For over 4 years, many people and groups have been attempting to get 1 Love Rescue closed down. Many assert he is not a rescue, but a puppy flipper, breaking the laws and scamming people who do not know better. Unfortunately, Placer County Animal Control has not done what they should do and shut him down (I will use “him” since Justin Montgomery is the backbone of this business). Justin likes to play the victim, doesn’t care about truths and often becomes unhinged. I wrote this blog in 2016 originally, but after several years, I have decided to go back and add to it. Obviously, since then, he was divorced, went to jail for theft, and now has a new relationship with a woman who has been able to help him financially. But very little has changed really.
Original Blog:
In the past few weeks, there has been on-going friction with 1 Love dog “rescue” and MANY other reputable rescues out there. To the point, that I got a call on 5/4/16 from a Police Officer from Rocklin PD. Justin called to complain about my telling the truth (and especially about this blog which I hadn’t shared because website problems would not allow us to post our important screenshots for proof). The officer told me that he explained to Justin that nothing we were doing was illegal (for example, you post pictures of your children on IG and it is now public domain). Clearly, we want no harm to come to any of his family, threatening bystanders is never acceptable, and not something we would every tolerate. We do, however, think it is important that people understand why there are these issues, and specifically, all the laws that are being broken by 1 Love Dog Rescue. Two of his board members have addresses in Ukraine, him, his wife and one other local person is on the Board of Directors. I am sure his Ukrainian Board Members know little about our laws in regards to running a rescue- but after all these years he should know and be expected to run his rescue lawfully. Instead he adopts out unaltered, underage and sick dogs to poor unsuspecting families. In this blog, you will see many screenshots. I have blurred out people’s names in most of them (we retain the originals if this becomes a legal matter and I hope it does), because he harasses anyone who speaks poorly of him. I am certainly not the first person he has verbally attacked and harassed, but I can take it. If you want to get involved, you might try to contact Placer County Animal Services.
*UPDATE After being told by a police officer I am not breaking the law, Justin took it further and had Amanda De Alba-Zamorano with Bowman and Associates (Immigration, Criminal, Family and Bankruptcy law) issue a Cease and Desist letter. My lawyer did respond to this letter and nothing else was heard.
*Update – 5/5 5 pm – I got a call saying that Justin had tried to get RPNC removed from Pet Food Express. I was a bit concerned what the phone call would be like since he told me they were good friends and when I said he was kicked out of PFE from doing events there, he told me I was wrong. Mike indeed confirmed they had been kicked out for improper animal care and being abusive to people as well (his temper is apparent). Previously they let him do one event a year, but he is now not welcome there as well. He continues to try really hard, but sadly, everyone can see him for what he truly is. Most people do not believe his primary concern is for the animals but ultimately for his own pocketbook.
This all began at Pet-A-Palooza in 2015, when their van pulled up and they dumped a load of dogs into a couple pens. Previous to this event, I had never heard of them. Justin came up and introduced himself and bragged about how he has “adopted” out 1,000 dogs the previous year. I was impressed but a little shocked that 2 people could properly care for that many dogs. This was also when the SPCA was backlogged about 6 weeks for spay and neuter, so that confused me a bit. I was shocked by the designer breeds he had, which are less common in shelters, but I was APPALLED by the Chihuahua puppies- in the grass. He said he had just gotten them (and as you can clearly see by the picture they posted on their page, there was no protective barrier to keep the puppies off the grass AND there is no spay incision) and we watched as one by one, the dogs were “adopted out.”
They were at the end and we were across at the end of the row, so it was easy to watch as people came up, and walked away with dogs. Now, I don’t LOVE rescues not doing home checks, but it is not required, so I let that go. I mean there are some rescues I adore who do not do homechecks, but it is something we require. I might also think that young energetic dog might not be a good fit for the senior in the scooter – but that is me and my values where the most important thing is the right fit for the dog. Where this became a HUGE issue for me, was when these unaltered puppies (which he said he just got) were sold (I think sold is an appropriate term). We could hear as a woman purchased a little girl and then began to walk away Justin call out, “You promise to fix her, right?” At that point, I was dumbfounded. I don’t understand allowing your unvetted puppies on the ground (if you come to our adoption events you will notice puppy pens are on tarps which both pens and tarps are cleaned after each event to keep puppies safe), but I was (and still am) horrified that they hand out unaltered dogs. You see, it is against the law in the state of California to adopt out unaltered dogs. California law as penal code 30520 states, “no public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group shall sell or give away to a new owner any dog that has not been spayed or neutered.” We are often held back, waiting for our appointments to send a dog to its new home. But this is ultimately, the law. Being new to rescue, I can understand that there might be some confusion. Mind you, he told me he had adopted out 1,000 dogs that year, and how many of those dogs were un-altered?
Fast forward a year.
Rescue is a small community. Volunteers, fosters, and supporters hit every field involving the animal industry. Everything from vets offices, pet stores, and dog walkers are coming into contact with people who “adopted” from 1 love. I am hearing stories left and right of sick and unaltered dogs
showing up everywhere. We have people, who “adopted” a puppy from them, then it died and so they come to us looking for a new dog. I have to explain to them that parvo lives in the carpet and soil and so we will not (for the safety of our dogs) adopt them a puppy, but will help them in finding a fully vaccinated dog.
There have been previous events where we have attended where rescue groups (like NorCal Bully, Love and Second Chances, Umbrella of Hope and other REPUTABLE rescues) have come together to say, we won’t be at an event if they are there. When Pet-a-palooza invites came this year, I emailed and said that we would not be in attendance; however, they should know that if 1 Love was there that there are many other groups who would likely not come (Other emails went from other rescues as well) and an email was sent out saying they were not going to be invited. Did I have a part in that? Absolutely. I know for the safety of my animals, I cannot be at an event with their animals. He has said he hasn’t had parvo there since November, but that goes against everything I have seen and heard. I cannot have people going to their area, playing with dogs that have not followed strict protocols, and then people coming and touching my dogs. It is a big deal to me to lose a dog, and that is never acceptable.
So began a week of tirades, attacking us, NorCal Bully and others. He said (feel free to look at their page a few weeks back) the reason we did that is we were “jealous,” that we don’t like men, and made other absurd comments like we try to get people to go “adopt” his dogs so we can turn around and adopt them out since his are so desirable. So I want to address these issues:
I am jealous: While it can be a real pain to get up and go to work, then do rescue on breaks, nights and weekends, I have no desire to live in a kennel. I enjoy the medical benefits, retirement, and salary that come from a hard day’s work. I appreciate getting to leave my house and conversations about things other than dogs. I LOVE my nice house. I don’t need to sell a certain number of dogs to pay the bills, I can instead wait for the PERFECT family for each dog. I can afford to be the quality over quantity (and 264 is still a lot when it comes to volunteer/foster home ONLY rescues). So I am not sure what I am expected to be jealous about. I would rather have adopted 50 altered animals into well thought, loving homes that had homechecks and on-going support – than 1,000 to anyone who would pay the “adoption” fees.
I hate men: I married one, was raised by a single dad… must I go on?
We try to get his dogs so we can adopt them out: So, I admit, it would be amazing to have the purebred dogs he gets – I mean that is an easy adoption. However, his dogs are not coming from shelters (which is my passion) but he is in fact buying them from backyard breeders (aka “greeders” or BYBs). I personally think that this makes it easy for BYBs and gives them more reason to continue the practice. Where we occasionally get a litter that is owner surrendered and we spay the females, primarily over 90% of the dogs we take come from shelters. This is how you curtail the overpopulation problem and stop BYBs. The idea that we would buy his dogs (his adoption fees are about $300-700) and adopt them out (our standard is $200 but adoption fees usually range from $0-$300 and $300 is about twice a year) makes no sense. Why would we spend $400 on a puppy then have to vet it and adopt it out for $200?
While he was on this tangent about how “jealous” these rescues are, another reputable rescue Sacramento Independent Animal Rescuers (SIAR) were contacted about a dog they adopted from 1 Love that broke out with parvo. I have been contacted time and time again about sick dogs, so this did not shock me (although finding out that they had a “parvo waver” in their contract shows me that this clearly is a known issue). After spending $6,000 at the ER vet, they could not afford the care anymore. Since SIAR has a great relationship and gets discounted vet care, they took on the dog and a few days later he was well. They decided to give the dog back to the owner who tried so hard to save their new puppy (which I have so much respect for them) and this is when it all began to unfold further. In posting to raise funds for this dog, Justin began making assumptions, saying things and attacking people. This is when he decided he should contact me (the entire transcription is below but I think it is important to see the childish way he behaves). Something else he said that concerned me was his lack of providing social skills. I think this is one of the most important things our foster homes do. Whether it be dogs that have trust issues, haven’t had families and ESPECIALLY puppies (which they deal a lot with) who are learning about the world (and you can find a ton of studies about how important socialization is) need a LOT of socialization but Justin says, “I don’t need to provide dog some social skills that’s up to their new owners. And especially a puppy that’s eight weeks old isn’t learning social skills …We try not to do too much with them socially because we want them to adopt into a new family easily instead of being attached to us” As someone who works hard to provide training for my fosters and volunteers, it is sad to me that Justin takes no responsibility for training, just as he takes no responsibility for animals getting sick. Socialization is one of the reasons we hold onto puppies until they are 10 weeks, instead of adopting them out at 8 weeks as allowed by law. Studies and behaviorists tell us this is a critical time and learning social skills from people and their littermates is paramount.
Adopting underage dogs is an on-going issue as well. This is one of the reasons he says he doesn’t alter all the puppies before they leave as they are too young. Well, legally, dogs have to be 8 weeks old to adopt out. Animal Spay and Neuter alters dogs at 8 weeks, so I don’t understand how this could ever be a justification. In his weeklong non-stop tangent where he was mad about pet-a-palooza – one of his adopters decided enough was enough and posted on his page about her experience. As the screen shots show, this adopter got a dog at the beginning of last year, and her vet believed the puppy was as young as 4 weeks old as it had no teeth. He argues that it is impossible that the dog was 4 weeks old. He says “maybe 6-7 could be but not 4…im not that blind.” He said she could talk to his vet, but the vet didn’t see the dog until much later down the road when she finally got her dog altered. He admits (which is common practice) to giving his own worming and vaccines, so vets don’t see these unaltered dogs prior to their owners returning (or hopefully returning) to alter them. Regardless, if it is 4 weeks or 6 weeks – adopting out dogs under 8 weeks of age is ILLEGAL.
The facts are pure and simple, changes need to be made. I have offered to explain to him our quarantine procedures (although that is a lot of work and generally means we only have one litter at a time in a house – which makes it hard when you are considering your salary), but he has declined. In discussing spay and neuter, last week he said he has fixed 2,000 dogs, this week it is 3,000. I am not sure what the ACTUAL number is or how that compares to the numbers of dogs adopted, however, I have A LOT of proof that dogs are going out unaltered. Justin seems to think it is acceptable as long as he has the owners “foster-to-adopt” by signing one extra part on that waiver, but that is not acceptable. When the owners take the dogs, they are then responsible to call and get a hold of him for an appointment. What happens if they don’t? Nothing. Again, we have a ton of information that has been amassed about this. This is not “slenderizing” as he says, but this is fact. He continues to threaten to sue us, and that we are prepared for. We have many written statements about him “adopting” out intact dogs. Lots of people have experienced this as well.
My hope? While some would like to see them go away, I say there are more than enough adopters and dogs that need help. I want him to follow the laws and keep dogs until they are at least 8 weeks. Spay and neuter BEFORE they go to new homes. And of course to stop adopting out sick dogs as this makes ALL rescues look bad when they have this experience. Sure I would love for them to stop amassing more dogs than they can properly keep cleaned, socialized and happy. I would love for them to stop supporting BYBs. I would love for them to be more picky about adopting and realize adopting out 2 dogs is often a bad idea; however, there are no laws requiring those things. Why I am at it, I would love it if he could learn to be professional and not think when a girl is mean to you that they have a crush on you, I am no longer 7, that is not the issue buddy. And my invitation to go over proper safety protocols still stands, should he have any desire to keep his rescue alive. That should be a priority, as it is his only source of income, but only after the care of the dogs.
Total PM message on 5/2/16
Justin Montgomery is in your contacts
3:24PM
Thanks for the slam on Facebook. 😘 now I know who you are.
You accepted Justin’s request.
EL: There is a difference between slam and telling the truth. I know, you love playing the victim. It seems you have had a lot of practice, but that doesn’t work for me. No one hacked your website- you didn’t pay your bill. No one is making up half truths, just because they show that you need to make changes, doesn’t make it untrue. This is a good opportunity for you to man-up, and start doing things so they are morally and legally correct. Because as is, you will not continue to be around. Animal control wasn’t being hard on you, causing you to move- they expect you to follow the laws. We all work within the laws, and you should also be held accountable to those standards. You need to take responsibility for not having proper quarantine standards and that is costing dogs lives and families a lot of money. I know you don’t care, because the most important thing is the money- but that hurts actual rescues from doing business. They are burned and think all rescues are shady and opt to support (like you) backyard breeders. Do better- follow the laws- adopt out healthy, altered animals over 8 weeks- and we will support you the same as everyone else. When so many people are saying the same thing about you- you should realize maybe it is you and not the world. Although, victims rarely take personal responsibility or admit when they are wrong.
JM: See you in court bitch
EL: Ok
JM: Might want to consider what this is going to do to your rescue after I’m done with you. And good luck at your next adoption event [not sure if this is a threat?]
EL: I am actually not concerned at all. Because I follow the laws
JM: If you did you would shut your ugly face.
EL: Childish insults… I wish I could say I am shocked.
JM: I am good pals with mike [Michael Levy from Pet Food Express I assume]. So good luck. By the way everybody thinks that your name for your organization is the worst name ever. All you have done is killed your rescue.
EL: I actually don’t care with what people think of the name of our rescue. I know, I wasn’t as creative as you
JM: And most the people I talk to you think you’re fucking lunatic
Till today I didn’t even know you existed.
EL: Again, I am not concerned with what you or “most people” think of me
JM: Just knew the name.
JM: Obviously you are because you’re making quite a big show. I don’t understand why you have so much spare time I never have any spare time I never even looked at your webpage or Facebook before and now I am forced to look at something and do you want something I don’t want to. So who is the child?
EL: Well, I am going to go back to working my real job, because not all of us live off the dogs. Have a lovely day
JM: You all were jealous because my rescue pulls more people and we get more adoption thing you that’s why nobody wanted me to pet a Pelouze you don’t fool yourself like you revolutionize something.
Interesting you’ve never talk to me you don’t know me or don’t know anything about me. I’m actually a forest fire fighter if you want to know we have several online businesses and we do pretty good and that’s why we are able to afford to help all these dogs.
EL: I actually have met you, just because you don’t remember, doesn’t mean we haven’t met.
JM: But if you think I’m just a puppy flipper then obviously you don’t pay enough attention to what we do because if you did you would see the hundreds of dogs that we help from people that are baking recipes to help them but unfortunately people like you don’t list phone numbers because you’re too scared to talk to the general public so why the fuck do you think I get so many dogs?
EL: For someone who does pretty good, you sure do post about things like having your electricity shut off.
JM: Well then you would know I’m a pretty nice guy and most people like me because you have been off opinion about me and choose to spend your days worrying about what I do instead of worrying about your own dogs will eventually doom and cripple your own rescue so you might as will just give up on this conquest of defining me and let me do my job yes we all make mistakes and I’m sure you have never made one in your life [Needless to say this “nice guy” that everyone loves, I have been contacted by SO MANY PEOPLE, in vet clinics, pet stores, rescues and more who despise him. I have yet to have any person come to me to ask me to be nice to him or anything else. I am not so delusional to think everyone loves me and I am so great, although, I am sure the BYBs he gives money to love him!)
EL: I mean, the tax records are public, so we know how much you claim to make … which is certainly substantial
JM: Yes I actually know that it was you that called the police on us for that and just a little while ago so I don’t think that because you called the police can’t give me the records of who actually made those phone calls. Which I will be retrieving tomorrow. [How did that turn out, how can I call the cops on you if I do not know where you live? And I, unlike him, do not call the POLICE when someone hurts my feelings}
All of our tax ID information and who we are and all that information’s on the web so I’m sorry you are not smart enough to figure out where to look.
EL: And I am fine with you doing “your job” as long as that means you stop adopting out underage dogs, unaltered dogs, and sick dogs. I think it is not unreasonable to ask someone to follow the laws. I know they impede on your ability to sell as many dogs as possible, but still it should be expected of any rescue.
EL: It is your job to follow those laws
JM: And actually if you read the post and took a little time instead of trying to be a super bitch. You would’ve known that it was an accident we needed it wasn’t because we didn’t have money it was we forgot to pay the bill and I was just mentioning it which was stupid because I should never mentioned anything in my life because of people like you. And three hours later it was turned back on so I don’t think you are so smart and so awesome because I am sureyou have made a mistake and I am just so amazed at how much time and effort you put into me.
EL: and your not paying the website and blaming it on others?
JM: I’ve also spoken to Didi about this and that and will span neuter and so you might want to watch herself. Because if you look on your forms when you go and fill out your paperwork for each one of those dogs look who’s name is on it it’s not yours. [He asked me to not be allowed to use their services- and my name is on the top of the Sacramento form, not the Auburn one- since I am not driving to Auburn then downtown to go to work]
No actually my webpage was hacked twice and I had to pay to have it fixed and I had to rebuild myself so where do you think you were getting this information from? How do you think that you know what’s going on in my world. [He had posted (and he has deleted A LOT of the posts during this time, which was probably at the suggestion of his lawyer) that we had hacked it and the company was making him pay and he needed money to get the website working again).
EL: Luckily, I have never had my lights shut off… but I assume there is plenty of notice. And I certainly wouldn’t go online and ask for donations. But it was smart to delete that 3 hours later since AC (and prob CPS) wouldn’t like to hear about that.
Who hacked your website?
JM: My webpage gets some around 75 attacks a day it’s all recorded from what IP address is and everything so I don’t need to prove myself to you
EL: ok, then, that is fair.
JM: I don’t know my webpage it was probably a coincidence but unfortunately I was dealing with a lot and you people were attacking me and I was defending myself and because it was part of what was going on I feel like people should know. But if you kept reading you would say I don’t know if it has to do with us it’s just kind of fishy
EL: you don’t need to prove anything to me. But if you want people to back down (and there are a LOT of rescues who feel this way)- just prove you are folowing the laws
JM: Now let’s talk about something. Let’s talk about all this attacks on me about these two puppies that I had out of the litter of four at that event. [absolutely no idea what he is talking about]
EL: fix your dogs BEFORE they go home
ALL of them
Stop adopting out young dogs
JM: Those puppies or spayed and neutered the following week which I have on record if you would like to check and they’re actually posted on my Instagram page from the owners [IF this is true, still against the law]
I’m sorry but young dogs need help because there are too many people out there willing to use them as breeders so if I’m not out there helping him there’s going to be that many more dogs being left to breed and you have no idea what I see every day so please do not start with me [see above pic from someone at a retail shop who “adopted” one of his dogs and is not planning on fixing it- in which case, how is he helping? He is just the middle man]
You have no right to dictate how I run my rescue and I have no right to dictate how you run your
EL: because this is a small community, the vets, the vet techs, the dog walkers and everyone else sees it. It is easy to give support to someone who will sell a dog to anyone with cash, but that only lasts so long when people realize all the problems. All the corners being cut.
JM: Now again with this puppy that you were all slamming me about nobody asked me anything you guys to start attacking me again. That lady about the dog around the ninth or the 10th of this month then she called me the next day or the couple of days after to tell me about her wonderful new dog and everything in his new name now to register this trip and all that stuff and he is neutered.
EL: The LAW has the right to dictate how you run your rescue
these are laws
JM: Then she told me that she was taking the dog for walks around her apartment complex now in my experience I have seen Parville strike in 2 to 3 days of exposure to the 7 to 10 days stuff is common but it is not always that way
EL: not my personal recommendations
JM:Listen you absolutely have no idea what I do every day
And the way you’re trying to come at me is so off-base and you are making yourself look ridiculous
EL: I hear about this all the time. You can’t blame others, when I have seen myself you put puppies on the grass (like the last pet-a-palooza)
JM: I pay for everything from start to finish from the rescues to their vaccinations to their space and neuters to everything so don’t try to tell me about my cut corners
EL: cutting corners means that should be done BEFORE they are adopted, not as fast in and out as possible to make more money
that is cutting corners
JM: Yes it was not the best thing for me to do and after I went home I realize that I should have put them on something but it was a long day we didn’t have any volunteers show up and we were doing the best we could
Once again you have no idea what I do and don’t ever try to tell me about the fast cash bullshit
EL: keeping them with their littermates until 8 weeks (minimum) is the law as it is what is best for them, developmentally.
JM: That is what I do. Thank you
EL: to provide them with social skills
JM:I’m sorry I don’t need to provide dog some social skills that’s up to their new owners. And especially a puppy that’s eight weeks old isn’t learning social skills
The adults that come in that need social skills yes but they are worked with by our foster homes and I do do a lot of their social behavioral stuff
We try not to do too much with them socially because we want them to adopt into a new family easily instead of being attached to us
EL: I actually do know what you do, because I do it too. If you are over burdened, then don’t take so many dogs. How many foster homes do you have?
What trainer told you it is better to not socialize them to make that easier?
JM: Don’t ask me about my business.
EL: because that blows my mind
JM: I’ve given you enough information I have tried to clear the miss informed people but unfortunately talking to you is like talking to a protester you tell him the truth and I spit in your face
You have your ways of dealing with dogs and I have mine obviously I’m very successful at it and people love us so I’m sorry that you suck and nobody likes you
EL: well your “truths” are half truths, and I am not as stupid as you think. I have A LOT of adopters who have come to me over the last year.
JM: Actually it feels like I’m in high school and there’s a girl who has a crush on me but instead of being nice to me , they treat you like shit so what is it do you have a big crush on me?
EL: *gag*
JM: Because you sure do spend a lot of time looking at my face.
So maybe you should not spend so much time worrying about me and worry about yourself because if you focus on what you’re doing you’re going to be a lot more successful but if you try to burn people were on your way you’re going to lose in the end.
EL: I won’t say what I want, because I am trying to have a little more class than you. But no thanks. And I actually don’t bother myself with you as much as you might hope. I know you have this fantasy, where all the world is against you and you are a super hero… the world does not share that experience with you.
JM: So goodbye conversation over just letting you know all of this was recorded and every picture of the remarks made on your Facebook has been recorded and are forwarded to my attorney so expect to hear from them soon. And I do understand that I’m not the only one that you do this to you so I don’t think that we haven’t got the information from other rescues as well
EL: So again, I ask you follow the laws and stop giving everyone a reason to want you gone
JM: Oh my god you’re probably the least classiest girl I’ve ever seen in my life. You honestly think what you’re doing is classy? You’re making yourself look like a buffoon
EL: there sure are enough dogs out there for us all to care for. But that doesn’t make it ok to just be a puppy flipper.
spay and neuter ALL dogs, as required by law
JM: I actually do follow laws you guys are talking about so few incidences in the thousands of dogs that I deal with. Don’t you see all the thousands of Chihuahuas I deal with. Sheesh you are so blind lady
EL: BEFORE they go to homes
JM: Take the big stick out of your ass
Then go to the salon and get your hair done
Don’t smell like dog shit
EL: True, I am a stickler for the laws
JM: Make sure you wipe your ass at the end of the day
Have a nice day
EL: you as well!
Chat Conversation End
Here is the Contract that he has people sign. Besides the Parvo “waver,” there are other opportunities to fine people and yet take no claim to the dogs. The paperwork is confusing (which is why one Veterinarian told me she doesn’t like him because the paperwork is confusing and when you call to verify it, he would yell and be rude), Ziggy was adopted on 4/10, but the paperwork had strange dates written in for services he didn’t receive.
