Another family deceived by Heritage Specialty Dogs

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

This makes Family # 11 that we know of so far and only 1 client who has spoke publically FOR Mary R Walker and Heritage Specialty Dogs.
Here is an article that is very familiar to all the families who have been deceived by HSD:
It is why families are being encouraged to file with the NC Attorney General, the BBB, and the Dept. of Agriculture.

This is not the puppy mill in Pa. This is another "training" facility for Service dogs in Missouri. Sorry for the confusion.

2008

Nixon lawsuit against St. Elizabeth dog trainer alleges that diabetic alert service dogs were not properly trained
Jefferson City, Mo. - Attorney General Jay Nixon is suing a Miller County business and its owner who took thousands of dollars in payment from consumers to train service dogs, many of which did not perform the service for which they were trained. Nixon says Heaven Scent Paws of St. Elizabeth, and its owner Michelle Reinkemeyer, failed to refund those consumers' payments. The lawsuit filed Monday in Cole County Circuit Court seeks an injunction, consumer restitution, penalties and court costs.

According to Nixon, Heaven Scent Paws (HSP) advertises and offers a three-week training program in Cole County for diabetics to obtain diabetic alert service dogs. Acceptance into the defendants' training program was conditional on the participant raising a minimum of $6,000, which was to be turned over to HSP before the start of the three-week program. Once the $6,000 payment was made, HSP required participants to sign a contract which governs the terms of their participation in the program.

Nixon's office received numerous complaints from consumers, alleging that HSP:

Misrepresented that their trained dogs could alert diabetics for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), when some HSP-trained dogs could not;
Misrepresented that HSP-trained dogs are service dogs, when some of those dogs lack the temperament to act as service dogs;
Required participants to sign contracts (after paying $6,000) which permits HSP to dismiss them from the program at any time for reasons that are vague and subject to unilateral interpretation by HSP, providing no recourse for the dismissed participant to challenge their dismissal or recover their money;
Required participants to sign contracts that permit HSP to remove a dog from possession of the participant at any time at HSP's discretion, with no recourse for the participant to challenge the removal of the dog or recover the money donated to HSP;
Required participants to sign contracts which provide that HSP retains ownership of the dogs provided to participants, even after completion of the program, but absolves HSP of any liability for the dogs, which they selected and trained, once the dogs go home with the participants; and
Falsely claiming to participants who complete the training that they have completed the course of training and testing as set forth by the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners (IAADP), when the IAADP does not have a program for diabetic alert dogs, its standards are not meant to certify assistance dog teams, and that the IAADP has demanded that HSP remove any mention of the organization from its graduation certificates.
Nixon's lawsuit is seeking an injunction to stop the defendants from violating state consumer protection laws. The Attorney General is also requesting that the court order HSP to pay full restitution to all participants who suffered financial loss due to the defendants' unlawful conduct, appropriate civil penalties and all costs in the investigation and prosecution of the case.

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

One of the best things this medium of the Internet has provided, is that fakes, liars and swindlers can be researched and found out for the frauds that they are. This kind of story used to not be easily researched and now we have it all at our fingertips. The more consumers participate in researching everything before they buy or use, maybe these people will go back under the rock they crawled out from. I for one applaud you for bringing this into the open and keeping it there.

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

Boy, do I know how you feel! Pick you battle, know you are right and don't let anyone deter you...is all any of us can do. I'm in your corner, too. If we can do anything to help, let us know.

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

Have a ? .... in this article you talk about Mary R Walker as Heritage Speciality Dogs, and the article refers to HSP as Heaven Scent Paws ( Heaven Scent Paws of St. Elizabeth, and its owner Michelle Reinkemeyer),..are they the same or different people or working together in any way? I have heard with AH they used different names, with his wife and worker who ratted him out to trick people, so just wondering if there is some kind of connection of the two if you know?

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Thanks for clarifying! Hope every state follows and actually will do something about this type of deception! To screw around with families in these situations is just unfathomable!!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I very much appreciate you and anyone else who brings to our attention the issues and people that 'threaten' the well being of our dogs and those who defraud us. You enlighten us with your knowledge and obvious passion for our Doodles.
I applaud you!!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I do so appreciate the information that you bring to doodlekisses members. Many of us can't keep up on these things and appreciate getting specifics from those who can.