Customers of an alleged Keys puppy mill speak out.

Last month, I blogged about an alleged puppy mill in the Florida Keys that was raided by police and an animal welfare group. They found dozens of dogs, with five to seven of them pregnant, shut in a windowless warehouse near the Marathon airport that stank of urine. Six adult dogs were locked in a room the size of a closet.

“The rooms were awful,” said Katie Bentley, of Stand Up For Animals, the organization that took in the dogs. One of the pregnant females had her litter that night.

Marni and Tom Jones, who had come to Marathon when Tom was hired there as a firefighter, agreed to turn over 42 dogs to Stand Up For Animals. The nonprofit rescue group works with Marathon’s animal control officials.

And then yesterday, I get an e-mail from Mollie, of Tampa. What has happened, she asked, over the last month to the Joneses and their dogs?

It turns out Mollie had bought a goldendoodle puppy from the couple, who called their breeding operation the Sixth Day Ranch, over the Internet. And her experience shows why shopping for dogs online is just a bad idea.

Mollie, who is 22, says “I’ve definitely learned my lesson.” I am going to post her full note below because her description of the process lays out exactly how eager prospective pet parents get sucked in by unscrupulous breeders.

Fortunately, Mollie’s dog, Rugby, is almost 4 months old and so far seems OK. But puppy mill dogs often are born sick or with congenital deformities, or are not socialized as pups so they have behavioral problems. Jeffrey Wellinger, who started a Web site to expose Sixth Day Ranch, posts photos of his dog Ernie, purchased from the Joneses. Click here and you can see video of poor Ernie limping painfully across the floor; Jeff says its due to hip problems caused by poor breeding.

The Jones family

Jeff and others also posted some scathing comments on a Webshots site, where the Joneses posted this photo of themselves and their dogs, promoting their business. Click here to read ‘em.

Bentley said Stand Up For Animals also has received calls from other Sixth Day Ranch customers who say their dogs are sick or crippled as well.

And the Joneses? The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office did not file neglect charges against the couple, as they surrendered their animals in exchange for not going to court. Animal neglect also is often tough for law enforcement to document to the point that it can be prosecuted.

“I don’t know if malice was involved (on the Jones’s part),” said Marcy LaHart, a West Palm Beach attorney who filed Stand Up’s petition for custody. “Just stupidity and greed.” LaHart fostered eight of the rescued puppies.

The Joneses, who previously lived in the Florida Panhandle and Colorado, quickly left the Keys. LaHart, looking at a FaceBook page maintained by their son, believes they are back in Woodland, CO.

Mollie says she found what she thinks was a link to them this week on Next Day Pets, a Web portal for online breeders, and reported it to the Web master. Apparently, the link has been removed.

So here is Mollie’s story. You’ll see all the red flags that she sees now:

* The Joneses wouldn’t let Mollie see the puppies in their home.
* She had to pay in advance.
* They wanted to “drop the puppy off” on their way to the Keys and met her in a parking lot to give her the health certificate – signed by a vet Mollie didn’t know.

There is a simple way to avoid all this:
Don’t buy puppies online or from strip-center puppy stores claiming to specialize in "celebrity" dogs. Reputable breeders do not sell their animals this way.
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This from Mollie:

I have allergies and really wanted a goldendoodle because they are better for people with allergies. I was looking online and found (Sixth Day Ranch), and I thought it was great they came from a "religious" background. At the time they were still in Destin, FL and had pictures up of apparently where the puppies played, etc.

I did some research on the breeder and really couldn't find anything bad so I went with them. I've never bought from a breeder, especially an online one before.
Now that I look back on it, there were definitely suspicious signs.

Because I live in Florida, I wanted to go to the breeder and pick out the puppy I wanted, but they said I couldn't because the pups were still young and they didn't want any of them getting sick and "that's just not how they did things." They said they would send pictures and video of the pups.

After I picked a pup I put down a deposit and then paid the rest not when I got the dog but three weeks before (I'm sure you're shaking your head. I'm 22 and I've definitely learned my lesson.)

By the way. even though Marni and Tom Jones are a part of this, so is their oldest daughter Destini, who Marni told me was in charge of the puppies. Anyway, I was suppose to drive up to Destin when the pup was old enough, but then the situation changed when Tom said he got transferred to the Keys for the fire department and they had to move.

He said since they were moving the same week I was to get the puppy, they could drop the pup off on their way down. Then the story changed again...they had to move immediately and I would have to meet them in Miami to get my pup.

Weeks past and I scheduled to get the dog the weekend he turned 8 weeks. I got a random phone call during that week saying Marni and the kids were driving back up to Destin and she could drop off the pup that night. I was in a movie and didn't answer my phone until an hour later which was too late.

By the way, there is also a vet involved.. apparently a "traveling vet" that makes his way around the Keys for check ups, etc. My health certificate is from that vet. Marni said that she had his health certificate in the car and she could give it to me on the way to Destin that night. At 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, I met her at a service station to pick up the health certificate because I had to pick up my puppy in Miami later that day or else I couldn't get him until the following week.

Every time I called I asked how the pup was doing. When they moved to the Keys, Tom said that they had bought a warehouse that was air-conditioned and perfect for the dogs to play in. He said since they were in the warehouse, when they were let outside they didn't want to stay long because they loved the air-conditioning. The kids still played with them and everything and he made it sound like a great place for the dogs. I pictured pretty much a giant play room...not what the authorities found.

When I got my puppy, he was really skinny, you wouldn't know with all the fur, but you could definitely feel his ribs and spine. A few weeks ago I wanted to see how the other pups were doing but couldn't find the website anymore, so I started doing research and found out they had been busted. I cried and felt terrible.

Some people believe I saved my pup, Rugby, and I guess I did, but I also contributed to an epidemic that's getting bigger. Now, I want to help and do something about it. Unfortunately, they wouldn't give me the rest of his papers until he is neutered, so the health certificate is all I have. They were busted a week or two after I got Rugby.

I know you asked a simple question, but I had to tell you the whole story. I want to be on the look out for them on other websites. I really hope they are arrested, no one should get away with that.

-Mollie

Comments

I am writing this for my friend Donna and the Joneses have 5 of her golden retrivers and she had no idea this was going on and everytime she tried to contact Marni or their family to try to see the dogs they were either moving or unavailable or the phones were no longer good. She wants her dogs back and safe or to know they are not going to be destroyed!!! She sent them 4 females - Dandy, Promise, Praise and Daffy and 1 male named Prince. She never received any money from them and was told they were co-owners in good faith. The dogs were born April 28, 2006 and please let me know the status or location of these dogs. She called me crying over the news and really would like someone to contact me for her with this information.

Posted by: Liz Dalia | August 17, 2008 8:18 PM

My friend Jo had the same thing happen to her. The puppy was luckly not taken away. She did have to have it fixed though. Today she still helps fight the cause. Good Luck!

Lovedogs4ever
https://backyard.netshops.com/

Posted by: lovedogs4ever | August 18, 2008 12:41 PM

We purchased an English Cream Retriever from Sixth Day Ranch on 30 June 2007 for $2500.

Our dog's father was Zion and the mother was Dandy. Our dog is perfect in every way.

Six months later we received the AKC papers.

Dealing with the Jones Family was a little shaky, but in our case they held up their end of the bargain. We knew there was something wrong with those people and are really disturbed how all of this washed out.

Hope this helps in some way.

Posted by: Mark Brannen | August 18, 2008 5:29 PM

These puppy mill breeders sell over websites because they don't want anyone seeing their kennel.

They know full well they are doing things wrong.

Plus they hide the income and don't pay taxes.

This is why it is so important to stay away from pet stores AND websites. The millers use classifieds all the time too, posing as private individuals selling a dog or small breeders.

As for AKC papers, AKC makes most of its money FROM puppy mill registrations! They support mills and lobby for them. AKC papers mean nothing. Many are faked anyway.

There are so many wonderful dogs and pups at shelters and breed rescue groups.

When people stop buying from the websites, stores, and classifieds the cruelty will stop.

Posted by: coco | August 21, 2008 8:51 PM

Heres my Sixth Day Ranch experience. In Feb 2005 my familys golden Sammy Boy had to be put down due to illness. After a few weeks I started to look for breeders in my area while online. I came across the Sixth Day Ranch. Back then the website was awesome and had alot of info on the pups as they got older. It turned out that from a recent litter that was born the day my golden was put down. My family put $250 deposit down for a Female Golden Retriever. The Jones' had a diary of pretty much every week of their lives w/ pictures too. When she was 8 weeks my parents and sister drove down to get her from their home. I think it was in Cresent, FL. I don't really remember. Anyhow, everything seemed totally noraml about them until I typed Sith Day Ranch on Google.com 3 days ago. I just wanted to put this out their. We have not had any problems at all with our dog. Im sorry though for those that have. Sucks the Jones' ended up flailing too they had some awesome dogs.

Posted by: James Brady | August 22, 2008 10:48 AM

Our experience with Sixth Day Ranch is similiar to that of Mr. Brady and the loss of their family dog "Sammy Boy". Our golden "Ashley" had to be put down due to cancer at 10 years of age. In the past ,we pretty much have always gone through the Animal Shelter and/or Humane Society to adopt our dogs. My husband thought though that if we were to ever get another golden retriever, we would get a puppy through a breeder. Needless to say, after much research we chose Sixth Day Ranch...not once, but twice. We now have two golden retrievers that are from Sixth Day Ranch. Our first golden "Annabelle" we got in June '06 at 8 weeks of age. Our second golden "Kentucky Rose" we got in May '08 at 15 months of age. Yes, at 15 months of age. We have never met the Jones' family face to face. When we got "Annabelle" the Jones family were living in CO. Most recently, they were in FL when we got "Kentucky Rose". We do not live near either CO or FL so we have had our dogs shipped by air to us each time from Sixth Day Ranch. We have always e-mailed the Jones family to up-date them on our dogs and send them photos, etc. They have ALWAYS been VERY professional and kind to us regarding our dogs.

If anyone had ever followed their web site on an on-going basis like we have in the past, it too, was always very professionaly done.

When we recently tried their web site and could not find it, we too, "Googled" Sixth Day Ranch and found out about what happened in Marathon, FL.

We can only say that for our family, our two golden retrievers are healthy and happy dogs, and, that we had a positive experience with Sixth Day Ranch and the Jones family.

Posted by: The Duggins Damily | August 23, 2008 11:32 AM

The golden retreivers from the Marathon puppy mill were all fostered out by Stand up for animals or SUFA marathon. I believe most were adopted by the foster homes within the week. You may want to call Linda, exec dir of SUFA at 305-743-3779 to find out who has your dogs.

Posted by: The Ford family | September 1, 2008 11:04 AM

Just to update on my last comment. I had the city wrong. Not Cresent. Clermont, Floirda.

Posted by: JB | September 16, 2008 1:42 AM

Does anybody know how to get ahold of them???? I still haven't received the papers for my English Creme Golden... No number, website or address is valid anymore... last I knew they were living in Crestview, FL... now? Any help would be much appreciated! That was a lot of money to pay for a dog that has not yet received papers...

-Ian

Posted by: Ian Magary | October 6, 2008 11:08 AM

So far my dog has had no problems from them, however, they have yet to send his papers and seem to be unreachable… in any case, here's the only information I have (pulled from Okaloosa county Property Appraisers web-search:

JONES THOMAS P & MARNI
4020 NIKKI LN
CRESTVIEW, FL 32536

Parcel ID: 05-3N-22-0000-0004-0040

GENERAL DELIVERY
MARATHON, FL 33050-9999

Hope this helps track 'em down… if you get any contact info, it'd be much appreciated!

Posted by: Ian Magary | October 6, 2008 12:38 PM

Hey Ian; I heard from someone with the Sheriff's Office in Marathon that they believe the Joneses went to Colorado. I think they were in Crestview before they moved down to the Keys. I understand that Tom was a firefighter with either the Marathon Fire Dept or Islamorada. Maybe you can ask them if they have any idea where they went?

Diane L

Posted by: Diane Lade | October 8, 2008 3:05 PM

I would like to say we purchased an english cream golden retreiver from Tom and Marni Jones via the website approx. 2 years ago. They were an absolute joy to deal with. They sent and posted pictures as they promised and delivery of our puppy Bandit was executed even through the midst of serious snow storms with few problems. Flight was delayed by 3 days and I knew the weather was bad because my brother lives in the area as well. I have to say it was a pleasure working with the Jones family and Bandit is a beautiful/wonderful golden. AKC papers etc was very easy.

Best Regards,
Shawn Erway

Posted by: Shawn Erway | October 15, 2008 3:40 PM

My husband made a comment yesterday about our dog Bandit and I would like to add a few things. When Bandit couldn't get out on time because of weather the Jones changed Bandits flight from going to Chicago to going into Michigan because it was Christmas and we went to see family. Our kids wouldn't have a dog to open Christmas morning but the Jones put a christmas hat on Bandit and took his picture so we could print it for our kids to see Christmas morning. I still can't believe everything I have been reading about the Jones. I am sorry to anyone that had problems with the Jones. We just thought it was fair to share our story.

Posted by: Nicole E | October 16, 2008 12:51 PM

I was just as shocked when I heard about Sixth Day Ranch. I have a goldendoodle from them & I also had a good experience with them. Maddie is a happy healthy 1yr old now. Marnie & Tom were very helpful with me on feeding the raw diet Maddie is still on to this day. I am sad to hear they were a puppy mill. I went to their Crestview home (the one pictured in the website) and it was on a large piece of property. I wonder if they fell on hard financial times. Although, that does not excuse the deplorable condintions I hear their dogs were in. I feel very deceived.

Posted by: Katrina N | October 26, 2008 1:37 PM

They are in Woodland Park, Colorado.

Their son, Micah, has a website and Tom Jones is his manager.

http://www.micahljonesphotography.com/index

(719)-244-0887 (Micah)
(719)-244-0462 (Tom)

P.O. Box 113
Woodland Park, CO 80866

Hope this helps anybody looking for them

Posted by: air | October 27, 2008 9:22 PM