breeds. Only an unethichal breeder would allow this to happen and deny the truth. )

First of all, Debbie was not very accommodating regarding the ship date. She asks you when you would like the puppy shipped, but she doesn't pay any attention to what you want. She ships at her convenience only. She didn't even email me to find out if I received him safely. As a courtesy, I did emial her that I received him on 12/5/03. I found my dealings with her very unsatisfactory. I think she is a very unprofessional person and probably is running a puppy mill of sorts. Just look at her website and see all the puppies she always has.

She professes on her web site that she raises quality puppies with great coats. Only that is not true. When I received my puppy, Nikko, he was very mangy looking. His hair was very thin and coarse, his skin was all flaky and he scratched himself incessantly. In fact, the vet did a scraping to test him for the mange. He put Nikko on vitamins and a healthy food diet.

Also, the vet was concerned that he had an open fontenal (soft spot) that had not healed completely which could lead to neurological problems later on if not closed. When I emailed Debbie this info, her response was, 'if he had any health issues my vet would never have given him a healthcertificate to fly.' She was not the least bit concerned whether there was a problem with him or not, nor did she ever further inquire about his health. After only on month with me, he gained about three pounds. He only weighed 4.13 on 12/5/03 when I received him, and by Jan. 2nd after proper care and nourishment, he weighed in at 7.5 pounds.

Nikko does not even look like a shih tzu. First of all, his snout is longer and more pointy than the normal pushed in look of a shih tzu. Secondly, his eyes are almond shaped with short eyelashes rather than the shih tzu's normal big round eyes with long curly eyelashes. Third, his hair is short and smooth rather than the long busy look of a shih tzu. I will try to attach a picture of two puppies. The lone on the left is a shih tzu and looks very much like one. The one on the right is my Nikko that Debbie sold me as a shih tzu. It's very obvious how different looking he is.

When I mailed Debbie a picture, her response was, and I quote, 'the coat  is much like we get sometimes when it is a recessive which is what coc is. It may change once he gets his first short hair cut.' Well his hair has never grown long enough to get it cut. Anyways, what little there is, I would be afraid to cut. Furthermore, she states that I bouth a pet, not a shih tzu and that's why he came with a limited registration. My papers state I bought a shih tzue not a pet. First of all, I never discussed breeding rights with her. I never knew about limited registrations. Secondly, she didn't send me his papers until a few days before she shipped him and not until after I had paid her in full.

I had to ask numerous times for pictures of the parents. She actually sent me a picture of his sister. It took me many months and many requests to receive the right pictures. Quite honetly, I don't even know if the pictures I have are correct. Also, I would email her several questions and she would only answer one and ignore the rest. Sometimes her answer wasn't even relevant. Debbie Rondeau obviously has a communication problem.

Under the circumstances, I have asked her for a partial refund. I feel a fifty percent refund is warranted as Nikko is not the quality shih tzu she claims to raise. She refuses to give any refund whatsoever. She has offered to exchange him or to help me sell him. Who would pay $700 for a shih tzu that doesn't look like one, let alone the $1000 plus that I have invested in him due to neuturing and shots. Once a puppy comes into my home, he is here for his duration. Just because I'm disappointed that he does not look like a shih tzu, doesn't mean I would send him back as you would bring a dress back to a store because it wasn't exactly what you wanted. Furthermore, I wouln't think of sending any dog back to her.

DO NOT buy any puppies from Debbie Rondeau of Four Paws. DO NOT trust Debbie Rondeau. I know several other people that have had problems with her. Also, there are several breeders that know of her and don't think very highly of her. Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to use ther names. Unfortunately, it is people like Debbie Rondeau that give reputable breeders a bad name.

Lucille
Lancaster, New York
U.S.A.

reference http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/106/RipOff0106983.htm

Mood:  down

DAnn Rondeau aka Debbie Rondeau aka Debbie Kitselman

 www.wagintails.com aka FourPaws-shih-tzu

 P.O. Box 459 Gilchrist OR, formerly from La Pine OR

 541-419-1073

I became interested in a puppy on the wagintails website after my Shih-tzu passed away this year.

After several conversations, Debbie emailed me what she said were the pictures of the puppies mother and father. I liked what I saw and sent Debbie a 250 dollar deposit.

 A week later when talking to her on the phone, she slipped that the picture of the female was not actually the pups mother, but an aunt. I started investigating further and noticed that on her site she had the pups father listed as a Red male, and the picture of the father she sent me was of a black brindle male. She lied about the pictures she had sent and took my deposit under false pretenses.

 I have since found many complaints similar to mine from people that have dealt with this woman under one of her many names and or addresses.

 I also have discovered her lying to me on many occasions. She claim that she owns all the dogs she sells on her site and that they are home raised, but after watching her site for a month, I realize this is impossible. She told another lady that I spoke with in Oregon the same story. That all the dogs are her's. But when the lady recieved her pup, the papers said the dog belonged to someone else.

 She said she gave the pups their first shots at five weeks and I dont believe this is true either. Vets recommend 8 weeks. I wouldn't know if the pup had had any shots at all if I had purchased from her.

 I told her I wanted my deposit back because I couldn't believe a word she said and she had taken my money under false pretenses, and she very nicely told me she would send it. I haven't seen a dime yet. 

 If what I read online, and what other customers have told me, I will have to hire a lawyer to get anything back from this woman

 I am more concerned with the many other innocent folks that might be ripped off, or sold a sick puppy, or dont get the pup they think they are getting from this woman.

 Please beware of this woman and her unethical business practices under whatever name she chooses to use next.

Thank you
 Julie H

reference http://www.complaints.com/directory/2005/february/1/4.htm