Bio Job Blog : Bio Jobs : Biotechnology Jobs : Biopharmaceutical Jobs : Bioscience, Biotech Jobs : Bio Job Blog : Biocareer : Bio-Business Training, Biotechnology Training : Jobs in Biology : Internships in Biology : Internships in Biotechnology

While I wasn't much of an Andy Warhol fan, I do subscribe to his assertion that everyone at some point in their lives has “their 15 minutes of fame.” I believe that I have about 5 min left, so I wanted to alert BioJobBlog readers to an article that was posted on the New Jersey Citizens Against Pet Shop Abuse (NJCAPSA) site detailing the SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) lawsuit filed against me by two nefarious South New Jersey dog sellers. These lawsuits are intended to silence vocal critics of persons engaged in questionable activities. It has been increasing used by puppy millers, pet shop lobbying groups and other entities who want to silence animal rights and other advocates that support the humane treatment of animals.

While the case against me was dismissed with prejudice, there currently is no anti-SLAPP lawsuit legislation in NJ. This lack allows persons to sue others whether or not the lawsuits are without merit or frivolous. For those of you who may not have been sued in the past, I can tell you that the fees associated with getting SLAPP lawsuits dismissed can be as high as $50,000. Knowing this, persons who file SLAPP suits, expect defendants to settle before any additional legal action is taken. I chose to bear the costs of litigating the suit because the persons, who sued me, have in the past threatened, intimidated and sued others who publicly spoke out against them. 

Those of you, who may know me, understand that I am neither a crusader nor a martyr. That said, I will fight or litigate anyone who attempts to deprive me of constitutionally-guaranteed right to free speech and expression. Nevertheless, the lawsuit filed against me had its intended impact on my blogging activities. That is, I could not blog about the plaintiffs for over five months. Perhaps more egregious, was the chilling observations that the lawsuit filed against also silenced others who had been vocal about the dubious dog-selling practices of the plaintiffs. And, sadly, during that period, the plaintiffs ramped up their dog-selling business and continued to advertise and sell puppies and dogs with impunity.  

It is ironic that the legal system, which is supposed to protect the rights of all Americans, can also be misused and abused to take them away! 

To learn more about SLAPP suits and their adverse effects on First Amendment rights, please visit this site.

Until next time...

Good Luck and Good Fighting!!!!!!!

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

The recent dismissal of the SLAPP (Suit Against Public Participation) suit brought against me by Dawn Abrams and Donna Roberts was very welcome and much appreciated.  For more coverage of the case, please read this and this.

While the case seemingly was about a dispute between a disreputable group of dog breeders and a pet owner, the case had much more to do about the First Amendment and free speech.  Please read the amicus brief submitted to the court on my behalf by the Humane Society of the United States. SLAPP suits are becoming increasingly popular vehicles to intimidate and silence bloggers and others. 

The sad thing about the current American judicial system is that anyone can sue you--with or without a good reason.  I think that  it is time that legislation is passed that seriously punishes litigants and their lawyers who willfully and knowingly file SLAPP suits. The current penalties and sanctions are a joke.

Although I was able to defend myself against a frivolous lawsuit that had no merit, it DID silence me (and the rest of the blogosphere) and it cost me an enormous amount of money!  Unfortunately, the people who brought the suit against me continued to sell dogs to would-be pet owners while my hands were tied because of pending litigation.

I find it ironic that I had to spend tens of thousands of dollars to be able to exercise my right to free speech which is supposedly guaranteed--at no cost--to all Americans.  To that end, if you would like to help to defray my legal expenses please visit StopPuppyFraud  or our Crowdrise page and make a donation. 

Until next time...

Good Luck and Good Job Hunting!!!!!!

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

As you may know, BioJobBlogger was recently sued for defamation, invasion of privacy and punitive damages by Donna Roberts and Dawn Abrams two so called dog breeder.

To that end, a group of concerned dog advocates and friends have created a website called Stop Puppy Fraud to help to raise awareness about fraudulent dog breeders and to help raise money to defray legal expenses.

P.S. The dog in the pic is Moose-- a two to five year old mixed breed dog (misrepresented as a 9 month old Havanese purebred) rescued from Abrams and Roberts.

Thankfully, he is in much better shape today than in the pic (taken less than a week after we purchased him from Dawn Abrams) with bilateral ear infections, a fulminant urinary tract infection that prevented him from urinating and necrotic gums and rotting front teeth that were ultimately saved by a veterinary dental expert).

Until next time...

Good Luck and Help Save the Puppies!!!!!!

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

As many of you know, I have had an ongoing dispute with a nefarious dog grifter (Donna Roberts) and her daughter (Dawn aka Grace Abrams) for the past two years. While my direct dealings with these odious people have ceased, I frequently get messages from others, who, like me, were unwittingly scammed by Donna and her spawn after purchasing puppies and dogs from them.

Invariably, every time I post a new story about Donna et al, I receive repeated vitriolic and threatening rants from Donna and her cronies. I typically add them as comments to the related stories posted to BioJobBlog. However, from time to time, I like to reveal some of her comments so that others can get an impression of the person who I and others like me are dealing with.

Finally, FYI Donna, the word slander is used for spoken word misattributions and potential damage. I believe the word that you ought to use when referring to my posts is libel which is reserved for alleged damage that may result from the “written word”

An unapproved comment has been posted on your blog Bio Job Blog, for entry
#263325 (Dawn Abrams and Donna Roberts Continue to Scam Would Be Dog
Owners). You need to approve this comment before it will appear on your
site.

IP Address: 68.39.22.204
Name: Donna Roberts
Email Address: shadyoakhavs@yahoo.com
URL:
Comments:

“This is a riot.  I have not bred a litter of pups since 2007 and all your
observers are claiming to buy a dog from me, claiming my house stinks,
claiming dogs had hookworms (puppies are wormed with Drontal 5 times before
sold and hookworms are very easy to get rid of) Mr. Mintz you have never
been to my house. No names have changed, we all have our real names, it's
just your continuous slander and lies Mr. Mintz. Should I write everything
out for you, so you can get it right.  The children he is talking about are
my grandchildren, there are 7, ages 16 to 5. My daughter married a farmer,
a very hardworking, honest man. The house Mr. Mintz calls a rundown farm
house was built in 1897 and for it's age it is not very rundown. My
daughter keeps it neat and clean as far as someone can with 7 kids. All 3
of my daughters do not have one complaint against them and I have had very
few for my dog breeding hobby of 42 years. In 2007 I ran into a few people
who falsely accused me of selling sick pups, which was not the case at all,
yes the pups had a parasite but not one vet issued an UNFIT FOR PURCHASE
within the 14 days allowed by law. The two women involved, Barbara Harra
and Laurie Pallantee took it to the extreme but in the end I was found
innocent of all charges.  I would never sell a sick pup. As far as my dogs
go I have 4 dogs left, 2 males and 2 females that have not produced
anything in the last 2 years.  So Mr. Mintz your claim of a puppymill is so
bogus. We are a family that loves animals and we live a very full life and
it is so sad that you Mr. Mintz are such an unhappy person that the only
thng you have to get your Jolly's off is slandering us.”

Please continue to spread the word about these unsavory characters.

Until next time…

Good Luck and Good Puppy Seeking!!!!!

• Email This
• Print
• Comments (4)
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Despite a down economy, it appears that business for the dog grifting team of Donna Roberts aka Marcie Duben (and many other false identities) and Dawn Abrams is booming. The reason that  I know this is that over the past week or so I have received several message regarding from BioJobBlog readers about bogus dog transactions.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments (1)
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Another BioJobBlog reader, who was previously burned on a puppy purchase, informed me of  another one of Donna Roberts’ puppy-selling scams. The information below was allegedly found on the American Kennel Club Online Breeder Classifieds under "Havanese"

Breeder Contact Information

Contact: DanaLyn Fitgerald

Location: SHAMONG, NJ 08088

Phone:

Email: mikimuppets@yahoo.com

In case you are wondering how Donna Roberts figures into the operation, DanaLyn (who lives in Barnegat, NJ) is another one of Donna Roberts’ daughters  who like her sister Dawn Abrams sells dogs on her mother’s behalf. 

While Donna's continued online ads are troubling, the fact that the American Kennel Club doesn't vet (so to speak) would-be advertisers on their classified ad sites is bothersome and unsettling.  If you can't trust what you find on the American Kennel Club's website, who can you trust when you want to purchase a healthy puppy?

Until next time…

Good Luck and Good Dog Hunting!!!!!!!!

• Email This
• Print
• Comments (3)
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

My recent post about Donna Roberts appears to be a very popular one. No fewer than 50 people have read the post and I am now starting to receive comments from people who have had similar experiences to mine after purchasing puppies from Ms. Roberts and her daughter Grace aka Dawn Abrams. Check out this story and another that I found on the Ripoffreport.com after being alerted about them by one of my readers.

It appears that I am not the only person who received threatening comments from Ms. Roberts. Check out this bogus diatribe against a former customer who dared to question Ms. Roberts’ integrity and veracity after she purchased a very sick puppy from her.

Donna, in case you are wondering (I know you will read this), veracity means “truthfulness”—something that you know nothing about.

Stay tuned for the next installment of the Donna Roberts and Grace Abrams story.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments (3)
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

 I invite those of you who have been following this story to take a few minutes to read the comments that Donna Roberts continues to leave on my blog. Ms Roberts, who was convicted of several counts of animal cruelty in New Jersey last summer, is the mother of Grace aka “Dawn” Abrams who fraudulently sold me my dog Moose several months ago. Although, Ms. Roberts was not involved in the transaction between Grace and me, she continues to send me threatening and bullying e-mail messages proclaiming her daughter’s (and her own) innocence.

I continue to post Ms. Robert’s comments because I want people who read my blog to understand the type of person that I am dealing with! Unfortunately, she reminds me a lot of Sarah Palin—another woman of questionable ethics and integrity. And, I am sad to say that Ms Roberts is about as bright as Ms. Palin too!

Until next time….

Good Luck and Vote for Obama

• Email This
• Print
• Comments (1)
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

As the saying goes—the plot thickens. A couple of days ago a person who has been following our unfolding doggy drama recommended that I look into a DNA testing kit for dogs called Wisdom Panel MX. The Wisdom Panel MX was developed by Mars Veterinary, a subsidiary of the candy bar maker that also manufactures and sells dog food.

Scientists at Mars spent about 6 years mining and analyzing canine genome databases and were able to develop breed specific probes that can distinguish between 130 different breeds of dogs with close to 85% reliability. That said, while the test may not be able to reliably tell you exactly what you have, the sensitivity of the test is sufficient to tell you what you don’t have i.e., it will tell you whether or not your dog is a purebred or a mix.

 As I mentioned in previous posts, we were purportedly sold two Havanese dogs. If the dogs are truly Havanese, then the Wisdom Panel should reliably verify that assertion. Similarly, if our dogs are not really Havanese or a mix of Havanese and some other breed (s) then the Wisdom Panel tests ought to be able to tell us that as well.

As luck would have it, on our recent excursion to Maine, we literally ran into two relatively uncommon purebred dogs ( at least uncommon to us) —one was a Maltese and the other a Bichon. Moose—the rescue puppy who was advertised and sold to us as a 9 month-old Havanese—looked almost identical to the Maltese. Further, a so-called groomer (who posted a comment on a previous post about Moose) referred to him a Maltese which tended to validate our idea that Moose was not a Havanese but really a Maltese or a Maltese-mix.  

Again, coincidentally, my wife took Sandy (our Havanese puppy that we previously bought from the same breeder who sold us Moose) to be groomed today. Since it was Sandy’s first visit, the groomer asked what breed she was. After pausing for a second, the groomer replied “I am not  completely sure but I don’t think Sandy is a purebred Havanese –she looks like she has a fair amount of yorkie (Yorkshire terrier) in her.”

The Wisdom Panel MX kits arrived by FedEx today and we are taking the dogs to the vet at 4:00 to have blood drawn. Stay tuned for future updates.

Until next time…

Good Luck and Good Job Hunting!!!!!!

• Email This
• Print
• Comments (1)
• Trackbacks
• Share Link