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This complaint is a buyer beware about Lanie Bulzachelli aka Shalane Doucette, the owner of Palace Cats Ragdolls in Ft Myers FL. I place a $200 with here at the end of Sept 2010 for a male blue mitted kitten that was to born in October. I emailed extensively with her, checked complaint boards, etc before placing a deposit as I was looking for a reputable breeder that also believed in natural rearing and she was the only one I found in the country for ragdolls. Everything was going fine. I received one picture of the kitten at about 5wks, he was the only male in the litter. Then, in November, we decided to put a deposit on a second male kitten from a litter that was born 2wks prior to the other kitten we placed a deposit on. This litter had 5 males born and we were supposed to be able to choose a kitten from this litter. I emailed 3 times asking for pictures of not only this litter but also any updated pictures on the blue mitted kitten. Each time she had an excuse, her ipad charger broke or the kids had baseball camp, etc. I asked if she could just use a point & shoot or her camera phone to take a pic and she never did. She then contacted me about 5 days before Christmas and asked me if I would take the kittens at that time. this statement concerned me greatly as they were not to come to us until the end of the 1st week of January so that they would be 12 wks old. The week of christmas would have made them only 9wks! When I confronted her she said Oh, I forgot to write down when they were born, I didn't realize how old they would be! She then sold off the remaining seal mitted litter that week without us being able to see any of them or pick our kitten! We were then to have a pet transporter bring the kittens to us on board the plane, five days before they were due to be picked up, the transporter would not respond to emails and I would need to go get them on a $1200 plane ticket! Then, I worked out transportation details and mailed off the final check on a Thursday. That afternoon after i had let her know that I dropped the check in the mail, she told me that all of the kittens in both litters were sick with chlamydia from a vaccine that a tech gave by mistake. Keep in mind she told me originally tha part of the reason she charges 3 times more for her ragdolls than most breeders is because she buys these very expensive vaccines and takes them to the vet to be given. When I confronted her on how this happened she said she didn't have time to buy vaccines and just let the vet give them and they were not supposed to get a chlamydia vaccine. I became even more concerned so I emailed my vet to ask questions. She was suspicious because she said the incubation time for a chlamydia is 3-5 days after exposure. These kittens all became sick within 24-48 hours. She was concerned that it might be herpes as the symptoms are so close testing has to be done to determine the exact diagnosis. When I asked Lanie if she tested she said no that the test was expensive and she just started treating them. She agreed to hold my check until we knew if the kittens made it. I emailed her with some specific questions from my vet and requested an answer on Friday. I never heard back from her. Monday morning my gut instinct told me to put a stop pay on the check. Sure enough Tuesday morning the check was presented to the bank. I emailed her as I was furious because she never answered my Friday email but mainly because she cashed this check when she said she wouldn't. She said she was in the hospital with pneumonia and wasn't able to get back to me, she also had the nerve to say she didn't know the check was cashed that it must have been her husband! The check was only written to her and all checks to her prior were signed only by her, she didn't have a business stamp. I asked for at least half of my deposit back as I knew she wouldn't give the full amount. She said she would be happy to sell me kittens from the next litter that were quote "fat and healthy". I declined and again asked for a refund. i have never heard from her again and she refuses to answer my emails. I understand her site says deposits are non-refundable, however, she didn't hold up to any part of her agreement and I felt at a minimum half would be fair! I honestly, have no idea if she even had kittens to sell us!
VAE319--Please let me know what you find out from TICA & CFA as I will gladly proceed with a complaint. I contacted both organizations when this happened but I never received a reply back and I let it go. I figured since i never received the kittens that they felt I wasn't a justifiable complaint but the problems you have had are just awful. Please let me know if you are able to get a reply. Felicia
Thank you for the email to the SE Regional Director. i have filed my complaint. I don't know if I'll hear back from him but I have done my part
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Listen up people. What you all need to do is file a complaint with Teresea Brown from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Animal Industry, 407 S. Calhoun St, Room 409G2, MS 7, Tallahassee, Fl [protected]. We have to stop this woman, Lanie and her husband from selling these cats and if there are enough complaints, she will not be able to register them and therefore, profit. I too was screwed over as we purchased a blue mitted kitten on Jan 11 from her husband, Tim as he said she was out of town. We asked for the papers and he said he didn't know where they were and would mail them to us. I did speak to Lani and emailed her when I didn't get the shot records and told her the kitten had bad diarrhea and I needed the shot records to know what to tell my Vet. Never heard from them again (called Tim also). My kitten had worms and a couple of weeks later I found out she has feline herpes which is also the cat flu and she probably got it from her litter mates or the mother as it is highly contagious. She will have this the rest of her life and if she gets stressed, it will come back (symptoms are fever, sneezing, coughing etc). I even had called the vet Lani had recommended to ask about the kitten's shots and she said she never saw any kittens born Oct 19 (so Lani lied about her birthday too as MY vet said she is almost 6 months old now). Her vet also informed me she sometimes administers the shots herself which is NOT legal if she intends to SELL the kittens. I also believe that my kitten was from the same litter that the first complaint from ftrebing was interested in when he was told they got sick (I found out they died and I am almost positive it was from the feline herpes and my kitten was lucky enough to survive). We all need to band together to stop this breeder from profiting from selling sick cats.
Jeanne Dumas
Well, I wish that I would have found this forum prior to purchasing my kitten. I purchased a kitten last week and now she is at the vet's office sick. Lanie has lied to me as well and has sold me a sick kitten. She is now located in a town north of Birmingham, AL. I guess she scammed everyone in Florida, ruined her reputation and now she has moved to Alabama to scam people here!
I have had a horrible experience with Laine. I purchased a female rag doll on 12/10. When I took her home she was sick with Giardia. I spent a lot of money on vets bill, tests, medications and it took a long time to resolve. I asked Laine to reimburse me for my vet bills since she sold me a sick cat. At first she denied and then later agreed to pay for half my bills. She said she would she me a check and never did. I contacted her several times letting her know I never received the check in the mail and she always had an excuse: I was out of town for my birthday, my phone broke, I lost your address. To this day she won't return my text messages or phone calls. I never got my cat's official papers either. I appreciate that someone has spoken out against her. I should have done it much sooner myself. Thank you to the person that posted the email to TICA director I will be filling my complaint as well.
April 2011 we bought two kittens Palacecats, we never received the papers, the kittens (one female and one male) came just two months, without vaccines, were never registered with TICA, just sent us the papers to record litter of each and do not answer our demands, we call and say now registered in CFA but not sent us the papers
We have been cheated because we traveled to Miami to look for both cats and now have 2 animals without records or pedigree
We Write to TICA and our RD in SA Region
I have bought three Ragdolls from Palace Cats. We are owned by a bluemitted, seal point and a flame. They are all males, all been altered, all have their papers and all are extremely healthy. The older two are almost 3 years old, the youngest a year. Their personalities could not be more friendly, more loving. They are awesome companions. Lanie and Tim were wonderful in helping me to choose which kittens would be best for our family.
Please think twice before bashing a great breeder. I feel very comfortable referring anyone to Palace Cats.
regional.director.se@tica.org This is the email address for TICA's SE Regional Director
This breeder belongs to TICA and CFA.
Talks a good game, knows all the right things to say, and is
very convincing that she is a reputable breeder.
Lanie aka PalaceCats is not a reputable breeder.
I am contacting TICA and CFA to see how to file a complaint.
Their websites don't make it easy to find out how to file a complaint.
Have sent emails to both places to find out how to proceed.
Everyone who has an issue with this breeder needs to file a complaint with
TICA and CFA. That's the only way the breeder gets flagged by these organizations.
When enough people complain about the same breeder, then the board of ethics will
look into them.
you can register your entire litter online...and print out blue slips! There is NO excuse not to have papers on a cat. Early alter solves the "spay before you get your papers" issue and also keeps PETS from breeding! Not all breeders are bad...but sometimes it does take a while to find one that is in it for the love of the breed THERE IS NO MONEY IN BREEDING CATS. You spend more on vet bills, litter, high quality cat foods, and showing than you could EVER make. Beware backyard breeders...buy from a breeder that is part of TICA's code of ethics...if they don't follow it...report them
Hey, Cat Rebel, did you read this? Please let me know how YOU do with your cat purchase from Palacecats!
Just got back from the vet..AGAIN! The lynx ragdoll that I received from Lanie has
ulcers in her mouth. This is being caused by her bite being so off that when my cat
closes her mouth, her top teeth are actually puncturing her lower gums.
Now, we have to take her to a dentist to see if they can repair her bite or
have teeth removed. A one year old cat is already facing the possibility of loosing
teeth. I have almost $1, 000 in vet bills so far and we are not even finished yet.
Don't buy a cat from this breeder!
By the way, this column provides the name and contact details of those who post a comment!
Good luck! You'll need it!
It sounds like this is another cat breeder trying to destroy a reputable small cattery. When posting a complaint on someone, you should place your name and email for further inquiries as this complaint makes it look like you want to destroy someone and hide. The people posting these comments are the same people getting beat in the cat shows. I can personally state that Palacecats has excellent ragdolls that are nice and healthy. When the time comes to adopt another show alter, I will be adopting one from this breeder.
LANIE BULZACHELLI, (and Tim),
a/k/a SHALANE DOUCETTE
PalaceCats Inc.
7206 JASMINE ROAD
FORT MYERS FL [protected]
UNITED STATES
[protected]
[protected]
palacecatsfl@gmail.com
palacecats@comcast.net
Shalane Doucette is “palace cats” on Etsy; she is a thief and scam artist, selling old, expired Baby Formula’ and stolen Designer ’High-Top” basketball players shoes on Ebay and Etsy
Lanie Bulzachelli aka Shalane Doucette, the owner of Palace Cats Ragdolls in Ft Myers FL.
Large amount of Negative Feedback on Ebay; and Lanie Bulzachelli, a/k/a Shalane Doucette has scammed many individuals nationwide.
I too have been SCAMMED by this person, SHALANE DOUCETTE ! BEWARE! DO NOT DEAL WITH THIS UNSCRUPULOUS Person! ~Rudy
I have issues with this breeder as well.
I picked this breeder because she was only two hours away.
Talked and emailed several times. Was told that she doesn't allow visitors to her home because
kittens are exposed to germs and their immune system is too weak when they are very young.
Lets just say that Lanie is a good sales person.
Told her I wanted a female blue mitted ragdoll.
Was very specific on what I wanted. Was sent one picture of the kitten when it was still all white and couldn't really tell anything yet. After driving their to pick up the kitten, I thought the markings didn't look right but I'm not a breeder. Decided to ignore my gut and wait to see if I was wrong. Well, to make a long story short the cat ended up being a tortie. Lanie said she apologized and offered me to buy another kitten from her for half off. This was upsetting because I was buying the cat for my mother was had stage 4 cancer. She always wanted a blue mitted which was why I was so specific in my color choice. Well, her next litter was all males...lol
That seemed odd to me, but okay. I didn't have time to wait for litter after litter and now my family was attached to the one I brought home so I ended up taking a female lynx for my mother.
I ended up paying alot of money for two cats that were not even the colors I wanted.
My mother has since passed and I now have both ragdolls.
I have two issues.
I never received papers for either cat after they were fixed. Lanie says it takes too much time and it's a big hassle. I find that a poor excuse.
It's part of the selling price and I shouldn't have to beg for the papers, which I have never received to this day.
I told Lanie in two different emails that both ragdolls have eye issues. They both get conjuctivitis. Both kittens had very dirty eyes when I picked them up from her house. The female breeder cats had hair mats, one had a poop stuck on its butt, and the house stunk like cat pee. I've been to other breeders homes and never experienced this. The sad part is you are already at the house after driving for hours and paid your money so you feel awkward to say something. I regret not listening to my gut!
I sent several emails to Lanie about the cats eyes and the lynx cat having back legs that are bowed. She walks like John Wayne!
Lanie never responded. No concern at all.
Everytime I've talked to her, she always has an excuse (her phone was broke, didn't get the emails, she was sick, her hubby, her kid, etc..)
This has really soured me on breeders.
Every pet I've bought from a breeder has ended up with health issues. The healthiest cat I have was from Petsmart when it was adopt a day (and I paid $49).
Next time, I will just adopt one.
The breeders are in it for the money.
They all get mad when you say that, but once you leave with your pet, the concern goes with you out the door!