Thyme and Sage Ranch Jennifer Petkus reviews and complaints

I understand that this puppy mill has been in operation for a while.
Why were people not reporting this to the humane society sooner if they have been there and or bought from her?
Why do people have to wait to tell someone about a place this disgusting?

Jennifer Petkus has been charged with 11 counts of animal cruelty. Just Google her name or the name of her "rescue."

I adopted a puppy from Jennifer in December and she was very honest about the fact that he was sick. She also offered to take him back and refund my money. My experience with her was a positive one and yes the puppy was sick but after the Vet gave him antibiotics he was fine. You pay to save a dog and assume the bills or you go to a breeder and pay a high price or save a dog.

She needs to be closed. Because she is not allowed to be listed on Petfinder with Thyme and Sage Ranch anymore she is now using her position as the Richland County Pound to post their animals but then have in each of the description a line that says "more dogs available at www.thymeandsageranch.com

I am sure that Petfinder will be getting emailed about this from everyone who knows of her "operation".

Jennifer Petkus of Thyme and Sage Ranch has been charged with 11 counts of animal cruelty. For more information, just Google her name or the name of her "rescue."

Im not postive without asking others in our group, but I would along with I think the other members of the group would be happy with a clean up effort as suggested by the other poster...as long as things remain under control once its done and that the puppie/dogs at Jennifers are vaccinated properly etc. We arent holding a grudge, we just want all the animals to be healthy when they go to their new homes. Obviously she doesnt want the dogs to be sick either. Jennifer and any other rescue that is reading may always contact us at our email address if they need help. raddogs@radrescue.org

If this place needs a good thorough cleaning and dogs are getting sick, maybe the person who is posting responses on the behalf of Thyme and Sage should tell Jennifer to maybe contact some rescues to come out and help her disinfect her premises, and get the number of dogs down to a more manageable amount so that things stay clean and under control. I would think that it would be a common goal and would probably make everyone involved happy. The other rescue groups would probably be happy because they would feel like they are helping out the welfare of the dogs which is what rescue is all about, and Jennifer would not have the public angry with her and constantly posting their complaints. Maybe she doesnt care, and maybe she just lets it all go in one ear and out the other?, but all should not be a lost cause just because things didnt go like they should have. I mean really all of you should work together and fight for the same cause. It doesnt help anyone to hold a grudge against someone else when there are so many dogs out there needing all of your help.

Most rescue groups do pitch in and help other groups. Our group tries to help other groups and the two local shelters in our area, when we have open foster homes we will go bail out dogs. If we dont have the space available and someone is calling us to surrender a purebred we will often times email the purebred rescues to see if they can help out, or call a different mixed breed group. I believe that is the way a lot of rescues work. We are not opposed to helping out any group as long as the group/shelter is giving proper care to the dogs in their custody.

I was just on Petfinder and its unbelievable the number of rescue groups on there, and Im not sure how they police all of the groups, but there mustve been a founded complaint to get Petfinder to remove this place. I googled alot of groups in this area just to see what would come up and see if there are complaints against other groups and I didnt find any. Even a yorkie group from God knows where has people complaining about this place along with the Richland County news website has a lot of stir about it. What Gives? If she isnt able to take care of the dogs like they need it, why doesnt she give them to the purebred or mixed breed groups? It would be interesting to see if everyone could just pitch in and help out, but from reading on her it kind of looks like shes not interested in that. I also read under Richland County news that she is paid $750 dollars per month by contract with the county so no wonder she answers all the calls in the middle of the night, she gets paid for it so for Puppylover to make comments that other groups dont do that is just not fair, they dont get paid anything for their work they are volunteering.

To bad that there is not some sort of a rescue police for all of the rescue groups.

Sara...I am the one from the RAD group, and I am the only one posting for this group...the other posts are coming from different individuals or other rescues that have had "dealings" with T&S.

Of the 88 dogs that our group placed, none of them have died, or been returned to us sick, nor have we gotten complaints that they have parvo, coccidia, giardia, kennel cough or any other thing. We may not be able to boast about adopting out 427 dogs, but we can say that EVERY dog in our program has been wormed, vaccinated for dhlppc, given rabies if old enough, heartworm tested if old enough, vaccinated for lymes disease, and spayed or neutered at 4 months of age. If the dog goes out of our program before the age of 4 months we have a STRICT follow up policy on the dog getting spayed/neutered and the rest of its booster shots. And I will also add to say that we have a 100% compliance rate with this requirement.
All "reputable" rescues do the same thing for the dogs/puppys in their care. Reputable rescues do not take on hundreds of dogs unless they can provide proper vet care and housing for them.

WOW! What an argument you two groups have going...I've got a question though...if all these complaints are just one group of people out re-posting complaints...WHY? Why lash out a completely bogus complaint and then take the time to make up 10's of 20's of stories just to shut someone down...To be mean, to take her animals...why? Why, unless, maybe it's true...I happen to know for a fact that all of these stories are not from the same group...I have spoken with 3 people who registered complaints that have no connection to eachother. As for the parvo...and the question that rose about why all the complaints were cases of parvo...because it is deadly, because it is highly contageous...maybe a lot of the dogs weren't dying because the little ones were being moved so quickly...maybe they didn't die at the Ranch, maybe they went to their new homes and died...parvo can take 7-14 days to develop into visual symptoms, then another 3-5 days to kill an animal. It's a horrible death! I KNOW because we got puppies from Jennifer that died from parvo. It certainly did not come from our home...Our vet had contact with 2 other people who also purchased puppies from her and they also died within days of ours. Weather or not she's just in denial or truely doesn't care doesn't dismiss the fact that she has had parvo exposure on her premesis...That in itself should prompt her to clear her facilities completely until she can bleach down every last inch of them and also her yard...once parvo is in the ground, it can take years to clear it. As for the comment made about how she can't possibly be out for the money because the rescue offered 250 and she turned them down...she's getting in upwards of 300-400 for some of her pups (that's what we paid and another couple that was there buying a puppy when we arrived)...I can see why she would turn down 250 if someone else was willing to pay more...Bottom line, this is not a group of one just posting aimlessly to ruin a completely innocent individual. There is a reason for these postings. If Jennifer really did care, she would do what is right, clear her facilities...she obviously cannot handle the load. I am curious to know...of the 88 dogs placed by the other rescue...how many reports of parvo death or other un-natural death have there been?...I'd be willing to bet there is a much higher percentage on death rate by parvo and other disease/pain and suffering in the ratio of 427 to now living that came from the Ranch.

Oh please, , , we took animals that had been there a long time that were suggested to us by her (some were fear aggressive and had not been handled and needed one on one attention which is what we gave them). I can go on our website happy tails and pick out each dog that came from there and I guarantee that there were way more lg breeds than small. In fact we remember saying that we would take a dog named Reba a lg breed because she had been there awhile and we were told she was already going to someone...but then months later she was still there...as I see Dobber and Dee Dee are and Violet and Blue...all dogs which we told her we would take. Now its almost a year later and they are still there when they couldve been in our program, rehabilitated and placed.
The reason we were there 4-6 hours was to try and figure out which dogs would work in which foster homes. Not all our foster homes can take every type of dog (being that some have kids in them and we dont want anyone getting bit) so obviously we have to play on the safe side if we are pulling a dog for one of those homes.
As for pits and hounds or any other mix...we take them too. We take any size, sex, color or breed of dog as we have room and as owners or other overfull shelters/rescues call us. We do not however buy puppies from the mills or amish and support their pocketbooks.

I myself am just hoping that anyone adopting a dog/puppy from ANY rescue gets vet papers showing that the animal has been seen by a vet, is spayed or neutered, and has its rabies vaccination if its old enough (which by the way is required by law to transfer a dog to another person or rescue).

That is not the whole email...

You have been out to T&S at great lengths-sometimes upto 4-6hours picking and choosing what you want...

Her father even had to catch a dog that got away from you.

Look at your Happy Tails...cute and fluffy again

You are a group that has placed 88 dogs-Well Done!

Jennifer has placed 427 since April with a handful of complaints-Not Bad!

You see--there are various ways to rescue. She is more of a safe haven until they find better. I am sure she never advised you any of the animals you took were health checked and 100% good to go.

Your relationship ended when she would no longer work w/ you or your facility. She firmly believes animals that have been here the longest or need additional one on one care should get transferred out first. You disagreed with this and were a pick and choose operation.

Best of luck to you and your organization...

But why the bashing of two other rescues...my recommendation-help do not bash.

By the way-can you take in any Pits or hounds now?

Jennifer gets calls at all hours of animals outside, chained up-no shelter, not fed and takes them in at the drop of a hat.

Could you do the same? I am sure you are not that type of rescue. But do not judge as someone has to provide at least the basic's for these poor creatures.

You all seem to have a common goal-if she were not around, where would you suggest a high volume of animals go to be safe harbored?

Think before you type.

Ahem: May 21 Wisconsin State Journal headline reads: "Jennifer Petkus, owner and founder of the animal shelter where more than 300 dogs were seized, was charged with 11 misdemeanor animal cruelty charges in Richland County Circuit Court on Wednesday. According to a criminal complaint, Dr. Lisa Kerwin-Lucchi, a veterinarian with the Dane County Humane Society, used a hidden camera and temperature probe to record conditions at Thyme and Sage Ranch in rural Cazenovia in March. At that time, she found dogs without access to food and unfrozen water, dogs with severely matted fur and inadequate bedding for unheated buildings, in addition to other injuries and poor conditions."

I think the Bottom Line should be that all rescues take the time and money to have their dogs vaccinated and altered before placing them in a home. And if the rescue doesnt have money to take care of this, they certainly shouldt be buying animals from auctions.

I was considering adopting a puppy from Thyme and Sage Ranch but after reading the "beware" posts, I was concerned. Being a very experienced internet user and knowing that some people's compliment and complaint posts are less than genuine, we decided to drive down to the Ranch to see for ourselves. I think the first thing people who consider adopting a animal that was rescued from a puppy mill is that these are not premium health animals. There is a reason the mill was shut down and the animals were rescued...because the conditions were awful. Upon our arrival, we found our way into the house where the puppies are romping about. This is not a residential house but rather a house just to show the puppies to prospective adopting families. There is another kennel on-site and the adult dogs are kept in there but the "puppy house" is where the action is. When you first come in, Jennifer welcomes you and tells you a little about the different puppies and will help steer you to the right area to find what you might be looking for. There are 20 or so puppies in the house that are not housebroken so there is a urine smell. Jennifer and her volunteers try to keep up with all accidents but the puppies do walk through the pee and get it on their feet. As such, the puppies will smell a bit. And Jennifer makes it clear that these puppies have not been to a vet, she and her volunteers give the puppies their first shots and do their best to adopt out only animals that are healthy enough to be adopted. She tells everyone that their first step is to get a vet appt. She also tells people that if the vet finds anything wrong that is serious, you can get a full refund or exchange. I've adopted 7 rescued animals before and there are no guarantees that you have an animal in perfect health. Bottom line is that if you can't afford or don't want vet bills, you really shouldn't own any pets...they go hand-in-hand. Anyway, after about an hour playing with 6 or so different puppies, we settled on a very shy Lhasa-poo male. I suspect he has some kennel cough and needs a good vet check, something we have scheduled for tomorrow. I hope he is well but as I think I've made clear, I cannot be certain. I could never expect Jennifer or her volunteers to be certain. She rescues so many animals that there is no way she could afford to have a vet staff, not ideal for certain but what is the worse? Do you let the mills continue to treat animals the way they do or do you dedicate your life to rescue and do the best you can. There is no inhumane treatment at the Ranch. Sure, I'd like a pet store setting and my puppy to be vet checked prior to adoption, but think of that expense. Many pet stores buy from mills, either knowingly or not so is that a good option? There is a ton of info on the internet about adopting a rescued animal, it is not for everyone and it is your responsibility to go in armed with knowledge. Here is the best analogy I can think of: would you buy a car, 1000 miles away, without having seen the vehicle on eBay? This works for some people, and doesn't for many others. There are responsible breeders out there and if you are uneasy about adopting a rescued dog, then find one of those. You may very well still have a puppy with a medical condition that you are responsible to treat.

Bottom line: Jennifer has a personal conviction to shut down puppy mills. To do this, she needs to adopt out as many rescued animals as possible. If you consider adopting one of these animals, do your homework and know exactly what you are doing. Know your responsibilities and consider giving Jennifer and the Ranch volunteers a break. They really are trying hard and I bet none of us volunteer more hours towards our favorite charity or cause. I'll keep you updated on my puppy’s health.

Hello-

See my name is posted-notice yours is not. I was with Jennifer at that auction and your set-up backfired. She took 5 dogs and sat back watching other rescues bid as high as $800 on a dog? Who is calling the kettle back. Have you ever been to her facility-there is nothing filthy about it. She was cornered while loading the 5 dogs she saved by your nonesense and lies. Thus, no comment as she has nothing to defend as many of you rant and raved like people w/ serious mental challenges. Some rescue groups were so embarrassed by your actions, they called Jennifer to apologize the next day. I understand that people post on here, as they get upset if something happens to their dog or puppy-these are rescues. She is not a breeder or broker...however, her adoptions and goodness is being spread through word of mouth by people that actually come out and that reputation prevails all the lies. I must say, since April, 457 dogs have been adopted, so a hand full of complaints and nonsense is part of the business. As long as it makes the poster feel better. We will have to see the outcome of the atty who is sueing Craiglist for the postings they allowed. I would be very careful by what one posts as fact vs opinion...as that is most likely why no real names are being posted? Right Dog lover-puppy lver2 etc. Hide away w/ you jealousy and nonesense of what she has accomplished that you wish you could...I am a firm believer that what comes around, goes around. Last week 42 adoptions-mostly adults-but you do not focus on that. Why is it ok for your rescue and or others to goto dog auction and pay big $$$$ that the Amish laugh all the way to the bank about, or make a dent and relation the way she has. Please think about it and put your support and focus back into what you are striving to accomplish, because it must be failing as so much energy spread elsewhere.

PLEASE report stuff like this to the Better Business Bureau so others can avoid suporting bad businesses!

Jennifer got a slap on the wrist. Three years probation and restitution and still has the abilities to own animals on her property. Of course if she has a family member living with her she can have "their" pets on her property. The judge said she was a hoarder who "just lost it". I am sickened by this verdict. I expected as much really. This is how the entire case was from the beginning for most of us that adopted animals from Jennifer. She has a clip on Channel 3 news that says she wants to get her life back to normal and move on with her career and farm. Really? What about all the animals you killed and the people you bilked out of thousands of dollars. This county is just messed up in my opinion. They treated all those involved both on 2 legs and 4 like they had no idea what really was going on there. I think most of us knew more than those with any authority there in Richland County. This is just a travesty of justice and as they say we all have to answer to our maker. Someday so will they. God has a plan for all of us. Jennifer you are one of the worst of human beings I have ever had the displeasure to meet. Sadly I wish she would have to suffer the same fate she make many furry kids suffer. She certainly does not appear to be starving and suffering from serious injuries that have festered. I can only hope your probation officer stays on this to make sure that you are following the rules but sadly I doubt it. Richland County does NOT seem to have a good hold on the government agencies in that county.

Shelter Owner Convicted Of Animal Neglect Charges
Petkus Faces Sentencing On 6 Charges
Updated: 7:11 am CST March 12, 2011

CAZENOVIA, Wis. -- A jury found the owner of a Richland County animal shelter guilty on six counts of animal cruelty, according to court records on Friday.

Jennifer Petkus, who owned Thyme & Sage Ranch, was convicted following a three-week trial of starving a dog to death, failing to provide water to animals, failing to maintain sufficient cleanliness for animals in her care and mistreatment of a specific ram, bull dog and border collie, according to court records.

The six guilty counts support a maximum sentence of 54 months in jail or three years probation and up to $10, 000 in fines for each count.

The Richland County district attorney plans to ask for five years prohibition against Petkus having animals, according to Dane County Humane Society officials.

The next step will be the sentencing for Petkus which is expected to happen in April.

The Dane County Humane Society, which took in many of the ranch's animals, praised the trial's outcome.

“Dane County Humane Society is glad to be seeing some justice to help prevent future situations like this from happening again, ” said DCHS Executive Director Pam McCloud Smith, in a statement. "It is good to have some closure to this case that began for us back in March of 2008 when I took a trip to the Thyme & Sage Ranch to pick up dogs that needed help."

DCHS officials said they are thankful and proud of the good work that was done by DCHS staff and volunteers and other animal welfare organizations that together helped save nearly 600 dogs, 25 horses and 60 small animals.

The Thyme & Sage Ranch was located in Cazenovia.

Helen did you report it to the sheriff's department after the raid on her ranch?

I had the same problem and my puppy died also. Helen Reed

Elizabeth I just love you...I am feeling a little better and that change you have suggested will be done in the next couple of days...

I hope you are well...I just adore you...You are too kind!

Big hugs,
Penny

Hi,

I just want to remind ***everyone*** particiating in this thread to please join Penny's Facebook cause, Help me see that Kasey didn't die in vain!, and to invite all their friends. Here's the link:

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/385282/51108366?m=e56504ed

and to please sign the petition and pass it along to many others. Here's the link

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/see-that-jennifer-petkus-receives-proper-punishment

Penny needs our help right now more than ever! Please don't let her and little baby Kasey down now!

Thank you!
Elizabeth

Sadly the Richland County authorities are so busy that they again settled a "situation" with Jennifer. There were 98 animals still being held at Dane County Humane Society from the raid in May and this civil case Richland County took against Jennifer was supposed to be heard the third week of this month. During communications with Jennifer's side, and because of a very busy schedule I guess with the judge, it was agreed that Jennifer would relinquish 94 animals instead of the county persuing costs of care against Jennifer. The 4 remaining animals were given to Jennifer's parents, who now LIVE with Jennifer. So even knowing that all the parasites and diseases that were found on her property they once again lets healthy animals go back to this property.

Since the August inspection there has not been another inspection and it appears that Jennifer will just continue to do what she has done in the past, ignore the law. She had over 30 domestic animals on her property, many the parents said they brought from Illinois, without health certificates, and now she has 4 more to go along with her animals and those that her parent's claim to own...puppies included.

The RC authorities just do not care about this as these are just animals and the court system look at them as property...not living breathing things that deserve the right to decent care. I do not know what to do to put this back in the spotlight since no one is paying attention and NO ONE is doing inspections...I think it is unfair for those animals that are forced to live there whether they were there originally and now sent back or those the parents claim to have owned...Why did the authorities not force her parents to provide health certificates for bringing the animals across the stateline? Why do they allow healthy animals to go back there? Why is it that Jennifer and her parents can harass the staff doing inspections to the point a point of an unsafe feeling and the police stood by and watched it happen?

It is time to force all of them to use the laws and force the Petkus's to follow those laws...The DA's office can do it but refuses to force the courts hands...When will they all quit turning their heads to this crime...It is the time now...

Soon, not soon enough for some, the State of Wisconsin will have better laws to force those that have animals to care for them better...But then it will be up to the law enforcement bodies to enforce them...There will still be those that do not force care for these beings that cannot speak for themselves...We will continue until there is change...I have plenty of time and energy most days...I will be in court everyday when the criminal case is finally heard next spring...Even if she is found guilty I am sure she will not get punishment she deserves...It is a sad situation...

I'm so sorry for both your losses. People think that because there animals they don't matter as much as humans. Most breeders use the excuse of a healthy dog to get money say way people us God to benefit themselves. Animals are very loving to us and they deserve to be treated the right way, Jennifer thinks that its your fault when its hers...I'm pretty sure she wouldn't like to be treated the same way she treated your pup. I do hope you countine to tell this story so not only Jennifer but all the millions of breeders who aren't doing their job right get what they deserve. I would've personally taken her to court not to get the money back but so that she can learn her lesson. I wish you the best of luck, and know that this story made me cry and it wasn't in vain. Thank you for that

Speaking as a practicing veterinarian, no shelter or rescue should be keeping more animals than they can afford to keep in a sanitary environment. Puppies from many different litters running around in a dirt lot is NOT sanitary! parvo and many parasites are spread in such an environment and there is absolutely no way of cleaning a dirt or grass lot. Concrete can be disinfected but manure, grass and dirt can't. Also from a disease spread standpoint, species should not be mixed. People think they are doing animals a service by giving them "freedom" in a dirt or grass lot but with such a high density population of animals, they would be better off in kennels or pens where all surfaces can be cleaned and feces picked up at least on a once/twice daily basis.
Yes, it is common for parasites to be passed on form mother to puppies shortly after birth. That is why puppies should be dewormed at 3 weeks and every 3 weeks thereafter until they are out of such an environment (and even in private homes, puppies should be dewormed every 3 weeks until about 16 -18 week old). Coccidia and giardia are not killed by the commen dewormers, however, but the fact that the lady handed you pamphlets on both of them tells me she probably should have treated the puppies before ownership change or the puppies should have at least started the medications before you took the pup home. It isn't stress that causes the diseases, but rather stress causes the diseases to become clinical and the puppy gets sick. The puppy had the parasites all along, it just wasn't showing signs until stress caused its immune system to weaken and fail to keep the parasites in check. And yes, any time a puppy moves to a new environment, even if it goes from terrible conditions to a clean, loving environment experiences a high level of stress. It was not your fault that the puppy was stressed. There was nothing you could have done to eliminate the stress of a new home.
As to the parvo, the immune response to vaccines takes about 2 weeks, and a puppy is not fully protected until having at least 2 doses, three weeks apart after the age of 12 weeks (and some new evidence is showing that the last vaccine should be at 18 weeks, not 15 weeks for maximum protection). If this puppy received a vaccine a week before it died, it never benefited from any protection from the vaccine. Puppies should get their first vaccine at 6 weeks (followed by boosters every 3 weeks, as mentioned above. Because of interference from maternal antibodies, the vaccines in a 6-12 week puppy are only protective for about 3 weeks, leaving the puppy vulnerable t certain points between vaccines). To be effective, vaccinations need to be done when the puppy has a healthy immune system. A weakened immune system can make a vaccine ineffective or less effective. Stress and other disease processes can weaken the immune system, so even if the puppy was vaccinated and the vaccine had time to work, the puppy had giardia and coccidia and moved to a new home the day after being vaccinated. That's puppy that's at a very high risk of getting parvo if exposed! And being that the puppy was exposed to all sorts of other dogs at the shelter, it was most likely exposed there.
Even if the owner of this facility has her heart in the right place, she is not being responsible and needs to learn about infectious diseases and parasites and how to prevent their spread. Most likely she has taken in more animals than she can afford to care for and more animals than her space has room for and needs to shut down or decrease numbers and clean things up, as well as routinely deworm the animals and treat them for coccidia and giardia before they become a deadly problem to the animals (although proper hygiene should eliminate the giardia problem).

Regardless of who post the first comment, I think that that woman from the "rescue" is just a liar who's out there just trying to get money, so she doesn't care about the animals. She just wants the money and does not even vaccinate them properly, seems like.
I hope she gets in jail as soon as possible and that everyone knows and or hears about this kind of "business"...this is animal cruelty and also FRAUD!

Sorry for all the victims and their owners...:(