I have Fibromyalgia. I am alone all day. My husband suggested buying a small dog for in the house to keep me company. We have three big dogs kept outside. I did a lot of research and decided I wanted a "Malti-Poo" (Cross between a Maltese and Poodle).
We went to 4 petstores and finally found one at "Petland" located in Boca Park, las vegas. The store assistant, "Mike" assured us it the puppy I wanted was healthy and that they have never had a sick dog sold. He stated they only get dogs from USDA breeders. "Their the best".
About an hour after we got home the puppy started choking, BAD. I thought maybe she was running around too much. It got worse. I took her to a 24hr vet, as Petland's Vet wasn't open and it was 3: A.M. The Vet diagnosed my puppy with Kennel Cough, an Eye infection and a skin infection and or Mites. I started crying. I was awake until the next day.
I called Petland and told them what happened. I asked how they could sell a sick puppy and not tell me, as I had exposed it to my other dogs. The assistant, "Joe" stated "Mike" probably wanted to make a sale. He said to return the puppy and supplies for a refund. I went in that day, it was very hard, as I loved little Maddy. But in my condition I couldn't take care of a sick animal. Joe took the puppy and cage, etc and said call "Karin" Monday for a reimbursement check.
I called Monday spoke with the owner, "Karin" and explained what happened, again. When I brought up the Kennel Cough and that "Mike" didn't acknowledge it to me prior to my purchase she became very hostile. She stated "You know I don't have to give you back anything". I told her had we known the puppy was sick we would never have bought it! She wouldn't listen she said she would call me after she got my Vet's report. I told her I had them fax it 15 minutes ago. She said she would get it and call me back, she never did.
My husband and I drove to Petland. We asked for Karin and waited at the counter. Karin approached with two checks in one hand and a plastic bag with a stuffed animal in the other. As she handed me the checks I noticed they were not for the full amount we gave them and didn't cover the vet medication or office visit. I told Karin this was unacceptable, she replied with "Well I don't have to give you anything if I don't want to"! I couldn't believe her attitude. I was the victim. She told me that they don't usually do this and to consider myself lucky. I was ready to blow.
Karin went on and on about the warrenty. I said "Look you sold us a sick puppy and we thought it was choking your vet wasn't open so we brought it to ours." It even stated in their contract that if it was proved that the puppy was sick prior to purchase they would pay for the vet visit. She wouldn't listen and was becomming more aggrivated with me and my story. She was very cold and had no customer service qualities. She could have cared less what I went through with the puppy, not to mention the stress it put on my body. Having Fibromyalgia any stressful event causes a "flare-up", she didn't care.
I was getting madder by the minute. I wanted my money back. She then handed me the plastic bag with the stuffed animal in it and said "This is yours I can't refund you because it was used by the puppy". I said "It's contaminated I can't use it and I would have never bought it had I known the puppy had Kennel cough.
THEN SHE SPOKE: "How do I know your dogs didn't contaminate our puppy with Kennel cough?!!" That was it, I went off in a rage. I told her first of all I only had the puppy 6 hrs. And it was diagnosed by a certified Vet. Second my dogs are over 6 & 10 years old. I stopped... My anger was building. I couldn't deal with this ignorant woman any longer. I grabbed the checks out of her hand and through down the plastic bag with the stuffed animal on the counter. My husband and I proceeded to leave as she was still yelling at me and "Joe" yelling That I'm banned from the store and they have my picture on their camera.
I immediatly went to the bank across the street to cash the checks. When I approached the counter I noticed a truck hauling through the parking lot into the bank. IT WAS HER and her husband. They started to argue with us in the bank and put a stop payment on the checks right then and there.
Here's the beauty of it all, the husband "BRAD" said he was pressing charges against me for assault on his wife. My husband is a pretty calm person, but that was enough to make him blow. My husband said "what are you talking about", "My wife didn't touch your wife". Brad wouldn't comment. He wasn't even in the room when all this took place. I couldn't believe this. Now I'm having charges against me for arguing with his wife. I got very upset and started to shake. I told him it's illegal to press false charges on a person. He said "Well at least we got your money and you got nothing". I told him he couldn't stop payment on the checks his wife just gave us, but the bank allowed him to do it.
I'm very confused, I returned the dog and cage, supplies, etc. Submitted a Vet report, called them the next morning when they opened in regards to the dog, did every thing they told me to and now I'm out $918.86, have no dog, an assult filed on me (falsly) and I am totally stressed out.
I didn't know what to do. I filed a report with the BBB and I set an appointment to do a "neighbor civil meeting". It's where you try to work it out prior to filing in small claims. Then I found your web site. I know you probly can't do much for me, but it sure calmed me down reading other peoples misfortunes with petshops, including 3 about Petland. I also plan to contact my local news. Possibly "picket" in front of their store. Do you know if there are any laws for a person to hold a sign in a parking lot regarding the store behind them? Isn't a parking lot private property?
Well thanks for listening.
I WANT TO WARN YOU, "DO NOT BUY A PUPPY, OR ANY OTHER ANIMAL FROM PETLAND" 99.9% it came from a puppy mill! Don't support them! Don't buy their products either. SPREAD THE WORD!!!
Kristina
Las Vegas, Nevada
U.S.A.
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