Complaint Review: Sendero Briards - Monticello Georgia

I want to start this post by saying that...Yes, I will have to admit, I am afraid. I've heard story after story about the Millners. The thing is; I don't know if some of what I've heard is the truth or simply gossip. I mean, how do we really know about certain things we hear?

But if only a fraction of what I've heard is true, then—yes, I have a real reason to be afraid. Not to mention the way I've been continuously harassed and slandered (in my opinion) by Merry Jeanne for over three years now.  

When I first met Merry Jeanne, she did tell me herself about some of what this consumer wrote about. She told me the rumors that were being spread around about her within our Briard community. She said those rumors included rumors about a girl who had come to live with them for a time because the girl was having problems. I never heard or knew the girl's name. But that girl was the girl Merry Jeanne referenced as the girl involved in the rumors about her husband Tommy...and being someone who the Millner's involved in their marriage. She did not include the part about the dog Yank as being part of what went on with this particular girl. So, I'm not sure if this girl is the same girl who was involved with their dog Yank. 

Merry Jeanne—I'm assuming, told me these rumors about her and her husband Tommy, as a means to prepare me for what I might hear from some within our Briard community. I accepted what she said and didnt really think much about it either way. That wasn't the only thing she told me pertaining to rumors being spread within our Briard community. There were alot more rumors than just that one. 

The other part I want to comment on, is the part about the girl named Nickie. I heard this story from Merry Jeanne's friend...and the person who also co owned my Ben's litter—Karen Fedi. At dinner one night while Karen was here visiting me and Ben, she told me of this story. She said that there was a young girl hired by the Millners who had been showing their dog Yank. And she explained that Yank had bitten someone n the face. I didn't know the girl's name or who the dog had supposedly bitten. I only knew the minimal information. But according to Karen, Merry Jeanne had the "forethought" to take the dog, Yank, to the vet to have him seen after he bit someone at a dog show. And that, there was cocaine found in his system. Why the girl (Nickie) was determined to be the one who was respsonsible for giving the dog cocaine is beyond me. I didn't hear that part from Karen. All I heard from her, was that the girl (Nickie) was banned from ever showing dogs again after the incident...because AKC believed she was responsible for giving the dog, Yank, cocaine, based on the vet report. 

At the time I was having dinner with Karen, I do remember thinking to myself how strange it was that someone would just load up their dog and take it to the vet after it bit someone. I mean...who would really do that. Only someone who was expecting to find something in the dogs system I guess...or someone who "wanted" to find something in the dog's system...if you get what I mean. 

And even if there was cocaine found in a dog's system, how was it that it came to be the fault of the girl Nickie's fault. It could be anyone at the dog show etc. I do know that Nickie (who's name I never heard before until now) denies that she ever did cocaine or gave the dog cocaine. All I know is that this girl (Nickie) was banned from ever showing dogs again at AKC events and that her reputaiton was absolutely ruined within the AKC by the Millners.

So, yes, that along with so many other things done to me personally by Merry Jeanne Millner as well as things I've heard time and time again over the years, is responsible for the reason I am afraid after challenging the Millners and telling the truth about what they have done to me and to me dogs and continue to do to me today!

There have been so so many things over the last three years. Things involving another one of my dogs, Hank who has since died from a rare form of Juvenile Osteosarcoma. Merry Jeanne's name ended up on his registration papers as co owner because I was told by a friend in the Briard community that Merry Jeanne was going to try to steal Hank away from me at a dog show if I showed up at a show with him. I had no idea that she had actually convinced the breeder to put her name on the papers untilI had Hank's dna recorded with the AKC before his death. When I got the report back from AKC, Merry Jeanne's name was on the registraion as co owner. That right there was the straw for me. I had heard the rumors that she was going to try to steal my dog from me at dog shows. But I didn't know for sure if it was true until I saw those papers.( and I have copies of them.) I didnt fully believe it until I saw those papers. And when i did, I knew (or I felt In my gut) that Merry Jeanne Millner is capable of probably anything! She really was goiing to try to steal my dog at a dog show by telling the superintendent that Hank was her dog. 

Because I had heard this information long before I ever saw the evidence that Merry Jeanne's name was on Hank's registration, I carried with me everywhere I went, a letter from my attorney explaining the slander and the evidence to support it as well as two owner cards showing Hank's microchip number, my name and address and emails from Hank's breeder etc to show that I was the rightful owner. My attorney told me to keep it with me at all times. So I did...even when I took Hank out for a walk, I had the information with me just in case. That's the fear I lived in and have lived in since I stood up to this horrible horrible woman, breeder, businees owner of Sendero Briards. 

So, my point of this post is to say that gossip is gossip...and only the girl, Merry Jeanne and Tommy know for sure what really happened. And whether or not the girls or girl described is one in the same or if there are actually two girls involved...Nickie, the girl who showed Yank and was banned from showing dogs—curtosy of the Millners. ANd the girl lived with the Millners for a time and became involved in person issues between the Millners. 

So, let's keep gossip where gossip belongs, and concentrate on the facts. And the fact is, yes, it's fair to say that I'm afrad. I've been afraid for a long time because Merry Jeanne has not left me alone since I told the Briard community what she did to me and to my dogs. I have deactivated my facebook page for over 5 months hoping she would go away. I've kept my social media presence to a minimum. I've stayed away from showing my dogs so that i didn't run into her at dog shows where she has followed me around, filmed me to my face with her cell phone while I'm in the ring showing me dog, patroled the area where I was set up at dog shows hoping I would have my dog Hank with me so she could try to steal him etc. I've tried everything to stay out of her crosshairs and out of sight from her. But nothing is working.

What I wouldn't give if I had known all of what she has done to others before I bought a dog from her. I do know first hand that I am not the only person she has stolen a dog from. When this happened with Tipsy, I heard from so many in the Briard community that there was someone else who had experienced the same thing as me. The woman's name is Tari. ANd when I heard about her. I contacted her and asked if she would be willing to tell me her experience and talk to me about it.

Tari agreed to talk to me and tell me her story. The stories are so so similar in how they happened and how they were initiated. The stories are so so similar and show a pattern with Merry Jeanne. This woman stays as far away from engaging in social media etc so that she can live a life free from the Millners. She said it took her a long time to break free from the harassment. I found her to be very credible and definitely sympothized with her story becasue it was so very similar to mine. 

I'm not sure why people get to these points in their lives where they just simply cannot stop from doing harm to others. Tari's dog was a girl named Derby. She meant the world to Tari. Even after so many years since the incident (like about 13 or 14 years at the time I talked to her 3 years ago) she was still visably shaken and traumatized. She cried during parts as she told me the story. 

It's real! That's the sad part. And for whatever reason, these two people don't ever feel like they are at fault. They just keep hurting people...at least that's what I believe based on what they've keep doing to me.

Updated Post; The Videos I posted didn't seem to upload. So in case the videos don't get posted, here is a copy of the link to the AKC event showing the Briard ring judging when the Millner's dog Neyo bites the judge. Copy and paste it into your browsers and fast forward it to the black natural eared Briard that's second in line, professional handler in dark blue suit with armband number 9. Story continues below the link:

https://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/breed-results-videos/breed-videos-2019/brid-2019-video

In this video you wll see Merry Jeanne and Tommy Millner's dog Neyo bite an AKC judge...and then go on to win Select in the breed ring at the 2019 Westminster dog show. The reason this instance shows a pattern of unethica business practices (in my opinion) is because of this;

The woman who is the professional handler for their dog Neyo is Joan Scott of FoxCatcher Kennels. She is a business partner and very good friend to the AKC Judge who's name is Bill Shelton. He and Joan Scott share co ownership of a Corgi. And it is considered unethical for Joan Scott to show dogs to Bil Shelton because of their business relationship in co owning a dog together. I have been at dog shows where Joan will sit ringside when Bill Shelton is the judge because it is unethical for her to show to him. 

Merry Jeanne and Tommy Millner also have a longstanding friendship and relationship with Bill Shelton. So, the story goes that Merry Jeanne and Tommy Millner helped to get Bill Shelton appointed to judge the Briard ring for Westminster. That way, they could justify showing to him during Westminster becasue Neyo was invited by Westminster to show due to his show ranking in the breed. 

Normally, when a dog even lunges at a judge, the dog would be excused from the ring. But if a dog makes contact and bites a judge there is a six month suspension for the dog on the first incident. Neyo has bitten other people inside the ring while showing. And he has sat out from showing. So, on the second offense...or in this case possibly third offense (because supposedly he bit someone a second time prior to Westminster) the dog would be permenantly suspended from showing. 

In this video, you will see Bill Shelton walk up to Neyo to examine his bite. (teeth) When he goes to look in the dog's mouth, Neyo reaches out and bites Bill Shelton on the thumb, and Bill jerks his thumb out of Neyo's mouth. Then watch Joan Scott's reaction when this happens. She immediately looks over in the direction of Merry Jeanne and Tommy Millner who are standing ring side out of site from the camera over in the left hand corner of the ringside. 

Then watch Bill Shelton also look over in the direction of the Millners and laugh as he curls his thumb into his hand visibly in pain. Bill Shelton knows the history of the Millner's and he would not dare challenge them on this incident, report their dog, or excuse the dog from the ring...not to mention the position they put him in by allowing their handler Joan Scott to show to Bill Shelton when it is unethical (for that very reason) for Joan to show to him. 

Had it not been for the Millner's known reputation of being ruthless and vendictive when they are challenged, Bill Shelton would have excused Their dog from the ring and reported the bite. But he knew better. And he was also put in a compromising position with Joan Scott being the handler on the dog. It was a no win situaiton for ethical behavior from Bill Shelton. He was between a rock and hard place as the judge in that ring at that time. 

But the sad part is that Merry Jeanne and Tommy Millner... as well as Joan Scott, could have made the ethical decision to hand in their armband and excuse themselves from the ring due to the incident that everyone in attendace witnessed. This shows once again that the Millners only want to win in the show ring, no matter what they have to do or how unethical they are willing to go to get there. 

This video was the talk of the Briard community for months. And any time anyone made a public comment about it, the Millners would file complaints with the BCA to have members reprimanded. Normally, this would not work for someone.. to have members reprimanded for simply telling the truth. But Tommy Millner as well as several of their personal friends are on the board of the BCA.

So many people in the Briard community talk about the constant unethical and corrupt behavior of the Millners within the Briard community as well as outside. But any time someone stands up to them and challenges them, the Millners go on an all out witch hunt relentlessly to destroy the person's reputation as well as their lives. Exactly as they have continued to do to me because I wrote on FB about what they did to both of my dogs, Ben and Tipsy. But my dogs deserved to have a voice in what Merry Jeanne Millner did to both of them.

Notice in the video when Joan takes Neyo down toward the camera and then turns to go back toward Bill Shelton. Bill is visibly shaken by Neyo and gets behind Joan in an attempt to shield himself from a full on attack by Neyo as he sees Neyo begin to lunge at him. 

The Millners have a long history of breeding dogs that have questionable temperaments. I use the word "questionable" lightly. This is just one more reason to stay away from the Millners if you are looking to buy a Braird puppy. Also, if you are thinking about getting into showing dogs, pick another breed besides a Briard. You will be very glad you did and very sorry if you don't. Because the word on the "street" within the Briard community of show people is that as soon as Merry Jeanne and Tommy Millner walk into a show site or a room, they literally suck all of the air out of it and make the experience miserable for everyone involved in showing their dogs. 

In this video you wll see Merry Jeanne and Tommy Millner's dog Neyo bite an AKC judge...and then go on to win Select in the breed ring at the 2019 Westminster dog show. The reason this instance shows a pattern of unethica business practices (in my opinion) is because of this;

The woman who is the professional handler for their dog Neyo is Joan Scott of FoxCatcher Kennels. She is a business partner and very good friend to the AKC Judge who's name is Bill Shelton. He and Joan Scott share co ownership of a Corgi. And it is considered unethical for Joan Scott to show dogs to Bil Shelton because of their business relationship in co owning a dog together. I have been at dog shows where Joan will sit ringside when Bill Shelton is the judge because it is unethical for her to show to him. 

Merry Jeanne and Tommy Millner also have a longstanding friendship and relationship with Bill Shelton. So, the story goes that Merry Jeanne and Tommy Millner helped to get Bill Shelton appointed to judge the Briard ring for Westminster. That way, they could justify showing to him during Westminster becasue Neyo was invited by Westminster to show due to his show ranking in the breed. 

Normally, when a dog even lunges at a judge, the dog would be excused from the ring. But if a dog makes contact and bites a judge there is a six month suspension for the dog on the first incident. Neyo has bitten other people inside the ring while showing. And he has sat out from showing. So, on the second offense...or in this case possibly third offense (because supposedly he bit someone a second time prior to Westminster) the dog would be permenantly suspended from showing. 

In this video, you will see Bill Shelton walk up to Neyo to examine his bite. (teeth) When he goes to look in the dog's mouth, Neyo reaches out and bites Bill Shelton on the thumb, and Bill jerks his thumb out of Neyo's mouth. Then watch Joan Scott's reaction when this happens. She immediately looks over in the direction of Merry Jeanne and Tommy Millner who are standing ring side out of site from the camera over in the left hand corner of the ringside. 

Then watch Bill Shelton also look over in the direction of the Millners and laugh as he curls his thumb into his hand visibly in pain. Bill Shelton knows the history of the Millner's and he would not dare challenge them on this incident, report their dog, or excuse the dog from the ring...not to mention the position they put him in by allowing their handler Joan Scott to show to Bill Shelton when it is unethical (for that very reason) for Joan to show to him. 

Had it not been for the Millner's known reputation of being ruthless and vendictive when they are challenged, Bill Shelton would have excused Their dog from the ring and reported the bite. But he knew better. And he was also put in a compromising position with Joan Scott being the handler on the dog. It was a no win situaiton for ethical behavior from Bill Shelton. He was between a rock and hard place as the judge in that ring at that time. 

But the sad part is that Merry Jeanne and Tommy Millner... as well as Joan Scott, could have made the ethical decision to hand in their armband and excuse themselves from the ring due to the incident that everyone in attendace witnessed. This shows once again that the Millners only want to win in the show ring, no matter what they have to do or how unethical they are willing to go to get there. 

This video was the talk of the Briard community for months. And any time anyone made a public comment about it, the Millners would file complaints with the BCA to have members reprimanded. Normally, this would not work for someone.. to have members reprimanded for simply telling the truth. But Tommy Millner as well as several of their personal friends are on the board of the BCA.

So many people in the Briard community talk about the constant unethical and corrupt behavior of the Millners within the Briard community as well as outside. But any time someone stands up to them and challenges them, the Millners go on an all out witch hunt relentlessly to destroy the person's reputation as well as their lives. Exactly as they have continued to do to me because I wrote on FB about what they did to both of my dogs, Ben and Tipsy. But my dogs deserved to have a voice in what Merry Jeanne Millner did to both of them.

Notice in the video when Joan takes Neyo down toward the camera and then turns to go back toward Bill Shelton. Bill is visibly shaken by Neyo and gets behind Joan in an attempt to shield himself from a full on attack by Neyo as he sees Neyo begin to lunge at him. 

The Millners have a long history of breeding dogs that have questionable temperaments. I use the word "questionable" lightly. This is just one more reason to stay away from the Millners if you are looking to buy a Braird puppy. Also, if you are thinking about getting into showing dogs, pick another breed besides a Briard. You will be very glad you did and very sorry if you don't. Because the word on the "street" within the Briard community of show people is that as soon as Merry Jeanne and Tommy Millner walk into a show site or a room, they literally suck all of the air out of it and make the experience miserable for everyone involved in showing their dogs. 

OK, so I know the Millners. These two people are the worst snakes I've ever known. I suggest, don't ever get involved with them. I am very worried about the safety of this woman who file the ripoff report because I know first hand what the Millners are capable of doing to someone. Tommy Millner and Merry Jeanne Millner have a long history of corrupt behavior. Years ago, there was a young girl who lived with the Millners. Her name was Nickie. She was a professional handler who worked for the Millners. If I am remembering correctly she was only twenty-two years old at the time. The story goes that Merry Jeanne was either friged or secretly liked women. Nickie came to live with them as a young dog handler because she was having some personal problems and the Millners agreed to take her in to try and help her get past her problems. Merry Jeanne and Tommy Millner were having marital problems.

The story goes that Merry Jeanne wanted to farm out Nickie to Tommy to keep him satisfied. Nickie wasn't going to have it. Merry Jeanne was afraid that Nickie would talk. They had a dog named Yank and Nickie was showing him. Merry Jeanne supposedly told someone that she was going to get rid of Nickie. Yank had a terrible temperament. The Millners tried to hide it. Yank ended up biting Nickie's sister in the face at a dog show. First of all, the Millner's didn't want anyone to believe that Yank had a terrible temperament because he would be benched for six months. Merry Jeanne used the situation to get rid of Nickie. She supposedly took Yank to the vet as soon as he bit Nickie's sister in the face. There is supposedly a vet report which stated that Yank had cocaine in his system. Merry Jeanne then took the document to the AKC to have Nickie banned from ever showing dogs again, and this destroyed Nickie's reputation. 

No one involved in Briards believes that Nickie gave Yank cocaine. They believe the Millners fabricated the documents to get rid of Nickie becasue she wouldn't go along with being Tommy's paid prostitute. The Millner's are very toxic people. They are way too dangerous to ever get involved with. I know story after story. That's why I'm afraid for this woman who has written the report about her Briards. If she ends up dead or missing, I know what I will think about it. 

The Millners are people to stay away from. Don't buy a dog from them if you don't want to have trouble. There are plenty of good reputable breeders in the Briard communtiy. Pick on of them for your future puppy. 

Sincerely, A Longtime Briard Owner Who Knows All The Gossip

I wanted to make a correction about the name of the kennel belonging to Joand Scott where my Ben was taken when he left with Joan. The name of her Kennel is FoxCatcher not FoxFire.