Lawsuit over puppy that would cost $26,000 after interest exposes Petland’s deceptive sales and lending practices
Petland not only continues to source and sell puppies from questionable dealers, it has also put its considerable might behind battling our efforts in states and localities to end the puppy mills problem. Above, dogs for sale at a Petland in Michigan. Photo by the HSUS
A recent court case in Florida shines the spotlight on the questionable tactics Petland uses to dupe customers and make large profits off the sales of sick puppies—most of whom come from puppy mills.
The case involved a Petland store in Plantation, Florida, which sold a customer a golden retriever, Sunny, for $3,500. Sunny’s owner entered into a financing contract with Lending USA, a company Petland partners with, which apparently charges outrageous interest rates. According to papers filed with the court, Sunny’s owner would have ended up paying $26,655 for the dog over the period of her contract.
At the time she bought Sunny in 2018, the customer allegedly was assured that he was healthy and AKC-registered. But, as his new mom soon found out, he had a staph infection and multiple parasites. Soon after he began to limp and was diagnosed at nine months with dysplasia in both hips—a condition that would require surgeries and treatments adding up to $21,000.
Sunny’s owner sued the store for misleading her, selling her a sick puppy, and failing to abide by state laws that would have required the store to pay for the puppy’s treatment, and in October the court ordered Petland Plantation to pay $60,734 in damages to Sunny’s owner.
The legal complaint detailed the false claims the store allegedly made about the quality of the dog’s breeder. Petland claimed Sunny’s breeder was from the “top 5% breeders in the nation”; in reality, the puppy was provided to the store by Blue Ribbon Puppies, a broker listed in our 2019 Horrible Hundred report on problem mills in the United States who was linked to a campylobacter outbreak that sickened at least 118 people.
As shocking as these details are, they are not surprising to us. Since 2018 we have conducted undercover investigations at eight Petland stores and documented how Petland routinely hides puppies’ illnesses from consumers. Our puppy mills campaign has heard so far from almost 1,400 customers who purchased sick puppies from Petland.
Petland has a variety of lending practices that seem to target low-income consumers with payment plans that involve very high interest rates. The Petland credit card, for instance, has a 29.99% interest rate. People who purchased sick puppies from Petland stores have had to give up their right to speak about their claim, post about it on the internet, or report it to the Better Business Bureau before they could get reimbursement for veterinary bills. In some cases Petland wouldn’t compensate consumers even after their puppies died just a few weeks after bringing them home.
Such practices have led to multiple lawsuits against Petland in recent years. The Florida attorney general, representing 19 consumers, including six whose puppies died, is suing a Petland store and its owners for “a scheme to misrepresent” puppies with a variety of illnesses and congenital health problems using “deceptive” sales tactics and often high-interest financing. Earlier this year, our lawyers, in cooperation with the South Carolina firm Kidd Corvey & Simpson, LLC, filed a lawsuit against Petland and one of its franchises in Summerville, South Carolina, on behalf of several consumers who were allegedly deceived into purchasing sick puppies.
Consumers have filed similar lawsuits in other states where Petland does business.
The reason we’ve been shining the spotlight on Petland is that it is the only national pet store chain that still sells puppies, adamantly refusing to join the growing number of pet stores that are now making the switch from selling puppies to working with local shelters and rescues to adopt out pets. Petland not only continues to source and sell puppies from questionable dealers like Blue Ribbon Puppies, it also has put its considerable might behind battling our efforts in states and localities to end the puppy mills problem. Fortunately, the number of states and localities where Petland can sell puppies is shrinking, as a growing number of lawmakers crack down on puppy sales in pet stores—more than 370 localities and three states so far prohibit such sales, and the number is growing every day.
We are excited for the role we have played in bringing about this change through our work with states and localities, and through our annual Horrible Hundred reports. States are increasingly referring to our report to take action against problem mills. Recently, a Missouri court ordered jail time for Marlisa McAlmond, the owner of Cedar Ridge Australians, a mill that had appeared four times in our Horrible Hundred reports. According to court records McAlmond euthanized 21 dogs instead of surrendering them to the state’s Department of Agriculture to be re-homed, as she was ordered to do.
As happy as we are about this progress, puppy mills are a widespread problem and we have a long way to go before we win this fight. As consumers, you can do your part in ending this scourge. Pet stores that sell puppies are keeping puppy mills alive by acting as fronts for these operations that deny the animals in their care the most basic needs, including food, water and veterinary care. Please refuse to buy pets or pet supplies at stores that sell puppies and instead find pet stores near you that have taken our pledge to support animal shelters instead of puppy mills on our Puppy Friendly Pet Store list. Or text “puppy” to 77879 (message and data rates apply). It is easy to fall in love with a cute puppy and his soft eyes staring at you from a glass cage at a pet store. But as the Florida Petland case and the experience of so many other Petland customers clearly illustrates, bringing a pet store puppy home can often be more traumatic than satisfying.
No se puede permitir más abuso en la venta de los animalitos esto tiene que acabar ya
Our rescue has had to take an owner surrender 7 month Aussie Poo Due to medical issues from onset of purchase from petland that they could not afford
It ended up being that the dog was passing out due to His heart stopping from having a 3rd degree blockage in his heart Which ultimately cost our rescue $6000 to place a heart pacemaker in this dog to save it’s life This is due to bad breeding
this is the type of animal that you get from Petland
please do not buy from any Petland or pet store they all purchase them from puppy mills
Me acaban de estafar igual !! He comprado un cachorro ahí sin saber hace 4 días y está enfermo tiene problemas respiratorios hace 4 días lo compre y ahora los voy a demandar !!!
Hola estoy en la misma situación. Como le fue a tu perrito?
Its very cruel using sweet animals to get money,only good people that truly love all animals should work there,the dos/cats etc should be treated with much love & kindness,playtime/long walks,good food,the animals should all get adopted into loving forever homes with great parents or 1 parend
I have signed “stop puppy mills” petitions for more years than I like to think and yet they still exist. Considering all the ugliness and suffering around such mills it is indeed amazing that we are just now getting around to doing something about them even if too slowly.
Not knowing any better a few decades ago I bought a puppy for my child from a store with similar sales tactics as Petland, long out of business. Anyway, the poor puppy had so many health issues including cataracts by age one year that unfortunately it had to be euthanized.
We didn’t have internet back then and little official attention was put on animal suffering. After that, I set about educating myself about that “cute puppy in the window” but it would have saved my family so much grief had we only known then what we know now.
The fact that the AKC continues to allow their organization to be used in this matter is astounding. Everyone, listen up. Adopt. If you just have to buy, then do NOT do so on-line. Seek out reputable breeders and only buy if ;you can visit and see where/how your new baby is living. But I promise adoptable cats/dogs make great companion animals. I’ve been doing that now for 40 years! My latest adopted kitty is walking across the keypad as I type! He’s beyond adorable, swear :))
I got a dog from a pet store too, and they are no longer selling dogs.. When we got our minpin, he had worms, seizures, and he was very sick through the first year with us. He cost $400 to buy from that specific pet store. When I went to petland, they charge $3500! For an equally sick dog of the same breed.. wow.
What is horrific is that innocent puppies are suffering because of the practices of puppy mills…each of which should be closed down permanently because of the horrific conditions puppies are bred in… this should be enough to close them down but as long as people BUY these poor animals and there is a market for them they will sell them and millions suffer because of the choices humans make….
They are deceptive, even if you get a healthy puppy. Their
“Lifetime” guarantee is a scam. They charge you for it, without telling the customer, it’s only valid IF you buy food from their store, and use their vets.
That rediculous policy should be enough to have 2nd thoughts about purchasing an animal from that unscrupulous pet store. They use every tactic in the book to convince us that they are selling healthy pets. We are all told that pet stores are a good place to buy animals, but luckily these agencies are making people aware of the illnesses that the pet stores cover up & charge an astronomical amount of money just out of pure GREED. Sorry for your horrific experience Faith.
My daughter bought a puppy from Petland in Sarasota, Fl. She thought she was buying a Chiweenie no bigger then 10 lbs. She is 6 months old now and almost 35 lbs. We had a DNA test done because as she got older she looked more like a German Shepard. Sure enough she has10 different dogs in her line. Paying $5000.00 for a mutt is outrageous. My daughter has two boys which they’ve been waiting so long to get a family dog. She wanted a dog to take with them using a carrier. They don’t make carriers for BIG dogs. Not happy at all because they have to leave her home a lot.
The papers she got on her from the store I’m assuming has incorrect information on her. Tried to get in touch with the breeder that is written on her papers and she never emails us back.
What I am so upset about is that the amount of harm they are doing to families like ours. Not only did my daughter not get a small dog she was looking for. How does my daughter and grandsons give this dog back after having her for 6 months and falling in love with her. It would be so devastating. My grandsons love her so much. So does my daughter.
but can’t do much with her because of her size.
The extra expense also that now will cost my daughter. She has to fence in her backyard, hirer someone to walk her in the middle of the day, have her trained by a trainer because she is so strong and so active my daughter and grandkids at times can’t get control of her.
I guess Petland is just into making their money and not thinking about their
customers after they send them on their way home to fall in love with the puppy they bought.
Please join our Facebook group say NO to New Braunfels puppyland
Google Daniel Gingrich, my puppy is 2nd party from him Via Pet land, so many issues, ugh an kicker is she isn’t pure blooded as stated either. At last it seems it’s all coming to light as Daniel now charged an told to surrender over 500 dogs . Read news. Bless you all an our crybabies suffering. Pet land should be ashamed!!!!
***fur babies^^^^ typo from crybabies. Sorry. This goofy autocorrect! Grrrr
Shame on you and I will continue to spread the word. Just horrible
The big victim is the puppy. The only way to stop puppy mills is to write your congressman and tell them that you will get be a one issue voter, and will not vote for them if they do not take action.
Sounds like a woke plan!
I have had two pet land puppies and both have been great. I had to put down my first one at 15 due to renal issues. My second one is now 11 and having a few age related issues but nothing until now. My dogs have been wonderful animals so even if some pet lands buy from puppy mills, mine have been great.
Sadly, your dogs are the exception and not the rule when it comes to puppies sold at Petland. I’m so glad your dogs were/are healthy.
You’re so very Lucky! 👍😻
Here in Washington we have puppyland stores. Dogs are posted at 4500, but with the additional “charges” people are paying almost 10,000 for a puppy! This practice needs to stop throughout the entire US.
I think the minute you see Payment plan offered for a pet dont walk Run! If u are going to purchase a pet only buy from suppliers that another individual has had success using. Talk to people who have pets and where they sourced them.
Otherwise if u dont do the reasearch it could end up being a sorrowful event.
Consider adopting with a well known animal rescue. This exchange of money for animals is is similar to extortion.
I totally agree. No way will I pay $8,000 for a yorkie! Rip off. They should not be allowed to charge these outrageous fees!
People just need need to look for puppies elsewhere. With no market they can’t sell the puppies!°°
Why would anyone spend that much money for a animal from a pet store when there are so many animals in need of a good home that are being euthanized due to a shortage of places to house all these adoptable animals. Spaying & neutering would significantly reduce this problem.
There are many pets in foster homes just waiting to be adopted, and they have very reasonable fees, which include spaying & neutering, & also their first vaccinations. Hopefully more people will consider this option.
I have “adopted” 4 cat/kittens over the last twenty-five years but after a bad experience with a dog all my canine buddies are direct from Reliable Breeders!
I’d adopt another dog IF I could talk to the prior owner or responsible person about that animal but ability to do so is very Rare (in my experience)
My heart still aches from the adopted dog experience!
Terrible
Ms. Block, the puppy-friendly pet store list is a great idea. How do stores participating in pet adoptions sign up to be part of the list?
Thanks for your comment. Stores interested in becoming puppy-friendly must simply send a signed pledge to our Stop Puppy Mills campaign. Download the pledge and learn more.
Just curious—if all they have to do is sign a pledge, how many Petland Stores are on the “puppy-friendly” list?
In advance, thanks for your reply.
Thanks for your comment. About 3,000 stores have signed the Puppy Friendly Pet Store pledge and about 35,000 pets have been adopted through stores that converted to helping homeless pets instead of selling breeder dogs.
3000 Petland stores have signed the pledge?!
No, Petland would not qualify as a Puppy Friendly Pet Store because they sell puppies from puppy mills. The stores that signed our Puppy Friendly Pet Stores pledge are independent pet stores that have promised not to sell puppies. Puppy Friendly Pet Stores have committed to helping homeless pets in their communities instead of selling dogs and focus instead on offering pet services and pet supplies.
Great question!
Just bought an alaskan klee kia here in WA from petland we thought it was a good price but turns out to be 10000, holy i wish more light is spread on this bc being a young couple this is going pretty tough stretch for us.
I sign a petition last Summer —people were trying to close the Frisco, Tx. Petland. Nothing was done to close their doors; had X-employees talking about how the animals were mistreated. Some were sick & had no one to care for the ill. Good luck; these businesses should not excess! They keep puppy mills running😡
We just visited Petland Plantation and when we asked how much for the aussiedoodles etc. they are charging $8,000 – $17,000 for puppies! We were in complete shock at the cost they are chraging for these dogs. I think they used to charge $1000-$3,000 and I think they may be taking advantage of the pandemic and price gouging. We of course did not buy any, we are adopting, but wanted to educate our daughter on what these dogs are being sold for.
Hello! This story is heart-breaking! We purchased a dog at the Petland in Columbus, Ohio off Hilliard-Rome for 3k! We were assured he was 100% a mini-sheepadoodle. We started seeing traits that were not characteristic of that dog, nor did he look like one. We immediately called Petland who said they dont have anything to do with the sale of puppies, but to file a claim through a third party, and also they have a distributor who buys puppies from these horrible breeders. ALL A SCAM! So we called the breeder, and he goes, “Oh, he’s Shepard and poodle, some call them this and that.” Horrible. We asked him for a picture of the mom and dad… nothing! So then we called the claim company who told us he was the same. We said deliver papers and pictures. The third party company has refused to call us back. We purchased DNA tests and our puppy has 12 different breeds in him!! None sheepdog. He has a poodle and Springer spaniel as dominant and primary traits. If there is an attorney out here, please respond to: natasha.devries@outlook.com. We are looking to sue. When will Petland be shutdown?!?!?
Thanks for your comment. We urge you to share this information and complete our Puppy Buyer Complaint Form online. This form enables us to keep track of problem sellers and ensures that we have as much information as possible to help us in our fight to stop puppy mills. It also allows us to help other puppy buyers and report chronic abusers to relevant agencies.
You may also contact your state director using this easy online form for more help.
And also our dog from Petland had Giardia and not received any vaccines before he was released!
After paying around $10k so far and my puppy (an adorable shih tsu) bought at Petland not only had trouble with fixing him but he has 16 teeth that need to be pulled that haven’t fallen out. 16! Was just informed surgery was not covered
Lo único que pueco decir que son unos estafadores y mentirosos.Mi experiencia fue horrible .Por eso estoy demandando.
This is happening to me too .
Naperville, Illinois has a pet land and today I went to see about buying a puppy and was in shock to find Yorke DOB 7/26/21 and a Morkie DOB 8/20/21 priced at $6100.00 The manager at the store was named Claude Bond from pet counselor 7358 N. Cherry vale Mall Drive but he was at Naperville Pet Land. Is this over pricing legal??? I thought Morkie highest range would be $2500.00 does anyone know about pricing regulations on this matter…??? Pet land seems like a profit sale on puppies. It’s kind of sad to be ripped off this hard on a puppy of this breed.
I assume they can charge you what ever outrageous price they feel someone would be willing to spend. Price gouging is what they’re known for, and should be stopped. Adoption is a better choice to help put an end to the unnecessary euthanasia of the over population of pets.
After spending 6,000 on an AKC registered puppy I am shocked to be in the emergency room a week later with a very sick puppy who is pooping blood! Thanks to Puppyland Puyallup, WA.
My husband purchased a puppy the evening of 12-23-21 she was rushed to the after hours vet hospital with what appeared to be kennel cough by tuesday morning our vet took xrays and she had pneumonia she was rushed to the Petland vet and we were advise to take to the 24 hour pet ICU hospital
We are now looking for a attorney in the Houston Texas area to recover hospital cost as the insurance company resfuses to re impurse us for the bills
I am currently looking for an attorney or to find out how I can be part of this lawsuit. My corgi puppy has been constantly sick since about 3-4 days after we brought him home. He had a respiratory, GI, and ear infection within the whole month and Petland’s policy is that they will only pay for vet bills up to 2 weeks after you take the pet home or have the option of giving him back? I am furious. I let them know why I was getting a pet, which was to work on making him a service dog. You see, I am a disabled veteran and the VA does not pay for service animals or their training. Especially for myself who has brain issues. I feel that they took advantage of me and my dog has been sick multiple times, which has put me in a hole financially. In addition, I have payments to still make on him and I don’t understand why I should have to at this point. His last vet visit was $500 and that was negotiating because I can’t afford more right now. I am also a single mother, so I have other responsibilities. We love this dog and he is a huge part of my family. I don’t want anything else to happen to him and I was told that given his history, this can be chronic, but it will cost more money for the labs and tests.
At this point, I want to sue. This is not right and after the articles I have read, I am furious that they do this to animals and effect them and people who love them. Thank you for your time.
Dealing with this right now. I wish I would have known.
I thought it was just me! I was MANIPULATED into purchasing a $10k miniature poodle at a Petland here in Houston. The lady that sold him to me made it seem like he was covered and as if he’s coming with all these free things and benefits. My dog is sneezing and shaking, I haven’t taken him to a vet yet because they said they will only allow him to come to the Petland vet and I feel like those people will cover up what’s truly wrong with him. I don’t have the money to take care of any medical emergencies for my puppy right now and Petland is not allowing me to return him. They said I will still be liable to pay… for a puppy I will no longer have? No way!
This should all be illegal and I’m also very ready to sue Petland for this! I love Teddy (my miniature poodle) but I know medically he is sick! And they know they manipulated me into purchasing him and signing paperwork.