Although I have a prior complaint against Mikki McFarland/Broderick on this forum, the evidence against her has escalated in severity and I feel a new complaint needs to be opened. I assumed before that my case was an isolated one, and now I question that.

My prior complaint was regarding dishonest business practices, specifically the refusal to refund a remittance of $600, which was requested by Mikki as a 1/3 deposit on a specific litter of Maltese puppies (specific parents, specific due date). When the pregnancy was in question, Mikki promised me I'd get my money back if tests proved the dog not pregnant. The dog wasn't pregnant, Mikki made repeated promises, but I never got my money back. I am able to prove everything, and a judge agreed. On January 20, 2010, I received a judgment against Mikki McFarland in Snohomish County District Court, Everett (WA) Division. The judgment was escalated when she continued to refuse payment. She now owes the deposit plus legal fees plus interest.

Mikki links to the AKC and American Shih Tzu Club on her website, and implies that she sells AKC registered dogs. To quote her website as of today (May 11, 2010): "We raise Shih Tzu exclusively and use only AKC as our registry. Our goal is to produce breed standard correct dogs that are the best representation of the breed." However, the representative that I spoke to at the American Shih Tzu Club insisted that they have never in the past, and never will, recommend Mikki as a breeder. This woman already had suspicions about Mikki, and based on my further information, said Mikki is running what reputable breeders consider to be a puppy mill. This is not a reflection of neglectful conditions, necessarily, but rather a reflection of her selling litters of puppies (of any breed) in rapid succession without concern for the quality of the dog or its confirmation to standard. Despite Mikki's claims, the American Shih Tzu rep assured me that Mikki has never exhibited either Maltese or Shih Tzu in this area. That she would even take a deposit BEFORE a litter was born is further proof of her purely monetary motives. The rep informed me that most reputable breeders will not take deposits at all because they won't sell a puppy until they know what they have to sell. (E.g. they keep the best quality specimens to improve their stock; they want to insure the health of the puppy, etc.) The spirit of the AKC breeder is one who exhibits and breeds for quality, not mass production of litters. The American Shih Tzu rep strongly suggested that I contact the AKC and the Washington State Attorney General's Office, and both are in progress. Mikki's e-mail addresses and phone numbers have been changed repeatedly, and her current puppy site (www.mysynnove.com) does not list a name, address or phone number -- all of which supports the contention of underhanded business dealings. I have no doubt that the people who defended Mikki in my prior complaint are honest and got healthy puppies from Mikki. Even a stray animal can have healthy puppies. Although Mikki's pups probably are purebred, advertising as AKC quality is deceitful. Furthermore, if the Attorney General's Office makes the determination of Internet Fraud, this could escalate to a federal crime level.

I strongly suggest that anyone dealing with Mikki McFarland or Mikki Broderick, in ANY of her various businesses, do considerable research first. Deceit is a character flaw and not likely to be limited to one business operation.