Personal Thoughts Regarding Rutland Manor

[Tanya]

Ever since I have had my ALD, I have been reading this forum. It is a wonderful place to learn and get information regarding my sweet little guy who is 14 months old. I don't think that any of us wouldn't say that we just love the doodles as well as anybody else that knows or meets them.

I have been reading and staying up on the whole Rutland Manor situation. My guy is from a US breeder who I have respect for and who has always been helpful and is always interested in how her pups are doing. But here is the thing... Augie is directly related to RM Shasta/Grandmother (Shasta's first EARLY litter) and his Mother was bred at RM and sent to the states.

I have been keeping an open mind regarding everything I have been reading - all over - involving Rutland Manor. But I have been also pondering many things in my own mind. Not all these organizations, Baw Baw, neighbors, breeders that have spoken out, a university,and so on and so on,. are in a massive conspiracy out to get Beverly Manners. I feel very much that they want/need to see these unbelievable sweet ALDs rescued from these conditions of which they are living in.

I have read numerous times that people are asking for more 'proof' from these organizations. It seems clear to me that there is an ongoing investigation and they might be under advice or orders to not post all the evidence that they have in their possession RIGHT NOW. Here in the US, whether it is police, sheriff, FBI, IRS or any other departments that have investigations, they do NOT play 'all their cards' until they get their entire case together. I am wondering if this might be the case in Australia too.

In all civilized countries, children and animals are protected. They are the 'innocents' that can't protect themselves. If there is a united ongoing investigation, I am sure that these people and organizations are hopefully or SHOULD be all working together to protect these dogs. I am under the belief, after reading everything I find with a completely open mind, that many people would love to get up on the highest steeple, with the largest megaphone, and yell out all they know right now. I don't believe they can YET!

My greatest worry is regarding my totally loyal and loving Augie. There is nothing that I wouldn't do to protect him in the past, present, and future. But right now, I have NO TRUST, whatsoever, of Rutland Manor's part of the pedigree and health testing of his close relatives. I am very concerned about what might appear in future years and the heartbreak that may come. This is a new breed. I am worried.

But I love these dogs. And I wouldn't hesitate to get another one. But I feel that we all have to hold our breaths concerning any pedigree that is from Rutland Manor or the late Teagan Park for potential health problems in the future. And my hope is that all OTHER breeders of these dogs, with this BEAUTIFUL temperament, keep breeding them all over the world so other families will have the same joy that I have with my guy.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I did see some documents from a vet and others on a web site but I don't know that they were genuine, although I have no reason to believe they were not. It seems to me that there is probably some truth on both side of this issue. I don't know that everything will ever be resolved. I for one am glad that I was able to get my wonderful ALD dogs. Certainly some great dogs were bred from TP and RM no matter what else happened. Perhaps it makes sense to look forward rather than back at this point. We should be grateful that there are now many fine breeders of these dogs in the US now.

[Lorraine Bromley]

I wish I could fly to Australia and make an unannounced vist to any and all properties she has or has had or any other properties listed as family as well. That is the only thing that could possibly help me make a decision on this matter. But it does seem apparent that I won't ever get the luxury of that or the ability to trust what others and thier possible agendas are posted as. I guess that is why I chose a breeder in my area that I could visit and research. I hope the people that have the truth can be satisfied that they have that. And until authorities wade through the evidence and make a decision we will never know. But if I get to Australia before then I'll be sure to write.

[Ryan]

Here's the thing Lorraine - Beverley would welcome you in at Rutland Manor. She's had quite a few uninterested third parties come through over the past 6 months, once all of this rubbish got kicked up. A few of them have actually stayed AT Rutland Manor.

Beverley doesn't have anything to hide and it's so shameful to see people buy into allegations posed as facts.

[Chelsea and her doodle Piper]

As a very new labradoodle owner, I had no idea about the controversy surrounding Beverly Manners until after we got our dog. I think I am saying this right when I say he is an american bred multi-gen ALD with lines tracing back to RM and TP. I felt like I did all the right research when it came to finding a good breeder (who breeds for temperament) and learning about the breed. Everything said about them is so positive. But now I am wondering if I am going to have a dog with health problems and a breed that is really just a poodle without much or any lab--and who knows what else mixed in it? I just want a wonderful family dog that is healthy as possible...and for this, we spent a fortune. If I had known RM was probably just breeding poodles and calling them labradoodles, I would have gotten a lab. So far, our puppies temperment does not resemble a labs at all (I know this is not a lab, but shouldn't it have some of the qualities?) I don't know, I guess I am confused and am feeling a bit duped by the whole labradoodle thing.

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

"wondering if I am going to have a dog with health problems and a breed that is really just a poodle without much or any lab--and who knows what else mixed in it?"

There are many breeds mixed in the ALDs including:

Cocker Spaniel
Irish Water Spaniel
Wheaten Terrier
and
Afghan Hound

to name a few.........

Angela Wetzel Cunningham, (Beverley's daughter) recently confirmed this publicly........

[Ryan]

What's the relevance of this? I owned a Brussels Griffon, which was a combination of several different types of street dogs. A Shish Tzu is a cross of a Lhasa Apso and a Pekingese. Most purebreds have their origins amongst other breeds.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Some of the breeds were brought in for other specific purposes. an example is the soft coated wheaten terrier was brought in, according to RM, to decrease the incidence of ear infections. Not all lines have all of these infusions. I know of one US breeder who has a dog with wheaten terrier but there may , of course, be others.

[Ryan]

Please read my post here: Shania has been stolen off of Rutland Manor and a gate was ripped off of it's hinges.

These people have now clearly proven that the law isn't a consideration for them, but you still think they are above filling a website with lies?

[ClarkP]

Deplorable behavior and inexcusable. The perpetrators should be caught and punished.

But... when has something being against the law stopped Beverly from doing it? (I refer to breeding without a license, debarking of dogs, underage breeding, and over-breeding of individual bitches. All these events have been confirmed. All of them were done by RM habitually. All of them are against the law in Victoria.)

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

It's also quite sad that there are no laws in place that prevent or discourage breeders and buyers alike from taking 8 week old puppies (or any age companion animal for that matter,) sticking them in a crate and shipping them in the cargo hold of an airplane for over 26 hours to any individuals (regardless of their dog experience, living conditions, commitment level, etc.) who just happen to have the $3000 + it takes to get an ALD from Australia. The size of a person's bank account seems to be the only criteria for consideration for RM ALD ownership......

I question the ethics of ANY breeder willing to subject their puppies to this prolonged stress......

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

What I would also like to know is, regardless of who is telling the truth and who is lying, what is anyone here in the States expected to do about any of this?
We have thousands of puppy mills here who are horribly abusing millions of animals and engaging in horrendous breeding practices. Those of us who are concerned about this do work to change the laws in their own areas and are involved in education and rescue locally. (Think globally, act locally- makes sense to me.)
On the other hand, thousands of people here in the U.S. are also being persecuted, unfairly treated, evicted from their property, being forced to give up their dogs, etc. and need help of one kind or another. Many of us also know people whose dogs have been stolen or who are lost.Those who are troubled by these situations also try to help in their own areas, where there is actually a possibility of having some affect on the outcome.
What would anyone on either side of this RM debate like the average American citizen to do about any of it? Aren't there any doodle forums in Australia?
Meaning no disrepect to anyone with strong feelings on either side, I just can't help wondering what the payoff is for any of those involved in bringing what appears to be essentially a war of words and public debate which has been going on for over a year into this forum. Most of us try to do good and stop wrong-doing in the dog world in whatever way we can with whatever limited time and means are at our disposal. Why is what is going on the other side of the world of such vital importance above all other priorities? There are many much more urgent situations right here in our own country. I for one am more concerned about my neighbor's missing dog, and about the millions of dogs in America who are killed by being stabbed in the heart without anesthesia in animal control shelters all over this country. Those are things I might actually be able to do something about.

[Missi]

Agreed! Can we close this discussion and let it go?