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Report: #101946

Complaint Review: Fluffy Paws Rescue - Sandy Oregon

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  • Reported By: portland Oregon
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  • Fluffy Paws Rescue 38970 DuBarko Rd Sandy, Oregon U.S.A.

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I was interested in adopting a dog. I started by looking on the internet at Oregon Humane Society. None of those dogs seemed to suit me so I continued through their links and wound up finding a dog that I was interested in. Her name was Jenna and her description seemed like she'd fit in well at my house.

I live alone and have 2 cats and I wanted the dog for indoors. I'd raised Rottwielers for years and this was an older Rott female. The way the rescue place described this dog in the ad, it seemed she was fine with cats and was a calm, non-aggressive dog. Even when I emailed and called the owner of the rescue place, nothing was said and no questions were asked of me to make me think differently. The dog was dropped off at my house during my inhouse interview, which was a red flag and I shouldn't have accepted.

Usually a very thorough application process is gone through. She didn't even ask me for references. She barely looked in my back yard. I could've had other dogs tied up and she wouldn't have even known. I'm the type of person who doesn't want people to feel uncomfortable, so I was trying to make her feel welcome in my home. She didn't go over the long adoption contract (another red flag and mistake on my part). The dog bit me and crushed my finger. (I definitely should have stopped everything at that point and said no). But I continued on, I didn't want her to feel bad. I gave the dog the benefit of the doubt and after almost passing out, had the woman help me fill out my own checks and my part of the contract because my hand was hurt too bad too do it.

When I told her I couldn't pay the entire amount that day, she said that I really put her in a bind because she had told "all the other people wanting to adopt the dog that I had agreed to adopt her." Of course I had never said any such thing, but was too polite and stupid (and stupified) to say anything back to this brazen person. I guess I just couldn't believe anyone could stand in my house and rip me off right to my face. I was wrong. She offered to me to "go ahead and write me a post dated check". So I did. Another mistake and red flad which I promise I will never do again.

She left me with the dog. And went out of town. Within 24 hours I knew the dog was way too aggressive to keep as a pet. She was trying to attack my cats and even tried to bite me again. I contacted Wende and begged her to take the dog back as soon as possible. The response I got back was even more confusing to me. Instead of offering to help me with the situation or maybe find a different dog (she had over 20 advertised at her Rescue site).

She berated me and told me what an unfit home and person I was for the dog and that she demanded the dog back and on and on. I couldn't figure out why she was mad at me. I was the one that was getting duped and ripped off?! Two days later she cashes both checks while in another State. When I called her she screamed on the phone and said I didn't know what I was talking about and she did no such thing. But, I had a copy of the cashed post-dated check. She had cashed it 17 days before the agreed upon 8/12/04 date. I knew she was unstable by this behavior I was witnessing now. And still the dog wasn't picked up.

I had to barricade my cats in one room and be very careful while feeding and handling the dog so I wouldn't get bit. I didn't dare let any friends or family come over or let my neighbor kids try to pet her. I felt like I was in jail. Finally on the 5th day a person who apparently works with this woman came to pick the dog up. She apologized for Wende and said she can be very "caustic" with other people and that she saw her emails to me and told her not to send them. I couldn't figure out how even this woman thought it was ok to take me for the $200 and also take the dog AND re-adopt it out again? Isn't that called double dipping???

As she walked out my door she turned and said, I'll let you know when we've adopted her again. That gave me chills. All I could think of was that these women now know this dog is agressive. The dog bit me right in front of one of them. I've reported it to both of them and they plan to just readopt her? So I reported the dog bite to both my county and hers. I figure at least that would be on record. If anyone else was bit and I hadn't at least tried to document that this dog was dangerous, I wouldn't have been being a good citizen.

Since the dog has been gone, Wende has been harrassing me with phone calls that I don't answer. I hope she doesn't continue but I am documenting them. I also have all of her emails where she threatened to sue me and to bring the police to my house all because I was reporting to her the dogs agression. I thought it was a very odd reaction. So she has the dog and the money and is free to double dip again. She has about 20 or so dogs. Can you imagine if she were to place a bunch of dogs, get the adopters money, then pull the dogs out within a week and do it all over again and again? What a racket? I plan to go to small claims and do whatever I can to stop this thief of dog lovers!

knilja
portland, Oregon
U.S.A.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 08/03/2004 01:03 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/fluffy-paws-rescue/sandy-oregon-97055/fluffy-paws-rescue-misrepresentation-of-pet-in-ad-and-trick-fraud-to-keep-adoption-fees-sa-101946. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
0Author
4Consumer
1Employee/Owner

#5 Consumer Suggestion

Yep, Brian, Something Is Wrong

AUTHOR: S.n. - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Saturday, August 07, 2004

I understand where the original poster is coming from. At no time should this person have brought a dog to her home and told her she was leaving the dog...that is not the appropirate way to re-home an abandoned or abused animal. What day the dog is placed should be a mutual agreement between the rescuer and the person adopting. I also disagree with giving anyone a postdated check. I have a checking account, savings account, and money market account. I don't keep a large amount in checking because it does not draw interest. When I do have to write a large check, I call the bank first and transfer money. Then I call the next day to moake sure the transfer was completed. The initial complaint by the original poster was the incompetent way this person is handling adoptions. If what she has said is true, she is correct.

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#4 Consumer Comment

somethings wrong...

AUTHOR: Brian - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Thursday, August 05, 2004

This was rather amusing to read you two going back and forth. Knilja you sound like you are wrapped to tight. I think theres more to the story. Also, you said "whin I told her I couln't pay the entire amount that day" that would indicate you didn't have the money wouldn't it. Thus a post dated check. You need a hot bubble bath or something. Good luck to you and I do hope it works out for you.

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#3 Consumer Suggestion

Let's Try This Again

AUTHOR: S.n. - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Thursday, August 05, 2004

Unfortunately I think you read my post incorrectly. I was telling you my perception of how a large possibly aggressive dog should be placed in a new home and completely agreeing with you that this person was doing everything all wrong. I did not read where you didn't have the money because you weren't prepared to take the dog that day and if my comment offended you, I apologize. Yes, I would have and I have asked how you afford to take care of the rest of your animals if you couldn't pay the adopt fee. (I also ask people when they are dumping an animal at what point they are going to dump their children!). There may be a few other things you can do.
1. If this person is advertising as a not for profit agency, you need to find out if they are registered with the federal and state government as a not for profit.
2. They should have liability insurance. Insurance companies do not allow rescues to keep or adopt out animals that bite. Unless the dog bit out of fear or a move that you shouldn't have made around him (and the person who was adopting the dog should have known what might upset him ad his behavior should have been fully explained to you before the dog was even brought to your home), the dog should not be adopted out at all.
3. Contact the state and find out what the rules and regulations are for having a rescue organization and ask that they investigate.
4. Going to small claims court for your money should work. You could also go to the District Attorney's office and tell them this person committed fraud if you were never told (and it is not in your contract) that you would not be refunded if you did not keep the dog.
I do appreciate your posting this to warn others about your experience. One bad rescue group makes the rest of us look bad, too.

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#2 REBUTTAL Individual responds

response to SN's "perception" of my complaint

AUTHOR: L - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Wednesday, August 04, 2004

In response to SN:

Either your perception of what I wrote is incorrect or I didn't communicate it properly because your responses just don't make sense to me. I'm rebutting your comments numbered here and then trying to add some more. After that, I'm not going to spend any more time, stress or negative energy on this matter. Thank you for taking your time for the positive parts of your comments though.

1. I've owned and loved 4 Purebred Rottweilers for over 13 years. I also rescued Rotts, Boxers and Goldens. I've also rescued many other smaller breeds over the last 40 years. I do have experience with rescue shelters, rescuing, and training large dogs' etc.

2.The Rescue person did NOT check my references.

3. She was in a big hurry to drop the dog off during the interview which I had NOT agreed to or been warned of.

4. You may not have had a rescue dog returned but this woman has had a few dogs returned and even abandoned..(This is posted on their ad) and she told me about them.

5. I didn't write in my complaint that I couldn't afford the adoption fee. And it's insulting of you to assume what I can or can't afford. I wasn't prepared to pay it or take the dog "that day". No matter what you may think, I do have that right to decide when I want to pay for something. That doesn't mean I can't afford it! In adoptions before, I've always gone through a lengthy application process. If I couldn't afford medical care I wouldn't have even bothered looking for a pet. If I were financially restricted, I wouldn't consider another pet, let alone the pets I already have...what about my horses? What about my cats? What about my children? Would you ask me if I can afford them? Please reread the complaint..it had nothing to do with affording it...it had to do with being pressured into it. When people start putting money ahead of the dog's welfare...this is what happens.

6. I am filing a small claim against the company that's all I can do. As far as the next person this may happen to, it looks like I won't be able to have any way of stopping this woman from doing it again. This dog just went back out the door to the 3rd adopter (that's 3 adoption fees).

In my opinion and experience, this was a scam..Here's the deal:
You advertise a sweet lovable dog, you gain the publics trust by naming your company with the word "rescue" in it because most of us know a "rescue" organization would never rip us off right? Then you rush and pressure the adopter through the process and then you make sure you can take the dog back (because you know the dog won't fit the home it's placed in). When you come right back to pick up the dog, you refer to your contract and tell the poor sap that they signed a contract that says the money is non-refundable. You don't offer the person to help with the dog and you don't offer them to look at the other 25 dogs you have available. Hmmm...that doesn't sound like we have the dogs best interest in mind yet does it? In less than 60 hours, the ex-adopter is left with no dog, no money, no nothing! And there is no law against it. Other than me listing a complaint here and filing a small claims that's about all I can do.

I have been in the animal business and so has my family, (combined) for over a century. I would never treat a customer like this. If someone had any issue with any animal or pet they got from me whether paid for or free, I would do everything in my power to help them. I don't believe in constantly looking for how to rip people off or looking for the worst in every person. I even offered this woman half of the money for her time and effort But she wanted all of that because that was her "plan". She wasn't in it for negotiations. It was strictly in and out.

I posted this to warn people or at least help them to be more aware before doing business from private ads on the Internet and classifieds.

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#1 Consumer Suggestion

No Way To Adopt Large Possibly Aggressive Dogs

AUTHOR: S.n. - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, August 03, 2004

If if this what truly happened to you, I am terribly sorry. I work with a large breed rescue and some breeds can be aggressive. Because these dogs are rescued and sometimes we do not have first hand knowledge of their background, we keep them in foster care in order to be able to determine if they are adoptable and what time of home is most suited to them. We do an initial application, check references, do a home visit/inspection, have the potential adopter meet the dog and then either deliver the dog to it's new home or have the new owner pick it up. I personally prefer to deliver the dog so that I can watch it's reactions and know that everything is going to be all right. There is always someone in our rescue group that can answer questions if the foster parent is not available. I personally have never had a dog returned, but sometimes things just don't work out and we try to understand those situations. We also try to work with the new owners if there are any issues that come up after the dog has been adopted. The person you adopted from is not doing the rescued dogs any favors. I also would have been concerned if you told me you could not afford the adoption fee. If you can't afford the fee to adopt the dog (and we are always up front with the adoption fees), how could you afford to get medical care for the dog in an emergency? I can understand keeping part of the fee because it does take time and effort. Everyone in our group is an unpaid volunteer and any money brought in is used to save the next dog in need. I don't understand her keeping all of the adoption fee. If you truly believe this woman should not be dealing with large breed rescued dogs, contact your local veterinarian and ask if they know who could speak to about it.

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