This page about Twilight Great Danes (AKA Twilight Farms), & Mary Roycroft was added due to the numerious calls & emails we recieved about the conditions of the Adults, puppies and facilities. We wanted to give some insite as to what we know and posted this information for you to read over and come to your own opinions & conclusions. Please read the page in it's entirety and keep checking back as we will keep updating this page as new information becomes available! If you have witnessed first hand conditions that you feel are unacceptable please use the link provided below (at the bottom of this Content box.) to file your complaint with the proper authorities.
Kelso's GR8 Danes is in NO WAY associated with Twilight Great Danes (AKA Twilight Farms) or Mary Roycroft ! We do NOT approve of nor accept MOST of their breeding practices!!!
Yes, Kelso-Twilight Shadows Still Remains is out of our breeding program and YES, he is a well bred dog that comes from a very impressive line, but that does not alone make him a breeding candidate!!!! However, Kelso's GR8 Danes has had legal dealings with Twilight Great Danes involving this dog!!! (All of this information is a matter of PUBLIC RECORD. If you want more information about this litigation PLEASE look it up in PUBLIC RECORDS!!!)
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO RESEARCH ON THE BITCHES "Shadow" Kelso-Twilight Shadows Still Remain IS BRED TO!!!! Ask for 4-5 generation color marked CERTIFIED pedigree for both the Sire and Dam. Please learn how to read a pedigree to make sure the litter in question is NOT LINE BRED/INBRED, if you are NOT looking for a LINEBRED/INBRED Puppy!!! Also ask for OFA TEST RESULT CERTIFICATIONS, & CERF TEST RESULTS!!!! PLEASE LEARN TO READ & INTERPRET THOSE RESULTS!!! ALSO BE SURE TO ASK IF ANY OF THOSE PUPPIES BRED/WHELPED INTO TWILIGHTS GREAT DANES HAVE HEALTH RELATED ISSUES...ALSO ASK IF ANY PUPPIES HAVE DIED DUE TO HEALTH RELATED ISSUES!!!!
***Please Note and food for thought- DON'T ACQUIRE OR BREED A MEDIOCRE, FAULTED BITCH OR DOG JUST BECAUSE IT HAS A SUPERIOR PEDIGREE!!! EVEN THE BEST SIRES AND DAMS WILL PRODUCE SOME PET QUALITY OFFSPRING!!!! A PEDIGREE IS NEVER MORE IMPORTANT THEN THE CORRECT CONFORMATION, TEMPERAMENT, & HEALTH OF THE SIRE AND/OR DAM!!!! LITTERMATES ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL NOR SHOULD THEY BE TREATED AS SUCH!!!!***
***Note on OFA Cardio & Thyroid- PLEASE MAKE SURE WHEN PURCHASING ANY PUPPY FROM ANY BREEDER THE PARENTS' OFA CARDIO (HEART) CERTIFICATION HAVE BEEN OFA CERTIFED WITH AN ECHOCARDIOGRAM!!!! OTHERWISE IT JUST MEANS SOME VET LISTENED TO THE DOG'S HEART AND HAD NOT HEARD A PROBLEM AT THAT TIME!!!! IT DOES NOT MEAN THERE ISN'T A "SILENT" TIME BOMB WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED LATER ON OR GO OFF!!! IT JUST MEANS THE VET DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING WRONG AT THE TIME HE LISTEN TO THE HEART!!!!
AN ECHOCARDIOGRAM WILL PICK UP BLOOD FLOW PROBLEMS, MURMURS,WEAK OR THIN LINING OF THE WALLS/MUSCLES OF THE HEART, OR ANY LITTLE GLITCH IN THE HEART THAT CANNOT BE HEARD!!!! THIS CAN SAVE YOU A SMALL FORTUNE , EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, AND THE LIFE OF YOUR PUPPY IF YOU HEED MY WARNING!!!! ALSO MAKE SURE YOU SEE A THYROID OFA CERTIFICATE...NOT A LAB REPORT!!!! OFA THYROID TESTS ARE TESTED TO A "GREATER" DEGREE THEN JUST A BASIC LAB TEST!!! ***
I will be posting the story of my involvement with Mary Roycroft and Twilight Great Danes at a later date! Please check back or call me if you have questions!!! However, I will NOT be discussing legal issuses or involvement with Mary Roycroft & Twilight Great Danes, ONLY TRUE FACTS OF WHAT I KNOW!!!
IT IS MY PERSONAL OPINION AND BELIEF THAT MRS ROYCROFT IS DISHONEST AND BREEDING FOR MONEY OVER THE LACK OF CONSERN FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE BREED!!!! IT IS FURTHER MY OPINION THAT SOME OF THE BITCHES THAT ARE BEING BRED AT TWILIGHT GREAT DANES ARE NOT OF BREEDING QUALITY AND SHOULD NEVER BE BRED!!!
Please see our links that discuss:
There is no such color as a lilac fawn they are called a blue fawn or fawn with a blue mask/markings. They are a pet quality color and should not be classed any differently!!! Nor should the price be higher or marked as a "rare" color. This color comes from crossing a blue with a fawn. BOTH PARENTS MUST BE CARRIERS OF THE BLUE & FAWN GENES IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE PASSED TO PUPPIES AND SHOW/COMEOUT IN COAT COLOR!!! Shadow's dam Robbie (THAT I AM AWARE OF) DOES NOT CARRY FAWN NOR BRINDLE! (Robbie's 4 generation pedigree is posted on my site for you to see!) However, Shadow's sire does have a Fawn ancestor in the 4th generation of his pedigree. Since Shadow has produced Blue Fawns with several different bitches it is now a known fact he is a carrier of the fawn gene along with the bitches he was bred that produced the blue fawns. When bred properly you will not see the "fawn" come out in a blue. However, when breeding two carriers of Fawn/brindle there is at least a 25% chance they will produce offspring with the undesirable trait/color. But, please do NOT mistake the reddish tint in a blue coat from being left out in the sun and sun bleached as fawn or brindle markings!!! Our Salem is Shadow's littermate sister...NO FAWN/BRINDLE COLORING IN HER COAT!!! Her photo pedigree is posted!!!! Also, be aware that when researching Mrs Roycroft's pedigree's MOST OF THE BITCHES & SIRES ON HER PROPERTY (and two out side studs she has used in the past...Ike AKA "Throne's Eisenhower Ike" [Ike is Baby's half brother, they share the same sire]& Lil Ike " Adeles Douglas MacArthur" [I believe Lil Ike's Dam is also a half sister to Ike. Which means Lil Ike has the same grandsire on both his sire & dam's side. I am not sure if they carry fawn/brindle but, are related to Baby, Mercy, Lacy, Shadow, Lola & Storm]) ARE RELATED IN SOME WAY AND CARRY FAWN, BRINDLE, and/or HARLEQUIN!!!
If Shadow's coat color is less then a nice steal blue color that standard requires, this would make him a "pet quality" dog and should NOT be used in a breeding program!!! If Shadow's ears do NOT stand do to the crop Mrs Roycroft had a vet preform on this dog...the dog does not meet standard and is a "pet quality" dog and should be neutered!!! (I don't think I need to go further into detail to say this is a pet quality dog and should be neutered!)
Here's a few links that can test for hidden colors in dogs:
All of this and we haven't even hit health testing yet... Go to http://www.offa.org/ and type in the search box the name of a dog/bitch you would like to see their results on. If nothing comes up, chances are they haven't been health tested!!!
It might surprise you to find out that Baby (Dam to Mercy, Lacy, & Lola) has been graded with mild hip dysplasia she also has an eye problem that that is genetic and causes her eyes to constantly become infected and is pass to most of her offspring (Mercy also has this condition. If the offspring do not show signs/symptoms they still can be carriers or symptoms my pop up later in a puppy's life!)
Mercy along with the genetic eye condition, has or may have later in life hip dysplasia! Her PennHip report shows
Please see our links about AIHA:
Please note- All names and email addresses have been removed for personal reasons. However I do have originals to prove they come from others!
In a message dated 7/13/2010 9:33:57 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, writes:
Irena, Hello, My name is XXXX . I have an 8 month old, Blue Great Dane, but I just wanted to tell you how beautiful your dogs are. I have no idea why your site didn’t come up when I was searching back in December. I live in the area of PA, and I did purchase a puppy from a breeder in Southern York County.XXXX(his call name) is a wonderful, loving, beautiful dedicated puppy, but it has been a struggle, and a long road. He has had some health issues, and has finally been diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and it has affected his growth and weight gain. He is small, only about 30 inches tall and only 98 pounds at 8 months. He started showing signs/symptoms, pretty much within the first two months of bringing him home, and of course his local vet assumed food allergy, so we tried different food trials, to no avail.. and he continued to get worse, never gaining weight. At 6 months, I sought a second opinion, and that vet sent me to _________ Vet Clinic in _____, to see an internist. _____ spent 3 days at the hospital receiving tests, (I spent about $4,000) but we finally had a resolution, and he is doing so much better with his course of treatment.
It just breaks my heart that he has been through so much, and he is so young. Funny, he doesn’t seem to mind, he is vibrant, playful, funny and energetic. It disturbs me that I paid good money for a Great Dane, but in the end will have a dog about the size of a Weimaraner. But, I could not love him anymore… he is blessed to have me as a parent, as I feel he is my child, and there is NOTHING I wouldn’t do for him.
I apologize this is getting long, I sometimes cannot help but share his story to other dog/Dane lovers. The reason for my email I suppose, is to inquire about your puppies. While I do not have room for another one now, I would love to keep you in mind for a future 2nd puppy, as I do not have intention on returning to _____’s breeder.
I guess I am hoping that you would be around for a few years??? I am so very pleased with your website and the interest you take in the babies. For someone like me, they are not “just dogs” but my family, they live in my house, my car, my living room…._____ IS my family, and it is that mentality I seek in a breeder.
I would not be looking for show/breeding, but a pet, as _____. I would however, be looking for a large Great Dane, well, at least one that will match the breed standard. While I do not blame the breeder for what happened to _____, I understand no one could have predicted an autoimmune disease such as this, it is still heartbreaking and at times I feel left out with no support.
If possible, I would love to speak to you regarding any future breedings, and maybe even visit your farm, if you would be open to that. I greatly appreciate your time.
Sincerely,
XXXXXXX XXXXXX
On Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 2:17 PM, <[email protected]> wrote:
Hello XXXXX,Thank you for your email! I am sorry you are having problems with your Dane. I think I know of the breeder you got him from, for I too have PROBLEMS with this breeder. You said she's not to blame for your dog's problems...I think you should reconsider that statement as ALL BREEDERS should know good and well the problems they are producing through their breeding program. (If it is the same breeder I speak of, she has plenty of puppies with issues and STILL continues to breed those dogs with problems instead of spaying and neutering! She also continues to inbreed/line breed back into pedigrees with KNOWN issues!) If you DO NOT KNOW A PEDIGREE YOU SHOULD NOT BE BREEDING!!! As I am currently involved in a legal matter over the breeding practices of the breeder I think you got your puppy from. May I also tell you that IBS and other autoimmune diseases are GENETIC and your breeder should be standing behind her contract and making sure the puppy she brought into this world, is taken care of! Sorry, I know I'm rambling, but I get steamed when I hear about these "back yard breeders and puppy mills" that are breeding to make money instead of an EXCILLENT QUALITY PUPPY!!! Enough about that....I would be happy to speak with you or even have you come visit our Danes. However, I don't live on a farm, all of my Danes are raised in my home and treated like family. If you have any questions about our Danes I can be reached via telephone at (302)437-6041 or email [email protected]In a message dated 7/13/2010 2:50:41 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, writes:Irena,I am going to go out an a limb here and assume we are both dealing with Twilight Farms??Yeah, we need to have a conversation. I have been fighting with this place to get some, actually ALL of my money back, and here we are, 6 months after the purchase, and I have received nothing. I have been told the Vets are only after my money and he will "grow out of this" and its not a "heredity" issue so they are not obligated to give me any money back at all.I have been kind and extremely patient, hoping that I will see some type of refund, as it has been promised over and over and over. Yet..........nothing.I would love to talk to you more. I hate to badmouth a breeder to another one, but if we are both dealing with the same place, I have so much more I could tell you.I would love to add another Dane puppy once _______ condition is better managed and we wean back some of his medications. Perhaps in another year or so.I have included some pics of ______ for you, I hope you enjoy.Have a wonderful afternoon, and we will talk soon.XXXXXX
On Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 3:18 PM, <[email protected]> wrote:
Hello XXXXXX,Yes we are talking about the same place. I knew we were the second I read your email and believe me...I could tell you more then you could possibly imagine about Ms Roycroft's breeding practices!!!!!IBS is genetic and can be proven in books along with the host of other things that she is breeding. My Aurora came from her and she is spayed because of her never being able to put on weight and other issues as well. As she is using my contract without my further permission and a few detail changes...I would be glad to discuss some key contract details with you! I don't know why she would expect someone to follow a contract that she herself does not even follow!
Wow -I will try to call you this evening. I am in touch with two owners from _____'s litter, one pup died at approx 5 months of age, the other has HOD and Pano. As far as we know, from what Mary told us, four others have HOD and another had some bowel/diarrhea issues. I don't know how any others are doing, except for the 1 HOD/Pano.She offered no financial aid to any owners as far as I know.Mary replaced the puppy that died. He was from a new stud she has on her farm now, as the people did not want anything from the same bloodline. They were reluctant, but knew they would not get any money from her, so they took the puppy.I thank you for your time, and we will talk soon.
On Wed, Jul 14, 2010 at 8:26 AM, <[email protected]> wrote:
Good Morning XXXXXX,I spent a long and unrestful night last night thinking about our telephone conversation and the more and more I sit here and go over in my head the conversation about Mary's dogs, them having CHV, and the way you found me. I am horrified to think that now other people that are having problems with Mary's puppy are going to find me the same as you and possibly think that her breeding practices are the same as mine or she is tied with me in some mannor...which they/she clearly are NOT! I would like to share this information with my attorney and would like to know if I may give him your telephone numbers to contact you for verification of our conversation and or any questions he may have?Irena,
In a message dated 7/14/2010 8:51:10 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, XXX writes: On Wed, Jul 14, 2010 at 9:08 AM, <[email protected]> wrote:
In a message dated 7/15/2010 10:09:33 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
(Same email as above, the one that talks about Bell having AIHA)
In a message dated 7/16/2010 11:38:30 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
***This person and I also have had several telephone converstations so sorry if the text loses you a bit. ***
Thank you for calling me back and talking with me. I look forward with meeting you and your fur family =) And I can't wait to introduce you to Xxxxx.. Attached are some pics of him in the last two weeks.Have a wonderful evening an we'll be in touch!
Take care,
XXXXX
On Jul 15, 2010 at 6:56:51 PM, <[email protected]> wrote:
Thank you so much for sharing your pictures with Xxxx and I. I was tearing up when I was looking at them. They are incredible looking, absolutely Gorgeous! They truly are the best I've ever seen.You have certainly put both our mind to ease, and I just hope Xxxx takes after Shadow more then Lacey. However, my heart just breaks for Xxxx and the others that may not be so lucky with getting a dog from Mary. I definitly know how they feel with going through the heartache of losing Xxxxx.
I'm OUTRAGED what she has done. And to KNOW that her dogs have had problems in the past, Just sickens me to no end. She is such a LIAR! I want to never speak to Mary again! The only thing I worry about is in her contract I believe I have to stay in contact with her to give her updates on Xxxxx (once a year). After sending my letter and reporting her, I will send her a letter (not sure how yet) saying I found out she lied about Xxxxx's litter. If anything I can tell her I was talking to Xxxxx and found out the severity of Xxxxx's illness. Mary knows I can get in contact with Xxxxx but doesn't know we have been talking. Mary has not kept her work with her contract so why do I have to?!?
I'm so glad I got to talk to you yesterday. It's a wonderful feeling to know there are great breeders out there like yourself, the best I have ever seen! I'm very excited to meet you and your fur family and to introduce you to your Granddoggie, Xxxxx =)
Talk to you later! Have a good one!
From: [email protected]
To: " [email protected]>, [email protected]
Sent: Saturday, July 24, 2010 11:10:56 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Hey, ready for visitors
Hey Guys,
Sorry to protect the identity I will not post the dates this person visited but the orginal emails do have time/date stamps! This person and I have spoken several times via phone & email back and forth about them researching breeders, I won't bore you or make this page any longer then it needs to be, so i'll post the important email converstation pretanining to Mary Roycroft and Twilight Great Danes/Farm.
Thank you very much for the great information!! Personal information about this person...will not post!. I actually found your sit from looking up the grandsire of a puppy we were looking at. These pupies were the offspring of Shadows Still Remain. He was a beautiful dog with a great personality. Researching your dogs its amazing how many show winners there are in the lineage and the offspring from past litters winning titles. We are looking for a companion. I'd love to show but for our first dane we plan on getting him neutered and have as a member of our family.
I will call you when we return. Thanks,
Yes, the female is Storm. When we were there she was barking/growling at us and looked pretty bad. Fred said she had a fever the day before and should be doing better but she looked in bad shape. Eyes hung down quite far and you could see a lot of red under neigh.
Thanks again for all the info and I look forward to seeing the puppies!
Thank you for that information! I am assuming then it was a few months ago that you visited since Storm's pups are now 4-5 wks old? No, we were there this (Sorry, would give a date). Storm was still in the kennel in the garage with her puppies in a kennel next to her. They had placed a mattress, and some cardboard between the 2 kennels so Storm could not see the puppies. Storm was barking so ferociously, and I had not seen a Dane act like that. The puppy kennel was covered in feces, and a million flies. We did not look at those puppies as they just stayed in their kennel. ***PLEASE NOTE-Mary Roycroft advertises her dogs and puppies are raised and live in the house as family!!! I know I would NEVER lock a family member in the garage in kennel runs!!!!*** Would you mind if I Personal information and legal information!is involved with rescue and also Personal and legal informationI belong to. If Storm is in that bad of shape and those puppies are being left in those conditions...Plus I see from her web site she has another litter due tomorrow... Someone needs to have a look and step in if need be!!! And for Storm's sake quickly!!! That would not be a problem. I love dogs and hate to see them being breed in conditions like that. I am not sure which one is the mother of the upcoming litter as we did not meet a lot of the females as they were all quite aloof. I do not remember many black females but the one I do remember is a bit old and had a hard time walking. I pray that is not the mother.
***PLEASE NOTE: Twilight's Baroness Kair Bear "Bear", her birthday is 3/4/2004!!!
Twilight's Baby Blue "Baby", her birthday is 6/10/2004!!!***
Over the last several months I have received quite a bit of phone calls, but because I do not have any solid proof of conversations I will not post, except for what one person told me (This is completely heresay, but given the above statement from that person...this is relevent!):
This person had stated to me that they were out to visit the pups at Twilight Great Danes and during our 1 1/2 hour conversation they had mentioned to me (this is several weeks after the above emails) that they were looking at Storm's Pups and when they asked to see the mother of the pups they were given an excusse that someone had taking the mother into the vet that morning because she was not feeling well.
I HAVE A SICK FEELING IN THE BOTTOM OF MY STOMACH THAT STORM MAY HAVE PASSED AWAY!!! I HOPE THIS IS NOT TRUE!!!! PLEASE KEEP IN MIND IF YOU ARE GOING TO SEE ANY PUPS, ASK TO SEE THE MOTHER!!!! IF THEY CANNOT SHOW YOU THE MOTHER, WALK...NO TURN AND RUN AWAY!!! WHY ON EARTH WOULD ANYONE ALLOW YOU TO COME SEE PUPPIES IF THEY KNOW YOU ARE COMING, AND NOT HAVE THE MOTHER ON THE PREMISSES?!!! IF IT WERE ME (CLEARLY IT'S NOT) I WOULD OF CALLED TO RESCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT AND HAD THE MAMA AT THE VET'S OFFICE MYSELF!!!! PLEASE ANYONE LET ME KNOW THIS MAMA IS OK AND SHE HAS NOT PASSED AWAY DUE TO LACK OF VET CARE...BAD ENOUGH THIS MOTHER HAS BEEN KEPT AWAY FROM HER BABIES....
PLEASE BE SURE TO USE YOUR HEAD AND NOT YOUR HEART WHEN PURCHASING A PUPPY FROM ANY BREEDER...BECAUSE IF YOU FOLLOW YOUR HEART THAT EXPENSIVE PUPPY WILL COST YOU WAY MORE IN MEDICAL BILLS AND EMOTIONAL DISSTRESS IN THE END!!!!
A Quote for all breeders (and can be adapted to every day life as well) to learn and live by:
We as breeders owe it to our dogs to use every test available to produce the best possible puppies we can! We owe it to our dogs that we know have problems to seek out and make that dog a part of a research study (Even in the case of healthy dogs, research always needs control studies!!!)! Help the breed by acknowledging there is a problem! We owe it to the dogs when problems are found and continue to show their heads, to spay & neuter! Anyone that does NOT research a pedigree before breeding, in my opinion, is out to make a buck! Anyone that does not use what is available and continue to breed and produce genectically unsound & sick puppies, in my opinion, is someone looking to make a buck! We as breeders don't only owe it to our dogs, but to our "new" puppy families, so they may spend long happy healthy years together with their 4 legged family member!!!