Written by Erin Nolan
Under a settlement announced by the New York State Attorney General, Long Island pet store owners are accused of knowingly selling hundreds of sick and injured puppies, some of which died within days of purchase. The company will pay out $300,000 to about 200 customers, including puppies.
The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed in December 2021 by Attorney General Letitia James, in which an investigation by her office found that a store called Shake-A-Paw was run by a so-called puppy mill. This comes after it was discovered that the company had been purchasing and selling puppies. Reputation for abuse, inbreeding, and unclean conditions.
James' investigation found that the store and its owners, Marc Jacobs and Gerald O'Sullivan, failed to disclose the animals' serious medical conditions and illegally reimbursed customers for veterinary costs incurred after selling sick pets. It turned out that he had refused. on court documents.
In addition to repaying the $300,000, Jacobs and O'Sullivan made other claims, including claims that the puppies Shake-A-Paw sells are “the healthiest” and come from “the most trusted breeders.” Agreed to stop the store's misleading advertising. Purchase animals only from reputable breeders. The company is also required to disclose information to customers proving the health status of the puppies, according to court documents.
Under a law passed in 2022, all pet stores in New York will be prohibited from selling dogs, cats and rabbits starting in December.
The settlement was not an admission of wrongdoing by Shake-A-Paw, according to a news release provided late Friday night by the pet store's attorney, Richard Hamberger. The news release states that Shake-A-Paw will continue to operate his business in accordance with the law, “exactly what we have done for the past 30 years.”
The agreement marks the end of a “failed lawsuit” and vindicates Shake-A-Paw, the news release said, noting that “there was no consumer fraud” and that the store had “2 “We have been released from any claims arising from the sale of more than 2,000 units.” “Puppy” was photographed over a period of eight years.
“Shake-A-Paw will remain open to spread joy by connecting adorable puppies with loving New York families,” the release states.
Erin Ruxton, who bought Merlin, a Chihuahua-dachshund mix, at Shake-A-Paw in 2020, called the settlement a “huge relief.” According to court documents, Ruxton said Marlin started coughing the day she brought him home from Shake-A-Paw and died five weeks later from a respiratory illness.
“I feel like we were able to get justice for this poor pup,” Ruxton said in a statement. “While I miss him every day, I am proud to have been a part of this process. ” he added.
Shake-A-Paw has locations in Hicksville and Lynbrook, both of which opened in 1994, according to court documents. Customers paid an average of $2,500 to $8,000 for each puppy, on top of which the attorney general's office says they paid hundreds of dollars in unnecessary additional goods and services.
The lawsuit alleges that from 2016 to 2021, James filed 99 complaints from Shake-A-Paw customers alleging that they were sold puppies with serious injuries, congenital or genetic conditions, or infectious diseases. The place said it had received it. James' office said similar complaints were also received by the New York Better Business Bureau.
One customer's puppy died six days after a Shake-A-Paw employee said the pet was “fine,” according to court documents. The other person was hospitalized with severe double pneumonia just two days after purchasing it. Some customers said they spent thousands of dollars on veterinary bills within days or weeks after purchasing puppies from Shake-A-Paw, according to court documents.
An analysis of veterinary records from more than 400 puppies sold by Shake-A-Paw by the Attorney General's Office found that more than half had upper respiratory tract infections or other respiratory illnesses (sometimes both). It turned out that he had been infected with a parasite.
Shake-A-Paw also refused to reimburse customers for veterinary treatment for pets that were already sick at the time of sale, James said in a news release.
Shake-A-Paw also lied about where it got the puppies it sold. The store claimed on its website that it worked with “the most trusted breeders” and handpicked “the very best puppies,” but financial records show that only thousands of puppies from known puppy mills were sold. It turns out that it was shipped to Shake-A-Paw's owner.
Megan Huber bought a 3-pound Shih Tzu from Shake-A-Paw in 2014 and named her Mei-Mei. In her Friday interview, she said she was glad her store and its owner were finally being held accountable for the pain they caused her. others.
Hoover said Meimei started having trouble breathing a few days after she was brought home. For two years, she was in and out of the veterinary hospital for treatment of various illnesses and congenital abnormalities. She died in Mr. Hoover's arms just before her second birthday.
Huber, 35, talked about trying to get compensation from Shake-A-Paw for selling a sick puppy.
“Dogs are our children,” she said. “We want what's best for them. We wanted the best for Mei Mei. We loved her with all of our hearts.”
new york times
