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Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Cleveland, Ohio

Unethical Scammer!

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DoI purchased a puppy from grand river poodles December 2021 and got scammed. She sold me a puppy with grade 4 luxating patella and refused to compensate me for this genetic issue. She wont provide you any health records or even a contract because she knows that she is a scammer. She will lie and deceive you without remorse. She will go back on her word and refuse to pay and lie until the end that her dogs are perfectly healthy. Buying from her was a $3000 mistake so dont make the same one I did. If I could rate this scammer 0 stars I would. Save yourself the trouble and heartache and find an ethical breeder who actually cares for her dogs. Ive had multiple vets tell me that she should be stripped of her breeding license but thats if this lying scammer even has a valid license to begin with. Skip this unethical piece of *** and find a good breeder
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Loss:
$3000
Cons:
  • All

Preferred solution: Full refund

User's recommendation: Do not buy from this scamming ***

Anonymous
map-marker San Francisco, California

Grand River Poodle - Review in Animal Services category from San Francisco, California

This review is ridiculous almost every breeder does their own docking on tails, their own dew claws, micro chipping and worming do ur research people b4 writing such a bad review
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1 comment
Guest

As a breeder myself I have never docked a tail, my vet did it and dew claws removed by my vet. I don't do my own puppy shots.

Its to risky when this puppy is sold.

I do give my adults the yearly shots. I worm my own puppies and the vet does it at their 6 week vet check along with a very in depth exam.

Vet does exam of the

Weights

Eyes

Ears Checks bites Bellies Anal glands *** Knee's Elbows Hips Hearts Fecal check All this for say 6 small breed puppies takes at least an hour and the cost for 6 puppies $200. Its worth the money . Puppy buyers are sent close to 15 pictures of their puppy at my family vet.

If yout just getting a quick health certificate to ship your puppies that puppy isn't getting a wellness check. Your changing enough for your puppies that you can spare the extra money to do it right.

Anonymous
map-marker Virginia Beach, Virginia

Roberta Katona of Grand River Poodles in OH did not keep her word!

In Sept. 2011, I purchased a brown male toy poodle puppy from a registered"kennel, Grand River Toy Poodles in Perry OH. Unfortunately, after the puppy was in my possession, the breeder, Roberta Katona, became more forthcoming about the dog and the care it received before I purchased it. The puppy did not receive full care from a licensed veterinary office. Her exact statement in an e-mail is "I provide most treatment for the puppies, until which time they are cleared with a final visit to the Vet and transferred to the new owner." She even stated that she docked the puppy's tail herself. Anyway, the puppy was given to me with giardia and coccidiosus. My vet, in VA, diagnosed the puppy with these problems; I called Roberta and she stated that she was completely unaware of it or that the puppy's 2 siblings had it. She also told me that after she took the two siblings from the litter to a vet, they were also diagnosed with it. She was grateful that I notified her and seemed to be genuine with care. She stated that she was paying some friends to help clean her house because it was contagious and she was concerned about the remaining two puppies as well a the litter that was born in the same day that I picked up my puppy. Roberta stated that her vet missed the diagnosis and she would reimburse me for treatment. I submitted the invoices and did not receive reimbursement. I spoke with her by phone, through email, and through her website; she responded that the check was returned to her in the mail. To date, a little over a year later, I have not received the check to reimburse me for the treatment. Roberta Katona has wronged me; she failed to keep her word. BUYERS BEWARE and PLEASE READ...The following are copied from correspondence through emails, which I STILL HAVE: Sent: Saturday, November 05, 2011 9:58 PM >> To: Roberta Katona >> Subject: Re: medication >> >> Roberta, >> I'm just letting you know that I did not receive the reimbursement for the treatment of brown puppy. You offered reimbursement and requested that I send you the invoices. >> I have been thinking about something since I got back. I'm not sure if I ever asked you. Are You a licensed /registered breeder with the state of OH? On Nov 6, 2011 12:28 AM, "Roberta" wrote: >> >> Hello Marina, >> I have set the invoice aside, I apologize for the delay, I'll be sure to take care of it this week. >> How is the pup. >> Yes, our kennel is registered. >> Keep us updated on the pup! >> Thanks, >> Roberta On Nov 19, 2011 12:03 AM, "Marina ...." wrote: > > > > Marina > > (ADDRESS REMOVED) > > VA > > > > RE: brown male puppy from Grand River Poodles > > > > Roberta, > > I'm not wanting to alarm you but I must say that I've become very concerned about you and your business. > > I was very bothered that your vet. would not release my puppy's exam records to my vet. Adding to that is a lingering question as to why only 2 puppies were taken to the vet for medical clearance if there were 3 puppies in Tiramasu's and Cosmo's litter. > > After my puppy was examined and diagnosed with 2 parasites, I notified you. As you stated, this prompted you to have the remaining littermate(s) to be examined for the same. As expected, your puppies were also diagnosed with giadria. You then offered to cover the medical treatments for giadria since your vet did not "catch" the parasites. I have previously sent 2 invoices, which you have acknowledged receipt and stated you set it aside and would release a payment last week. To date, I have not received this. The invoices for the rest of the treatment will be mailed to you next week. You had renovations going on in addition the care of the litter born the same day that I was there. That's alot for one person. I hope your house is clear of this very contagious parasite. Hopefully the combination of medication you said the vet prescribed (different than what my vet gave) along with the fact that you paid friends to come over to try to sterilize your house has made your home giadria free. I hope the 20 toy poodles, the littermates, the new litter, and the day care dog are all in good health. It took more than1 round of treatment to clear the brown puppy. I even bought a sterlizing mop and cut all the fur from his hind quarter. My vet told me that I did far more than most people to help stop re-contamination. > I am now requesting payment only by cashiers check or money order for the two invoices that you have acknowledged receiving. Reimbursement for the others can be sent after you receive those. I am also requesting a copy of the male brown puppy's medical records. This should include the tail docking. > > Please forward everything to my home address, which you have on file. The address is also shown at the top of this letter. > > The delay is concerning and is making me want to further research you, your toy poodle breeding license/registration and practices. > > > > Sincerely, > > Marina ... Roberta roberta@***.com 11/19/11 to me Good Morning Marina, I received your e-mails in triplicate in a addition to the forth I am responding to. I understand your concern for you and your puppy. Thankfully, the Vet identified and cleared the puppy of a very common puppy parasite. I provide most treatment for the puppies, until which time they are cleared with a final visit to the Vet and transferred to the new owner. I own the 3rd puppy from this litter. I do not understand why this is your concern..../ ? It is very rare for a breeder to reimburse a client for parasite or normal Vet visits. Most advertise they "back and guarantee" the puppy, but collecting is another issue. I on the other hand had agreed to do so. And I will reimburse you for the original medication provided by the Vet. My home is clean, parasite free, and well managed. Thank You for your concern. Cocoa Lee who comes to us daily for socialization instead of being home alone all day while her mommy works is well also, thanks. I have your address and will send the funds when I sit down to pay the utility bills. Thanks for all of your concern, Best to you and your puppy, Roberta Roberta roberta@***.com 11/21/11 TO ME Dear Marina, Thank You for all the well wishes. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours as well. I do have "paperwork" explanation of well puppy which we keep on each and every puppy from the moment they are born and thru the care from the Vet, just before they go home. I generally retain our puppy records and the Vet records...as the well puppy care notations from the Vet as they are included with the paid bill, which I need for our tax records each year and I retain them....forever. LOL Our puppy records are retained and referred to when the Momma is pregnant for the second time so we are informed and our memory confirmed in the best interest of the Momma and litter. We weigh the puppies as soon as the Momma has detached their umbilical cord. We inspect the puppy from top to bottom head to toe upon being whelped. We weigh the puppies several times in the first 72 hours and less frequently for the following week if all is well. Similar to newborn humans, a new whelp looses weight when leaving the womb. We watch over Momma and the puppies very closely. If there is any doubt in our minds the whelp is not on schedule with growth or shows any problems, he/she is rushed to the Vet. This is the only time the pup will see the Vet until it is ready to go home. Anyone including the Vet will agree, it is far less stressful on the Momma and the pup, if they are not removed from their nest or the home...aka...going to the Vet for the dew claw removal and tail docking. Our Vet trained us many years ago to care for their initial needs. We use the same regimen as recommended by the experts. (Frankly, most poodle people will agree, the Vet's cut the tails too short) We are equipped with oxygen in the event a pup is in danger. We have saved many puppies by giving them a strong start in this manner. If need by we are able to insert fluid under the skin for the pup, to insure he/she is receiving the proper amount of fluids in the event it is not occurring naturally via nursing. The same as the Vet. Not only are we able to do it at home in the best interest of the pup, it saves us over $200. for the same procedure. He provides us the fluids and syringes. We administer the puppies baby shots and worm them with the same medications. We also place micro chips when requested. We use Home Again brand, the same as our Vet. We believe there are many air borne illnesses and risks available to our babies if attending exams at the office of the Vet, any Vet. It is best if they are not exposed until they have received at least the first injection. I hope this puts you at ease, and provides you with information you may have wondered about. In the event you have the opportunity to refer us, thanks in advance. One look at the beautiful healthy happy pup is enough for most people. Little convincing is needed. Just visit a few "kennels" and it is obvious, you made a great choice. Again Many Thanks and hugs, Roberta Marina Jan 27, 2012 to Roberta Have you sent the check? Roberta roberta@***.com Jan 28, 2012 to me Hello, The check? I sent the reimbursement to you on 11-10-2011. Is there something else you expect that I owe? How is the puppy? Thanks best Regards, Roberta Marina Feb 11, 2012 to Roberta Hello Roberta, What's the status of this check/ replacement check? I understand now that your business is not profitable, but I do not understand why you have not kept your word. I met your requests on the deposit and final transaction. So will you please return the same experience to me? Please let me know the status of the check/replacement check since I did not receive/cash the first one that you stated that you sent me. In a previous e-mail to you, I asked that the check/replacement check be sent to me by Feb. 10th. It was not in today's mail. I will gladly update you on the health and development of the brown puppy if you are interested, after the check is received and the funds are in the account. (portion deleted) I am sorry that it has reached this point. I am copying this e-mail into your website for Grand River Poodles. Additionally, my phone and address have not changed. I filled out paperwork with the same information and it has been included in previous e-mails to you. I have also documented it below, with hopes to make it easier for you. Sincerely, Marina
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3 comments
Guest

Looks like this so called breeder is being charged with assault as well. She threw a plate at a waitress in Denny's.

Guest

Nobody should be buying on line or pet stores it only fuels pet stores and *** breeders

Guest

If you gotten your reimbursement, congratulations! If you have not gotten it, be prepared to wait for a long time.

We were able to get our money back from Pay Pal approximately $1,500.00 because my husband acted very fast when we did not get everything that we paid for. After taking the puppy to the vet, and paying hundreds of dollars we thought in the end that the puppy would have been alright, NEWS UPDATE, my mom called me last week to let me know the puppy died in her sleep. We made complaints to the BBB in Ohio, Consumer Affairs, Sheriff department and the Attorney Generals office, I recommend you do the same, so they can have your claim on file.

Good word of advice to anyone that wants to buy a dog over the internet, USE PAYPAL, they protect the buyers. Hope you have a good day and hope everything works out for you.

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sweetmomboricua S
map-marker Branson, Missouri

Scammed by Grand River Poodles of Roberta Katona in Perry, OH

. This is what is going on: Mrs. Katona lives in the state of Ohio and we live in the state of Missouri, we purchased a light apricot toy poodle puppy. In her false ads in www.puppyfind.com and in her website www.grandriverpoodles.com she is selling her puppy for $1,300.00 without AKC papers. We paid her $1,500.00 because we were promised to have the puppy with her AKC limited papers. We paid $200.00 for the AKC papers. She claims to be a top breeder, who has won multiple shows, and is in very high standing with AKC. After paying $1,500.00 plus $375.00 for shipping, plus all PayPal charges, I paid close to $2,000.00. Her website states when you receive your puppy you will receive a complete vet exam, health certificate, airline approved crate, a soft bed with food and water. The ad in www.puppyfind.com states I will also receive a copy of her pedigree. After I paid her completely, and complied with all of her requests, and paid the $375.00 for shipping, it is my understanding that the shipper is responsible in obtaining the airline that will transport the puppy from point A to B. In fact, I am the one that had to find all the information on the two different air carriers, because she was to busy to do this herself. Remember, I already paid her the fees, she was the one responsible for doing all of this. When I received the puppy, the crate was used, the feeding bowls were bent, and the so called soft called bed was a used kitchen rag with holes in it. ( I have pictures to prove it). There was no food or water in any of her bowls. When I took the puppy out of the cage she was not given a bath or groomed and had dried *** stuck by her anal area. The only paper work I received was the health certificate allowing her to travel. I never received copy of the vet exam, the soft bed, her AKC papers and her pedigree papers I was promised. When I contacted Mrs. Katona inquiring about the papers for the puppy including AKC papers, shot and vet records, she said there are not vet records. I asked her how am I supposed to know what shots she had because she is supposed to be current, she said she is the vet. But in her ads and website says that her puppies are thoroughly checked by a local vet. Besides that she told me that in order for me to get her AKC papers I have to pay her a fee of $500.00. So I asked her if the puppy is $1,300.00 without AKC papers, and $1,500.00 with limited AKC papers, which I paid, now I have no papers, and I asked her what was the extra $200.00 I paid you for, she could never respond to me. So now I paid for a mutt. So I have a puppy with no pedigree, no AKC papers, no shot records, nothing. Up to now I want to know what I paid $1,500.00 for. When I told her I want all of my money back, because I felt and still feel defrauded and what I was promised I never got, her response to me was this: She will out of all the money, she will deduct $300.00 for a non-refundable fee plus she will not be refunding the PayPal charges, and all of the sudden after she gets the dog back she needs to take the dog to a local vet for a checkup, after she told me she was the vet, and she said that the vet bill will be deducted from my money. So in return the only money I will get back, from the almost $2,000.00 I paid, might be $300.00-400.00. I even gave her a chance and called her back, I told her I would let everything go if she sends me the shot records and AKC papers, and her response was "there are no papers for you". I have all my paperwork my PayPal receipts, copies of the www.puppyfind.com ads, and the copy of the website advertisement for the puppy she sold us. I also have photos of the puppy and the cage when I picked her up from the airport. I already contacted the police department, PayPal, and the Better Business Bureau, Consumer's Affairs Office, Rip-off Report.
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15 comments
Guest

Thank you for exposing this.

Guest

Mahreenah:

If you gotten your reimbursement, congratulations! If you have not gotten it, be prepared to wait for a long time.

We were able to get our money back from Pay Pal approximately $1,500.00 because my husband acted very fast when we did not get everything that we paid for. After taking the puppy to the vet, and paying hundreds of dollars we thought in the end that the puppy would have been alright, NEWS UPDATE, my mom called me last week to let me know the puppy died in her sleep. We made complaints to the BBB in Ohio, Consumer Affairs, Sheriff department and the Attorney Generals office, I recommend you do the same, so they can have your claim on file.

Good word of advice to anyone that wants to buy a dog over the internet, USE PAYPAL, they protect the buyers. Hope you have a good day and hope everything works out for you.

Guest

In Sept 2011, Robert Katona of Grand River Poodle sold me a sick puppy. She also led me to believe that the puppy was vet checked.

In an E-mail she was forthcoming about the lack of vet care her puppies get as well as docking the tails herself. I have all the e-mails from her, including one where she stated she would reimburse me for medical treatment. She received copies of the vet bills; I received nothing. I will file a complaint with Poodle Club and post my experience.

I gave her my address in VA when I filled out paperwork as well as in an E-mail. Roberta has had a year to make it right and has failed to keep her word.

Guest

In Sept 2011, Robert Katona of Grand River Poodle sold me a sick puppy. She also led me to believe that the puppy was vet checked.

In an E-mail she was forthcoming about the lack of vet care her puppies get as well as docking the tails herself. I have all the e-mails from her, including one where she stated she would reimburse me for medical treatment. She received copies of the vet bills; I received nothing. I will file a complaint with Poodle Club and post my experience.

I gave her my address in VA when I filled out paperwork as well as in an E-mail. Roberta has had a year to make it tight and has failed to keep her word.

Guest

Satisfied resolution for client. Our second puppy arrived May 2012, just like the first, 2 years ago via air from Grand River Poodles in Ohio, owner Roberta Katona.

The new puppy is very socialized, full of personality and a happy healthy puppy. There was no issue or complaint with the puppy herself. The issue arose surrounding a misunderstanding regarding obtaining AKC papers for a puppy purchased as a pet.

Our money has been returned to us, and seller and buyer are satisfied. We no longer have the puppy.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-514033

Why after all that do you not have the puppy you were reimbursed for?

Guest

After all the *** Grand River Poodles put our family through the owner just called us to apologize for all the wrong she did to us. Wow that was amazing.

She said that we could keep the dog as a gift for all the emotional damage this situation did to our family and even offered us another puppy.

We had to say no on that offer because we already have 2 puppies but that was thoughtful of her. Hope this time around she means what she told us and all her craziness will stop here.

Guest

BEWARE! For all of those hard working people who are interested a toy poodle, PLEASE DO NOT purchase any from ROBERTA KATONA or her business GRAND RIVER POODLES, in Perry OHIO.

We are NOT the only ones who have complaints against her.

There is a lady that purchased one of her puppies recently and the puppy was diagnose with giardia. She contacted Roberta Katona, and she NEVER responded back to the customer. Mrs. Katona puts in her ads that the puppies are vet check and current on all vaccinations...

That is NOT true. This lady who purchased her puppy from Roberta was told she was also going to get vet papers and never did, in fact, Mrs. Katona is the one who gives her puppies her shots or vaccines. I have an email from her saying so.

That is why when you purchase a puppy you don't know what you are getting. ONLY EMPTY PROMISES. Hmmmmmm... very familiar.

We never got vet papers either or limited AKC which we paid an extra $200.00 for. If any of you want to know want to know the other customer name just shoot me an email, I will give you her email and phone number so you can see that Roberta Katona or "the breeder of Merit" that she calls herself is a FAKE, A SCAM ARTIST, SHE OVER PRICES HER DOGS, AND YOU NEVER GET WHAT YOU PAID FOR IN THE END.

That is why she has many complaints in the BBB, attorney general's office of OHIO and consumer affairs. Look somewhere else before buying from her.

Guest

BEWARE! For all of those hard working people who are interested a toy poodle, PLEASE DO NOT purchase any from ROBERTA KATONA or her business GRAND RIVER POODLES, in Perry OHIO.

We are NOT the only ones who have complaints against her.

There is a lady that purchased one of her puppies recently and the puppy was diagnose with giardia. She contacted Roberta Katona, and she NEVER responded back to the customer. Mrs. Katona puts in her ads that the puppies are vet check and current on all vaccinations...

That is NOT true. This lady who purchased her puppy from Roberta was told she was also going to get vet papers and never did, in fact, Mrs. Katona is the one who gives her puppies her shots or vaccines. I have an email from her saying so.

That is why when you purchase a puppy you don't know what you are getting. ONLY EMPTY PROMISES. Hmmmmmm... very familiar.

We never got vet papers either or limited AKC which we paid an extra $200.00 for. If any of you want to know want to know the other customer name just shoot me an email, I will give you her email and phone number so you can see that Roberta Katona or "the breeder of Merit" that she calls herself is a FAKE, A SCAM ARTIST, SHE OVER PRICES HER DOGS, AND YOU NEVER GET WHAT YOU PAID FOR IN THE END.

That is why she has many complaints in the BBB, attorney general's office of OHIO and consumer affairs. Look somewhere else before buying from her.

Guest

Well,AGAIN, we came to a resolution,OR SO I THOUGHT, she was going to send me the AKC limited papers in my hand and I would update the websites stating that Mrs. Katona made good on her promise on satisfying us, the customer, for her mistakes.

Even the other night before we made an agreement she wanted us to take out all of our comments we put on the forums because she said it was hurting her business. Again another scam by her. NOW she wants us to remove all of the posts and she will let the BBB hold the AKC limited papers and then release them to us once the post have been taking down. It looks like a lot of people out there are watching our back and their backs so they don't get SCAM from a breeder that she is.

She said to my husband today she would really like those post down because her sales have gone DOWN THE DRAIN and people are questioning her reputation as a dog breeder. Please people if you want to buy a poodle, my advise would be to look somewhere else. Grand River poodles have beautiful poodles but their owner Roberta Katona is a deceiving woman. Please have her write a contract of sale before you send her any monies.

She will try not to give you a contract, when you are paying the shipping fees for the dog like we did, the airline fee was $238.00 but she will charge you $375.00 In her ads she promises to give you a puppy bed, pedigree papers, and vet records. Make sure she puts that in her contract, like us, she put that in her puppy find ad and when we got our puppy from her, we never got the pedigree, vet records, limited papers, and a puppy bed. "Most of all" make sure when you do intend to buy a puppy from her make sure you get your AKC limited registration papers.. Because again, we paid $1,500.00 for a puppy that was supposed to come with papers and extras and did not...

That when she starts asking for $500.00 for papers. For us when she did this to us our hearts felt to the floor, we have four small children ages 8- 5 months old. You would think after paying $1,500.00 for a puppy plus $375.00 per shipping you would get something else than just a puppy in the cage.

Please beware of this first class scam artist who is called Roberta Katona of Grand River Poodles in Perry OH. AKA "the professional poodle breeder of merit who has won unlimited shows and is a down to earth honest person." If you want me to email all the proof I have, emails, copies of ads, copies of website, don't hesitate to let me know and I will gladly do so.

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