the melodramatic mouse is now mellomom
Irene Kang calls herself a home breeder that breeds out of love. And if you visit her website, this is what she wants you to believe.
We are a small kennel located in Penang, Malaysia.
We breed quality West Highland White Terriers, Miniature Schnauzers, Yorkshire Terriers and Aust. Silky Terriers. All our dogs are purebreds and are registered with MKA (Malaysian Kennel Association).
Our dogs have champion bloodlines and some are imported from Australia. They are bred in a cozy home environment, well socialized and given the best care and love.
We breed for quality and good temperament.
For any first time visitor to her website, surely they would be captivated — I was too! — by the many beautiful dogs she owns. Especially the photo gallery of the adorable puppies *awww*

But would you be as captivated, if you know the truth behind those innocent puppy eyes and warm soft paws?
Read Part 1 and find out why I am against Irene Kang’s unethical ways of breeding her genetically affected West Highland White Terriers — Ozzy and Christy, and very soon Pinky.
Just minutes ago, I found out that her Westies also have the hereditary skin problem called Seborrhea from one of her recent buyers *fumes*
Here is an email from Irene Kang to myself last year before we collected Scubby, assuring me that both Ozzy and Christy is free from any skin problems.
From: Irene Kang >irenekang116@gmail.com<
Subject: Re: Westie Photo
Date: Thursday, October 30, 2008, 12:10 AMHi Jaclyn,
No, both parents have no history of skin problem.
See you soon,
Irene
Do you still want to buy your puppies from Irene Kang’s Starhill Kennel? With possible inherited disease awaits and inevitable emotional and financial stress to follow.
How many more lies can we tolerate? After spending thousands of Ringgits buying the “supposedly” best quality puppy…
Please share this information with your friends and family. When the buying stops, the puppy mill breeding stops too!
Edited 25/4/2011, 11.50am
Another buyer of Irene Kang has just contacted me with a very sad case. Her westie, Pepper (6mths old now) was born without testicles. That means Pepper will not be able to reproduce even if he wanted to *sobs*Sadly she was not aware of Irene’s “reputation” before buying Pepper
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There are already 4 cases here, puppies of Ozzy (Sire) & Christy (Dam):
1) Scubby — Canine Hip Dysplasia
2) Taco — Died from Canine Distemper Virus
3) Puffy — Seborrhea skin problem
4) Pepper — Born without testiclesWill you still buy from Irene Kang?
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Irene Kang, Starhill Kennel Penang – Part 1.
mel⋅o⋅dra⋅mat⋅ic
[mel-uh-druh-mat-ik]
–adjective
1. of, like, or befitting melodrama.
2. exaggerated and emotional or sentimental; sensational or sensationalized; overdramatic.
–noun
3. melodramatics, melodramatic writing or behavior.
mouse
[n. mous; v. mouz]
–noun
1. any similar small animal of various rodent and marsupial families.
2. a quiet, timid person.
3. Slang. a girl or woman.
7 Responses to Irene Kang, Starhill Kennel Penang – Part 2.
Joanne
December 5th, 2009 at 2:42 am
ohnooo.. I just had my yorkshire terrier before I read your article…!
How is your dog’s condition now? Is his treatment very expensive? pity those puppies. =(
Hope my puppy is not infected =(
mellomouse
December 5th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Hi Joanne
I’m not sure about her other breeds, but whatever she tells you, make sure there is a health certification. It is just so easy to promise heaven and earth.
Scubby has just turned 1 in Sept, so he is still young. But his condition has been obvious since we took him home, just that we were not suspicious until 3 different vets pointed it out. He is doing fine now, but went he grows older, it will get worst.
Joanne
December 7th, 2009 at 12:17 am
aww..luckily you brought Scubby to the vets otherwise it might be worst.Hope he will be fine and healthy!and Scubby looks so macho..! I saw his photos from facebook =)
I was quite surprised when I see my yorkie was like balding on her head there but they say it is normal because she is still a puppy. I thought Irene said the puppies are all dewormed but on her health certificate,there is no history ’bout deworming and I don’t think Irene got bathe the puppies.
mellomouse
December 7th, 2009 at 10:04 am
Hi Joanne
Actually we only really confirmed when we brought him for neutering. The vet suggested doing an xray and the result was quite obvious. The bones joining is definitely not accidental but genetic.
Irene is good at pushing the blame. Her taichi skill is excellent! She is currently selling 3 new born Westies again. But I doubt people really care about their genetic defects since the puppies are really cute. Buy first, worry later la…
Josiah
April 27th, 2010 at 1:32 am
hello,
i came across your blog and find your westie very cute
then i came across this article..
im not sure how correct i am..
but the said “irene kang” may not be lying
because such diseases are genetic
it could have been that the grandsire or granddam of scubby who had the disease and later inherited by scubby (unfortunately =s)
diseases/traits/good traits even are known to skip a generation or so
(also in humans)
however, i do agree it is unethical for her to sell it at a high price?
(i assumed)
she should have made the defects known and sold it at lower price
however… it is sad that knowing malaysians…
we will never choose the ones with defects no matter how cute
(im guilty as charge)
the ones with defects would eventually get put to sleep or left to stray )=
but im glad you accepted scubby for what he has and what he is (=
many people would have left such dogs to stray/abandon
kudos to you and your husband for being superb owners
nay..companions to scubby
hopefully we can see more people like you in malaysia
God bless!
=D
Joanne
June 26th, 2011 at 1:59 am
Hello,
I am Joanne,the one who commented in this post one+ year ago.
sad news is that Tiffie(yorkshire terrier) was diagnosed with ConGenital Heart Disease and we put her to sleep on 25/6/2011 to end her suffering =(
Poor baby..
Irene Kang is one irresponsible owner but there is no way we can warn people from buying pets from her.
mellomouse
June 26th, 2011 at 2:25 am
My condolence to you and Josh *hugs*
We can warn others by blogging about Irene Kang, share our experience in forums and let our friends know. The effort may seem small but it goes a long way.
People research a lot these days before buying so when they do, Irene Kang will be exposed when search engine list out all of our sharings of her.
For those unfortunate few that didn’t find out before buying, then it is fate. Like us. But we don’t love Scubby any less or you loved Tiffie any less too
I just hope Irene will stop breeding her unhealthy dogs and make all the future descendents of Westies and Yorkies sick in Malaysia. Her dogs mate twice a year and each time min 2 pups. In few years it will double and other ppl will breed from hers and so on. Imagine what happens? Sigh…