Lori Haak
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My Interview With Lori
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Lori Haak's Interview
This month, I had the opportunity to interview Lori Haak. Under a very interesting set of circumstances, I met Lori. Because of that experience, I wanted to share with others so that you too can have the pleasant experience without the worry and hassle I first went through.
Tammy: Thank you, Lori, for agreeing to do this interview with us.
First of all, let’s introduce you and what you do.
Lori: I am Lori Haak, I run a cattery for TICA registered Ragdoll cats with my partner, Lori Parsons.
Tammy: How long have you been a breeder?
Lori: I have been breeding with my partner, Lori, for 5 years. She has been breeding Ragdolls for over 14 years.
Tammy: Was this something you knew, growing up, you wanted to do?
Lori: I have always LOVED animals. In fact, I feel most relaxed at home with my pets around me. I really wanted to be a veterinarian until I learned my grandparents had to help their beloved dog cross the rainbow bridge. Being young and never experiencing something like that, I changed career paths and am now a nurse practitioner who still has a passion for animals.
My daughter shares the same passion as I and is on the path to becoming a veterinarian. I met my business partner almost 6 years ago when we adopted our first Ragdoll, who we love beyond words.
About 5 years ago, Lori Parsons approached us about working together to breed Ragdolls and I thought what a perfect opportunity to foster my daughter’s love of animals and interest in veterinary work. This is how we became breeders of Ragdolls.
Tammy: Ah yes, the dreaded rainbow bridges are so hard on us all! In fact, that is the very reason I first met you due to our own Ragdoll, Porter, of 18 years passing over the rainbow bridge.
We were devastated. He lived a very long and healthy life. My husband and I had gotten him for a wedding present to one another. Porter grew with us through the years and we shared everything with him.
On my quest to fill the void Porter had left, I found you. What impressed me was the interaction the kittens were getting with your family.
Does the entire family help out?
Lori: My entire family is vested in our babies and mommas. My daughter is the one who has the most interaction with them. The first 4-5 weeks, the momma cat and her kittens stay in her room until they are big enough to be a part of the rest of the house.
My husband also loves the kittens. While he does not do the chores, they love to play games with him and snuggle with him in the evenings. He is always taking selfies with them!
Tammy: I have to say; how could you resist? Having such precious dolls around to snuggle with would be addictive!
I liked that the kittens are exposed to other animals in your household. Do you find this beneficial for placement in homes with other animals, too?
Lori: I believe that being around our dogs does wonders for helping them to adjust to their new homes. Our dogs love the kittens and let them do whatever they want to them.
My golden retriever allows them to steal from them! Being exposed to our dogs and household noises helps them transition to their new families and not be surprised by their new surroundings.
Tammy: I like it, not only because I have dogs too, but I feel it’s hard enough on the little guys being introduced to a new place, new people, then throw dogs in they may have never seen before, has to be hard on them!
How long do you keep the kittens before you let them be placed?
Lori: Our kittens stay with us until they are 14-15 weeks of age. They mature very slowly and are just not ready to leave their mommas until that time. By the time they are about 12 weeks old, I can tell that they are feeling more secure and look for their mom less often. That’s when I know they will be fine with their new family and have a much easier time transitioning to their forever home.
Tammy: Waiting to get them can be so hard and it’s hard to be patient! And yet, with all the new things they have to deal with when you first get them, I can see that it really is beneficial for them so they can feel more comfortable in their new home.
What is it that you do to get the kittens prepared to be placed?
Lori: We start giving them attention from 24 hours after they are born. That way, they learn to seek human attention. We worm them every two weeks until they go home. They come home with their distemper series completed, a health exam/certificate from our veterinarian and our health guarantee.
They also come home with expectations of lots of attention, toys and chicken treats daily!!
Tammy: How do you go about knowing a new home will be safe for placement of your kittens?
Lori: I like to speak to my families prior to them leaving a deposit. We are a closed cattery for the health and safety of our kittens, but we are more than happy to face time so you can see the kittens. Sometimes that helps you see their personalities since you cannot see them in person.
We also send a questionnaire to potential families to ensure they are not making a rash decision and a Ragdoll will be the right fit for their lifestyle.
Tammy: Do you ever ship your kittens?
Lori: NO. We never ship our kittens; they are precious to us! We put lots of love and work into them to get them ready for their forever families and I just cannot allow them to go with a stranger as cargo with someone who doesn't care about them. If prospective families are unwilling to pick up their babies, we are unwilling to work with them.
I like to meet my families. I must know, the kittens leave us with someone who loves them to make their transition less traumatic. We have had families fly in from Florida and Texas to pick up their babies and fly back with them in the cabin, but they have never traveled alone. We love our babies first and we want to protect them as much as we can!
Tammy: Which leads me to how I found you. Unfortunately, there are a lot of scams out there for purchases of kittens and puppies. Even though I pride myself on research, and was able to avoid the first scam, the second one almost had me.
I too did not feel comfortable with the idea of the kittens being “transported”. To me, they are much more valuable than regular cargo. Avoiding the first scam, the second one tempted me by saying I was able to pick them up directly.
However, the kittens were over 16 hours away. They quickly offered to transport the kittens at a ridiculously low price. Which caused me to see a red flag. When I said no and was looking into flying out alone and would transport them with me, they refused. On further research, their website was actually listed on the Better Business Bureau as a scam.
Although both scams were diverted and reported, I had fallen in love with the pictures and videos they had provided. I was already vulnerable after losing Porter, then to continue to fall in love with other fictional ones, even briefly, was extremely hard on me. An emotional strain I did not need at this time.
What are your thoughts on the scams out there?
Lori: I have had multiple families fall victim or almost get scammed. It is disheartening that they would use animals in this way. My advice would be to never have a kitten shipped to you, never give large amounts of money to someone who says they will then ship the kitten.
I would also be worried about someone who would use a transportation system, especially one you have not heard of. One of the biggest things I have heard from my families is them asking for large sums of money for COVID safe crates. There are airline safe crates, but I have not heard of COVID crates.
I would also be careful of a “cattery” that emails multiple times to try to get you to deposit money, especially in large sums over $500. It is hard to figure out sometimes until it happens to you, but my best advice is to ask to speak to a live person from the cattery. They usually can answer your questions and will not ask for large sums of money.
Tammy: Soon I will be getting my two precious kittens, Sam & Dean, from you, which all of you will get to see in next month’s article. I have to say, the whole interaction with you has been such a pleasant experience for me!
I can clearly see the kittens are very well taken care of and loved. Through that and the interactions I have had with you, has made it easy for me to trust you. Especially, since a friend of mine already has one of your treasured kittens and is beyond content!
Where can people find you to inquire about your kittens?
Lori: We have our website, Aragdolltolove.com that is updated regularly with new pictures and videos of our babies. All our videos go to YouTube and you can find them by searching Aragdolltolove.
We also have a large amount of families who return and are referred by friends and family. We love that because we love when our babies sell themselves, makes us feel good when they are so irresistible!
Tammy: They are very irresistible! Trying to figure out what pictures to use for the article proved quite difficult because they are all so adorable!
Are there any personal shout outs to anyone who has helped you along the way?
Lori: Shout outs to my daughter and right-hand man Olivia, my husband mike, and of course my business partner/proprietor Lori Parsons with whom none of this would be possible. And, of course, our puppies Tanner, Abby, and Graceland for loving the kittens!
Tammy: Lori, I can’t thank you enough for doing the interview! Replacing a pet, you have lost is hard enough. For you can never truly replace them but simply start a new bond which helps.
Even picking out your first pet can be a daunting task. Having someone take advantage of those situations makes it all so much harder. Finding someone you can trust, through word of mouth or reputation, is truly the way to go!
There are reasons we choose the animals we do to share our lives with, so we need to be able to have options that are safe for both the animal and us.
Besides all the wonderful opportunities for rescues that are out there, there are reputable breeders that can be an avenue to pursue as well. They are small business owners that have to take an even more personal approach to their business.
Having compassion and then being able to pass that bond they have made to you. That, to me, is inspiring!
Tammy: Thank you, Lori, for agreeing to do this interview with us.
First of all, let’s introduce you and what you do.
Lori: I am Lori Haak, I run a cattery for TICA registered Ragdoll cats with my partner, Lori Parsons.
Tammy: How long have you been a breeder?
Lori: I have been breeding with my partner, Lori, for 5 years. She has been breeding Ragdolls for over 14 years.
Tammy: Was this something you knew, growing up, you wanted to do?
Lori: I have always LOVED animals. In fact, I feel most relaxed at home with my pets around me. I really wanted to be a veterinarian until I learned my grandparents had to help their beloved dog cross the rainbow bridge. Being young and never experiencing something like that, I changed career paths and am now a nurse practitioner who still has a passion for animals.
My daughter shares the same passion as I and is on the path to becoming a veterinarian. I met my business partner almost 6 years ago when we adopted our first Ragdoll, who we love beyond words.
About 5 years ago, Lori Parsons approached us about working together to breed Ragdolls and I thought what a perfect opportunity to foster my daughter’s love of animals and interest in veterinary work. This is how we became breeders of Ragdolls.
Tammy: Ah yes, the dreaded rainbow bridges are so hard on us all! In fact, that is the very reason I first met you due to our own Ragdoll, Porter, of 18 years passing over the rainbow bridge.
We were devastated. He lived a very long and healthy life. My husband and I had gotten him for a wedding present to one another. Porter grew with us through the years and we shared everything with him.
On my quest to fill the void Porter had left, I found you. What impressed me was the interaction the kittens were getting with your family.
Does the entire family help out?
Lori: My entire family is vested in our babies and mommas. My daughter is the one who has the most interaction with them. The first 4-5 weeks, the momma cat and her kittens stay in her room until they are big enough to be a part of the rest of the house.
My husband also loves the kittens. While he does not do the chores, they love to play games with him and snuggle with him in the evenings. He is always taking selfies with them!
Tammy: I have to say; how could you resist? Having such precious dolls around to snuggle with would be addictive!
I liked that the kittens are exposed to other animals in your household. Do you find this beneficial for placement in homes with other animals, too?
Lori: I believe that being around our dogs does wonders for helping them to adjust to their new homes. Our dogs love the kittens and let them do whatever they want to them.
My golden retriever allows them to steal from them! Being exposed to our dogs and household noises helps them transition to their new families and not be surprised by their new surroundings.
Tammy: I like it, not only because I have dogs too, but I feel it’s hard enough on the little guys being introduced to a new place, new people, then throw dogs in they may have never seen before, has to be hard on them!
How long do you keep the kittens before you let them be placed?
Lori: Our kittens stay with us until they are 14-15 weeks of age. They mature very slowly and are just not ready to leave their mommas until that time. By the time they are about 12 weeks old, I can tell that they are feeling more secure and look for their mom less often. That’s when I know they will be fine with their new family and have a much easier time transitioning to their forever home.
Tammy: Waiting to get them can be so hard and it’s hard to be patient! And yet, with all the new things they have to deal with when you first get them, I can see that it really is beneficial for them so they can feel more comfortable in their new home.
What is it that you do to get the kittens prepared to be placed?
Lori: We start giving them attention from 24 hours after they are born. That way, they learn to seek human attention. We worm them every two weeks until they go home. They come home with their distemper series completed, a health exam/certificate from our veterinarian and our health guarantee.
They also come home with expectations of lots of attention, toys and chicken treats daily!!
Tammy: How do you go about knowing a new home will be safe for placement of your kittens?
Lori: I like to speak to my families prior to them leaving a deposit. We are a closed cattery for the health and safety of our kittens, but we are more than happy to face time so you can see the kittens. Sometimes that helps you see their personalities since you cannot see them in person.
We also send a questionnaire to potential families to ensure they are not making a rash decision and a Ragdoll will be the right fit for their lifestyle.
Tammy: Do you ever ship your kittens?
Lori: NO. We never ship our kittens; they are precious to us! We put lots of love and work into them to get them ready for their forever families and I just cannot allow them to go with a stranger as cargo with someone who doesn't care about them. If prospective families are unwilling to pick up their babies, we are unwilling to work with them.
I like to meet my families. I must know, the kittens leave us with someone who loves them to make their transition less traumatic. We have had families fly in from Florida and Texas to pick up their babies and fly back with them in the cabin, but they have never traveled alone. We love our babies first and we want to protect them as much as we can!
Tammy: Which leads me to how I found you. Unfortunately, there are a lot of scams out there for purchases of kittens and puppies. Even though I pride myself on research, and was able to avoid the first scam, the second one almost had me.
I too did not feel comfortable with the idea of the kittens being “transported”. To me, they are much more valuable than regular cargo. Avoiding the first scam, the second one tempted me by saying I was able to pick them up directly.
However, the kittens were over 16 hours away. They quickly offered to transport the kittens at a ridiculously low price. Which caused me to see a red flag. When I said no and was looking into flying out alone and would transport them with me, they refused. On further research, their website was actually listed on the Better Business Bureau as a scam.
Although both scams were diverted and reported, I had fallen in love with the pictures and videos they had provided. I was already vulnerable after losing Porter, then to continue to fall in love with other fictional ones, even briefly, was extremely hard on me. An emotional strain I did not need at this time.
What are your thoughts on the scams out there?
Lori: I have had multiple families fall victim or almost get scammed. It is disheartening that they would use animals in this way. My advice would be to never have a kitten shipped to you, never give large amounts of money to someone who says they will then ship the kitten.
I would also be worried about someone who would use a transportation system, especially one you have not heard of. One of the biggest things I have heard from my families is them asking for large sums of money for COVID safe crates. There are airline safe crates, but I have not heard of COVID crates.
I would also be careful of a “cattery” that emails multiple times to try to get you to deposit money, especially in large sums over $500. It is hard to figure out sometimes until it happens to you, but my best advice is to ask to speak to a live person from the cattery. They usually can answer your questions and will not ask for large sums of money.
Tammy: Soon I will be getting my two precious kittens, Sam & Dean, from you, which all of you will get to see in next month’s article. I have to say, the whole interaction with you has been such a pleasant experience for me!
I can clearly see the kittens are very well taken care of and loved. Through that and the interactions I have had with you, has made it easy for me to trust you. Especially, since a friend of mine already has one of your treasured kittens and is beyond content!
Where can people find you to inquire about your kittens?
Lori: We have our website, Aragdolltolove.com that is updated regularly with new pictures and videos of our babies. All our videos go to YouTube and you can find them by searching Aragdolltolove.
We also have a large amount of families who return and are referred by friends and family. We love that because we love when our babies sell themselves, makes us feel good when they are so irresistible!
Tammy: They are very irresistible! Trying to figure out what pictures to use for the article proved quite difficult because they are all so adorable!
Are there any personal shout outs to anyone who has helped you along the way?
Lori: Shout outs to my daughter and right-hand man Olivia, my husband mike, and of course my business partner/proprietor Lori Parsons with whom none of this would be possible. And, of course, our puppies Tanner, Abby, and Graceland for loving the kittens!
Tammy: Lori, I can’t thank you enough for doing the interview! Replacing a pet, you have lost is hard enough. For you can never truly replace them but simply start a new bond which helps.
Even picking out your first pet can be a daunting task. Having someone take advantage of those situations makes it all so much harder. Finding someone you can trust, through word of mouth or reputation, is truly the way to go!
There are reasons we choose the animals we do to share our lives with, so we need to be able to have options that are safe for both the animal and us.
Besides all the wonderful opportunities for rescues that are out there, there are reputable breeders that can be an avenue to pursue as well. They are small business owners that have to take an even more personal approach to their business.
Having compassion and then being able to pass that bond they have made to you. That, to me, is inspiring!
