I, too, have an interesting story about this Good Dog Rescue. I began 3 weeks ago subscribing to a site called adoptapet.com, which sent me alerts of dogs within my requirements available for adoption.'Mandy' popped up this week, a beautiful Golden Retriever pup, many pictures and videos of 'Mandy'. And Mandy's 'story' IS identical to all the ones Jim listed (I only know that after finding THIS site). I immediately filed out the application, not having much hope, afterall it DID seem too good to be true.
One of the questions on the app was would I be enrolling my dog in obedience training, to which I answered 'no'. I've had two Goldens, I've never had any behavior problems. I would not expect them this time either.
To my amazement, Mike McHann called me later that day. He said he review my application, told me a little about the process. Told me I was to call the 'foster mom' keeping 'Mandy'. He gave me the name Margo Syndor and number 901 413-3896. So I called her, we had a lovely conversation. After the fact, I found out Margo Syndor is actually Margo McHann, Mike's wife, and employee of Peterson Transport Company.
Later, Mike called me to verify I wanted to adopt 'Mandy', that he had to submit my app to 'the board'. He DID call my references. Of COURSE I wanted the dog. I DID try to find info on them, feverishly googling different combinations of words. But seemed pretty up and up to me. So Mike sent me a contract to sign. Thing is, on the contract #12 states 'Adopter agrees that puppies younger that 1 year will be enrolled in Obedience Training within 30 days of adoption'. Since I had already said on the app, I would not be doing this, I sent Mike an email, asking where do we go from here? Of course I want 'Mandy', but I can't sign this contract because I would be lying. And #13 goes on to say how if I breached the contract, my dog could be taken away, I could be sued, I would be agreeing to pay Good Dog's legal and court fees, etc, in very legally formal language.
I am a smart girl and it makes me uncomfortable to deliberately breach a contract. I asked if he could send me another contract without #12, or if he could write and sign something acknowedging the situation that I would sign too. Mike got very irrate, said I was being 'nit picky', all his OTHER adoptees signed it even though they had no attention of enrolling in Obedience Training. I asked why I would even be called, investigated, and APPROVED BY 'THE BOARD' if on the original application I should've been disqualified by my answer to that one question.
By this time he was yelling at me, DO YOU WANT THIS DOG OR NOT?!! I said again, yes I want the dog, and he yelled THEN YOU NEED TO SIGN THE CONTRACT AS IT IS. I said, wow, I'm very sorry, I cannot deliberately lie in a contract.
This was yesterday. I have been looking and looking for anything at all on them. I feel a legit organization would not request it's approved adopters to do this. I have found a few interesting things, but am unable to piece it all together.
I believe they DO actually successfully match rescues with owners to a large degree. But they have some extremely unethical practices.
I plan to put a call in this week to someone I know who is an investigative reporter for our local news channel. I am hoping she will be able to dig a little further then I have.
If I HAD signed the contract, and PayPalled my $1150, I THINK I would have been given a Golden Retriever puppy. It's unlikely it would've been the puppy whose picture and video and 'story' were under the title Mandy.
I have tried to call both Mike and Margo, they have not answered or returned my messages. I'm just at a complete loss at what to do next.
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