Lenore Severni, the award-winning breeder who hopefully will be selling me a puppy over the next month or two, sent me this e-mail this morning.
It only had one line: “Who Is This Person?” I knew right away what had happened, unfortunately, I’ve been there before. This is America in 2019.
Deciding to be open about my life is one of the best decisions I ever made, and I have never regretted it.
But it has a dark side, and a woman named Anne ([email protected]) reminded me this morning that there is a dark side to being open, I have promised myself I will never let it drive me into darkness and hiding.
I hesitated about publishing Anne’s e-mail. I normally don’t even use the last names of nasty people. I am not asking anyone to write to her or to criticize her, but she ought to be prepared to justify herself.
What she tried to do was serious, as well as devious and dishonest. Character assassination is serious, and free and easy online.
What exactly is she saying about me?
She ought to be accountable in this case for what she tried to do. I’m sure it was upsetting to Lenore, and I know how I would have felt if I were denied a puppy I am eager to love because of some slime attack in the dark.
Anne could easily have succeeded, and probably has with other people she doesn’t like or disagrees with. I’m sure I’m not the first.
She sent Lenore this message: “To the breeder: Please think long and hard before you sell one of your beautiful puppies to Jon Katz. I’ve had dogs, including Labrador retrievers, all my life. I understand how young puppies need to be handled.”
Lenore is a highly-regarded and experienced breeder, she’s been breeding Labs for 32 years. She knows exactly who she is selling her dogs too.
Concerned, I called her up and she told me she has never received a letter like that in all that time, suggesting some dog buyer is evil without offering any kind of specific evidence to support the accusation.
Nor, of course, has Anne, who says she cares so much about dogs, ever contacted me to criticize my puppy care or ask me to explain any part of it.
I’ve only gotten three dogs as puppies, Rose and Lenore and Gus, and my vet would fall over laughing at the suggestion I mistreated any of them in any way.
Lenore asked Anne to be more specific about her concerns.
I wrote Anne and asked her to please explain her suggestion that I was not fit to buy a Labrador puppy. Her answer was about what I expected: “I was expressing an opinion. Simple as that.”
I replied it was not so simple. She is stating her opinion as a fact, and a potentially harmful, even defamatory one.
But she offers no facts because there are no facts. She since has vanished back into the dark. I feel obliged to shine some light on her. I asked her to tell me how many Labs and other dogs she has raised and trained, and what her qualifications are to judge me and other people.
She will never reply, I promise you.
I have often wondered at the people who use the love of dogs to hate people. She needs to come out into the open, where I live. Perhaps that will teach her to be more ethical, and save someone from her abuse of e-mail and free speech.
Anne’s message to Lenore was hateful to me, an aggressive act that was potentially slanderous and defamatory. I am responsible for my words, and so are the people who write messages like that.
I asked her again for an explanation of her cowardly – and vague – message. I got no reply. I will never get a reply. It’s just her opinion, simple as that.
This is a person I don’t know, have never met, has never seen me with any of dogs, does not know any of my dogs, has never set foot on my farm.
When I told Maria about this, she just laughed at how absurd that was. Then she got angry when she saw the message, because if I mistreated my puppies, then she must have also.
“God, could you imagine,” she said, “she should just look on the living room floor at all the toys we have.”
We do it together.
But I wanted to cry at first. People like that make my heart sink.
The world is tough enough without cowardly and dishonest people skulking around damaging people’s reputations without cause.
That is the cancer of the Internet.
There are many things about me that can be improved and need a lot of work, but I don’t think anyone who has followed me for two minutes thinks I do not love my dogs and give them every possible care.
I told Lenore that she is free to call other breeders I’ve worked with or my long-time vet, Dr. Suzanne Fariello, who will be happy to testify about my care of puppies.
She said she didn’t need to do that, she didn’t put much weight on letters that are aimed at people, but who offer no specific or credible evidence. She has no qualms selling me a puppy.
We are on the same page. Anne blew it. Called out. I hope she is better caring for her dogs than she is smearing people she doesn’t know.
I will be getting this puppy if all goes well, and I am proud to get a dog from Lenore.
I intend to make her proud of selling one to me.
I told her this is the toll, the price for being open. This was the reason I initially withheld Lenore’s name, I know there are people like Anne out there waiting to “love” dogs by hating and harming people.
Lenore is a strong and confident breeder, but a more fragile and inexperienced one might well turn someone down for a puppy they want and deserve. I owe it to other people to write about it. To out people like this.
To me, her behavior represents the lower forms of human life, and I told her so.
I am sorry my breeder had to deal with this, welcome to the world of any person who chooses to be open on the Internet.
I guess I am as used to it as people can get. I don’t ever want to be completely used to it, I want to fight it whenever it rears its ugly head.
I choose to live in the light, no simple thing in America during the age of the Internet.
And I will continue to put people like Anne into the light whenever I can. If we don’t fight for civility and responsibility and for free and open speech, we will lose it.
Sounds like someone s very angry and bitter about something, and wants to make you feel the same way. I am always a little sad for people who have nothing better to do than try to ruin someone else good day, or dreams. I am glad that your breeder is sharp enough to check with you, and not be swayed by the ‘opinions’ of others.
I am so sorry
Awful, just awful…. wonder why she won’t come forward or reply?
Thanks Pam, she did e-mail me, blustered a bit about the First Amendment and then wishes me good luck with the new puppy, she said she was glad the breeder and I were on the same page…Enough..thanks for your good words and good thoughts..
It is difficult to live in a time where truth, honor, and decency have taken a back seat to lies and immoral behavior. It’s so easy to hide on the internet, I would be surprised if Anne Dunmire is her real name. I’m so sorry you have to deal with such nasty and slanderous words. Your new pup will love his home with you and Maria.
I Think people like this are unhappy with their own lives and because they are sad and miserable people they want to make people that are happy and good people as miserable as they are. They need to get a life and mind their own business.
Jon, definitely get another dog because in my opinion there are a lot of people in the world who outright suck. I can’t imagine a better person for a new puppy than you. Wow, I am just amazed at how rotten some people are.
Well RED didn’t think that, or Bud or Fate or anyone else who loves your farm. You can only grieve so deeply for an animal if you loved it completely. I think there is a lot of hate and negativity in the world and maybe people are jealous. Anyway you can’t have all these people mourning for Red, and loving him so deeply. You are a beautiful person and if anyone should have a new friend it is you and Maria!
I hope this will not make you lose your sleep. I truly wish for you to get this Labrador puppy. Labradors are such a unique loving breed. They love everyone, they don’t get attached to just one person in particular but to everyone who lives in the same household. Their heart is huge contrary to so many human beings. Take care.
I agree .I am sorry tlu had to endure this abhorrent behavior. I still dont understand what is going on with people these days..it seems as if the internet breeds nasty people at times..I believe that it is the protection and anonymity that it provides to a certain extent…akin to talking behind someone else’s back I suppose..
But it becomes something far more damaging online for some reason. I applaud you for standing up for yourself. I love your philanthropic work and wish that the world had more people like you in it.
Hi Jon. My heart goes out to you. You have to know that there many good people celebrating with you in your immense excitement about your new puppy. I like to call people like Anne a troll on the web. The trolls are cowardly as they write things that destroy people’s lives that they never would have the opportunity to do before the web. The trolls sit at home by themselves quietly posting this stuff with no accountability. I saw part of someone’s life destroyed because of some postings. For good people this is always heartfelt when this happens. And so thank you ? for all the wonderful postings about the new puppy. I learn a lot from them. I am still hoping someday to get a dog. Thank you for all you do and the lives you touch.
Labs are so tolerant, they can even love a sad person who has no boundaries!
When you are as popular as you are Jon, you will have all kinds of people following you. A good breeder will know very quickly who you are and that your application merits any dog she or he has. Ann may have mental health issues and she may say or do things that are inappropriate. She may still enjoy your blogs, etc. We can only offer her our sympathy for that kind of behaviour. Best to just ignore. Lucky you getting a lab and lucky lab!
Cheers,
Willa
The dog world can be an ugly place full of hateful and judgmental people. Of course our dogs don’t sit in judgment on us! Sorry you had to deal with that. I hope you get a wonderful puppy from your breeder and I look forward to reading about the adventures you, Maria and the new puppy have together.
You’re right, Jon. This person will never stick around for a an intelligent conversation. Cowards never do. But I’m equally sure that she will lurk around your website to see what she’s stirred up. So here’s my message to her:
“I saw Jon Katz’s blog post concerning the email you sent to a breeder. I have only two things to say to people who hide behind keyboards to send hateful and defamatory messages about people they have never met and situations they know nothing about. One, people always get what’s coming to them. It’s just too bad that the rest of us likely won’t get to see it. Two, when your turn comes, may you be surrounded by people who are every bit as empathetic as you.“
The schoolyard bullies of previous generations had no outlet for their childish behaviour once they grew up. Now they can hide on the internet and continue being cowards and bullies. They are a waste of time, space and air.
How very hurtful. Thank you for sharing.
I am so sorry that some people are such hateful busybodies. What an easy life someone must have to be able to devote her time to interfering in the lives of others.
This is life today and I accept it, even if it gets to me. It all worked out well, and I’m moving along..it will happen again and I will challenge it again, I am determined it will not have a disproportionate effect on me…This is America in 2019 and if you can’t handle it, you need to do something else..
I feel bad for this good breeder to be dragged into this.
Me too, but she can take care of herself. I feel a lot worse for Anne…
Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one. Some just fart more than others! Glad you exposed her! Shame!!
So very happy you published her email address. I’m sure she was surprised at the outpouring to support for you and the number of people who called her out on her bad behavior. Funny how internet bullies react to getting the feedback they deserve. Please keep publishing the emails of these jerks.
PS. I always look forward to Wednesdays. It means more stories about Bishop M. So much good is coming from there and it is a joy to read.
Thank you for sharing. My opinion is that you handled it well, recovered your perspective, and I admire your openness. Honor to you, for persevering and expressing yourself so well.
Just ask your thousands of following friends!