VERY IMPORTANT CROSS POST FROM THE DOODLE ZOO

CONSUMERS BEWARE

These people/kennels listed here below are proud to display the ALFA logo despite the fact that it was founded by Bev Manners of Rutland Manor, who is the creator of ALFA. These kennel owners supposedly adhere to the Code of Ethics that Bev has stipulated, yet she herself does not follow.

Had this been eight years ago or so, I could see how breeders would want to join. In those years Rutland Manor Labradoodles were first being exported to an admiring public. Back then the rumblings of discontent were just beginning. Today those cries of disgust and deceit about RM and Bev’s breeding and business practices have become a deafening roar. In this day and age of internet research there is no excuse to claim ignorance about the abuses that have gone on at RM from day one: the breeding stock coming from Puppy Mills, the cruelty forced on the dogs who were unlucky enough to become breeders, the terrible deaths many of them suffered at the hands of those who followed the directions of its owner, the unbearable conditions many have had to live in at RM and then later, dumped back at another puppy mill to continue on in their life of misery even though Bev announced to all that would ask about their whereabouts that they had been rehomed to a loving family, and of course, the duped owners and breeders who received their pups and stock with made-up Pedigrees and continuing health worries.

Many of these ALFA breeders say that they know what has been going on at Rutland Manor all these years. Despite this admission they justify their ALFA Membership by saying that they have very limited interaction with Bev Manners so it is OK for them to belong to this organization even though Bev is still so closely associated with it and continues to run her kennel the way she always has. Do they not understand that being an ALFA member actually is hurting their reputation publically amongst owners as well as other breeders? AS A CONSUMER I WOULD NEVER BUY FROM SOMEONE WHO ASSOCIATES THEMSELVES WITH BEV MANNERS IN THIS DAY AND AGE and I know many other consumers who feel the same way.

These ALFA Members are no better than Bev Manners in my estimation. Instead of looking for a mentor or group of like minded honest breeders (those who have done years of extensive testing on their RM stock above and beyond just the basics, those who have culled lines when they have found a problem, those who have excellent Health Warranties for things like Addisons and HD, those who don’t have long lists of customers with legitimate complaints against them the way Bev Manners has) who have the same vision as they do for the Australian Labradoodles future, they have turned a blind eye and have joined ALFA, a group that associates itself with someone who continues to be shrouded in deceit and controversy. And as an owner of two RM dogs who is asked all the time where I recommend purchasing an Australian Labradoodle, I will continue to tell people to stay away from Rutland Manor AND any ALFA Member Kennel.

I implore anyone who is considering purchasing an Australian Labradoodle to stay away from

the list of following breeders. They are aligning themselves with Beverely Manners of Rutland Manor.

She is a well know puppy miller. There is documented proof and untold stories listed on

http://stoprutlandmanor.wordpress.com/

Beverley Manners is a mastermind at luring in the unsuspecting consumer. She has now taken yet

another approach to market her failing business due to the countless hours of concerned individuals

who will never give up until Beverley Manners does what is right... RETIRE from Puppy Milling.

Listed below is ALFA's Executive Board Members. One has to question their morals, values and ethics.

Registrar
Jill Crenshaw

Assistant Registrar
Helen Lawrance

Social Club Co-ordinator
Esther Hatch

Therapy & Service Dogs Promotions Officer
Christine Jordan

Newsletter Editor
Ted Powell

Activities Co-ordinator,Tech Advisor, Graphics Design and Multi Media
Laura Powell

Breed Avisory, Classifier and Website
Beverley Manners

Public Relations
Rick Doyle

Hi Point Co-ordinator,
Companion Dog Competitions
Jane Richards

Luke Erb
Arrowhead Australian Labradoodles
Listowel, Ontario, Canada http://www.minilabradoodle.biz/SCMLabradoodleAboutUs.html

Sandra Walker and Tasha Potter
Coastal Maine Australian Labradoodles
Arundel, Maine, USA http://www.australianlabradoodlesofcoastalmaine.com/

Elizabeth Ferris
Country Australian Labradoodles
Paso Robles, California, USA http://www.australian-labradoodle.com/Contact%20Us.htm

Grace George
Green Gables Australian Labradoodles
South Carolina, USA http://www.greengableslabradoodles.com/

Nick and Samantha La Barrie
Highlands Australian Labradoodles
Colorado, USA https://highlandsaustralianlabradoodles.com/Home_Page.html

Christine Jordan
Maine Light Australian Labradoodles
Maine, USA http://www.mainelightlabradoodles.com/

Kari Morgan
Sequoia Haven Australian Labradoodles
California, USA http://www.theaustralianlabradoodles.com/

Cynthia Williams
Talaki Ridge Australian Labradoodles
Santa Maria, California, USA http://www.talakiridgelabradoodles.com/

Wayne Kartzinel
Tortoise Island Australian Labradoodles
Florida, USA http://www.tortoiseislandlabradoodles.com/

Jill Crenshaw
Unkety Brook Australian Labradoodles
Massachusetts, USA http://www.unketybrook.com/

Michelle and Jamie Walker-Thomas
Waltzing Matildas Australian Labradoodles
Hanover, MD USA http://www.waltzingdoodles.com/About%20Us.html

Hilary Hammer (PENDING)
GreenwoodPark Labradoodles
Bowling Green, KY USA http://www.greenwoodparklabradoodles.com

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by shelly on July 11, 2011 at 8:52pm

WOW! Ya' know, just yesterday I saw that someone was getting a puppy of either the male or female that they posted was a son/daughter of ______ of Rutland Manor. I KNEW that name sounded familiar! It seemed that the breeder was stating that as if it were a good thing, so I just ignored it and thought to myself that I must have been mistaken with the name... but guess I was right! HUH?

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Permalink Reply by Kate C Pappas on July 12, 2011 at 4:01pm

Hi Shelly: I hope that their puppy is the puppy of their dreams and will be one of the lucky ones that go through their lives without the issues of so many who aren't so fortunate. If you will, go look at the Rutland Manor Exposed website and understand while there are many people posting there who are downright angry, they have every right to be. All in all, the information is FACT.

http://stoprutlandmanor.wordpress.com/

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Permalink Reply by Lorraine Bromley on July 12, 2011 at 12:01pm

This is interesting. I also clicked on Luke Erb's site and there is also a link to another breeders site but it too is owned by Luke Erb and another link sent me to another Erb that was breeding golden doodles. This takes a brain surgeon to figure out who has an actual Australian from Bev's lines and what that actually means today in choosing that dog or its offspring.

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Permalink Reply by gkce5pjesxm9 on July 12, 2011 at 12:26pm

Yet, according to the ALFA guidelines approved by Bev of Rutland Manor, he IS breeding the true Authentic Australian Labradoodle. Really? It is a far cry from the early days when Miss Manners stated: 'You will NEVER be able to duplicate my Labradoodles, it is a 'secret recipe'. Ya, right - it boiled down to which dog was in a shelter or newspaper up for adoption that sorta, kinda, had the look that could be added to the 'recipe' to produce un-pedigreed, un-tested mates for her studs locked up in a cage at home to be THEN labeled an Authentic Australian Labradoodle. What a perverted hoot!!!!

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Permalink Reply by Kate C Pappas on July 12, 2011 at 4:08pm

You're spot on there again Joyce. Some of RM's favorite shopping for puppies places are Valley View, Acacia Puppies, The Trading Post and a host of others. If it looks like a Labradoodle, buy it, fake out a pedigree and call it an 'Authentic Australian Rutland Manor Labradoodle", breed the bitches back to back for years because every puppy brings in over $2000.00.

Then shave the bitch down, give her a different name and breed her the instant she's back in season. Down time and rest for a bitch is a loss of money for RM.

And don't forget the puppies advertised in The Trading Post as Labradoodles. Are they puppies that RM couldn't sell? One can't help but wonder.

Another good read is Farms of Shame. Make sure you have a strong stomach. But hiding our heads doesn't help the dogs. And it's all about the dogs. http://farmsofshame.wordpress.com/

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Permalink Reply by AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner on July 12, 2011 at 6:28pm

It is interesting that this keeps getting brought up. I agree this discussion is important. Please read a discussion I started about a year ago:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/i-never-understood-why-all...

It does give some important background.

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Permalink Reply by Stacy Houston on November 24, 2011 at 8:21am

Kate: I am cross-posting what I just posted on the original post (if you get my drift). I just googled my name and found all these posts so let me jump in here on my own behalf.

When I joined ALFA, Jill Crenshaw was already the registrar and she and I have been friends since she started breeding. My Sophie and her Siggy are sisters and we share in common a deep adoration and affection for our girls. I would have rather remained a member of the ALAA but here is a little known fact: any descendents of Beverley’s Irish Soft Coated Wheaten infused lines cannot be registered with either the ALAA or with ALCA, the two labradoodle registries here in the states. (It was not an approved infusion and has thereby disqualified them.) Bev sold me a nice girl from these lines but failed to inform me that she and her puppies would not qualify for registration in the organization of which I was a Gold Paw member at the time. I can’t even tell you how crushed I was when I tried to register her with the ALAA and was denied for something that I should have been told about before I spent many thousands of dollars for her and had her shipped overseas.

I haven’t checked all of the breeder’s sites that are members of ALFA but my guess is that the vast majority of them have these lines and no other place to register them than with ALFA. Personally, I think it is nice reassurance for clients when breeders belong to an organization and the only reason I was a member of ALFA was to have a place to turn in my dogs’ testing results and register them, not AT ALL because I wish to associate myself with Beverley or Rutland Manor. In fact, I wouldn’t have pursued it if Jill were not the registrar.

I struggled with my irritation over this situation for a long time (buying an un-registerable dog). We finally just decided to retire our wheaten lines once and for all. Not because I think these lines are worse than any others (in fact, my most beautiful puppies have been from these lines) but rather it’s been a hurdle in working with other breeders and explaining this all to customers over the years has been awkward.

I was able to join ALCA and will hopefully be in a position to join the ALAA again in the near future. I twice asked that my information be withdrawn from ALFA, that I was retiring my wheaten lines and no longer wished to be a member there. I am still showing as a member on the site but have cut my ties since I no longer have a reason to be a member there (no more wheaten infused lines) and can join the American clubs.

Let me address Ann’s statement that “In this day and age of internet research there is no excuse to claim ignorance about the abuses that have gone on at RM from day one”. I purchased my breeding dogs from Beverley back in the days when Kate and Yarra and Twila from TX were singing Beverley’s praises and people seemed in love with Rutland Manor. Since then, I have been busy with raising sweet puppies and sweet little children and working and have spent precious little time on any forums (I don’t know if I’ve ever visited this doodlezoo site). It wasn’t until just a couple of months ago, when one of my puppy families brought it to my attention, that I became aware of the stoprutlandmanor site and learned that Beverley was out of business.

I am very disturbed by the information that I’ve recently read about Rutland Manor, it is sad and sickening and breaks my heart. Honestly, I find it hard to believe that “Many of these ALFA breeders say that they know what has been going on at Rutland Manor all these years.” Have you actually corresponded with any of the ALFA breeders? I had no idea these things were going on there, that the conditions were so terrible, the dogs neglected and breeding stock coming from shelters. Two of my dogs came to me from Rutland as adults and were very nicely groomed, healthy and trained. And all three of my Rutland girls have good health testing results. So, I’ve never had a reason to think anything was awry as far as the dogs were concerned (though I've certainly questioned Bev's character when dealing with people). After viewing the pictures, I can hardly take it. My sweet, lovely girls lived there. I’m so glad they are safe and sound here with me.

Anyway, my point is this: It seems rather unjust to post such vitriolic and defamatory words about others when you have been just as duped yourselves at some point. One of the ladies who is reposting this (Kate) is the very one whose glorifications of RM persuaded me to do business with Beverley in the very beginning. Karen admits to being so duped that she bred a dog with cataracts. I am open to change directions based on new-to-me information and learn from my mistakes as I am sure many of the other ALFA breeders are. It would have been nice to have your concerns sent to me privately to start with. Rather, I get to see my name smeared all over the chat boards months after the fact without an opportunity to respond until now. I have done all the things you mention and that a reputable breeder wants to do:
1.    Nearly every health test available has been done on our breeding dogs
2.    Potential breeders that had poor health testing results or just didn’t turn out looking as nice as I’d hoped have been desexed and placed in pet homes. I’ve tested out a number of dogs, not all from my own program but from other reputable breeders too, that didn’t make the cut.
3.    I have an excellent health warranty.
4.    Puppies are raised in my home (I’m just a small, in-home breeder)
5.    Some of my breeding dogs live in guardian homes so that they can be a part of a forever family from puppyhood.
6.    I have worked with other breeders and mentors.

My sin was joining an organization that is associated with Beverley, and I have rectified that.

One fact remains, that is breeders with the wheaten lines have only ALFA to go to for registration and submission of health results. If you really want to close the book on Rutland Manor, you should petition the American registries to accept, in some form or fashion, the wheaten lines that are out there already. Then breeders would have another option and ALFA would most certainly be ended.

Stacy Houston
Ivy Hill Labradoodles