I too had a tragic experience with Heidelberg Kennels. I purchased my beloved puppy from them because they "put on a good show, the grounds are beautiful, and quite frankly, I wanted a dog so bad, that I had "blinders" on to the obvious red warning flags. I had lost a previous german shepherd that had been in my family for years and was finally ready to get another one.
"First red flag".. The day I picked up my dog, I noticed that he was quite skinny and emaciated looking. I was told by the owner, Gene Thompson, that he was fine and was just growing and "lanky". He then proceeded to sell me on his "special food" "special diet" and supplements.
"Second red flag"... While I was there, filling out the paperwork for my dog, a previous customer came in stating that her newly purchased puppy had died with no obvious cause to the vet.
Mr. Thompson proceeded to asked her if she fed the dog the "special dog food". When the customer said no, he then told her that the dog died because she did not follow his feeding instructions and that, according to her contract, she would receive no refund or replacement. The woman was quite obviously distraught but Mr. Thompson would not budge.
"Third red flag"... I also put blinders on to the fact that there were dozens and dozens, and DOZENS, of dogs and puppies on the property. Exactly HOW OFTEN is this man breeding these animals?
When I brought my puppy home, he had constant diarrhea. I called Gene Thompson to inquire about him and again voiced my concern about his emaciated appearance and the diarrhea. He told me, once again, that the puppy was fine. He also was rather condescending and acted as if I talking to me was such a waste of his time.
Although my dog did eventually gain weight, (I took him off of the "special diet") and put him on Canidae, and the diarrhea stopped after I wormed him; he still never looked as healthy as any other German Shepherds I have ever dealt with.
He died at a very young age of some mysterious neurological disorder. He began "goose stepping" in his gait, progressed to total inability to walk within 24 hrs and then exhibited seizures and breathing difficulty. He was dead within 36 hrs. The vets were perplexed and all of his toxin screens were negative.
I can't believe I was such an idiot in purchasing from this place, when I KNEW better. I let myself be "shmooozed" by the appearance of the place.
Please don't let your emotions get in the way when getting a puppy, and be SURE to do your homework. Heidelberg Kennels are beautiful and impressive but as the saying goes, "you can put lipstick on a pig, but bottom line, it is still a pig". Buyer beware!!!
Phyllis
Fort Worth, Texas
U.S.A.
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