Shelley Ruffino, .a2zratterriers.com BUYER BEWARE Internet, Internet

My experience with this "breeder" has been terribly draining and time consuming. I inquired about a particular puppy from Moon(male) and Sadie(female) putting down a $75.00 deposit for the first pick of the litter.

Due date was 7/25/10. The week of 7/25/10 came and went with no puppies, I emailed Shelley on 4 separate occasions, asking whether or not Sadie gave birth yet. I was finally informed weeks later that Sadie had a very rare condition which would delay the birth date and if they were not born soon they would instead be due 6 weeks later--labeling this condition a "double heat" cycle. I searched online and asked other vets of this rare condition and every resource I spoke with said this sounded concerning and that she doesn't really understand dog reproduction.

The puppies were finally born over 8 weeks from the initial due date on 9/22/10. After visiting her website I learned that the litter was fathered by a new stud, puppies were labeled as Grant/Sadie's litter, and not Moon's. I contacted Shelley in regards to this issue to which she responded: "She (Sadie) was bred twice. I am not explaining that on the website, too hard for people to understand. Some of the pups the big ones are Moons and the little ones are Grants. That is why it took so long is because the little ones had to grow up. I am sorry if you don't understand the way it works but that is what happened." She also stated that she bred Grant to Sadie because she wanted to "make sure it took".

Those important developments were not brought to my attention until after the puppies were born.

I was informed by another highly qualified breeder that: "It is highly unethical to purposely breed a b***h to 2 different studs, and if a dual sired litter does result, it is not possible to tell which puppies belong to which sire by size alone. DNA testing of both studs and all the puppies is the only way to know for sure."

I gave Shelley a $75.00 deposit almost a year ago, and she has yet to refund it back to me. She is relentless with excuse after excuse. The following is samples of those excuses:

1st excuse: '"no problem , I will give your deposit back. You are gonna have to wait a few days we are traveling. We are moving to Florida."

2nd excuse: I really do not have it now. My husband is finally returning to work this week and on his first check you will get your money back. I promise!! I hope you are doing alright and you have a Merry Christmas!! I will send your money via money Gram through Walmart ok.. What name is on your license? I will email you with the refrence # for you to pick it up.. sorry it has taken so long. But, relocating twice has been very exspensive...Thank you for your patience!!

3rd excuse: HI, no excuses but lost your email. I will send u 100$ on the 26th. That way u will have some interest also.

Of course Oct. 26th 2011 came and went with no payment. The last response from her was: "I will put the money on my walmart card in the am and we will finally be squared away." Payment was never received and now she is no longer responding to my emails.

Shelley was given more then enough of my time, sympathy, and patience. I have finally reached the end of my rope, which why it has unfortunately come to writing this report. I hope that this will prevent other potential buyers to not make the same mistakes I made. Please save yourself the headaches and heartaches, and do plenty of research before purchasing.