The Internet Dog Abuse Hoax

Important Note: The many trainers employed with Puppywishes.com support the work of trainer Adam Stone, (aka Corey Reddick) . Mr. Stone did not want us to publish this page. However, we feel that many people need to hear this story. Not just because it involves dog trainer Adam Stone, but because it effects everyone who wants to remain safe from internet abuse and slander.

        

would have been impossible for Adam Stone to foresee that helping a problem dog would one day develop into one of the worst experiences in his life. Yet, after saving the life of an aggressive Pit-Bull (Sheena) Adam fell victim to a terrible internet scandal that would change his life.

Adam Stone explains; "I have worked with some of the most aggressive dogs on earth, still, nothing bites harder than a dysfunctional group of people".

In the year 2000, Adam Stone was contacted by a Toronto dog owner (Jackie Ferrier). At the time Jackie was very upset as the result of a problem she was having with her dog, Sheena.

Sheena, a dark brindle Pit-Bull, was aggressive and almost killed another dog while walking in a Toronto back alley. Fearing that Sheena would one day kill a dog, Jackie Ferrier asked Adam if he would take her dog in for training. Adam agreed, and opened his home to Sheena.

Sheena lived with Adam Stone for a number of weeks where she made great progress. During this time Sheena's owners visited regularly so that they could be trained as well. Sadly, when she was returned home Jackie Ferrier was unable to maintain the dog's good behavior. Sheena became aggressive again and Jackie called Adam a second time, this time asking him if he could find Sheena a new home. Adam agreed, and out of pure kindness and a deep desire to save Sheena, Adam took on the responsibility of finding Sheena a new home. He also adopted another Pit-Bull puppy and gave that puppy to Jackie as a gift of healing. (Jackie still owners that dog to this day, thanks to Adam Stone).

For years Adam labored to find Sheena a new home (an extremely difficult task), and called on the help from his dog world friends to help find Sheena a great forever home. Over time Adam located a home for Sheena in Kitchener, Ontario and sent her off to her new family.

Years passed, Adam Stone continued to save dogs, and Jackie moved on with her life and the new puppy Adam gave her. Then, without warning, and years after Adam had placed Sheena in a new home. Jackie Farrier contacted Adam and demanded that the dog be returned! Needless to say, Adam was in no position to to take the dog away from a loving home and place it back with an owner who gave her up in the first place.

What should have been a happy story of success and life quickly degenerated into a war that Jackie Farrier was determined to win. Notwithstanding the outstanding efforts made by Adam Stone to save Sheena's life, Jackie Farrier posted a web site that accused Adam Stone of dog abuse. On Jackie's web site ("Where Is Sheena?"), Jackie posts a number of pictures where Sheena looks terribly ill. In addition she tells a horrendous story that attempts to make Adam look like a monster.

Thankfully, Sheena was used in Adam Stone's dog training video, a clip from that video is shown here to help people understanding the truth.

 

To view the video clip of Sheena & Adam Stone simply click on the picture of Adam below.

Video Clip Taken From The Training Video Temperamental

 

► SeeThe Pictures That Jackie Ferrier Fails To Show -   Click Here

► Learn The Truth About Real Pit-Bull Abuse - Click Here

 

UPDATE: April 4th 2006 - We have noticed that since the original publication of this web page Jackie Ferrier has updated her slander site with more detailed information of 'what happened' between her and Adam Stone. She now makes reference to when the video clip above was taken, this was great news for us because Jackie has now admitted that Sheena is, in fact, the dog shown with Adam Stone in the above video clip, and everyone who has seen the clip can see the love and trust that has developed between Adam Stone & Sheena.

We would like to point out an extremely important aspect of this story. If Jackie Ferrier had any legal claim to Sheena she would be able to end her trouble in a court of law. However, she has NO legal right to see the dog that she gave away.

Jackie Ferrier abandoned Sheena, and it was Adam Stone who worked to save the dogs life. It is unreasonable for Jackie to think that:

1) Other people should house the dog;

2) Other people should feed the dog;

3) Other people should train the dog;

4) Other people should pay Sheena's vet bills;

5) Other people should love and cherish the dog every day;

yet - 6) Jackie feels that she should get the dog back when she wants?

 

We do not agree. 

As your dog's owner you have a moral obligation to see your dog's problems through to the end. You cannot simply make a mess of your own dog and then pass that mess on for another person to clean up. 

Don't leave your dog behind because it has become a problem. Like Jackie, you will regret it in the future.

When an dog owner surrenders a dog they also forfeit their right to reclaim that dog at a later date. We feel that Jackie's incredible sense of guilt has caused her to rewrite history. She cannot bring herself to say that she was unable to control her own dog. So, to save face she has elected to target Adam Stone as the cause of her problems. The fact, however, is that she has been the source of trouble for a great many people. A few of whom are still trying to bring her to justice.

Adam Stone went far and beyond the call of duty to save Sheena's life. To the best of Adam's knowledge Sheena is in a new home and living a good life. It is unfortunate that Jackie can no longer see Sheena. But after the way she has boldly attacked Adam Stone on the internet, Sheena's new family wants no contact with Jackie, for fear that they could also fall victim to lies and slander.

We should also point out that their is a great price to pay when you give your dog away. There is not a Humane Society in the country that would uproot a dog to place it back in the same home that abandoned it in the first place. It is uncanny that Jackie Ferrier believes she can simply ask for a dog to be returned years after it was placed in a loving home. Her request is simply unreasonable.

As the result of web sites like that posted by Jackie Ferrier, Jackie has started an anti-Adam vibe that is often seen on the internet. The lies told on her web site are also told on a similar site where Adam Stone allegedly did something bad to a Greyhound named Arin - we also have video tape of the condition Arin was in when he lived with Adam Stone.

Say NO To Abusive Web Sites!

Adam Stone is not alone in his dealings with hateful web sites. In fact, there are a great number of 'hate sites" published by 'pet experts' as a means to harm the reputations of other experts in their field.

Well know dog trainer Ed Frawley is attacked in a web site - see here - and we were shocked to discover a web page that attacks the credibility of renowned trainer Mathew Morgolis - see here.

 

Important Update

The owner of one of the sites listed above, Christine Lee of Pawsitive Training, wrote us a letter after she read that we labeled one of her web pages abusive. In defense of the information regarding Mathew Margolis found on her website Christine Lee writes:

"I am the owner of the site you referenced. The article in question was not written by my organization to "attack the credibility" of Mr. Margolis. It was written by a staff writer at LA Weekly. We provide content to the public that we feel is helpful so that pet owners can make informed decisions regarding their choices in trainers. This organization does not condemn the training methods of other trainers."

We are very much impressed that Christine took the time to write us, and we  admire much of the information found on her website. However, if her goal is to report 'news' than she must adhere to the impartiality of objective journalism.  The article found on Christine's website is not objective. Rather, the aim of the article clearly attacks Mr. Margolis, and it is fair to assume that many dog owners would not employ Mr. Margolis after reading such an article. In addition, Christine believes that because she did not write the article she is not responsible for its content. However, as a matter of law, people who publish slanderous information often cause more damage than the author.

Please understand, we do not wish to fight fire with fire, and we do not want to cast any doubt on the credibility of Christine Lee, in fact, if you are lucky enough to work with such a trainer consider yourself lucky. Better still, read for yourself the wonderful things she has to say about dogs and training.  We point out the situation with Mr. Margolis only to show the reader that internet abuse is real, and that even good dog trainers such as Christine Lee often get pulled into a terrible modern mess.

 

Another Update: September 27/2007

We have noticed that the offending article pertaining to Mathew Margolis is no longer found on the Pawsitive Training website. Rather, Christine now has a simple link on her site that directs people to the offending article. The link reads, "Caveat Emptor - Buyer Beware, Know Your Dog Trainer."  This is followed by another link that reads; "Is Cesar's Millan's Way the Best Way?"  Both of these links direct people to disparaging information about other dog trainers.

This web page has caused a stir in the dog training community. It has caused many trainers to reevaluate the manner in which they are conducting business. Good. The more united trainers are the closer they become to being a recognized profession. But it remains true that a big part of marketing a dog training business, particularly a website, involves bashing other trainers by name. Even if it is done so with a simple link.

In the case of Cesar Millan there is nothing original about what he is teaching. Yet many dog trainers attack Cesar as if he was responsible for a system of training that has been around for one sixty years!  The professional approach would be to address the errors in the training method and provide a healthy alternative.

Example, I do not approve of the use of food lures when training and I have sound reasons for my convictions. This said, when I teach people about the problems with food lure training I address the methods, not the practitioners. When we shift our focus on the trainer, rather than the method, we inevitably create an underlying message that infers an error in the imagined character of the practitioner. The hidden message is; 'there must be something wrong with a person who uses outdated, cruel training methods.'  In our view this crosses the line of acceptable conduct amongst experts and becomes slander. There is an enormous conflict of interest when one trainer speaks negatively about his/her peers.

Our goal here is to create more dog trainer unity. And to urge all webmasters in the pet community to remove hurtful information from their websites. If you publish articles that attack other trainers, you are hurting people, and the depth of the pain you may be causing runs far deeper than you know. Please stop. 

Internet Slander is seen at its worse on internet chat and news groups where unhappy people seem to enjoy saying the most horrible things about people they do not know. The modern terror of Road Rage is quickly being replaced with Internet Rage, and both are criminal.

If you have fallen victim to a slander web site, Adam Stone may be able to provide some great help. Click Here For That Help.