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If it can happen to me, it can happen to you. I want to tell you this story so you will be more aware.
I purchased two AKC females from the same litter in early February 2006. I had been wanting the perfect AKC female for
breeding so I searched the internet ads and did some research. I thought I had found the perfect puppy on Puppyfind.com.
I contacted the owner. The puppy I thought I wanted had a deposit already on her so I put my deposit on my second choice.
I paid $1,000.00 for this less than 1 week old puppy based on information I was told. I know I should have been smarter.
But, I expect everyone to be honest and trustworthy like I am. Shortly after I sent Deborah Whitfield-Whatmore of PuppyNews
in Ohio my deposit. She called me and said that the person who had put the deposit on the other puppy could not buy it due
to personal circumstances. She asked me if I wanted to buy this one also for an additional $1,000.00. I asked if I could
get a discount with buying two and was told "no". I sent Deb Whatmore the deposit on the second puppy. After a
couple days thought I called her and asked if she could just apply my second $200.00 deposit to the first puppy and sell the
second puppy to someone else. She told me "no, deposits are not refundable". I should have known right there this
was not good. When the girls were 8 weeks old I met Deb Whatmore in Toledo, OH to pick them up and finish paying her the
$1600.00 that I owed. I was silly to never have gone to see the puppies or their parents or their living conditions. I paid
the money in good faith and went on my way.
By spring 2007 both girls had produced one litter of puppies each. Mora was the smallest of the girls weighing close
to 5# and Bebe weighs close to 6#. Both girls had to have c-sections. I was traumatized with worry for Mora and Bebe. Deb
had told me prior to my purchasing either girl their mother had had 6 puppies naturally (no c-sections). Of course, I do
not know that for fact as I never went to her kennel to check out her story. So, Bebe weighing 6# couldn't deliver 4 puppies
on her own.
At the end of April 2007 (after selling both litters of puppies with AKC puppy registration paperwork) I receive a letter
from the American Kennel Club. Apparently, Deborah Whitfield-Whatmore had just got around to sending in the DNA swab for
Mora and Bebe's sire "Whatmores Smokey Blue Boy". The DNA came back indicating that Mora and Bebe's sire's sire
is not his sire. In layman terms their father's father was not his father. I was devastated! I had these puppies that I
had sold and now I am getting this! I contacted AKC to verify I was reading this correctly. Yep, I was. I contacted Deb
Whatmore (mostly by email) asking what was going on. I explained about the two litters of puppies. She told me to just hold
tight and tell everyone that called me that it could still be resolved. Well, some people don't want to wait months. I took
back a couple of the puppies, returning money. Deborah Whatmore indicated that that was a stupid thing to do. I told her
that I am trying to build a reputation as a reputable breeder and I am a good person and wouldn't do that to someone. She
said that she wouldn't be returning money as she didn't have it. Well, she sells puppies and she raises them, isn't that
money? or possible puppy reimbursement? I asked her at that point if she would be returning any of my money. I was told
no, it wasn't her problem. Well, it may not have started at her door but I paid her $2,000.00 cash for two females to use
for breeding.
It is now September 2007. AKC has received DNA on 3 potential stud dogs. Yes, they are closely related but evidently
they are not the sire in question. My regular AKC papers are being pulled for both Mora and Bebe and they are being issued
a Conditional Registration. Maybe I should be thankful, but I didn't pay $2,000.00 for two dams that I need to explain on
their puppies that the great grand sire is missing in action. Mora and Bebe's puppies offspring will be regular AKC registered
but that doesn't help me. I have asked Deborah Whatmore for a puppy by one of her other males (she has several)or partial
refund and I would spay the girls and place them in pet homes. I was told "no, and leave me alone". What kind
of person is this woman? I know she may have been unaware of the sire thing. But, she needs to stand behind her Chihuahuas
offspring. Most breeders have some kind of genetic defect clause where they will give you another puppy. As far as I am
concerned this is a genetic defect.
I had asked her several times for the womans phone number that she bought Whatmores Smokey Blue Boy from. She told me
she wouldn't give it to me as she had good rapport with the lady and didn't want me to upset the applecart. I personally
have emails that were forwarded to me where the breeder to Whatmores Smokey Blue Boy offered Deb Whatmore another full registered
AKC blue male puppy. Wish Ms. Whatmore would consider doing that to her buyers. Deb indicates to the breeder that this would
satisfy her issue with the breeder but she was not going to give her buyers a replacement puppy. Nice, don't you think?
I finally found her number myself. The woman, Lisa Grey, lives in Oklahoma. She is seems concerned. She told me she
told Deb to give the people calling her (Deb Whatmore referred to us as a_ _ hole #1, #2 and #3) her phone number. Interesting
to know my $2,000.00 cash gives me the name a_ _hole # whatever. The breeder has sent in DNA and fees on three males and is
sending in a fourth DNA this month on males that were in the home at time of conception. I have personally sent in $60.00
of my own money to AKC trying to get this situation resolved with DNA testing. Which I might ad Deb Whatmore told me she would
pay 1/2 and then never did.
I know first hand that Deb Whatmore buys and sells Chihuahuas from other breeders. When I picked up my two girls in Toledo,
OH and finished paying the $2,000.00 that I gave for them Deb Whatmore let me know she had been to Toledo the previous weekend
buying an AKC chocolate female for $400.00. Any idea how that made me feel? Lisa Gray brought up some what ifs.... One being,
what if the blue and tan Chihuahua that Lisa had sold Deb had for some reason died and Deb Whatmore had put his papers on
another blue and tan male Chihuahua? I had never even thought of that! It is so possible. I hate to think breeders do that,
but I can see how it would be done. Oh, did I mention Ms. Whatmore is saying she is going to change her kennel name? Well,
so be it, you can't change your legal name. It has nothing to do with the kennel. It has everything to do with the breeder.
I guess I am telling you my story so you will be aware of what could be happening to you. I personally have since paid
to have all of my Chihuahuas DNA'd. Males and females alike. They are DNA'd before I breed them. That way if I have bought
something that is not the real deal I want to know it before I sell YOU your puppy. I will only buy puppies from sellers
that can prove to me the sire has been dna'd. You may ask "why the sire". AKC requires only sires to be dna'd
at this time under certain circumstances. So, they all do not have to be dna'd.
BOTTOM LINE... PLEASE BE ON YOUR TOES IF YOU ARE BUYING TO BREED LATER.
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