Breeder Information
Breeder's Name: Jamie and Matthew Nye
Breeder's Address: 324 King Street
Breeder's City: Myerstown
Breeder's State: pennsylvania
Kennel Name: Ridley's Red Retrievers
Breeder's Email Address: RidleysRedRetrievers@yahoo.com
Breeder's Phone Number: 717-818-9922
Breeder Website
http://www.ridleysredretrievers.com
USDA #: 09998
How did you find your breeder? website
If found through a broker's website, which one? american_kennel_club
If found through social media, which one?: instagram
Social Media URL: @ridleysredretrievers @ridleysredretrievers_rrr
Puppy Information
Date of Purchase: 2023-06-24
Breed: Golden Retriever
Age: 12 weeks
How was your puppy delivered to you? picked_up_at_breeder's_home
Other Delivery Method: picked up at "barn" on property where they brought the puppy to you from the nursery.
Would the breeder let you meet the mother dog? no
Additional Comments: no, she said it was too stressful for the mama dogs
Would the breeder let you see where all of his dogs live? no
Additional Comments: it was a kennel and an appt only. very weird experience.
Did the breeder list other breeders for sale? yes
Additional Comments: golden doodles, goldadors
How many breeding dogs did the breeder have? 35+
Was your puppy healthy? no
Additional Comments: Puppy had a mast cell tumor and cancer
Did you receive the correct puppy? no
Additional Comments: I don't know?
Did your puppy come with vet records? yes
Did your puppy come with a health guarantee? yes
Would you purchase a puppy from this breeder again? no
Breeder Rating: 1
Additional Comments
I bought my puppy, Pip from Jaime Nye of Ridley’s Red Retrievers in late June of 2023. Six weeks later he developed what looked like a “small bump” on the inside of one of his back leg paws (near the pads). After much testing and many visits to various vets, it was discovered in OCT 2023 that Pip had a mast cell tumor on his paw. This is unheard of in a puppy as young as Pip was at the time. After much research and speaking to vets at the University of Pennsylvania where he is being treated, I learned that Pip’s mast cell tumor is a 100% genetic. I have spoken to 5 different vets who all have said the exact same thing regarding Pip’s MCT. “It’s genetic”. Pip was tested for the KIT mutation which is found in 50% of all dogs, all breeds, crossbreeds, etc. KIT is associated with certain cancers and can help VETS determine the aggressiveness of the cancer if a dog tests positive. Pip tested negative for a KIT-mutation (which is great news) but tested positive for other germ-line mutations that are associated with cancer.
In OCT 2023, Jamie & Matthew Nye of Ridley’s Red Retrievers (RRR) flat out lied to me when I told them about Pip’s MCT. Jaime informed me that NONE of her dogs had ever had a MCT, it was uncharted territory for her and she was sorry I had to worry about something like this. Throughout Pip’s entire cancer journey there were red, orange, and yellow flags that I had with RRR and I began to investigate their breeding program. I have saved our entire conversations via text and email which is why I am able to backtrack and quote her lies. I have also looked at all of her previous litters via IG, FB, and her website and that is when I realized she was overbreeding her dogs.
When I picked Pip up from RRR, I asked to meet his mom and was told by Jaime that it would not be possible for me to do so. This was very concerning to me. I also discovered that she was positing outdated health clearances online regarding her dogs. I believed she was overbreeding the mama dogs, I believed the females were being bred each time they went into heat — with absolutely no breaks. I believed that there were more sick RRR dogs that were out there and I was also very concerned that she was NOT following any ethical breeding standards/practices and was NOT a member of the Golden Retriever Club of America.
Jamie, confirmed to me via text that “Dogs can be bred more than 1x/year and that she breeds her mama’s every heat cycle but only if the mama is robust and produces healthy puppies”. This statement from Jamie is 100% unethical. After reaching out to other breeders and the GRCA, I learned that a “female golden retriever should be bred 1x a year, starting at 12-24mo, females should have a MAX of 4-5 litters in their lifetime — you breed for the line, the health of line, and the health of the puppies, not for money”. The more you breed a female dog, the more puppies she will have in her litter, the more unhealthy the puppies will become and they are more likely to develop certain health issues at a younger age such as allergies, cancer, hip dysplasia and personality issues.
In April 2024 I found out via IG that another one of RRR puppies, named Max had a MCT tumor on his front paw. Pip and Max are related via the parentage (line). Ridley James & Cayenne are Max’s parents. Muira and Dino are Pip’s parents. Ridley James is also Muira’s father, Ridley Jame’s is Pip’s grandfather and Max’s father. I brought these concerns to Jamie and she once again lied to me stating she was unaware of Max’s MCT. I reached out to Max’s mom who sent me a screenshot of her text to Jamie in DEC 2022, EXACTLY 10 months before Pip was diagnosed with his MCT informing Jamie that Max had a MCT and Jamie acknowledged Max’s MCT. I was outraged. The sad part about all of this is Jamie still continued to breed Ridley James, Cayenne, and Dino after she learned about Max’s and Pip’s MCT. She did retire Muira but as all the vets I have seen, other breeders I have spoken to have said — she should’ve retired ALL dogs immediately to prevent this “issue” happening again.
I reached out to the Commonwealth of PA with my concerns and actually got a phone call from the Lebanon county dog warden. The dog warden was aware of RRR and went out with the state veterinarian to complete an “unscheduled” kennel inspection. The dog warden informed me that under PA law that was all she and the department could do. RRR met the satisfactory guidelines within the Commonwealth of PA. However, I was informed that RRR/Jamie Nye currently holds a “commercial kennel license in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, license number 09998, license Class K5 which allows her to transfer 251-500 dogs per calendar year. The more dogs a kennel has on its premises the more likely it is to fall into the category of “puppy mill”. A reputable breeder is unlikely to house more than 50 dogs a year.
The dog warden informed me that RRR/she is/are allowed to transfer up to 500 dogs per calendar year on her property and by transfer that means buy or sell”. After doing more research on the kennel laws in PA, I also learned there are many commercial breeders, who are also puppy mills within the same license class that RRR currently holds. I understand that puppy mill laws vary from state-to-state; however I am also very aware of the puppy mill laws and know that the Commonwealth of PA is in the top 5 states in the US for having the most puppy mills and backyard breeders. Lancaster County being #1 and Lebanon County is #2 (where RRR is located) I also learned that many puppy mill breeders are also registered with the AKC, it is a very common practice. It is my belief that RRR is acting as a “luxury” puppy mill.
In 2023 RRR/Jamie Nye transferred/sold 265 puppies. As of July 2024 she had 75 puppies on site and 36 dogs. Under PA law, these are not boarding dogs as boarding dogs need to be held in a completely different facility.
The two very kind dog wardens understood my concerns, were very empathetic with me and were concerned. They suggested that I file a complaint with PA attorney general’s office since there was nothing more they were able to do. I did file a complaint with AG’s office. The dog wardens also suggested I write a Google review and post it on social media.
I am a HUGE animal lover, I always have been. I actually wanted to be a VET but chose a different career path because I don’t like to see animals in pain. I have absolutely NO tolerance for people who lie and try to cover up the truth. I have been an active volunteer with Humane Society, ASPCA, and R.E.A.D. I am at fault for not doing the extensive research on RRR, not looking to the Golden Retriever Club of America GRCA and following up with RRR by asking the GRCA top 25 questions to ask a breeder.
I grew up with Goldens and ADORE the breed. I truly believe RRR is ruining the breed and will continue to ruin the breed based on their unethical breeding practices. There will be more illnesses within RRR puppies. Families and children will be hurt.
This is not fair to anyone or any family. But is most of all NOT FAIR to the dogs and puppies at RRR.
I know many of you have amazing dogs from RRR. That is absolutely wonderful and such a blessing, I am truly happy for everyone and love seeing these dogs living their best life. All Goldens are truly amazing, wonderful, funny, happy dogs. But, I strongly encourage you all to please read the GRCA guidelines for breeding, work with GRCA on finding an ethical breeder for your next golden and refer friends and family to please do the same.
This has been a very difficult process for me and Pip. Pip still has a 20-30% chance of developing another MCT. I have spent over $20,000 of my own money on Pip’s treatment — testing, comfort, driving, tolls, Ubers, ER visits, food, etc. And I would do it again because I love him so much. The good news that has come from all of this is that Jamie/RRR did retire Ridley James, Dino, and Muira. The bad news is she did not retire Shelby, Saleen, Pantera and Boo. 3 females are daughters of Ridley James and 1 is a daughter of Dino.
This is a journey I would not wish on anyone. I have had other families with puppies from RRR who have reached out to me with stories of their own regarding the illnesses their RRR puppies have had and still do have. The sad thing is that the dog and puppies suffer the most, and families who fall in love with these puppies are heartbroken when something that could have been avoided happens to their beloved pet.