[News] California Pet Store Accused of Selling Sick Puppies

[fasteddie]

Feb. 24 (ABC7) — Deciding to bring a pet into your home can be a big decision. Naturally, you want it be healthy and happy. But several pet owners have accused one Bay Area store of selling sick puppies. Michael Finney has this 7 On Your Side investigation.

A Santa Rosa store is taking some heat. Several of its customers say the puppies they brought home were in poor health, and they blame the store for their pets' problems.

Just last week, this puppy was checked into the emergency care unit of Santa Rosa's veterinarian hospital mere days after coming home to its new owners.

Dr. Kathy Robello: "When it arrived, it was depressed, dehydrated, coughing, having a hard time breathing."

Claire Garcia had a similar experience last May when she brought home a Yorkshire Terrier. The puppy she named Louie immediately showed signs of illness.

Claire Garcia: "I had to wake up every couple of hours and feed him, and give him water with a syringe because he wouldn't drink. He couldn't breath, guy couldn't get enough oxygen into his little body."

Louie died five days later. During that same time, Cynthia Tilker saw a puppy at a store, knew it was sick, bought it anyway and spent thousands of dollars nursing it back to health.

Cynthia Tilker: "I got emotionally involved. At that point it was a little too late. I was not going to let that do go back into a kennel at that particular store. Just didn't want to do it."

Aside from being sick, all of these puppies have one thing in common, they were purchased from one store - Super Pets of Santa Rosa. Open since 1994, Super Pets is one of largest pet stores in Sonoma County.

Only two years ago, it started selling puppies and is currently the only pet store in Santa Rosa that sells puppies from out of state breeders.

Though Cynthia's yorky is now healthy, she filed a complaint with the district attorney's office claiming Super Pets is selling puppies irresponsibly.

Cynthia Tilker: "I don't want this to happen to anybody else. It was really an ordeal. It was very emotional."

The complaint launched a third investigation of the pet store in the last couple of years. In the previous two investigations, Sonoma County Animal Regulation found Super Pets in compliance with health and safety codes. Super Pets' owner, Charles Freese, is cooperating with the district attorney's office on the latest investigation. Meanwhile, he maintains that a majority of his customers are happy.

Charles Freese, owner, Super Pets: "We don't sell sick puppies. That's the way it is. Do we have a cold or respiratory infection? Yeah, occasionally that happens. It happens to everybody all the time and we deal with it. We don't ignore it. We don't buy unhealthy dogs to begin with."

Freese also contends he tries to please his customers. We offer a pretty broad warranty. I mean dog's warrantee for a year for pretty much anything that happens.

Before you invest money and emotion into a new pet, make sure you know where the dog came from, its health information and know your rights. California law falls hardest on sellers of unhealthy dogs.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/news/7oys...uper_pets.html

California Pet Lemon Laws

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/pets/lemon_ca.html

[aimee]

That is so sad - but I'm glad that store is getting bad press. More of them should be exposed like this one. They will lose business if anyone considering a puppy reads about this.

[sngglz]

That is why I will not buy a dog from a pet store alot of them just arn't healthy

[lilbumbleybees]

Luckily, enough people complained and a petition was started against the pet store that recently opened in the mall here. Long story short, as soon as this store's term is up, it's gone. No chance for renewel of their lease or anything. Stores just shouldn't sell puppies, PERIOD. They're not cars, they're not clothes, and they're not something to just be bought on a whim. I wish more people could realize that.

[whispersmom2]

First, I want to say that I consider myself a responsible breeder. I want to say that so I don't get "Well, you breed and just don't want people to go to your competitors!" That is the furtherest thing from my mind. I get calls every week from people who bought from disreputable BYB's, CB's or mi**ers, stores, flea markets and you cannot believe the horror stories I hear. When someone is grieving for a lost(dead) pet you cannot say "stop and lissen to me. You should have done your homework and you would have never bought from these people." The time to tell anyone this is when they start to talk about looking for a pet.....we have to educate the public about such things as how to select a breeder, how to interview a breeder, how the breeder should interview you, health and genetic issues, where the animal originated, pedigrees and health history of parents.
I turn away probably 10 times more inquiries than the single one I decide will be a home for one of my puppies. I had 2 litters this year-6 puppies. I still have one little girl cause I want to know she will be fine in a new home. But, if I can help anyone learn facts about Yorkies, I consider my program a success. I love this breed beyond discription and I want every single puppy to have the best home possible. I keep a list of sites where people can learn a lot about orkies in particular and puppies in general..There is no excuse for not knowing about specific breeds these days-the internet and book stores are full of info..EDUCATE YOURSELF and save yourself heartbreak!!! I am not saying these things to pat myself on the back but the grief of losing a pet is so great no matter if you have it a week or 3 years as I did my heart of hearts, Jesse. It just hurts so much.........

[Cielo]

Originally Posted by lilbumbleybees

Luckily, enough people complained and a petition was started against the pet store that recently opened in the mall here. Long story short, as soon as this store's term is up, it's gone. No chance for renewel of their lease or anything. Stores just shouldn't sell puppies, PERIOD. They're not cars, they're not clothes, and they're not something to just be bought on a whim. I wish more people could realize that.

it's sad when people just pick up animals on a whim. some people fail to realise that a pet isn't an disposable object . . . they're a living, breathing loving family member who should be treated as such and appreciated for their unconditional love.

~Cielo

[Sabrina]

My husband bought my puppy at a pet store. My sister an I went to the store and I just fell in love with the puppy. My husband said he did not want to spend $1900 on a dog so I did not get it. A week later my husband came home with the dog. I have not had a single problem with my dog and i have had her since November. Not all dogs purchased at a pet store on a whim are a bad idea!!!!!!!!!!

[eensor]

My darling Gracie came from a pet store too. I bought her before I knew better. the problem with pet stores is that 99% of those puppies come from puppy mills. Whereas your puppy will get a good home, we must think about supporting an industry that makes a profit on the backs of abused and neglected dogs. Pet store owners will assure you that their puppies don't come from mills---BUT THEY DO!!!!! No reputable breeder would sell their babies to a pet store!

Lexy came from a breeder and I got her last Saturday. I got to see her parents and her surroundings and she was $1200 not $1900. I know you love your baby like I loved my Gracie(and still do), but next time please consider a breeder vs. a pet store. Have you been to www.stoppuppymills.com? It will break your heart! I won't even buy supplies from a pet store that sell puppies!

Good luck with your baby! I know she is precious! Elizabeth

[Sabrina]

before i came to this site i had never even heard of a puppymill. after coming here i would never buy another puppy from a pet store. all i ment by my post was that we will never be able to stop puppymills and there is no reason to punish the animals for where they came from. i love my hailey more than anything and i am going to give her the best possible life.

[eensor]

I know you love sweet Hailey! She is precious! We can stop puppy mills by boycotting stores that sell puppies. Don't buy anything from them and spread the word!

How big is Hailey? How old is she? She looks like she has a great personality!

[Sabrina]

hailey is 7 months today!! she weighs just under 5 punds. she has a great personality. She makes the cutest faces!! Sometimes i actually thinks she understands what i am saying!! I didn't mean to start anything. I just love all animals no matter where they come from.

[Akitakt]

Originally Posted by Sabrina

My husband bought my puppy at a pet store. My sister an I went to the store and I just fell in love with the puppy. My husband said he did not want to spend $1900 on a dog so I did not get it. A week later my husband came home with the dog. I have not had a single problem with my dog and i have had her since November. Not all dogs purchased at a pet store on a whim are a bad idea!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, purchasing a dog at a petstore is a very bad idea! And dogs should never be purchased 'on a whim'. Aside from the fact that shelters are full of dogs that need homes, dogs from pet stores are virtually quaranteed to come from puppymills. And Petland gets a lot of their dogs from the Hunte Corp. The Hunte Corp is a puppy broker that ships dog out of Oklahoma to whoever will buy them. If a pet store dog is healthy so far than that is pure luck. Because puppy millers pay no attention to genetic defects, socialization or vet care. There will most likey be problems later. Maybe not, but most likely. Good luck with that.

[Akitakt]

Originally Posted by Sabrina

hailey is 7 months today!! she weighs just under 5 punds. she has a great personality. She makes the cutest faces!! Sometimes i actually thinks she understands what i am saying!! I didn't mean to start anything. I just love all animals no matter where they come from.

We all do love all animals no matter where they came from. People who don't like puppy mill dislike them because it is cruel not just for the puppy but for the brood that has to crank them out and then killed when her internal organs turn to mush. When you buy a pet store puppy another one is shipped in to take his or her place.

It is never okay to buy a pet store puppy because it supports the cruel treatment of the dogs in the mill!

[whispersmom2]

This is a good time to bump this up. I know the calls will start coming soon and I will not place puppies during this time unless there is a special circumstance. NOR, will I sell without meeting all family/household members and other dogs in the family...
If someone feels they absolutely have to give a puppy as a gift, please give a stuffed toy with an IOU one puppy to be given when the stress and hubbub of the holidays are past!!! PLEASE!

[*Pink~Daisy*]

I have a story that makes me tear up everytime i mention it or think about it; I work at a Kennel/Boarding/Training Organization, the Woman who owns and runs this is a certified All-Breed dog trainer, Qualified Behaviour specialist and is the best at what she does(in my opinion)she has over 22 yrs of experience. she trains over 1200 dogs annually. She has NO harsh methods of training, and has gentle techniques and it all equals positive results!

In one of her many classes, she had this lady sign up for classes.. the day before the original class was to start, this lady's dog ran away..she didnt look for her, call anyone about her, search the animal shelters NOTHING she did NOTHING to look for her puppy. The next day was class, and she told us her dog ran away, the day classes started she went out to the same breeder and bought another dog the came breed and same sex and named her the same name! This makes me SO angry to know that some people can just dispose of dogs in the snap of a finger. And this woman told our master trainer this I couldnt believe my ears! after class our master trainer went up to the woman and told her she did a great job in class.blah blah blah. but mentioned to her how important and how much work is put into all that she does.blah blah long story short the woman started to cry and ran to her car and drove away and LEFT HER DOG with us! This made me even more upset! and angry. How could this woman just expect us to take the dog off her hands, we did of course she is now one of our trainers' dog, and she is doing amazing! Some people really REALLY need to do their research and homework before they adopt any animal for that matter!

im sorry this is so long i just needed to vent!
thanks all for listening.

p.s. the other puppy was also found by one of our trainers and had since found a terrific home, and is doing great as well. (sometimes we're not that fortunate!)