People who haven't known me long will wonder why I do all this. There are many animal lovers already active, many good people who work every day to combat the suffering of animals worldwide. Unfortunately, there is too much suffering and too few people have the time to devote themselves to this. I also had doubts for a long time, because many people told me that fighting is pointless. Fighting against such an immense problem caused by ourselves. So I let it rest and tried to focus on other things. But in my dreams my conscience spoke to me. The terrible images that are on my retina. I can't ignore them, I can't shake them off and enjoy a lasagna in the evening knowing I'm not contributing anything.

The House of Animals reportage was the deciding factor. I could no longer ignore the information I had and the things I had already researched and seen. That is why at first a facebook group was created ''Pomeranian breeders bad experiences''

In 2012, as a seventeen-year-old girl, I saw a photo of the internet sensation dog: Boo for the first time. I didn't know the breed but I fell in love immediately. The type of crush that doesn't go away after a while of doing other things. I was sure, I wanted a dog like that with that face. If I knew then what I know now and what I have learned in 12 years. I don't think I would have been so in love with Boo. In essence, Boo was bred much too small, had Alopecia and painful joints. I only saw the picture as a young girl and it looked like a living teddy bear. Which I would come to love so much.

I started reading up on the breed anyway. I'm not someone who just buys an animal without knowing what I'm getting myself into. I started talking to people from clubs and societies and soon I started to realize that there is a lot of work involved in being a Pomeranian mommy. Lots of coat care, lots of attention and going outside at least twice a day. So it was definitely not a toy but a real dog. I therefore decided to wait with the purchase until I would live alone and have more time.

In 2015 the time had come, I had a vibrant relationship and lived together. A Pomeranian would complete our family for the time being. I had a few contacts from breeders in Russia on Facebook groups etc. I found a lot of them. I was very afraid of making a mistake and buying my dog ​​from the wrong person. They all seemed good for their dogs, they all had nice pages of photos and videos and the option to video chat. I did a video chat with at least 10 Russian breeders. I ended up with Natalia Timonina, who has now disappeared everywhere. Also a veterinarian and a professor of veterinary medicine in Russia. I thought it must be fine. I thought wrong.

I had very good contact with Natalia for weeks and also had a video chat twice and saw the dog. I received photos and videos every day. Of course, I fell in love immediately, but the first problems soon arose.

First of all, there was the discussion about the 'Van'. I absolutely did not want my puppy to be on the road for three days among 30 other dogs for 300 euros. This was a no go for me, also because of the risk of getting sick from other dogs on the bus. This is a situation in which a puppy's immune system deteriorates so quickly due to stress that a communicable disease can be transmitted very quickly. There were a number of couriers she also knew who did it by plane, but this was twice as expensive. I wanted to be sure that my dog ​​would fly in the cabin and not in the luggage department. I therefore started looking for a courier myself, as it was quite difficult for me to get in touch with all of her people. There was also a courier who had indicated that she no longer wanted to work with her. Half the price of the puppy had already been paid when I started to get suspicious.

My boyfriend thought I was too overprotective and advised me to contact buyers of her dogs. There were many and they were all positive. I felt calmer and decided to proceed with the purchase. The courier who did not want to work with her would not have been paid and I thought at the time this had nothing to do with the health of the dogs.

On Sunday May 17 in the evening at 10:00 PM the puppy arrived at the airport and immediately peed on me out of enthusiasm. I held him in my arms and immediately loved him with all my heart. He was so incredibly beautiful and sweet. Immediately upon returning home he was introduced to all his new things and his bed.

A few days later, when he had recovered a bit from everything, I decided to take him to the vet. There, to my horror, everything changed. It turned out that he did not have a chip and his passport was incorrect in terms of age and vaccination dates and stickers. Haribo, his legal name which I have changed to Mr Paddington, was born on February 5, 2015. His passport says January 12, 2015. The vet immediately sounded the alarm. I was no longer allowed to leave, I was no longer allowed to touch my puppy. He was taken from me by the authorities. I screamed, I fought, I threw up throughout that practice out of sheer misery. It was impossible to talk to me anymore, I was completely destroyed inside and really devastated. My boyfriend came and calmed me down. Fortunately he listened to what was said. Paddington had to be quarantined in a government laboratory for 18 days. Where his blood would be checked for antibodies after vaccination. This was the only way to rule out whether he could have rabies. I definitely didn't want this and really wanted to take him back home. They told me I had two choices: put him down immediately or endure quarantine. Of course I chose the second option.

I immediately informed the breeder but she did not respond to anything. I had her passport details and email and that way I was able to pressure her to find out whether any vaccinations had been given. Unfortunately, Paddington had not been vaccinated at all and was much too young to receive the rabies shot. She also indicated that the family tree would not be available either. She refunded me 500 euros via western union and then blocked me. Fortunately, his mother had been vaccinated and this could be proven in the lab after 18 days. But I didn't know what to do anymore. I was desperate, I woke up crying and went to sleep crying. My boyfriend wanted me to be admitted temporarily because I was doing so badly, but in the end I decided against it. I just slept as much as possible and those 18 days seemed to last forever. I called every day to see if there was any news and finally the results were available on day 17. I didn't dare to call, I stood gagging next to my boyfriend and saw from his little smile that it was okay. Only then could I breathe again. We were allowed to come and get him immediately.

He was so incredibly scared, I held him close and promised him that he would never have to experience this again. Socialization was completely ruined and it took at least 3 months before he really dared to do things. But he was still sweet and affectionate. He became very close to my boyfriend and slept in his arms at night and they became the best of friends.

Mr Paddington was doing well for a while until suddenly, at the age of 3, he could no longer walk. He cried out and again I didn't know what to do. Immediately we went to the vet who checked him and found nothing. It could possibly be epilepsy. I started noticing things in Paddington's behavior more and more, his coughing fits were getting worse. If you wanted to pet him, he might get scared and want to bite you. His head trembled slightly and he started scratching himself without actually scratching.

Two years later, he was taken to a new vet again after a severe attack. He turned out to have a neck hernia and a collapsed trachea. I also started looking around more and more for explanations of his behavior and symptoms. He also started to have difficulty walking, so he went to an orthopedic specialist. Patella luxation in both hind legs. All the vets told me that Paddington was having too many problems and that putting him to sleep might be best. He probably wouldn't survive anesthesia. I didn't want to hear this, he was only 5 years old. I took the homeopathic direction with him. CBD oil and other medications.

My then husband also went through a difficult period at the time. Our marriage got worse and worse. I actually only stayed for Paddington, but after 2 years I decided it wasn't possible anymore. We then made a plan for Paddington. My husband was always at home and I really didn't want to destroy the bond they had together. Precisely because Paddington was so ill and he also had much more financial resources at that time. The entire house was adapted to Paddington and the large garden where he could sit in the sun every day. It was clear to me that he had to stay with my now ex-husband. But that wouldn't mean I wouldn't see him again. I rented an apartment nearby and visited 3 times a week.

It has now been two years and I still go to Paddington every week and more often if the situation allows. I am also there for every vet visit and important moment in his life. My ex-husband and I are still good friends, as well as he and my new partner with whom I have been together for over 2 years. We found out last year after a serious miscarriage that due to my endometriosis I will not be able to have children in the future. This was a hard blow, but in the end I quickly found peace. In this world where these kinds of practices take place, where living beings are treated as stock this way. I actually don't want any more children to be victims of that.

Although I knew it would be another difficult journey I really wanted a puppy again, because I still miss Paddington around me every day. Even though I know he couldn't be better off and that he has the sweetest person with him all day long. The loss remains and since I have also taken a different path in terms of work. Always working from home. There was no better moment for a puppy in mine and my partners opinion. So I started looking again and came across old ghosts, people who I thought had long disappeared and stopped their practices. It turned out that they would simply continue under a different name. After so many years, prices were still many times higher. Puppies were sold by some traders between 5000 and 6000 euros and when I checked where they actually came from, it turned out to be Kyrgyzstan. Where she paid below 800 to the breeder for that same dog. I learned so much at once, translating Russian forums. Investigating Russian veterinarians. I was getting sicker from everything I was experiencing. I certainly didn't want to take the risk of Russia again.

Then I started looking even more into the disease Chiari malformation and syringomyelia since Paddington also has this condition and it cannot be cured except with very risky operations that are not yet welcomed by the specialists. I already knew a lot about it, but the fact that testing breeding animals is so important and in my opinion this should certainly have happened when purchasing my new puppy, did not make finding a puppy that easy. I have approached many breeders throughout Europe. It is still not getting tested in countries such as France, Spain, Italy, Poland and Sweden. Many breeders are not even aware of this. Thinking that only Cavalier King Spaniels have this disease. I have therefore done my best to explain this as best as possible to every breeder who is also a member of the clubs and associations over there.

Does not testing for cm/sm make someone a bad breeder? In my opinion not necessarily, it does not mean that their puppies are not healthy. But it also doesn't mean that it is the case. I wanted to be sure for myself and not experience the same thing, although I am aware that testing is inconclusive. CM1 is still allowed to breed, as well as patella luxation grade 1. Even though dogs have been tested, there is no guarantee, only your chances are better.

There are small-scale breeders abroad who only have 1 or 2 litters per year and who do everything correctly but do not yet test for CM/SM at the moment because it is not yet done in their country and there is no one to test it properly and to judge the results. We have Mr Mandigers who does this work extremely well and is one of the few specialists in Europe. In Russia there is neurologist Karateav Pavel Sergeevits who is also a member of the European Commission of Veterinary Neurologists. In France there is Laurant Cauzinille. In the UK there is Katia Marioni-Henry together with Penny S Knowler and the one who leads most of the investigations Clare Rusbridge. On this site you can see all members of the European Commission and find an expert in your own country

https://www.ebvs.eu/specialists?country_id=All&display_name=&title=All&specialism_8=1&specialties=1&type=specialties

This website is really not intended to attack good breeders, smear their names or anything else. But traders/breeders who don't even do the basics. Such as correct vaccinations and issuing the correct documents. Import a puppy at the right age and not cheat the law and taxes. A bad experience with a breeder does not always mean that this breeder is inherently bad. Every breeder experiences problems, experiences bad luck and unfortunately experiences illness. This is a calculated risk. But if, as a breeder, you have your own dogs bred more often than once a year. If you only accept cash and the paperwork is not completely correct, then sooner or later you will be on my list. Threats to me are not going to help you, if you disagree with something you can always contact me and refute it with factual evidence. Factual evidence is not saying that testing is being done, but showing it and then tested by the right people, not some strange doctor from Russia who is already known to fiddle with papers.

I wish everyone and their sweet dogs the best and lots of strength and health for all the dogs who did not ask for this and please think carefully before buying a puppy anywhere. Listen to your feelings and do not act out of a happiness hormone but out of knowledge and try to switch off your emotion when looking at a puppy. Take someone with you who is not going to buy a dog so that person may not look at it through rose-colored glasses and can keep his or her mind completely on it.

Finally, lots of love and happiness to everyone who has also given their heart to this breed. I am here for you and I hope you are here for me too in this fight for this beautiful thing called a Pomeranian.

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