CONSUMER ALERTS

Below is a partial list of puppy dealers on whom we’ve received several complaints. Some of the pet dealers are operating as unlicensed kennels or not zoned to sell animals in their respective municipalities.  If you purchased or “adopted” a puppy from any of the following individuals and feel your consumer rights were ignored, please contact us. You may be entitled to reimbursement under the NJ Consumer Fraud Act.  

KIM DESLONDE, Kearney, d/b/a Pets for Keeps

If you've adopted a dog from Kim Deslonde and/or Pets for Keeps, please contact us or the Lyndhurst Health Dept at 201-804-2421. Deslonde is under a cease and desist order but “delivers” dogs to adopters/purchasers at public parks, parking lots, highway rest stops or pet supply stores. Complainants report  Deslonde demands cash payment (big red flag) and, worse, that they received no health records on the dogs.  Others report their dogs were diagnosed with Parvo, distemper, untreated heartworm, and required extensive vet care; some died from their illnesses. No veterianary or health records were provided to the adopters. 

JIM & BARBARA HUTTON, Flemington, d/b/a Hutton’s Precious Puppies

The Huttons were informed by Readington Township on September 3, 2008 that they were in violation of the Township’s Land Use Ordinance and ordered to stop selling dogs. The letter, obtained under the Open Public Records Act, states that “failure to comply will result in the issuance of summonses and fines of $500 per day per offense.” The Huttons admitted to one complainant that they transport puppies (bred by “a cousin in TN”) to Flemington for resale. Other buyers have come forward to say they also purchased puppies from them in 2009. Not only are the Huttons operating in defiance of a township ordinance, they refused to comply under the puppy lemon law when a puppy sold by them was certified unfit for purchase, stating on their purchase agreement that they “do not pay for veterinarian bills or reimburse for them.”

We also learned that the TN breeder (listed at the same address on Hutton’s website), was suspended for six months by the AKC in October 2006, and “imposed a $500 fine for having submitted or caused to be submitted two litter registration applications that he knew, should have known, or had a duty to know contained false certifications (a DNA exclusion) for Golden Retrievers.”

VICKI PATTERSON, Bloomsbury

Puppy broker who buys puppies from various sources for resale. Patterson previously posed as a rescue.  Read more under Broker Complaints.
 

ANN MARIE RICE, West New York, d/b/a Guardian Angels Rescue

Puppy broker who buys puppies from Pennsylvania kennels and puppy mills for resale.  For more info, see Rescue Watch

DONNA MARIE TRUEX/DUEBEN/ROBERTS, Shamong (also Indian Mills, Vincentown, Medford)

Sells/sold puppies under various names. For more info about this dealer, clickHERE

WILLIAM 'BILL' ROBERTS, Franklinville & Woodbury, Gloucester County  

This unlicensed pet dealer buys puppies exclusively from PA puppy mills and delivers them to buyers for a fee. Roberts also medicates the puppies himself (routinely inserting a pill in the puppy's mouth right before he leaves) and most likely is purchasing prescription veterinary medications from a known Ephrata, PA puppy miller who is not a veterinarian.  Roberts also tells buyers to contact him if the puppy becomes sick and says he will treat the puppy with additional medication. Not only is this activity illegal, but the medications could be expired, further subjecting puppies to medical complications. Puppy buyers are not told about the NJ puppy lemon law or given correct paperwork as required by law.

If you purchased a “cute ball of fluff” or “cute little dust mop” from Bill Roberts, and your puppy is sick, please call the NJ SPCA at 1-800-582-5979 and file a complaint.