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fasteddie · 03-13-2006, 03:17 PM

Thanks to all those who have contributed to this thread!

Here's an update on the Wizard of Claws in Florida:
---
March 12, 2005
Picket signs go up at pet store
Dog lovers protested a Pembroke Pines

With a frisky Chihuahua at her feet, Vanessa Bosse and about a dozen others picketed a Pembroke Pines store Saturday, accusing its owners of tricking customers into buying sick puppies.

Even though Nacho, Bosse's dog, came with a certificate of health, he had diarrhea the day she took him home from the Wizard of Claws store, she said. Nacho was also coughing and scratching his ears, said Bosse, 44, who lives in Sunny Isles Beach and Monte Carlo.

''We would really like to educate people so they will not be fooled like we were fooled,'' said Bosse, who filed a lawsuit against Wizard of Claws in Broward Circuit Court late last year. ``You don't have to buy a dog when you can adopt one.''

Protesters said they want to encourage others not to buy from the store at 9113 Taft St.

A SEPARATE LAWSUIT

Last month, the national Humane Society joined a separate lawsuit in Broward Circuit Court against the store on behalf of five customers in Cooper City, Miami, Texas and California.

Originally filed in 2003, the lawsuit asks the court to find the store in violation of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, and to order the store to repay customers for the purchase price and veterinarian expenses.

Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist also opened an investigation on Feb. 15, looking into claims against Wizard of Claws, said Crist's spokeswoman JoAnn Carrin.

A call to the store from The Miami Herald was not returned Friday. The doors were locked Saturday, and employees in the store would not open the door. One employee said Jim Anderson, whose wife, Gilda owns the store, was out of town.

Anderson previously told The Miami Herald that he doesn't knowingly sell sick puppies: ``They leave here apparently looking healthy.''

Bosse, who paid more than $5,000 for Nacho, a fawn and white Chihuahua, took him home Jan. 29. A few days later, her veterinarian diagnosed Nacho with kennel cough, ear mites and giardia, a parasite living in the small intestines, she said.

Bosse became suspicious. She said she tracked down her breeder in Oklahoma with the help of the stopwizardofclaws.com web site.

Bosse's veterinarian, another breeder and an official from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services confirmed that Nacho was the result of breeding within the same family of dogs, which can lead to health problems, Bosse said.

''It broke my heart,'' said Bosse ``I was devastated.''

PUPPY MILLS

Saturday's protesters, including at least one member of a South Florida rescue group, stood on Taft Street holding picket signs. They claim Wizard of Claws buys dogs from ''puppy mills,'' or massive out-of-state commercial breeding operations.

Breeders in ''puppy mills'' do not take into account the dogs' pedigree or genetics, said Judi McKissick, a board member of the Bulldog Club of South Florida.

''They are not breeding for the betterment of the breed,'' she said. ``They are breeding purely for profit. It's a horrendous problem.''

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald...y/14078146.htm

03-13-2006, 03:17 PM	#73
fasteddie *YT 6000 Club Member* Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 6,238	Thanks to all those who have contributed to this thread! Here's an update on the Wizard of Claws in Florida: --- March 12, 2005 Picket signs go up at pet store Dog lovers protested a Pembroke Pines With a frisky Chihuahua at her feet, Vanessa Bosse and about a dozen others picketed a Pembroke Pines store Saturday, accusing its owners of tricking customers into buying sick puppies. Even though Nacho, Bosse's dog, came with a certificate of health, he had diarrhea the day she took him home from the Wizard of Claws store, she said. Nacho was also coughing and scratching his ears, said Bosse, 44, who lives in Sunny Isles Beach and Monte Carlo. ''We would really like to educate people so they will not be fooled like we were fooled,'' said Bosse, who filed a lawsuit against Wizard of Claws in Broward Circuit Court late last year. ``You don't have to buy a dog when you can adopt one.'' Protesters said they want to encourage others not to buy from the store at 9113 Taft St. A SEPARATE LAWSUIT Last month, the national Humane Society joined a separate lawsuit in Broward Circuit Court against the store on behalf of five customers in Cooper City, Miami, Texas and California. Originally filed in 2003, the lawsuit asks the court to find the store in violation of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, and to order the store to repay customers for the purchase price and veterinarian expenses. Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist also opened an investigation on Feb. 15, looking into claims against Wizard of Claws, said Crist's spokeswoman JoAnn Carrin. A call to the store from The Miami Herald was not returned Friday. The doors were locked Saturday, and employees in the store would not open the door. One employee said Jim Anderson, whose wife, Gilda owns the store, was out of town. Anderson previously told The Miami Herald that he doesn't knowingly sell sick puppies: ``They leave here apparently looking healthy.'' Bosse, who paid more than $5,000 for Nacho, a fawn and white Chihuahua, took him home Jan. 29. A few days later, her veterinarian diagnosed Nacho with kennel cough, ear mites and giardia, a parasite living in the small intestines, she said. Bosse became suspicious. She said she tracked down her breeder in Oklahoma with the help of the stopwizardofclaws.com web site. Bosse's veterinarian, another breeder and an official from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services confirmed that Nacho was the result of breeding within the same family of dogs, which can lead to health problems, Bosse said. ''It broke my heart,'' said Bosse ``I was devastated.'' PUPPY MILLS Saturday's protesters, including at least one member of a South Florida rescue group, stood on Taft Street holding picket signs. They claim Wizard of Claws buys dogs from ''puppy mills,'' or massive out-of-state commercial breeding operations. Breeders in ''puppy mills'' do not take into account the dogs' pedigree or genetics, said Judi McKissick, a board member of the Bulldog Club of South Florida. ''They are not breeding for the betterment of the breed,'' she said. ``They are breeding purely for profit. It's a horrendous problem.'' http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald...y/14078146.htm __________________ YODA & WINKY R ::: RIP Winky ::: RIP Yoda! Last edited by fasteddie; 04-27-2006 at 01:16 PM.