I sent two messages to Teresa, and there was no response. So, I Googled her name and found it listed on a website for "No Puppy Mills", where she sold a miniature poodle in poor health through the Thorp auction a couple of years ago:
http://www.nowisconsinpuppymills.com/thorpauction-dogstats.html
That website listed her USDA license number (35-B-0166); her USDA inspection reports can be found here:
http://acissearch.aphis.usda.gov/LPASearch/faces/LPASearch.jspx;jsessionid=7f00000130d83707ba9ad4be48ed8dbcb3f95a44ccc0.e38Obx8Sb3yQby0Pc3aSbNeLahv0
When I originally visited the Hestekin Hills website, I thought they were a breeder dedicated to basenjis,especially when you read the praiseworthy testimonials from puppy owners. However, after reading the USDA inspection reports, where two violations involved 30 dogs, I wondered just how many dogs are being raised there? At what point does one turn from a Back Yard Breeder, to a responsible breeder, to a Puppy Mill? The USDA website indicates that her USDA license was cancelled on May 27, 2010. I don't know why.
I also discovered that Hestekin Hills maintains separate websites for each breed they raise: Basenjis, Shiba inus, Toy Poodles, Standard Poodles are the 4 sites I found.
P.S. I just found an old thread here, where Teresa and some of the members here got in a "dogfight". I'm NOT trying to re-hash that dialog; I wasn't aware of it because I'm rather new here.
My point: when I visited her website, I thought that she would want to know that someone was on CL selling her puppy for $600, and that she would be an advocate for her pup. Yet when she didn't respond, I looked beyond her wonderful website and did my own research. I guess it goes to show that you shouldn't let a fancy website fool you! Buyer Beware!!!:eek:
And in the meantime, another dog is looking for his forever home…:(