Thickishheads And The Fine Art Of Hypocrisy

One of the most prolific Newfoundland puppy producers in the world is up in arms about who gets puppies from whom and is feigning tremendous anxiety over the conditions facing puppies that come from Europe to the United States.

In a recent rant of almost unbridled lunacy, she (Milena Papale Polloni) writes: "My Heart is broken.......
I really don't know if it's just because in this way they feel more important for selling puppies in U.S. or because it's (as usual) all about the money!!!!!
I'm exhausted to warn people not to send their puppies to some PUPPY COLLECTOR we know, but sadly I found out that two puppies have gone from Europe to their home to live in the show crate.... ... I hope not from italy ....... because here in Italy I warned EVERYBODY already!!!!! — feeling angry."

She has received substantial condolences from her girlfriends over something that is none of her business and as to which her "facts" are demonstrably incorrect. Ironically, she is almost a constant preacher of the importance of only breeding from Newfoundlands with ALL of their health clearances - orthopedic, heart, etc. And of course this is of paramount importance if the breed is going to survive as the healthy, gentle giant that it should be. So does it come as any surprise that she contradicts herself at almost every turn?

Let's start with the fact (as published in Italian newspapers) that her husband (Oreste Polloni) is a criminal and has been so convicted. Yes, this is the same man who threatened my life and as to whom the FBI has flagged his passport should he attempt to enter the United States. That's right: he has twice threatened the lives of me and my family.
(See http://messaggeroveneto.gelocal.it/udine/cronaca/2011/07/09/news/fatture-false-per-80-milioni-condannati-tre-imprenditori-1.721642; see also, http://www.asaps.it/1251-Rassegna_stampa_del_19_Settembre_2005.html. And see, http://www.asaps.it/9717-RASSEGNA_STAMPA_DEL_18_LUGLIO_2006.html#; http://www.archeofriuli.it/files/il%20diari.pdf, and http://ricerca.gelocal.it/mattinopadova/archivio/mattinodipadova/2006/07/18/MP5PO_MP502.html)

Let's also not forget that she appears to have had more plastic surgery than Cher and that it is sagging like a ton of lead in a balloon. Now there is some true personal integrity!!!

But those things aside, let's take a look at how healthy her Newfoundlands really are. There is well known to people in the Newfie world a well-keep, up to date, German database known as the "Newfoundland Dog Database." There you can find virtually anything you might want to know about a registered Newfie: pedigrees going back eight generations, health clearances, etc. According to her Coven-brethren, no Newfoundland should be bred unless it has almost perfect hip, elbow, patella, shoulder, heart, and cystinuria clearances. Does she adhere to these standards?

I decided to use the database in order to evaluate the health quality of her Newfoundlands from the time she began breeding, which appears (at least from the database) to be 1998. Thus far, I have looked at almost all Newfoundlands listed under her kennel name ("Thickish") over the period 1998 through 2007. Not surprisingly, very few of her offspring (and parents) have any health clearances. Yet she considers herself a stellar breeder, and so do her Coven-mates.

Here is a list of almost all of the Newfoundlands she bred from 1998 through 2007. The information includes the year of birth (after the registered name) and the information the database contains about health clearances on the dogs she has produced:

1998
* Thickish Newfoundland Guess Right for NFQ (1998): No health clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Globeflower (1998): No health clearances; cystinuria carrier (producer of several offspring)
* Thickish Newfoundland God Bless You (1998): No health clearances

1999
* Thickish Newfoundland Help Me Tex (1999): No health clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland High Voltage (1999): No elbow, heart, or cystinuria clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Hot Dog (1999): No health clearances (producer of several offspring)

2001
* Thickish Newfoundland I Love Dr. Majo (2001): No health clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Imperial Majestic (2001): No elbow, heart, or cystinuria clearances (producer of several offspring)
* Thickish Newfoundland In The Carrying On of Paw (2001): No heart or elbow clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Indepence Day (2001): No health clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Jellybroth (2001): No health clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Jenny Wren (2001): No elbow, heart, or cystinuria clearances (producer of several offspring)
* Thickish Newfoundland Johann Strauss (2001): No health clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Jullie (2001): No health clearances (father is Thickish Newfoundland Hot Dog)
* Thickish Newfoundland Jumping for Joy (2001): No health clearances (father is Thickish Newfoundland Hot Dog)
* Thickish Newfoundland Junior Is My Name (2001): No health clearances (father is Thickish Newfoundland Hot Dog)
* Thickish Newfoundland Just A Miracle (2001): No health clearances (father is Thickish Newfoundland Hot Dog)
* Thickish Newfoundland Just for Toad Hall (2001): No health clearances (father is Thickish Newfoundland Hot Dog)
* Thickish Newfoundland Just Toe Please You (2001): No health clearances (father is Thickish Newfoundland Hot Dog)

2003
* Thickish Newfoundland Ketchup (2003): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Globeflower)
* Thickish Newfoundland Kind Hearted (2003): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Globeflower)
* Thickish Newfoundland Kingfisher (2003): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Globeflower)
* Thickish Newfoundland Kinkajou (2003): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Globeflower)
* Thickish Newfoundland Lady Bountiful (2003): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Imperial Majestic)
* Thickish Newfoundland Lady of The Manor (2003): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Imperial Majestic) (3 offspring born in 2007 - no health clearances on any of them)
* Thickish Newfoundland Lambswool (2003): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Imperial Majestic)
* Thickish Newfoundland Land Girl (2003): No elbow, heart, or cystinuria clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Imperial Majestic)
* Thickish Newfoundland Lifeguard (2003): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Imperial Majestic)
* Thickish Newfoundland Light In The Dark (2003): No elbow, heart, or cystinuria clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Imperial Majestic)
* Thickish Newfoundland Like A Virgin (2003): Hips = grade "D"; no elbow, heart, or cystinuria clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Imperial Majestic)
* Thickish Newfoundland Love And Peace (2003): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Imperial Majestic)
* Thickish Newfoundland Margot of The Snow (2003): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Jenny Wren)
* Thickish Newfoundland Marvellous Marvin Hagler (2003): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Jenny Wren)
* Thickish Newfoundland Mayflower (2003): No elbow, heart, or cystinuria clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Jenny Wren)
* Thickish Newfoundland Midnight Serenade (2003): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Jenny Wren)
* Thickish Newfoundland Miniature Painting (2003): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Jenny Wren)
* Thickish Newfoundland More And More (2003): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Jenny Wren)

2004
* Thickish Newfoundland Never Walk Alone (2004): No hip, elbow, or heart clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Nicholas Cage (2004): No hip, elbow, or heart clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Nick Nack (2004): No hip, elbow, or heart clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Not for You (2004): No hip, elbow, or heart clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Oceanic Sea (2004): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Imperial Majestic)
* Thickish Newfoundland Olympic Game (2004): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Imperial Majestic)
* Thickish Newfoundland Once Upon A Time (2004): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Imperial Majestic)
* Thickish Newfoundland One Step Again (2004): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Imperial Majestic)
* Thickish Newfoundland Only You (2004): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Imperial Majestic)
* Thickish Newfoundland Open Your Heart (2004): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Imperial Majestic)
* Thickish Newfoundland Out of Time (2004): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Imperial Majestic)
* Thickish Newfoundland Outlet Dog Fashion (2004): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Imperial Majestic)
* Thickish Newfoundland Over And Over Again (2004): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Imperial Majestic)
* Thickish Newfoundland Over The Top (2004): No hip, elbow, or heart clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Imperial Majestic)
* Thickish Newfoundland Oxygen (2004): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Imperial Majestic)
* Thickish Newfoundland Pink Panther (2004): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Jenny Wren)
* Thickish Newfoundland Placido Domingo (2004): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Jenny Wren)
* Thickish Newfoundland Playboy (2004): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Jenny Wren)
* Thickish Newfoundland Please Donigo (2004): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Jenny Wren)
* Thickish Newfoundland Plumcake (2004): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Jenny Wren)
* Thickish Newfoundland Pocket Piece (2004): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Jenny Wren)
* Thickish Newfoundland Queen of My Heart (2004): No health clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Quincepiequinn (2004): Hips = grade D; Elbows = 0; no heart or cystinuria clearances (7 offspring born in 2008, only one of which has a single health clearance)
* Thickish Newfoundland Rainman (2004): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Just A Miracle)
* Thickish Newfoundland Rhapsody In Blue (2004): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Just A Miracle)
* Thickish Newfoundland Rhytm´N Blues (2004): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Just A Miracle)
* Thickish Newfoundland Robert Redford (2004): No health clearances (mother is Thickish Newfoundland Just A Miracle)

2005
* Thickish Newfoundland Shoesless Joe Jackson (2005): No health clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Siglinde Is My Mum (2005): No health clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Singing In The Rain (2005): No health clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Sirius Black (2005): No health clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Slys Big Friend (2005): No health clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Sound of Silence (2005): No health clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Starsman (2005): No health clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Starway To Heaven (2005): No hip, elbow, or heart clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Sugarblues (2005): No health clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Summertime (2005): No heart clearance; no cystinuria clearance
* Thickish Newfoundland Take It Easy at Indian Bay (2005): No hip, elbow, or heart clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Taske Force (2005): No health clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Teddybear (2005): No health clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland The Bombardier Jr. (2005): No health clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Time After Time (2005): No health clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland True Love (2005): No health clearances

2006
* Thickish Newfoundland Uboat (2006): No health clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Ultra Violet Ray (2006): No hip, elbow, or heart clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Uncle Tom (2006): No hip, elbow, or heart clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Unforgettable Boy (2006): No hip, elbow, or heart clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Unforgettable Dream (2006): No heart clearance (17 offspring, 13 of which have no hip, elbow, or heart clearances)
* Thickish Newfoundland Unicode (2006): No hip, elbow, or heart clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Union Jack (2006): No hip or heart clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Upside Down (2006): No hip, elbow, or heart clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Victor Victoria (2006): No health clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Willcoyote (2006): No health clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland William Wallace (2006): No health clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Winnie The Pooh (2006): No health clearances (7 offspring, 5 of which have no health clearances, one of which has grade "D" hips, and last of which has "borderline" elbows)
* Thickish Newfoundland Xmas Carol (2006): No health clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Xmas Flower (2006): No hip or elbow clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Xmas Pudding (2006): No health clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Xmas Time (2006): No health clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Xpress Avalanche (2006): No health clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Xtra Large (2006): No health clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland XXL (2006): No health clearances

2007

* Thickish Newfoundland A Beautiful Mind (2007): No health clearances (father - Zig Zag For Thickish Faundland - no hip, elbow, or heart clearances)
* Thickish Newfoundland A Blast of Oxygen (2007): No hip, heart, or cystinuria clearances (father - Zig Zag For Thickish Faundland - no hip, elbow, or heart clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland A Gift from Schmitz (2007): No health clearances (father - Zig Zag For Thickish Faundland - no hip, elbow, or heart clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland A Pretty Panda (2007): No health clearances (father - Zig Zag For Thickish Faundland - no hip, elbow, or heart clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland After Eight (2007): No health clearances (father - Zig Zag For Thickish Faundland - ho hip, elbow, or heart clearances)
* Thickish Newfoundland Another Day (2007): No health clearances (father - Zig Zag For Thickish Faundland - no hip, elbow, or heart clearances)
* Thickish Newfoundland Billy The Kid (2007): No hip or elbow clearances
* Thickish Newfoundland Call Me Pedro (2007): No health clearances (mother - Thickish Newfoundland Just A Miracle - no health clearances)
* Thickish Newfoundland Caro Kimba (2007): No health clearances (mother - Thickish Newfoundland Just A Miracle - no health clearances)
* Thickish Newfoundland Celine Dion for Albermass (2007): No health clearances (mother - Thickish Newfoundland Just A Miracle - no health clearances)
* Thickish Newfoundland Cher (2007): No health clearances (mother - Thickish Newfoundland Just A Miracle - no health clearances)
* Thickish Newfoundland Cher Chez La Femme (2007): No health clearances (mother - Thickish Newfoundland Just A Miracle - no health clearances)
* Thickish Newfoundland Chery (2007): No health clearances (mother - Thickish Newfoundland Just A Miracle - no health clearances)
* Thickish Newfoundland Chocolate Mousse (2007): No health clearances (mother - Thickish Newfoundland Just A Miracle - no health clearances)
* Thickish Newfoundland Clint Eastwood (2007): No health clearances (mother - Thickish Newfoundland Just A Miracle - no health clearances)
* Thickish Newfoundland Cortez Joaquin (2007): No health clearances (mother - Thickish Newfoundland Just A Miracle - no health clearances)
* Thickish Newfoundland Yellow Submarine (2007): No health clearances (mother - Skippers Dark Rose at Thickish - no elbow, heart, or cystinuria clearances)
* Thickish Newfoundland You And Me (2007): No health clearances (mother - Skippers Dark Rose at Thickish - no elbow, heart, or cystinuria clearances)
* Thickish Newfoundland You Are My Destiny (2007): No health clearances (mother - Skippers Dark Rose at Thickish - no elbow, heart, or cystinuria clearances)
* Thickish Newfoundland Zanzibar (2007): No health clearances (mother - Thickish Newfoundland Land Girl - no elbow, heart, or cystinuria clearances)
* Thickish Newfoundland Zipshut (2007): No health clearances (mother - Thickish Newfoundland Land Girl - no elbow, heart, or cystinuria clearances)
* Thickish Newfoundland Zoom On Me (2007): No health clearances (mother - Thickish Newfoundland Land Girl - no elbow, heart, or cystinuria clearances)

This simply represents what the database contains for the 1998 - 2007 period. I shudder to think what an analysis of the 2008 to present breedings will demonstrate.

To put it in the words of one of her girlfriends: "IT IS ALSO A WELL KNOWN FACT (ALSO TO YOU, I ASSUME) THAT THE ABSENCE OF TEST RESULTS IN THE DATABASE. . . DOES NOT MEAN THAT THAT THE DOG IS CLEAR. IT SIMPLY MEANS THAT THE DOG WAS NEVER TESTED, THE RESULTS WERE NEVER ENTERED INTO THE DATABASE (WHICH IS OFTEN THE CASE WHEN THE RESULTS ARE BAD), OR THAT THEY WERE DELETED LATER." [Caps added.] Indeed!!!

Ironically, this breeder is regularly embraced by the Newfoundland Club of America. Yet the NCA itself states the following with respect to the testing of Newfoundlands and a kennel's breeding stock: "Responsible breeders screen their breeding stock for genetic diseases. The Newfoundland Club of America considers the following tests as necessary for all Newfoundlands: hips (x-ray), elbows (x-ray), cystinuria (DNA or parentage) and hearts (cardiologist evaluated). Additional tests include CERF (eyes), thyroid (blood tests), and patellas (palpation). DNA Banking is also strongly encouraged. A responsible breeder will list the health screening they perform on their breeding stock and will either provide the information via a public database such as the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), the NCA Database, or will provide prospective buyers with certificates of clearances upon request. One of the hallmarks of a responsible breeder is gathering as much information about their breeding stock as possible before planning a breeding."

Make your own judgment about how this woman can be so concerned about the welfare of puppies sent from Europe to the United States. Then look at the track record of the health (as reported on the database) of the Newfies she has bred and bred from over the 1998 through 2007 time frame. Can you detect the wholesale hypocrisy and absence of any care for the welfare of the breed?

People often say that the only reason to breed Newfoundlands is to improve the health and quality of the breed. While that is a lofty goal, you would think, at a minimum, that a person would breed Newfoundlands and at least improve the quality of their dogs. The Thickish Newfoundland kennel has achieved neither. It has simply been a setback to the Newfoundland Dog under the guise of self promotion, the fixing of shows, the fraudulent submission of health records even in the rare cases where they are "positive", the intimidation of other exhibitors, the elimination of other breeders who had and could improve the breed, and plain criminal acts.

Let's also not forget that in correspondence to me, her contract for the sale of a Newfoundland puppy not only refuses to guarantee a single health-related issue, but requires a buyer to explicitly acknowledge the health issues inherent in Newfoundlands and decline any health warranty, expressly and impliedly.