Karen of Pittsburgh PA (01/11/08)

I lost my Yorkshire terrier after 14 years, and a week later walked into Petland to see if I was ready to buy a new dog. The first one I saw looked just like the one I had to put down. Holding her I talked to the manager; she assured me the dog did not come from a puppy mill. I asked if the dog checked out healthy. She said the dog had a respiratory infection, that she had her last dose of medicine that morning, and the vet had just seen her and checked her out. I paid $1899 for the dog; they wanted $2199. The dog only weighed 2.5 lbs. I got home and put the dog down, and as soon as she started moving around she was breathing bad. I called the store, talked to the girl I bought her from, and said this dog is breathing bad; she told me to bring her back to their vet tomorrow. I asked, "Why would I do that when your vet this same day said this dog was fine?" She said if I went to my own vet they would not pay.

I went to my vet. The dog was VERY sick with kennel cough and severe upper respiratory infection. I reported this to Petland and again was told they would not pay. In 6 days I acquired almost $500 in vet bills, I had 2 emergency visits when the dog could hardly breathe, she was put in a nebulizer, 3 types of medicine, etc. I spent every moment for 6 days nursing this dog and had the dog constantly under a vaporizer. When I would call Petland to report these problems there were two times they didn't even ask what dog or my name--just said they were not paying. I do believe that this dog would not have lived had I not bought it. This ordeal has been 2 weeks; the dog still breathes hard in activity. I have also learned the dog has an enlarged heart. When I told Petland this, I was told to show xrays for a refund.

I cannot now return a dog I am attached to. I love this dog. What I want to get from all this is my $500 plus what I paid, in a check not made to me but to an animal rescue organization that I choose. I have filed a claim with all documentation to the attorney general. I am hoping that something can be done to help these dogs that Petland really doesn't care for properly. It is all about business to them.