The woman (Mary) who is getting charged with 7 counts of cruelty deserves what she gets....

I do not believe that she meant to do it, but i dont feel sorry for her. As someone mentioned before, handlers work 24/7, 365 days a year. I find great offense in someone stating that handlers need to be eliminated. Yes it is a business, but most of us truely love the dogs we handle!!

I went with Rusty and Jen these past 2 weeks to Oklahoma City and Dallas. It was over 100 degrees almost our entire trip.... Our generator ran 24/7 to keep our dogs cool, and at night we always checked to make sure it was on and working properly with someone sleeping in the truck... Most of the handlers kept the dogs in the buildings and those who didnt had someone in their trucks at all times to keep an eye on their dogs...

NOT EVERY HANDLER WORKS THE SAME!!! And people should not penalize every handler for working like this Mary did....

JMHO, Jen

I have a dog with you and there is no doubt in my mind that Rusty, Jen and the staff would go down before letting something happen to one of our dogs-Thanks

I too have had a dog with Rusty and Jen, and I was so impressed with the care my dog received , these are not your average handlers, individual care in and out of the ring !

Jen L...You are trustworthy and I know you love the dogs and take proper of them.
Gerrie

you believe what gives you comfort

maybe for you but not for me, gorilla in the room!

jen

Gorilla in the room ---

I'd have no problem handing my dogs over to Jen's care, and believe me, I'm a very protective dog mom! She's a gem:-)

Barb

One bad egg can spoil it for the whole bunch.

I do and will send my dogs with the Howards and Jen and anyone who is with them. I'm also a very protective owner and trust them with my life.

If your talking about Syracuse, that was not my dog, but i knew who it belonged to, so if you have a problem, NAMELESS, GET BENT!!!! It happens to everyone... Are you saying it never happened to you, or are just a perfect person??

Jen

I think Jen L needs to keep her opinions to herself.

I think the only opinions that matter are those with names attached.

hear no evil, see no evil and don't mention the gorilla in the van

I HAVE ridden with handlers and HAVE spent significant time with some of those mentioned in this thread. For the most part, are the dogs safe, yes. Do they spend excessive time in crates and get inadequate exercise, yes. Would I send my dogs? NO.

All i am saying is that people need to understand that with some handlers, myself included, care very greatly for the dogs in their care.... Dont judge a book by its cover...

However you nasty people want to take, whatever!! And i can give my opinion whenever and wherever i want! I have really thick skin, so try!!

Jen

Just giving everyone a head's up!

I have sent my dog with Rusty and Jen and will do so again when I have a dog I want to send.
My dog came back in EXCELLENT condition both mentally and physically, finished in no time and I was happy as could be. No complaints at all.
I also know Jen L personally and have no problems sending a dog with Rusty, Jen and Jen L, if that is their traveling arrangement.
I have also sent another dog with a different pro and had a horrible experience. Yes the dog came home alive and was not in danger or sick, but the condition was terrible and the dog was mentally a mess.
We always take chances when we let anyone take care of our dogs. Even if it's just for a walk down the road.
You have to be a good observer and make an informed decision. You must also know your own dog and know whether that dog can handle the life of being on the road, be it for one day or 6 months.
If you don't, you are as much at fault as the handler who makes the mistake.

The nature of being on the road requires that dogs spend more time in their crates and not get as much exercise as we would like. Of course everyone tries as much as they can with ex-pens and the like, but let's face it. The dogs don't get to run free like they may at home. This is the reality of being at dog shows and on the road. Even those of us who show our own dogs have this problem. This is not a condition limited to handlers.

Wow ... okay folks .. agree that there are some handlers who take very good care of the dogs in their care. Agree there are some that don't. People have different experiences with handlers and different expectations - one person's idea of great care may not be another persons's.. perspective is reality.

Gorilla in the room or not ...Jen - no offense, but your posts were a bit controversial.. bit of a blatant advertisment for Jen and Rusty (whom I quite like by the way for those of you who want to start down that road) - perhaps you should not have personalized the original post to the extent that you did.

Bring on the flame throwers ....

this a new consept for you huh deb?

This thread should never have been started.

I totally agree with "clearly canadian".

Well i apologize for anyone who didnt share my offense to the last thread..

I was not advertising Rusty and Jen, frankly, they dont need to advertise...

The point of this thread was to get into SOME peoples' heads that not every handler is the same. Not every doctor, vet, lawyer, etc is the same...

The End...

If you knew Jen L, you would appreciate her sense of humor and laugh at that comment!!
I thought it was funny! :)

Yikes

jen l

If your talking about Syracuse, that was not my dog, but i knew who it belonged to, so if you have a problem, NAMELESS, GET BENT!!!! It happens to everyone... Are you saying it never happened to you, or are just a perfect person??

Jen

GET BENT?? What's does GET BENT mean, other than sounding very immature? Doesn't sound like someone I'd want my dogs on the road with...geesh.

GET BENT?

That does sound immature and why so much emotion for something so minor?

That is very correct. Not every handler is the same!

I would also like to point out that I attended Potomac this year with 2 of my Labs. Life on that road trip was very much the same as going out with a handler for my dogs. They were limited to leash walks for potty breaks. Limited to crating in the vehicle for the 8+ hour drive each way. Limited to crating while in the hotel room. And limited to crating while at the show site.

My dogs did not get as much exercise in that 7 days as they would have at home. Nor did they have adequate play time and "free time" . They were no worse for wear when we came home. However, I was another story! And yet we packed up and did it again for a 4 day weekend away from home not long after.

I understand why people who have their dogs out with handlers would say positive stuff about their handlers. I would ABSOLUTELY do the same--too especially now. I would also probably be praying alot--about the only thing you can do when you dog is hundreds of miles from you and you are worried.

But everything that is being said about these handlers was said about Mary at one timE----and posted on her website too.

If handlers are so great, why didn't one of them see this coming with Mary and prevent it.

Yes there are lots of parks nearby. I did not stay at the host hotel but one approx 1 mile from the show - my dogs did not have to be crated in the room so they were free to roam, stretch their legs, snuggle on the bed.

Just takes proper prior planning.

"Correct," I'm glad your dogs were none the worse for wear, but what you did was unnecessary. I took 2 puppies and a veteran and yet had plenty of time to spend with them. I go to dog shows to spend special time with my dogs and that's why they really like going.