Teen in tears after dog trainer gives beloved pup to another family
A dog-breeder has been dubbed Melbourne's answer to Cruella Deville, after taking a puppy from a 13-year-old girl and reducing her to tears.
"I miss her so much, like, more than anything," teenager Issy Clarke told A Current Affair.
Family friend and dog trainer Jan Kelly agreed to give the Clarke family the Swiss shepherd puppy in August last year on the condition they pay vet costs and teach her obedience.
"We spent thousands on her," mum Katie Clarke told A Current Affair.
Katie signed a contract stipulating she and Jan would officially be co-owners.
Issy, 13, misses the dog that was given to another family. A Current Affair
Jan told the family she wouldn't have anything to do with the pooch, apart from occasionally showing her at dog competitions.
It was love at first sight for Issy, who named the puppy 'Everest' and often showed her at dog competitions, with great success.
"I just loved spending time with her every day," she said.
Everest is now living with another family. A Current Affair
But when Jan took Everest to a show interstate, she claimed the dog had been acting up.
"Jan pulled up out the front of the house and gave us the ribbons from Adelaide," Katie said.
"I asked 'How did Everest go?' and she said 'Terrible. She's got no manners, you don't discipline her enough'."
Issy had great success showing Everest at shows. A Current Affair
Katie says it was clear the dog-trainer had lost patience with the Swiss shepherd.
"She got Everest out of the car and as she was doing that she slammed Everest's head in the cage very hard. Everest just went backwards in shock."
The next time Jan took Everest - she never gave her back, instead admitting the pooch to a dog rehab to treat her supposed bad behaviour, all without the Clarke family's knowledge.
Dog trainer Jan was the pup's co-owner. A Current Affair
"I kept messaging her, 'is the dog coming back? What's going on?" Katie said.
After weeks of being blocked and ignored by Jan, Katie finally received an update: Everest had been given to a new family.
In a Facebook message, Jan wrote: "Unfortunately, due to your lack of following instructions and suggestions, Everest went out of control and dominated the family. I'm sorry Issy has suffered because of this but please place the blame on yourself and not her."
Everest was given to the Clarke family last August. A Current Affair
A Current Affair confronted Jan at a dog show just outside of Melbourne.
She ignored our questions, instead complaining the film crew was "interrupting the championships."
Katie has reached out to Everest's new family, asking whether Issy could have a final goodbye to her former pet. They've refused.
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