I was shocked to read this report regarding Kettle Cove Dobermans, and Sharon Karam.
The original reporter did not spell the breeders name correctly, and that is not the only mistake he/she made.
I was lucky enough to be selected to buy a doberman from Kettle Cove, but only after several phone calls, emails and completion of a lengthy questionnaire.
It costs ALOT of money to raise a litter to the point where you get to take the pup home. It's really not about making money. Kettle Cove sold me my doberman at the pet quality price, but with the potential to show him in AKC conformation. We were new to the show ring, had never done it before (I am a Certified Master Dog Trainer), but wanted to try. If Sharon were in dog breeding for the money, why would she require that we get him neutered if he was not AKC champion material? Why wouldn't she continue to just breed away?? It doesn't make sense, I'm sorry.
I received AMAZING support from BOTH breeders. And believe me, I was a pain, calling about the ear posting method (I may have cried at one point), calling about the business of show dogs, calling about behavioral issues, feeding and care, and calling to say thank you, thank you, thank you - for allowing us to be so lucky enough to get him. BOTH breeders were responsive AND geniune in their interest in seeing that my dog and I were successful.
I met a woman at a show recently who was searching out Kettle Cove dobermans. She had been turned down by Sharon, and was hoping to meet her. She wants one of Sharons dogs. THAT is how good her reputation is. Sharon does her homework, and does the best job she can of placing her dogs in the finest homes. If Sharon was such a "money grubbing" person, I guess the quality of the owner wouldn't matter, now would it? If Sharon only cared about money, that woman would have been allowed to buy a dog.
It is sad that the original reporter's dog became sick, truly. However, dogs - simliar to young children - sometimes get sick. Sometimes we know why, sometimes it just happens. Sometimes it's genetics, sometimes environment. There are no crystal balls. BUT, to malign a very reputable breeder because one dog became sick is unfair, when there are SO MANY very happy customers with Kettle Cove dogs.
My daughter bought a "show quality" Viszla (and paid show price!) that is just over a year now and has cost her well over 5K in medical expenses. Couldn't have foreseen it. Both parents were great bloodlines and healthy. We also met the grandparents. Also healthy. Doesn't get better than that. Unfortunately, her dog ended up having allergies that none of the others had. SO, she had him neutered, so she would not pass on any potential bad genes. She had the option of bringing him back for a refund, but to her that would be like bringing her child with chronic ear infections back to the hospital that delivered it and saying....umm....this just isn't working out. It is sad your dog got sick, but things happen. Owning a dog is an investment. The payback is the unconditional love you get back.
Oh, my dog - he turned out to be show quality after all. He won Blue Ribbons in his class in every single show we entered him in. We are on our way toward a championship with him, and look forward to breeding him in the future, to keep the fine Kettle Cove line going.
Last - we live over 500 miles from Sharon. People have come from all over the country to get a Kettle Cove doberman. You are lucky you live so close. I'm sorry for your dogs illness, but blaming Kettle Cove and slandering them and the co-breeder by saying they are money grubbing people is not just incorrect, it's not very ethical.
Happy Owner of a fine Kettle Cove dog. :)