Office of the Attorney General: Sullivan County Court Finds Dog Kennel Owner in Civil Contempt of Temporary Injunction Order

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

June 03, 2008

CONTACT:
Sharon Curtis-Flair
(615) 741-5860


The owner and operator of a Sullivan County dog kennel has admitted she violated a 2006 temporary injunction order that prohibits her from selling or offering to sell dogs. A hearing on monetary remedies of the civil contempt in the case against Gina De’Lynn Hodges Price will take place after her federal criminal trial, which will begin June 30.

The U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Tennessee is prosecuting the federal case. The State of Tennessee simultaneously sued Gina Price and other defendants and was granted a temporary injunction in 2006 following allegations the defendants were selling dogs with serious health problems. The State alleged in its original complaint that Gina Price and other defendants made statements to consumers that their dogs were healthy, but delivered dogs that had chronic hereditary health problems, debilitating or fatal birth defects, organ failure, spina bifida, severe heart murmurs, seizures, cleft palates, parvovirus, parasites, worms, ear mites, infections, and other serious health problems.

The State also alleged that many bulldogs from the kennel died or had to be euthanized shortly after delivery. In the order, Price admits that beginning in January 2008 she offered as many as seven dogs for sale on the Internet. Further, she admits that she stated on her website: “We have decided to sell some of our belles here on the Ridge ( see their photos on my Southern Belles Page ). . . . Please check them out and give us a call if interested in any of them . Our home number is [phone number redacted] or you can call our mobile number [mobile number redacted] anytime and leave a message and we will return your call ASAP.”

The defendant also admits that she was given notice by the Attorney General’ s Office on four separate occasions of other web pages that were not in compliance with the temporary injunction order.

“Actions such as these are in blatant disregard of the laws protecting the rights of consumers,” stated Attorney General Bob Cooper. “My Office will diligently pursue any business or individual who violates the terms of a Court Order we have been awarded.”

“The Division of Consumer Affairs was deeply troubled by the number and severity of the complaints filed against this kennel,” said Mary Clement. “I encourage consumers who experience problems with animal breeders, or in any other consumer matter, to file a formal complaint with our office.”

If you have paid Gina Price or Rebel Ridge Kennels and have not already filed a complaint and wish to do so, contact the Division of Consumer Affairs at http://www.state.tn.us/consumer/ or (615) 741-4737 or toll-free in Tennessee at 1-800-342-8385.

Consumers who wish to file a complaint against any unlawful dog breeding business or individual or any other deceptive act by a business or individual should also contact the Division of Consumer Affairs. For more information about this case go to the Attorney General’s website at http://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/ and click on “Cases of Interest.”