Von Waldberg German Shepherds, Phil Skoog, Kimberly Brown I was sold a pup with elbow dysplasia for a grotesque amount of money Snohomish Washington

One of Phil Skoog's and Kim's reasons for denying me a refund for the elbow dysplasia was that I had caused my pup an injury, voluntarily or involuntarily.  Well, since this is complete garbage, in addition to the veterinary statement that this dysplasia is genetic and not caused by injury, I provided them with a copy of another breeder's Guarantee. Their name is Flood Farm German Shepherds.  In their guarantee they specified that the dysplasia must be present in both elbows, or both hips, in order to qualify for a dysplasia, the genetic disease, and not an injury, which may occur only in one of the joints.  Well, my pup was diagnosed with dysplasia in both elbows, and at the court hearing I provided this Guarantee to the court to have yet another proof that this isn't an injury--the dysplasia is in both elbows, not only one.  

Here is what the sneaky Phil Skoog and his daughter Kim did--they copied that statement on how the dysplasia must be present in both joints, and not only one in order to be considered genetic dysplasia.  They certainly didn't do it to refund me, but to make it even more difficult for you, the new buyer.  

They change their website content to suit their own purpose, so if you have seen a promise or a statement about the health of the dogs, you may not find it at a later date.  For example, if you bought a pup under their PREVIOUS Guarantee, where it doesn't say anything about the dysplasia being present in both joints, they will pull up their NEW Guarantee, and will claim your puppy was just injured.  

Look at my case, they had no substantiation that my pup was injured, vs. the Vet's statament that it is a genetic disease, and they still claimed that it was an injury.  And yet, they steal the statement from Flood Farm German Shepherds, and contradict themselves that the dysplasia must be present in both joints.  If they take this statement to be correct, how come they still refused to refund me, when my pup is suffering with dysplasia in both elbows?  They are liars.  Please, see the attached documents as proof on how they modify their website about guarantees, and leaves you, the buyer, at risk.

Here is a copy of the contract they made me sign at the time of purchase.  You will see that it says it guarantees dog's hips for up to 1 year of age.  Compare it to the "sales" guarantee I looked up when deciding to buy from Von Waldberg.  It says they guarantee hips up to 2 years of age.  I have posted that "sales" guarantee as well.  Who would want to give their money to such scammers.

Von Waldberg’s deceit can very clearly be seen when comparing the Guarantee they had posted on the website at the time I purchased my pup in December 2013.  Please, note they have the guarantee posted on the website, but the Guarantee you sign, has different wording.  This is fraud.  The Guarantee on their website, the one that you don’t sign, but serves as a sales call to potential customers says that they will guarantee a dog against a hip dysplasia up to 2 years of age.  On the Guarantee they printed for me to sign, the wording is different— it says they would cover a dog against hip dysplasia up to 1 year of age.

So, all this time you think that you are covered up to 2 years of age, but comes time to complain, they pull out the guarantee that you signed—they cover it up to 1 year of age.  What they do is they bring you the puppy to hold, while they print out the documents to sign.  So, while you are melting with joy, holding a sweet, little, furry bundle, who will read the Guarantee again, you know you have read it over and over prior to the purchase.  This is how they get you.  This is how I lost at small claims court when I sued them for avoiding responsibility for the elbow dysplasia, the judge looked at the document I signed saying “up to 1 year”, not the Guarantee that serves as a sales call that boasts “up to 2 years of age”.

Phil Skoog and daughter have repeatedly coerced me into not talking about my experience with him, and his daughter Kimberly Brown. This is unethical and illegal.  As a matter of fact they sued me for defamation of character, as they had implied in their threats.  The judge dismissed their claim. I am free to talk about what liars, and greedy individuals they are.

He has also used coercion on other customers and extortion to another customer, according to whose BBB report, says that Phil Skoog threatened to nullify his guarantee, if the customer approached the BBB.  You can read it on BBB website. 

THEY CHANGE THEIR WEBSITE CONTENT TO AVOID LIABILITY:

 I clearly remember, while researching Von Waldberg’s website reading that they “guarantee the dogs they sell to pass OFA at age of 2”.  (OFA is the premier medical organization that certifies hips and elbows and clears the dog for breeding purposes.)  Well, my dog certainly can’t be OFA certified, because he was already diagnosed with elbow dysplasia.  Dysplasia doesn’t go away, it is there to stay and get worse.  This is a deceptive promise and assurance, because they didn’t stand by it when I contacted them with Flip/Finley’s elbow dysplasia.  Currently, you can’t find this statement anywhere on their website, but only in complaints of other people, such as that one customer's complaint to the BBB from Oct. 2013.

The reason that the guarantee that the dogs they sell will pass OFA is important is because it shows dedication from the breeder that they will replace any sick dogs.  Customers who pay thousands of dollars for a puppy want to know that their dogs are bred responsibly and will be healthy and guaranteed and replaced if needed.

I also remember reading on the website that they will exchange a puppy if it develops elbow dysplasia AND that they would guarantee against any genetic disorder that affects the longevity of the dog.  None of these statement can be found on the website, only in their response to BBB to that customer.  

I believe Von Waldberg changes their website content to deny any claims about sick dogs.  I believe that they put these promises on the website to attract more buyers, but intentionally kept them off their CONTRACT/GUARANTEE that you actually sign, and people believed in Von Waldberg’s intentions, they believed them, just like I did.  That is until people started complaining and calling them up on health issues, they removed the web content with the promises.  I can’t prove what I saw on their website, as far as promises and guarantees, but my only proof is that other people have seen the same, and Phil Skoog and Kimberly Brown actually acknowledged it in their BBB response dated October 2013.  Changing their website content in order to cover up and avoid responsibility is unethical, deceptive, and illegal.

Now my pup has been diagnosed with Elbow Dysplasia since 6 months of age, and Von Waldberg has refused to fulfill the promises that were written on website and their verbal promises.  So, I can’t use the very same guarantees that convinced me in buying from them in court to sue them for not fulfilling their promise to replace a pup with elbow dysplasia or genetic disease that affects the life span of the dog, because those very statements were removed.

Since I sued them in the small claims court in October, 2015, Phil Skoog and daughter have changed their website content, yet again.  They have added wording that is supposed to protect them as sellers, such as “dysplasia must be present in both hips, which is indicative of dysplasia and not an injury.”  My dog’s both elbows were diagnosed with dysplasia Exhibit 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 , and yet they continue to argue that it is conditional, and injury caused by me, and not genetic Exhibit 16.

Also, they in their "new" guarantee, they have added a new statement to protect themselves saying that they “don’t guarantee that any puppy or dog to be free from cosmetic flaws”.  They added this after a woman in Kansas complained about receiving a puppy with a missing toe, among other health problems. 

Don't deal with these greedy individuals.  I can't even call them humans.

ATTENTION!!!  READ BEFORE YOU BUY.  

I felt that Phil Skoog and daughter Kimberly Brown are part-time breeders and a full-time salesmen for other breeders' puppies. They offer false advertising on the quality and the health of the puppies, just to make a sale.  In addition, they promised me they would replace the puppy if it gets elbow or hip dysplasia. 

My pup was advertised to be of superior lineage, with a certain father and a certain mother.  As you may know, you have to go by Skoog and daughter’s word, because you don’t get the birth pink papers at the time of purchase, you receive it in the mail months later.  So, months later, when I got the pink birth papers, it listed a completely different father than what was advertised.  In the world of selective breeding, this is super important.  Also, the pup was advertised to have both mother and father certified as “VA” rating, the highest achievable award, and not only that, but with 8 grandparents in the first 3 generations, something they claimed in the advertisement to be very rare.  When I received the pink papers, months after the purchase, it indicated that only the father has a “VA” rating, not both mother and father as advertised, and only 5 grandparents in the first 3 generations had “VA” ratings, not 8.  The reason they priced the puppy at $4,500 was for that supposed “superior” lineage, which turned out to be a lie.  Beware of their advertisements, they are false, and by the time you find out, they won’t refund your money, or adjust the sale price.

The pup they sold me was claimed per their sales guarantee to be healthy at the time of purchase.  I took the pup straight to the vet for a well-exam check up, a stool sample was provided, and pup was diagnosed with intestinal parasites Coccidia and Giardia.  It took 6 months of repetitive, back to back treatment for the pup to get healthy again, while putting me and my children at health risk.  When I contacted them, Kimberly Brown said the puppy got infected from my yard-an obnoxious lie, because my previous dogs from 2 years ago, had never had intestinal parasites, and I had taken the pup straight to the vet for an exam.  By the way, a common  denominator among all complaints on the internet is that people get pups with Coccidia and Giardia, customers are blamed for whatever the health problem is, and Skoog and daughter blame the vets for not being competent.

Also, at the time of purchase, I specifically inquired about them guaranteeing agains elbow dysplasia, because in the contract it only mentioned hip dysplasia.  I was ASSURED that they cover not only elbow dysplasia, but any genetic disease that affects the life longevity of the dog.  Only 3 months after the purchase, at 6 months of age, puppy was diagnosed with elbow dysplasia.  Initially, he started limping so badly, I had him x-rayed, and the diagnosis came up.  Contacted Phil Skoog, the owner, and he said that it wasn't a definitive diagnosis, it was just a bunch of garbage, that my vet is young and inexperienced, that they just want my money, and advised me not to spend my money on more x-rays as suggested by the vets.  I made the mistake to believe him.

At a later date, I decided to have his elbows x-rayed, and the diagnosis came the same...severe elbow dysplasia.  To this, Phil Skoog said that it isn't a genetic disease, but was caused by improper diet and trauma.  

Even though the vet surgeon specifically indicated in the diagnosis that this is a polygenetic inherited disease, Phil Skoog acts like he knows better, and refuses to acknowledge that he knowingly imports pus of lesser quality and health. He claims to be a "breeder of distinction", but he refuses to stand by the product he sells.  

Now, we have a 2 yr old dog who can run, can't play with the kids, and is painful to watch him like this every day.  

If you type "von waldberg reviews" and "von waldberg complaints" you will see many complaints against them.  One of the unlucky customers was given a dog with an overbite, and they didn't even disclose it to him until after the sale.  When he talked to the daughter, Kim, she told him that the pup will outgrow it--what a complete garbage--how do you outgrow a genetic disease or a congenital defect?  They will say anything to get you off their back.  Now the pup has a lifetime of serious dental problems, but at Von Waldberg they don't care.  Whether it is hip or elbow dysplasia, or other serious diseases, they won't do anything about it.  What about the woman who bought a pup that was guaranteed to be healthy and of good quality-A quality KK1a (highly preferred-no faults) puppy. The puppy she got is missing a toe, has umbilical hernia, and has bad hips and elbows.  What about the puppy they knew was sick, but sold him anyway to a customer, saying that it couldn’t walk properly because she is the runt of the litter, and doesn’t get to eat as much, but when she goes to a home, she will get better.  That puppy was shortly after diagnosed with bone cancer, and Skoog and daughter refused the test findings.  There are countless more examples. Look at the complaints at the BBB, but don't look at the BBB rating.  It doesn't reflect the truth.

Phil Skoog and his daughter Kim Brown say that they tried to work very hard to resolve the issue.  However, the fact is that they haven't offered to resolve anything. I sued them in court in October 2015. Unfortunately, Phil Skoog and Kimberly Brown got away with murder--so did O.J. Simpson.  Because of the many lies Skoog and daughter threw at the judge, the judge didn’t realize the importance of the advertised lineage, vs. the lineage in reality. Also, because their assurance of guaranteeing against elbow dysplasia wasn't in writing, and at the court hearing they backed out of what they had assured and promised, the judge stuck with what was in the contract.

Also, they tried to scare me into not leaving a bad review, because they would sue me for defamation of character.  I told them, that when it is true and factual, it isn’t a defamation.  When I served them with court papers for the suit, they counter-sued me for defamation of character and loss of income.  The judge dismissed the case.  The judge confirmed that it is my constitutional right to speak my opinion.  If they choose to run a business based on lies and deceit, then these are the consequences.  Don’t let them bully you and scare you into not sharing your painful experience with Von Waldberg.  They claim that the Attorney General's office and the BBB closed the complaints right away...the truth is that their job is to mediate...they don't rule for or against.  For Von Waldberg to claim that it was ruled in their favor is another bold lie.

If you happen to decide to risk your thousands of dollars with Phil Skoog and Kimberly Brown, read the Contract and the Guarantee, and rest assured that they will not honor anything above and beyond it.  As a matter of fact you may be certain that what they advertised that you will get will not be so.  I went in person to their kennel to get my pup, and it still wasn’t enough to protect me against their false advertising.  If you have your pup shipped to you, you are even at a bigger disadvantage. They will promise you whatever you want to hear to close the sale, but be certain they won't honor it when the time comes for them to stand by their word.

Don't get your heart broken with these dishonest people.  They just want your money.

IF YOU WANT TO CONTACT ME, MESSAGE ME OR FRIEND ME ON FACEBOOK.  LOOK ME UP UNDER DESSI A. IN VANCOVER, WA.

ATTENTION!!! READ BEFORE YOU BUY.
I felt that Phil Skoog and daughter Kimberly Brown are part-time breeders and a full-time salesmen for other breeders' puppies. They don't care about the puppies, only are interested in making a sale. They promised me they would replace the puppy if it gets elbow or hip dysplasia.
Bought a puppy at 3 months of age, for a premium price of 4,000 plus tax. Puppy was advertised to be of superior lineage. At 6 months of age puppy was diagnosed with elbow dysplasia. Initially, he started limping so badly, I had him x-rayed, and the diagnosis came up. Contacted Phil Skoog, the owner, and he said that it wasn't a definitive diagnosis, it was just a bunch of garbage, that my vet is young and inexperience, that they just want my money, and advised me not to spend my money on more x-rays as suggested by the vets. I made the mistake to believe him.
One year later, the limping never went away, dog had better and worse days, but always had a limp. I decided to spend the money and have him extensively x-rayed, and the diagnosis came the same...severe elbow dysplasia. To this, Phil Skoog said that it isn't a genetic disease, but was caused by improper diet and trauma.
Even though the vet surgeon specifically indicated in the diagnosis that this is a polygenetic inherited disease, Phil Skoog acts like he knows better, and refuses to acknowledge that he has no idea what puppies are being sent to him from Germany. He claims to be a "breeder of distinction", but he refuses to stand by the product he sells.
Now, we have a 20month old dog who can run, can't play with the kids, and is painful to watch him like this every day.
If you type "von waldberg reviews" and "von waldberg complaints" you will see many complaints against them. One of the unlucky customers was given a dog with an overbite, and they didn't even disclose it to him until after the sale. When he talked to the daughter, Kim, she told him that the pup will outgrow it--what a complete garbage--how do you outgrow a genetic disease or a congenital defect? They will say anything to get you off their back. Now the pup has a lifetime of serious dental problems, but at Von Waldberg they don't care. Whether it is hip or elbow dysplasia, or other serious diseases, they won't do anything about it. Look at the complaints at the BBB, but don't look at the BBB rating. It doesn't reflect the truth.
Phil Skoog and his daughter Kim Brown say that they tried to work very hard to resolve the issue. However, the fact is that they haven't offered to resolve anything--in fact they keep running around the bush, claiming that I contributed to the dysplasia through bad diet and trauma to the puppy. They claim that the Attorney General's office and the BBB closed the complaints right away...the truth is that their job is to hear out both sides...they don't rule for or against. For Von Waldberg to claim that it was ruled in their favor is another bold lie. I sued them in court in October 2015. Unfortunately, Phil Skoog and Kimberly Brown got away with murder--so did O.J. Simpson. What happened is that when I bought the pup, the contract said that they would guarantee against hip dysplasia, it didn't mention an elbow dysplasia guarantee. So, I specifically asked whether they would guarantee against elbow dysplasia. I was ASSURED that they would, that they stand behind the dogs they sell, that they guarantee against any genetic disease. Well, it wasn't in writing, and at the court hearing they backed out of what they had assured and promised, and the judge stuck with what was in the contract. If you happen to decide to risk your thousands of dollars with Phil Skoog and Kimberly Brown, read the Contract and the Guarantee, and rest assured that they will not honor anything above and beyond it. They will promise you whatever you want to hear to close the sale, but be certain they won't honor it when the time comes for them to stand by their word.
Don't get your heart broken with these dishonest people. They just want your money.  If you need to contact me, look me up on Facebook under Dessi A. in Vancouver, WA and message me.

Hello JoAnn,

Please, contact me with your experience.  I can still provide a verbal delivery of what happened to you.  

Regards,

Dessi A.

Hello JoAnn, 

I need to get your report by October 10th, in order to send it out on time for the court proceedings.  If I get it later, it may not be allowed as evidence in court.  Please, contact me asap.  We can do this.

Regards,

Please, ask to be a "friend" on Facebook.  Search for Dessi in Vancouver, WA

Would like to contact you about your problem and lawsuits. We have a similar problem. Two would be more convincing and the truth will come out.