A Stolen Dog in Every Rescue - Welcome to Retail Rescue - America's Pet Stores

I've been saying for 20+ years that the source of most of the 'rescue' dogs in America are from: 1.) Foreign Imports, 2.) Stolen Dogs and 3.) Rescues breeding their own.   

When caught doing something illegal or unethical these dirty rescues block, ban, change their story and threaten legal action.   It's the same story every time. 

Shocker!!!

Guess which one that "A Paw And A Prayer Animal Rescue" of Chattanooga, Tennessee falls under? A recent media story highlighted that several people in northern Georgia believe that their stolen dogs have surfaced with "A Paw And A Prayer" and have been fraudulently resold to new families as 'adopted' from a 'rescue.'

A Paw And A Prayer is run by this woman, Judy Butterfield.

Trafficking in stolen dogs is common among America's Retail Rescues. Let's see if this situation matches common red flags.

1.) Dog quickly transported across a county or state line? CHECK.

2.) Dog quickly renamed. CHECK.

3.) Rescue making insane amounts of money.  CHECK.  

4.) Rescue run by someone(s) living in expensive nice houses.  CHECK.  

After the media finally covered the situation instead of running their usual halo polishing fluff pieces about Butterfield, families started coming forward.  Already in just days there have been two success stories.  

Mandy Jones's dog Remmy, a Yorkie mix, was stolen from a neighbors yard has been returned after she was extorted into paying a $450 fee to get him back.   She reports he was returned to her, neutered, covered in fleas and severely traumatized. 

 

Chris Hughes's dog, Parker, a Golden Retriever, was stolen out of his yard while he was at his daughter's softball game.  A neighbor witnessed the theft.  He surfaced at A Paw And A Prayer now named Jack.  

Meanwhile Butterfield is now saying that Parker was never in her 'rescue' and it was all just a courtesy post on behalf of someone else who 'found' him.   Do you really believe that?  Hughes says the dog was stolen out of his yard.  A neighbor witnessed it.  Now suddenly he was simply 'found' and was 'lost.'   This is a common lie.   Americans everywhere believe their dogs accidentally got 'lost' or somehow 'got out of our yards' because they just don't understand how rampant pet theft is. Then there's this comment.

A Golden Retriever to rescues like this is nothing more than a Golden Ticket. 

Folks, your dogs are STOLEN by pet flippers. 

Remmy and Parker are finally home but a dozen others have come forward looking for their stolen dogs.  Like Piper the German Shepherd.  Also stolen out of her Georgia yard and resurfaced for sale in Tennessee.

 

Like Daisy.

Meanwhile let's take a look at Judy Butterfield's finances.   Like this woman did.

$100,000 cash in Butterfield's pocket?  Say it isn't so.   I mean, its not like she lives in a house that is over 4,000 square feet.  Oh wait, she does.  It's not like that house has more bathrooms than the average American has bedrooms.  Oh wait, it does.  

Actually these numbers aren't correct.  According to her IRS 990's, Butterfield ended 2018 with $251,399 left in her pocket. You know, after she finished that sales year.  She also lists 254,709 parked in investments.  So which is it?  And what's earning her $843 a year in interest?? After all, these very interesting tax records claim that only 0310% of her assets are Investment Income....

Even more interesting is the claimed $16,944 in 'repairs.'  What exactly did she repair on that mega-mansion?  You can't expect me to believe that she's actually housing dozens of dogs there.  Or is she?  After all, she wrote off $2,357 worth of her utilities.  She also wrote off $1,181 of her cell phone bill.   A very reasonable $796 in meals...  Reading rescue's tax returns is always a fun time.  

I mean its only fair of Butterfield to have this much money... something's got to pay that mortgage.  After all, she's claiming she spends 60 hours a week working at this rescue so she obviously doesn't have another job outside the home.  Of course her tax returns claim she's not making a salary.  Most of these rescues say the same.  We are all supposed to believe that these people are independently wealthy and just giving their time away for the 'greater good.'

Yeah, right.   Or does Butterfield have a sugar daddy?  

Speaking of the McMansion, an adopter posted to the news story that Butterfield had told her she had parvo infected puppies at her home and was housing dogs in her garage.   Parvo lives in the environment for several years.  Still others commented on the media story that Butterfield has been kicked out of selling dogs at both Petco and Petsmart and is now selling dogs at a Tractor Supply Company store.  (the same store Remmy was sold at)

That $350 per dog is an 'average.'  This adopter stated that she was told the sales price depends on how cute the dog is.  The cuter the dog, the higher the sales price.  

This adopter commented that Butterfield is flipping vicious biters  and collecting multiple adoption 'fees' on the same dogs. 

She's not the only one.  This person also commented that they bought a vicious biter from Butterfield, returned the dog and did not get a refund.

At least three others also posted their stories of vicious or completely misrepresented dogs that they returned to Butterfield, did not get a refund and she resold them again.

This adopter claims Butterfield commits extortion.

If you thought all of this is bad.... you haven't seen anything yet.  A veterinarian surfaced to give his testimony on Butterfield.  When you read the following comments.. ask yourself this, is Butterfield also breeding dogs to resell as 'rescues?'

It's not just these comments.  Remember Butterfield's garage?  Check this out.

Of course Butterfield's gullible followers are now demanding an apology for this mess.  That should never happen.  There are no laws anywhere that allow a private company or non-profit to simply collect up stray or 'lost' animals and resell them.  Localities have reporting laws and legally mandated stray holds.   Every 'lost' or supposedly stray animal is supposed to be reported to whatever entity handles animal control in that area.   Many localities mandate that these animals must be turned in and/or you have a waiting period in which you are not allowed to resell that animal.

Animals are property.  You have custody of property that is not yours.  Whether you have it two days or two years, it has an owner that is not you.   You don't have the right to keep what you have found, nor do you have the right to resell it. 

Never buy a dog from a rescue without first doing your homework.  Investigate them thoroughly.  Read their IRS 990's and look at their money flow.  They are free to the public to view.  Look for red flags like the ones shown above.  Don't add to the heart ache the owners and comments in this article have testified too.  

YOU can act in these situations.  Here's some steps to take.  "A Paw And A Prayer Animal Rescue" is run out of 738 Sunset Mountain Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37421.  If she is indeed breeding puppies as some claim she is, then at her sales volume level she is required to be USDA licensed and inspected.  IS SHE?  Every single dog she has transported over state lines between Georgia and Tennessee (and any other state) is required to have a health certificate for shipping.  Did they have them?  Report Judy Butterfield to the USDA via their online complaint form.  

Report her to the State of Tennessee and demand action.  If your dog has been 'lost' and you believe it was resold through A Paw And A Prayer, file a police report with your local police department.  Two states and several counties are involved in this situation.  Get them all investigating her.  Not everyone will sweep this under the rug if you demand action!