I purchased a Chi puppy from the Hamilton Mall Pet Company at the end of April. Normally I am against buying a puppy from a pet store being that I've done so before only to have purchased an inbred puppy with serious anxiety issues so I had no plans of doing so again. But on this 26th day of April I saw my dream puppy. I had been looking for a Chi for many years that looked like my Bella and there she was. It was love at first sight. I asked to hold my puppy in the play area and asked many questions regarding her pedigree and the pet store's guarantee regarding the puppy's health. They "claim" to have a 200% lifetime money back guarantee. So if your puppy dies from natural causes or accidental death the Pet Company is supposed to reimburse you what you paid for your puppy times two. Going against my better judgement I bought Bella (my baby) and excitedly took her home.
Bella had a little puppy cold after I bought her for about a week, but was afterwards was as happy and healthy as ever. Or so I thought. The weekend before Thanksgiving about a month and a half ago Bella became sick. She came down with what at first seemed to be a stomach bug. She vomited a couple times and then was fine. She was running around and playing as she normally would. I kept an eye on her just in case. The next day she ate a little less than usual, but still had plenty of energy to play and run. Another day went by and I could tell she was becoming a slight weak as she wasn't as energetic. The next day if she didn't feel better I had plans of taking her to the vet. Well, she didn't. I left for a little while to get her some boiled chicken, rice, and Pedialite in hopes that it would help. I was only gone a short time when I returned home to find her completely yellow and lifeless. Myself and my husband rushed our baby to the veternary hospital. They informed us that she may not even make it through the night. I told them to do whatever they needed to do to make sure she was alright. She made it through the night and through half of the next day when we came to visit. As soon as we left they started a blood transfusion and immediately her heart stopped. Her body was too weak. She died before the doctors were able to get a firm diagnosis.
In the Pet Co warranty the puppy or animal must have a firm diagnosis, but what happens if your puppy dies too soon? You have to pay around a $1000 to have your puppy's autopsy done. The Pet Co "acted" so sympathetic when we went in the store the day after our baby passed to file the necessary paperwork for reimbursement. Our vet bills were almost $2200! They would have been well over $5000 if she had lived. We continually followed up with the pet store trying to give them every bit of info they needed. At one point they informed us we had given too much info and then the next time not enough. They do this to run you in circles because they have no intention of reimbursing you. The fact that we did not have a firm diagnosis was not an issue in the beginning. We did have probable diagnosises which were Addison's disease and sespus.
This is a disease that I do not believe many people including myself were very aware of. Any dog and sometimes even cats can have this disease. It is where the adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisone (steroids) and the body starts attacking itself. All the imbalances in her electrolyte levels, no white blood cells, low red blood cells, hypoglycemia, and anemia would lead the doctor's to believe this is what was wrong with her. Most animals will not show any signs of Addison's until they go into an Addisonian crisis which is very severe and life threatening. At this point many animals do not live through the crisis. Neither did Bella.
All I want is to move on and the Pet Comapny is not being cooperative at all. We ran into another victim of the Pet comapny when we were at the mall trying to get reimbursed just a week ago. She informed us that the same thing happened to her puppy and she had to get a lawyer and call the newspaper before she was reimbursed. She had all the paperwork and they still did not want to pay her. It is now January 2nd and I still have not been reimbursed or have gotten any further with our progress. I'll keep this updated, but I have a feeling this is going to turn into a war. I can't believe this is how they treat their customer's who spend a lot of money on what they believe will be their lifelong companions. What heartless people!
Oh, and since this began in November I've been to the pet store over a handful of times and they do not take care of the animals. The cages are dirty and the store stinks! The owners and employees do not care. These are just babies. They can't take care of themselves. I thought i was doing something good by saving one of these poor, neglected animals. I guess not: (
Bella 2/18/08-11/22/08 You are greatly missed!!
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