Back in 2011, Ginger Turk was in legal hot water for allegedly forging a veterinarian’s signature on health documents for imported puppies. Her legal woes started after a puppy she sold died a few days after purchase, stricken with parvovirus. When the puppy’s purchaser went to contact the veterinarian listed on the health documents, the alleged forgery was discovered.
According to the Humane Society, the organization “has also received complaints about sick puppies allegedly purchased from Turk, and numerous complaints abound … online. … Legislation passed
as part of the 2008 Farm Bill prohibits the importation of puppies under 6 months of age for resale.”
The report goes on to state Turk would be required to hold a U.S. Department of Agriculture license to “sell large numbers of puppies sight-unseen over the Internet, yet a search of U.S.D.A. records … could find no license under the name of Ginger Turk an no class A or B licenses for any dog dealers in El Dorado Hills.”
“El Dorado County Animal Services is aware of the business. The business is currently under investigation,” he said. “Because this is an active investigation, no further information can be released at this time.”
Kathleen Summers, with the Humane Society, said Turk is listed in the report, 101 Puppy Mills, due to complaints.
“We have received three complaints alleging she sold sick puppies, puppies who did not look anything like their pictures and puppies who grew larger than the promised ‘micro mini’ size,” Summers said.
Complaints about Turk and her puppy-selling business are plentiful but she claims they are the product of a competitor.
“This is absurd. If you are going to post something negative, get your facts straight. (My supplier) has incredible teacup puppies and they have NEVER had any health issues,” she posted online.
Another defense was posted on her website, LaChicPuppy.com.
“(In 2011), I made a bad decision and signed a document for a puppy to board a flight when a customer flew into our airport to pick up her puppy. … It was a bad decision I made and I … have learned my lesson. I was charged with a felony because the certificate I signed was a federal document. This was and is the only time I have ever done anything like this. I’m not a bad person or a bad business because I made a mistake,” she writes.
“Unfortunately, when my competitor got word of this, she decided to post it everywhere on the internet using fake names like she was customers of ours and used her website to try and damage my … reputation. I had to change my business name, due to all her slander and constant harassment. She has made many false accusations about us on reputation websites and to customers who contacted both our businesses about puppies.”
 |
| Turk destroys rental houses and then flees with the animals to a new location to start over. This landlord said she fled, owing him a lot of rent, but he found bank statements where she had collected $200,000 in online payments from idiots buying her sick, dying puppies |
According to Folsom Police Officer Andrew Bates, “In 2011, she was charged with forgery (and) sentenced to five years probation.”
“We have a great shelter in Folsom, and we have tons of rescue organizations around where people can get great pets and get information regarding how to integrate that pet into the family, as well as proper care and exercise of the pet,” said the self-professed dog lover. “People who run puppy mills don’t care about the animals at all, they have very little oversight by governmental agencies, and the animals’ conditions are deplorable! … Legitimate breeders care for their animals, selecting for intelligence and mental stability, among other things. … Puppy mills have no place in the 21st century.”
“I am just a local animal lover who was deeply disturbed when I found out this type of business is going on in my neighborhood,” she wrote to the Telegraph. “I saw the (Humane Society report) online and did some of my own investigating. … I am not sure how the authorities are allowing her to continue ... It all sickens me and I wish it would end.”
Calls to Turk were not returned and an e-mail request for comment was not answered as of press time.
(Folsom Telegraph - June 4, 2014)
