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I hate to say it-but I was scammed. After the devasting loss of our beloved pomeranian, I began the search on the internet to find a reputable breeder. I placed many phone calls and emails to various breeders but Gina Alford was one of the first to return my calls. Further, she was always available by phone or email throughout the course of the business transaction. We received photos of a gorgeous female cream sable pom and wired a very large sum to purhase and have her flown to our home town Easter Sunday 09. I was assured, in writing, that the sale included AKC papers. Once the Alfords received our wired money, things began to get sticky. It was no longer easy to contact the Alfords (calls weren't answered or even returned and neither were emails). I began to panic. I finally did receive a reassuring call on that Saturday morning indicating all was well. Things went south again the next day though-the day of our puppy's flight. As it turned out, instead of being flown into our hometown, we were told we had to drive 2 hours to pick our puppy up. And, we were informed that she was seriously sick form the trauma of transportation to the airport via the car. Upon arrival in our homestate-sick was the understatement. And, the puppy was NOT the puppy we were sent pictures of. None the less-there was no way to try to return this very ill animal. We were not convinced that she would even live. And, there were no papers sent with her. I phoned the Alfords and was assured that papers would be coming within the week although no papers ever came. We worked to get "Bella" well-she is now a bouncy, silly little girl. Since the second week in April I have continued to call, email, beg, plead, nicely request and not so nicely request papers. Still we have no papers. We do not receive return calls or responses at all anymore. In the end, we do have what looks to be a pomeranian who we have welcomed into our home. We love her dearly and she is adorable in many ways-but she is NOT the beautiful show quality dog we were lead to believe and assured of by pictures. And, after almost $2, 000 not including vet bills to get her well again after the trip...she remains unregistered. The Alford's got our money-our vulnerable family was grieving and we bit. To those reputable breeders who contacted us, I regret the decision to work with Gina Alford and wish I had taken the time to more thoroughly research the situation. To those looking for a puppy, don't do so in haste. And, think twice before you wire any money to Gina or Rick Alford. The old saying "you get what you pay for" does not hold up here. Gina and Rick Alford of Lil Darlin' Pomeranians-shame on you. I believed you and I'll bet there are others out there just like me. Shame, shame, shame.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
You should call AKC and let them know you have not received the papers and I believe they will help you. Just a thought, but someone else bought a pom from Lil Darlins and when the pom arrived it was the wrong pom. I recommended to have the puppies DNA'd since this is something Gina Alford has done this before.
Good-Luck
File a complaint with AKC and send in all communications, money receipts and the contract if you have it stating what you paid for. As the poster above said DNA your dog because she has done this before and still is! File complaints with The Attorney Generals offices in MS and Tx for FRAUD
HI,
I also bought a dog from Rick and Gina a year ago. So far, I have not recieved her. Gina has changed her e-mails and all her phone numbers and has refused to contact me. The Female I bought was listed on her website but she is no longer there, so I think she has resold her to someone else and made double the profit. I am a reputable breeder and I can go to bed at night knowing that my families have recieved everything they have paid for and more. I get wonderful complements all the time and pictures often of my families with thier new additions, toylandpoms.com I do not doctor up my pics so what a family sees is what they get. I think Gina doctors up her pictures and makes them look better than what they are. She will also come up with many excuses why she can't ship a dog, it got sick while Rick was bringing it to the airport (after you have been waiting months for it), or it had a bladder infection, or the puppies bite went off, or it jumped off a platform when she was taking it's picture and it broke it's leg, you get the picture. Once she has your money, it's like you have to play along, or recieve nothing in return. I was set to show one of Gina's pups but I don't believe she deserves someone showing her dogs in the show ring with her name on them. I paid a lot of money for him and I do not have the funds to invest in another show dog, I feel at a loss of what to do, plus I love him to death. She has numerous complaints about her business practices, that I have become ashamed to enter him. I would like to get a hold of others that have bought from Gina and have been screwd over, I think we need to stop it before another family is hurt by her. You are welcome to go to my website and contact me. I have all my paperwork set to go to file for court proceedings, the more the merrier.
has anyone had any luck contacting mrs. alford yet?
This is Bella's mom-I have been in touch with Mrs. Alford via however...still no papers. There has been a great deal that has transpired though. Bella needed major surgery on both her hind legs due to a predisposed genetical condition. Without the surgery, she would have had to be euthanized. The surgery and followup medical care has exceeded $3500. I am now suing the Alfords. It remains to be seen if the Alfords will accept an offer to go on a television court show or if I will see them in Mississippi. All paperwork has been filed in both places. Mrs. Alford is desperate and has said she contacted breeders in my homestate, stated that she is aware they would not sell to me, accused me of dropping Bella on her head per these sources...it's really sad how desperate this situation is. None of those things are true. I want 'right' to prevail. I have learned today, via an email from Mrs. Alford, that she was never the actual breeder of Bella. Unbelievable. I had bought into a whole long story about Bella would have no health conditions, she comes from a long line of her champion poms, none of them had the conditions I inquired about including collapsing trachea...blah, blah, blah. Now-I learn that she got my dog from SOMEONE (maybe found her on the road for all I know) and sold her to me as a registered dog of her champions or $1750. I can not believe the atrociousness of this whole ordeal. But, we'll see what the has to judge say (whomever that is).
Bella's mom again-things have gotten really bad folks! In fact, down right personal, financial, and putridly ugly compliments of the Alfords. I beg you-stay away! We have done nothing OTHER than tolerate their fraud and take care of an innocent puppy. Thus, I am not backing down in my legal plight but I want anyone thinking about buying a pom from Lil Darlin's Pomeranians to know what they can expect if they enter into an innocent but ignorant transaction with these people. The Alfords actually claimed, in writing, that they contacted authorities in my state about our treatment of Bella. Oh my God! If only all animals could be treated with such compassion and care. I trust that everything will work out because I have professionals and specialists who know what lengths we have gone to and I truly believe that truth and justice will prevail but-heed my advice...be wary of this breeder! If only I knew then what I know now!
You do know she moved to Texas and no longer in Mississippi. Bella's mom, stick to your guns and as hard as it is to deal with and hear all the crazy talk that comes from the Alford's, keep in mind, you are not the first and not the last. The only way to stop them is to put them in their place, sue sue sue, hit them where it hurts. If enough people learn about these people, then maybe you can save another family the heart ache. I know it does not help you, but in the long run, it might put a stop to the scam they are pulling.
Bellas mom i am curious to know whatever happen with your case against the alfords? please post...I too was scammed by the alfords.. I sent money for a pom i never received.. Thank god seeing that her dogs are not what she promices, , , I had to press charges to get most of ny noney back... Please contact me if you need my information for when you go to court, , Good luck i know what your going through... contact the irs since she is not paying taxes and receiving ssi... Akc can give you a copy of all the litters she has registered and just forward that info to ms state IRS...
Unfortunately, Disheartning, nothing ever came of my pursuit to recover damages or even simply obtain AKC papers. The case was accepted by a television court show (YEP!), however Gina and Rick refused to participate. All they would have had to do was show up and testify...all expenses paid including any monetary award. But, remember-when you testify, you're under oath. I knew it would never happen. And, then as you might imagine...Gina cited a health condition that disallowed her the ability to fly to Chicago for the taping. The show gave up. Thereafter, I found it virtually impossible to locate the Alfords in order to pursue the matter in their respective county of residence-where ever that may be now. I ran out of time and energy. Quite frankly, they're loose canons in my opinion. Bella is healthy, happy, adorable and just like a daughter to my husband and I but she does remain unregistered. I still have thousands of dollars of doggy health care bills on my credit card and I'm steadily working to pay that debt down. I guess it's a lesson learned. Not all internet transactions are done in good faith-even when a little dog is caught in the middle. I believe in 'karma' though...what goes around comes around-eventually.