Attention Pittsburgh Petland Customers!

Local Petland customers ponder puppy mill suit
Saturday, March 21, 2009
By L.A. Johnson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Kay McQuigg is looking into joining a federal lawsuit that claims Petland Inc. sold dogs bred at puppy mills to customers.

She's doing it for Murphy, her family's beloved 2Â 1/2-year-old lhasa apso-poodle mix, which died Monday, a week after liver shunt surgery. Murphy's medical care, including six surgeries for genetic bone and liver problems, cost more than $5,000.

"It's the principle, not the money," said Mrs. McQuigg, of Wilkins. "It's just heartbreaking for my kids to have to deal with this."

On Monday, six Arizona plaintiffs who purchased puppies from various Petland stores between 2005 and 2008 filed the federal lawsuit and are seeking class-action status. Patrick Howard, an attorney with the Philadelphia law firm of Saltz Mongeluzzi Barrett & Bendesky, said that anyone who purchased a puppy at Petland since Nov. 20, 2004, could be part of the suit.

Petland, based in Chillicothe, Ohio, doesn't purchase puppies from puppy mills, company spokeswoman Lacey Clever said.

But Mrs. McQuigg wonders whether Murphy was the product of a puppy mill. Since the lawsuit became public, she and others who have purchased puppies with health problems from local Petland stores have contacted the Post-Gazette.

She bought the 3 1/2-month-old Murphy from the Monroeville Petland store in October 2006. He had "kennel cough" when they brought him home, but antibiotics eventually cleared that up.

Then, she noticed Murphy's front legs shook a bit. The vet told her it probably was just a sign of a nervous puppy. So, she didn't worry too much about it. In May or June 2007, Mrs. McQuigg noticed a definite problem.

"Lhasas are bowlegged anyway, but he was severely bowlegged and could not hold up his body weight," she said. "If he stood for 10 or 20 seconds, he had to adjust his leg or lay down because it was going to give out."

A return trip to the vet led to a referral to an orthopedic specialist. A bone in Murphy's leg hadn't completely developed.

"The corrective surgery was to break his leg, de-rotate his wrist and use a bone plate and screws to keep it in place," she said.

There were setbacks. He developed infections. The screws had to be removed, but the bones healed and Murphy looked beautiful, she said. Then, they discovered the problem with his liver, and he underwent corrective surgery March 9.

"He wouldn't stop having seizures after the surgery," she said yesterday, trying to hold back tears. "My children [ages 11 and 15] had to go in and say goodbye."

Mrs. McQuigg approached Petland with a letter from her vet about Murphy's orthopedic problems in August 2007, telling them the surgeon believed the condition was genetic. Petland sympathized but initially said it couldn't refund her $750 because there was no evidence it was a genetic problem.

"Every puppy when it leaves is healthy to our knowledge," said Clay Slivko, owner of the Monroeville Petland. "If something happens down the road, our warranty kicks in up to the price of the puppy."

In Pennsylvania, people can return a dog to a seller within 10 days if the puppy proves to be a poor health risk, he said. Customers can request a refund and return the puppy or try to get money back for reasonable veterinary care.

"The seller also can require the puppy see its veterinarian to confirm it's a poor health risk," he said.

State law requires a 30-day warranty on dogs for any congenital or hereditary health problem -- something due to breeding -- for example, a joint problem or heart condition. Petland takes that further, extending the warranty on congenital or hereditary problems to three years from purchase, he said.

Mrs. McQuigg showed Petland a second letter, one from her main veterinarian in October 2007, stating Murphy's problems were genetic, and Petland refunded her $750.
"When there is an issue with a puppy, any sort of issue, that doesn't mean that puppy is from a puppy mill," Mr. Slivko said. "You're always going to have a percentage of animals that have issues, just like people."

In the past, Mrs. McQuigg had purchased a dog from a breeder and said she had been warned about buying dogs from pet stores.

"This one time, we decided to do it," she said. "I should have known better."

The American Kennel Club Web site recommends people buy puppies from responsible and well-respected breeders.

"Screen the breeder," the site states. "Ask to see at least one of the parents [the dam or sire] of your puppy."

The AKC also suggests potential buyers ask what possible health problems a dog may develop, how large it will grow, how old it will be before it acts like an adult dog, how protective it will be and how much exercise it will need.

Responsible sellers also should question buyers.

If a seller "doesn't show any interest in the life the dog will lead after it leaves his or her premises, you may want to look elsewhere," the AKC says.

For more information about breeders and rescue organizations, visit www.AKC.org.