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My wife and I purchased a Ridgeback puppy almost 2 years ago now from Southside Dogs. She is wonderful, but our experience with Frank was TERRIBLE. He was rude, arrogant and way to "used car sales" for a person selling a live animal.
Nala, our puppy, was chosen because we were drawn to her. She was timid and weak when we bought her. We were not aware what we were getting into. She had the worst case of puppy worms my vet had ever seen and the even has a scar from something that happened when she was under 8 weeks old and living at the farm. We paid a premium because she was "show" quality. When I brought her to the vet, she had an overbite (which makes her ineligible for shows); She had a dime sized scar on her front shoulder (which I can only assume was from another puppy or something that happened before we picked her up - he said it would heal perfectly - it still hasn't 2 years later - there is a dime sized baled scar on her shoulder); and once again, the worms were aweful. I can show pics...GROSS.
I wound up spending $1100 extra in vet bills in the first 6 months Nala was home! We did blood testing to make sure her shoulder was alright as it wasn't healing the way he said it would and was scaring weirdly... We had to do multiple treatments for worms... and once again the overbite.
We paid an additional $500 for a show quality dog - even though we NEVER had any intention on showing her. He never gave the option to do anything else. We contacted Frank about reimbursement for some of the charges because she was, in fact, NOT show quality plus a little extra for the worms and other vet bills. He claims his dogs are the best and healthiest. Then I had these issues and he never once returned my phone call. I called him at least 10 times over a period of 2 months without a return phone call!
Has anyone else had an experience with him like this? I see he had some dogs confiscated earlier in 2012. I am infuriated about this since seeing that news article and I want to make this man pay for his poor treatment of animals and poor business ethic! The fact his website is up still and he is still operating is absolutely ABSURD!
I want to put something together. A list of NEGATIVE testimonies in regards to their experience with him. Unfortunately, to his credit, his dogs are amazing, beautiful and well tempered. My dog, Nala is now 2 years old and is the best dog I could imagine. We have since had a baby and Nala is so patient and wonderful with her. However, that doesn't change the fact that he ripped me off for almost $1000 as far as I am concerned. I am sure I am not the only one this has happened to...
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
More Dogs from this so called "breeder" are being put into rescue currently since they decided to call the state to "dispose" of them
Your letter fits this guy to a T. I had the unfortunate experience of working for this "SMURF" for a couple of weeks in the spring of 2012. The guy is a classic Con-Artist. My advice to anyone is Stay Away from this guy. He is now facing multiple Felony charges along with the 49 counts of Animal Cruelty.
June 6, 2012
Area kennel owner faces new felony charges
By Denise Richardson
Staff Writer
The owner of South Side Dogs and South Side Farms in Worcester was arrested during a court appearance Tuesday on additional charges related to his business activities, Otsego County deputies said in a media release.
Frank Michael Popolizio, 66, of Schenectady, was charged with first-degree scheme to defraud, third-degree grand larceny and fourth-degree grand larceny, all felonies, and petit larceny, a misdemeanor, deputies said.
Popolizio was arrested when he appeared at the Worcester Town Court to answer previous animal abuse charges, deputies said. He was arraigned on the new charges by Worcester Judge William J. Fisher and released on his own recognizance, pending another court appearance at 4 p.m. July 3.
Popolizio was arrested after a six-week investigation by the Otsego County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division.
Deputies received a complaint in late April from a Virginia resident who said she sent Popolizio $2, 100 as a down payment for miniature livestock in September, but she didn't receive the cattle or her money back.
Based on further investigation, Popolizio is accused of stealing $26, 435 from numerous customers during the past five years as he "engaged in an ongoing fraudulent course of conduct by using false or fraudulent pretenses, representations and/or promises, " the release said.
The customers lived in Virginia, Maryland, California, Pennsylvania as well as New York, deputies said.
If convicted on the additional charges filed Tuesday, Popolizio faces up to 26 years in prison, deputies said.
Otsego County Assistant District Attorney Marvin D. Parshall Jr. is prosecuting the case. Anyone else who believes they have been subjected to fraud by Popolizio is asked to call deputies at 547-4363 to file a complaint.
On Feb. 2, Popolizio was charged with 49 counts of animal cruelty after state police, who investigated complaints that dogs there appeared to be neglected, raided South Side Dogs. The dogs were confiscated.
The Susquehanna SPCA is caring for dozens of the seized dogs, and Popolizio's attorney said recently that he is opposing action that his client pay for their care. In a separate case, Popolizio already faces potential state prison time if he is convicted of any of five felony charges brought against him by the state Department of Taxation and Finance. Those charges related to his alleged failure to pay sales taxes collected at his now-closed Schenectady restaurant, The Pentagon.