I have dealt and worked with many shelters over the years, both large and small. For the most part I’ve found shelter people to be some of the most caring people out there. Which is why I was stunned by the response I got from Victoria Patterson of NJ Collie Rescue & Referral.
I saw a post on Petfinder awhile back for a cute Golden puppy named Lacy. Rather than explain what happened, I will just copy and paste the e-mail conversation here.
Me: Can I please have an application for Lacy?
Also, do you know how old she was when she was removed from her mother & litter?
Do you keep applications on file for potential incoming dogs?
Many thanks,
Sarah
Vicki: are you kidding me. . .we are a RESCUE. . .not the breeder
Me:I understand that. However, I have worked with many well-known and capable rescues that may know quite a bit about a dog’s back story. As a trainer, I might be concerned about adopting an 8 week old puppy that is going to be 60-80 lbs and have no social skills or bite inhibition because it never spent time with its litter.
But thank you for your help.
Vicki: true but if that is important to you you should go to a breeder or one of your capable rescue groups
It’s true that it’s very possible she would not have had the information I was asking for, however I would have accepted something like, “I don’t know… here’s an application” as an answer. Unfortunately, she was terribly rude.
I thought I would just post this story as a warning for people who might consider dealing with Victoria Patterson. But this is where the story gets crazy!
In researching Victoria a little bit, I found a blog entry that exposes her as a puppy broker! She buys puppies from puppy mills and then posts them as “rescued” and collects a fee. She has since been banned by Petfinder. However, apparently she is now operating under the name “Purebred Puppy Rescue” (check out her website… $495 for a rescue is ridiculous).
There’s also an update (complete with Vicki’s contact info) on another blog:
Well folks, with everyone’s wonderful efforts, we got scammer and NJ puppy broker, Vicki Patterson who went under NJ Collie Rescue and Referral, off Petfinder but she’s back at it. That’s right, she now…
Update on NJ Puppy Broker – Vicki Patterson – http://petloverstips.com/ForTheLoveoftheDog
Has anyone ever heard of something so outrageous? I thought she was just rude, but it turns out she’s actually completely unethical!!! Beware of Victoria Patterson!
Thank you for the info. Some folks are researching to see if anything can be done to stop her. She apparently covers her tracks well.
Woah. Red flags from the first line. Like you were asking some absurd question. She obvious preys upon people who don’t know any better. What a rotten experience.
I WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO ALSO BE AWARE OF HER DEALINGS WITH HORSES. THIS ” LADY ” STATED SHE WOULD TAKE CARE OF OUR BELOVED SHOW HORSE…HE WOULD HAVE THE BEST HOME EVER !! ETC… 3 DAYS LATER SHE HARASSED ME AND MY 13 YEAR OLD DTR. FOR HER MONEY BACK OR HE WOULD GO FOR SLAUGHTER. HER EMAILS WERE BEYOND ABSURD.THROUGH THE HELP OF SOME ABSOLUTE WONDERFUL PEOPLE IN THE AREA, I WAS ABLE TO FIND OUR SWEET SKIPPY SOLD AT AN AUCTION FOR SLAUGHTER !!! THIS WAS A NIGHTMERE. HIS PREVIOS OWNERS FROM CLEVELAND AND ANOTHER HORSE LOVER MADE THE 585 MILE JOURNEY AND WE GOT HIM BACK !!! HE WILL BE WITH US FOREVER. AS FOR VICKI PATTERSON…I HOPE THIS PREVENTS ANYONE ELSE FROM GETTING INVOLVED WITH HER . I WILL PRAY FOR THOUGH …SHE IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY SICK WOMEN.
LISA R IN PA.
i once worked for this women for a week or so. she claimed to me that theses horse that she had at her house were just sale horses that she had got cheap or had rescued for certain reasons. but instead of wanting to care for these horses she just wanted the money for them. please be careful around this lady she is crul mean and just wants everyones money.
I had the unfortunate pleasure of dealing with this monster of a woman. We purchase a young puppy from her recently. She hands us the puppy the minute we arrive, disappears into her house for 30-45 minutes allowing you time to fall in love with the pup, then comes back saying she can’t find the papers. Although it went against evry gut instinct I had, I could not leave the little guy with her. he has ben sick with numerous illnesses ever since. Rest assured I will not take this sitting down though and will talk to the proper authorities
well this one lady is still up to selling puppy’s and sick too. I purchased a puppy recently for NJ.com classified section for 500.00 supposively purebreed. She has all types of pups as stated in several ads. I felt something wasn’t right just the way she presented to the sale. Just seemed like a BS artist, I just went along with her. She (the pup) was very sick the next day had to take to the vet had fluid coming from nose , kennel and upper respirtory infection, worms and INFESTED INFESTED with fleas and the fur was stained underneath from stepping in its own and others feces and urine. She smelled like a dog kennel. I contacted the authorities and am still waiting. Didn’t even waste my time calling her, did even want to look at her again. It seems like people contacted the health dept and aspca and filed complaints so why isn’t she stopped. They all know of her name. How can they let her continue to run a puppy mill pet shop from her home and I also heard that she is selling sick horses. She goes under several names and is all over. I even heard she drives and van selling. She is the biggest liar on where she gets these animals from. She told me she was in rescue but said she new the breeder of the pup and the parents she was doing them a favor..The papers she gave me I was told by a professional to throw out because they don’t mean anything..She know how to get around the system and knows the ins and outs. Makes everything look good.This is Very sad that these animals have to go through this abuse. She just took the money and walked away, no receipt.. I hope she is thrown in jail and put away for a long time and if you are reading this Vicky I will not stop till they get you and these animals are saved. You will get caught sooner or later..
I would like to see what is going on in that home because she doesn’t let you near it . She conducts business outside. A real disgrace. I look at it as I save this little princess and thank god so far she is doing well health wise and in a very loving home.
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How awful. You should get together and contact the NJ Attorney General’s office about this woman. NY State AG as well, if she’s selling to New Yorkers. We owe it to the innocent animals to put this woman away. You should also consider contacting your local media about her. The coverage publicity could save other animals from abuse and other buyers or adopters from heartbreak.