On January 12 we purchased a Golden Retriever Puppy from Just Puppies, Inc.in casselberry, Florida. The Store was clean, The store manager Debbe seemed competent and knowledgable about dog care, I asked if the pet came from a puppy mill and she said no, that the dog was pure breed and that they would send the papers after the purchase was registered. The purchase included a free initial 48 hour exam and 14 days against related infections and parasites at one of their recommended veterinary clinic. We chose Animal Hospital of LakeMary located at 3609 Lake Emma Road. Albert Nunez DVM. Overall the petshop and provisions seemed from a respectable and responsible outfit. We took Piper to the Vet Jan 14, the vet said the dog had kennel cough, that it was a customary illness acquired from being in the kennel, so off we went with an antibiotic and some pills. We went back for a recheck Jan 21st. We indicated we noticed blood in her stool on 1/20but on the 21st we had not seen anything, and that the dog had vomitted again. They said it was an upset stomach. Rechecked again 1/28, We told the vet the dog vomitted again and that this time she was sneezing frequently. The vet said the dog had an upset stomach and that to give her Pepto Bismol. On February 1st I arrived to my home to discover Piper stiff on her side and ran with her to the same Just Puppies Approved Vet that had not given this dog a clean bill of health yet. The dog was dying. After IV's, vomitting and diarrea The Vet says to put her to sleep. I resist and decide to take her to the Veterinary Emergency Clinic for a second opinion. The Vet says the dog is having seizures and that he believes all signs point to distemper.
The other Vet had done 3 Parvo tests and they all were negative. As I said My goodbyes, my soul was breaking into pieces. Here I had nurtured and cared for this angel for it to be lost to an illness I had never heard of. The ER Vet informed me that to take the dog home would be dangerous because it is an infectious disease and I have kids. I called the Pet store and they are closed and there is no emergency number to get someone to talk to the ER Vet. So I signed off to have the dog cremated after the procedure and the ER Vet provided me with the Florida Pet Lemon Law. I went to the petstore the next day with copies of all health check ups and results. The caring Debbe informs me she will review the docs and call me later. She left a message in the voice mail. Since you cremated the dog and did not keep her for us to examine her there is no refund. I called back informing her of the dangerous situation and she said that I killed the dog. All of the sudden the reality of the situation hit me. This woman was a con of the worstkind.
I started researching the company. Just Puppies Inc. Is a FL corporation owned by Ana and Tyler Thompson of 3914 Wren Lane, Orlando Florida 32803. I called their 4115 S Orange Blossom Trail Store asking for their phone number. The manager refuses to provide it. I keep on researching and I call them. I still believe the best in people and maybe they did not know about my dog and this debbe is just a loose canon. I left a message. So far there has been no answer. The funny thing is that Tyler Thompson wrote a web/comment about puppy mills in a report done by Channel 6 Jacksonville, and here he does the same thing. I am placing a complaint with the FL Division of Consumer Services, but each time I start completing the documents I cannot stop crying. I also know as a fact that another dog (s) have died there in the last month of Jan 08 but I cannot find their names. I overheard Debbe had been complaining about someone who had incurred huge vet bills and that she was not going to pay them. It never occurred to me what it was all about until the pain started to subside and the anger started to rise.
The Vet had originally said that they were submitting the invoice to the pet shop for $733. Now they are trying to collect from me, and we already paid $237 to the ER Vet. But the emotional pain has been the most expensive of all.
A Loving Mom
Longwood, Florida
U.S.A.
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