I contacted Tonya Ramirez in July concerning my adult, breeding Shih Tzus. I have been a breeder for 30 years an had met Tonya in when she purchased her first blue female from me. We quickly became very good friends. I helped her get started in the exotic blues, with quality well bred dogs. I considered her a very good friend!
In early my husband became ill and made it impossible for me to keep all of my dogs. I wanted them to go to someone that would treat them as children, like I had. So I called Tonya and told her that I had 10 adults that I was interested in placing to the right person. We discussed the individual dogs, (age, color, litters and personalities). She agreed to come and get the dogs later that week. She stated that she would split all of the first litters with me, to pay for the adults. I told her that I wasn't looking to make a fortune off of them, just a small amount of $500.00 per adult would suit me. She left my house with 8 grown females, 3 of which had never even been bred, & 2 males. Again, she stated before she left that she felt that $500.00 each wasn't a fair price for me and that she would just split the litters with me, I agreed.
I was patient and kept waiting on Tonya to contact me about the litters she was producing and send me my share of the puppy money. It never happened! I started contacting her and at first received a nasty email stating that she was having financial problems and was tired of everyone asking her for money. I responded back simply stating that I just wanted what was due me and I thought our friendship was more than that.
She replied with she was filing bankruptcy, but that she would make sure I received my money. Well that didn't happen either. She then said that they didn't have to file for bankruptcy, but would have to start selling off her dogs, puppies and use all of her income tax refund to pay off all of her debt. Again, I tried to be patient, but started doing some digging. I found out that not only had she produced and sold puppies off the females she got from me, but had actually sold several of the adults, soon after she had gotten them from me. So, to sum it up. She took my dogs, sold what she didn't want, bred the others and sold the puppies, without sending me so much as a dime!
The last email I received from her stated, " I haven't forgotten you Rhonda, I am selling out and am going to take care of you." That was on April 14.
As of today, October 2 I have not heard another word from her or received any money. Even though I have sent several emails requesting just a small payment towards what I am owed. But nothing!
I have saved all of our emails to and from each other, I printed out her website photos of puppies she produced from my females and also her ads on puppyfind where she sold them. I have a fantastic paper trail to prove theft! I am hoping that she cares enough about her reputation, if she still has one, to own up to our agreement and pay me what I am owed. If she is willing to give me $500.00 per dog, for a total of $5000.00. Then I will not seek any further action. But, if not, then I am going for the full amount of the agreement and for the full prices of the adults she sold.
Also, let it be known that I absolutely know that if you purchase an Imperial from her, be very careful. The only Imperial girls she has, are the ones she got from me. Back when she used to put the weights of her dogs on her website, I personally know that she put a 14 lb blue and white male, that she had gotten from me and said he only weighed 8 lbs. SO BUYER BEWARE! You don't know what you are really getting, when you purchase from this woman!
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