How One Paralyzed Dog Walked Its Way From Puppy Mill, To New Owner

LANCASTER, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- Volunteer and foster caregiver Michelle Weirich of Delaware County, recently fostered a dog named Prince Harry who now goes by the name 'Teddy Bear.'

Teddy Bear, who was in dire need of medical care, was rescued from a licensed breeder at a Lancaster County puppy mill.

Weirich says Teddy Bear spent most of his life inside a cage, and by the time he was rescued it appeared his back legs were paralyzed.

After receiving veterinarian care, Weirich later brought Teddy Bear back to Delaware County, where she provided love and proper care.

To read more on this story, click here: How One Paralyzed Dog Walked Its Way From Puppy Mill, To New Owner

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How Dogs Went From Wolves to Man’s Best Friend, According to Scientists

They loved us long before they looked domesticated.

By answering an age-old question about man’s best friend, scientists have figured out how wolves became the dogs we all know and love today. It’s pretty common knowledge that dogs are related to their wild canine cousins, but the new study lays out how the transformation occurred. Namely, it asserts that wolves became good boys behavior-wise before they started looking more like domesticated dogs than wolves.

To read more on this story, click here: How Dogs Went From Wolves to Man’s Best Friend, According to Scientists





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Do You Think It Is Cruel to Breed Cats with Genetic Deformities Intentionally?

Controversial Munchkin Cats may be trendy to some people who find them cute, but is it cruel to breed cats with genetic deformities intentionally? You may have seen videos or pictures on social media of these short-legged felines, often affectionately called “sausage cats,” and wondered how their legs get so short.

The short legs of the Munchkin cat come from a dominant genetic mutation. This gene is referred to as a “lethal” gene because if two Munchkin cats mate and both pass on the dominant gene, the kittens will not survive. Breeders intentionally breed Munchkin cats with regular-sized cats or cats that are just shorter and do not have the Munchkin gene to produce kittens with short legs that can be sold for a high price.

Although Munchkin cats, when taken care of, can live about 12 to 15 years on average, there are some health problems that can develop due to their short legs. Lordosis is a condition that causes the spine to dip down and put pressure on the heart, lungs, and trachea, and it can be fatal as the organs begin to grow.

Munchkin cats are also susceptible to pectus excavatum, or a concave chest. This causes the breastbone to sink in. Breeders are quick to point out that these conditions can also occur in normal-sized cats, but vets have found a correlation between the genetic mutation and these health problems.

Some worry that short legs limit Munchkin cats’ mobility, which is especially important for felines. Munchkin cats may not be able to jump high, but they are surprisingly nimble and agile on ground level. Their mobility, for the most part, isn’t terribly affected by having shorter legs.

Breeders also like to point out that breeding cats with a genetic mutation that causes short legs is no different than breeding short-legged dogs like Corgis or Dachshunds. The International Cat Association (TICA) agrees with this argument and accepts the Munchkin cat as a registered breed, but the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) and the American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA) refuse to recognize the Munchkin. One TICA judge even resigned because of the questionable ethics of breeding a cat with a genetic deformity intentionally.

When it comes down to it, breeding a cat with short legs is done only to please humans, not for the benefit of cats. Sure they may look “cute” to some, but it certainly doesn’t make them healthier and provides them with no specific advantages. And in a world where shelters are full of unwanted healthy cats, should we really be breeding deformed felines for profit?

Andrew Prentis, of Hyde Park Veterinary Centre in Central London, had a word of advice for those wanting a Munchkin cat or breed them. Prentis told the Sun: “Why would you want to breed a cat that effectively doesn’t have any legs? If you want to see a short-legged cat, go and watch a cartoon. Leave the cat alone.”

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Thinking About Buying a Puppy? Take a Look at This Video to See Exactly Where Your Dog is Coming From

There is nothing more tempting than the big-eyed face of a puppy. Seeing one through a pet shop window must be the human equivalent of kryptonite because all it takes is one shot of their tiny paw pads pressed against the glass to make our knees go out. But what if we told you that life for these perfect little puppies wasn’t always so cute and that by purchasing one of those irresistible little ones, you would be condemning hundreds of other dogs to a life of abuse and suffering. Well, tragically, thanks to the puppy mill industry, this is exactly what happens.

Puppy mills are large-scale dog breeding facilities where puppies are churned out like a machine. In the video below, you can see the horrific reality of what a puppy mill looks like. Breeding dogs never get to leave the mill but spend their entire lives in tiny wire cages, deprived of basic medical care,  food, and water. Many dogs are covered with their own filth and suffer from severe dental and other medical issues. These pups know nothing but exploitation and abuse at the hands of humans and have to endure the pain of giving birth and having their puppies taken away far too soon. The most disheartening part of this industry is the fact that the sale of those puppies only enables mills to continue breeding and abusing their parents. With millions of healthy dogs waiting to be adopted in U.S. shelters, the idea that there is an entire industry dedicated to mass-breeding new puppies is not only disgusting but downright irresponsible.

The good news in all of this is that there are many organizations working to rescue dogs from mills and raise awareness for the plight of these animals. Here we see the Humane Society of the United States save over 140 dogs from a terrible mill in North Carolina. Don’t support the puppy mill industry, always adopt and don’t shop!

Share this video and encourage others to learn the truth behind the puppies in the window.




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Watch as Rapper 2 Chainz Visits With Some of the World’s Most Expensive Kittens

2 Chainz, meet kittens. Kittens, meet 2 Chainz. The "I'm Different" rapper has been busy exploring the finer things in life for GQ's Most Expensive Sh*t series, giving everything from $48,000 sunglasses to diamond-infused vodka a spin. Next up on his lavish list? Meeting some of the world's most expensive cats, of course.

There are several important takeaways in this video, chief among them that 1.) 2 Chainz can't whistle and 2.) an exotic serval kitten goes for a cool $15,000. If you're in the market to drop as much money on a cat as, say, a semester of college tuition, this one's for you.



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Maryland Couple is Suing a Kennel After One of Their Toy Poodles Was Killed by a Much Larger Dog

A Maryland couple is suing a kennel after one of their toy poodles was killed by a much larger dog.

The Klionskys of Bethesda boarded their toy poodle puppies Pumpkin and his apricot-colored sister Peanut at Life of Riley in Rockville in November to take a trip to Paris. They returned two days later when they learned their 5-pound Peanut was dead.

“I was totally devastated,” Yumi Klionsky said. “I couldn't eat for a week. I cried every single day.”

“She still cries,” said her husband, Mark.

The couple was told their little dogs would be kept separate from big dogs, Mark Klionsky said.

“They let the small dogs out into the same area as the large dogs to relieve themselves,” he said. “During that time, our puppy Peanut was attacked and killed by a hundred-pound bull mastiff.”

Life of Riley owner Paul Abbott said they dedicate their lives to taking care of animals but had an incident and want to make it right.

The Klionskys are suing the kennel for $17,600 in damages -- the money from their lost trip and previous medical bills for Peanut. They said they are suing for negligence; the money isn't important.

They want all dog owners who send their dogs to the facility to know about the tragedy.

At first, Yumi Klionsky couldn't think about replacing Peanut, but then the breeder heard about the loss of Peanut and allowed the Klionskys to adopt her sister from the same litter, Pinot.

“She's a small version of Peanut,” Yumi Klionsky said. “She has her own character, and I would like to respect and take proper care and give lots of love.”

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The Acceptance of Mini Pigs as Pets is the Result of Misleading Claims that Can Truly Hurt Innocent Pigs

The micro-mini pig craze has exploded over the past few years. There are YouTube pig celebrities. There are "trendsetters" like Victoria Beckham and Paris Hilton cooing over their tiny pigs. There was even a teacup pig appearance on How I Met Your Mother. But the acceptance of mini pigs as pets is the result of misleading claims (dating back to the 1980s) that can truly hurt innocent pigs.

Teacup pigs are really baby potbellied pigs

At first glance, it sounds purely adorable: a pig who will never weigh more than a human baby. But as the executive director of PIGS Animal Sanctuary Melissa Susko confirms, this isn't the case. "There really is no such thing as a teacup pig, micro-mini, Juliana, etc.," she tells The Dodo. "Miniature pigs are mini compared to a domestic farm pig that can reach 600-plus pounds. So-called teacups are actually potbellied pigs who are either underfed to stunt their growth or who are sold under false pretenses."

Potbellied pigs ( Sus scrofa domesticus) are wild boar cousins from Vietnam who are in fact miniature pigs when standing next to huge farm pigs (who can weigh more than 1,000 pounds) or even wild hogs (who can weight 450 to 700 pounds). However, potbellied pigs still grow to between 100 and 150 pounds on average — nowhere near small enough to fit into a teacup. In fact, the smallest size that is healthy for these little guys is around 60 pounds (though that could be underweight, depending on the pig).

They can breed when they are just 3 months old

To convince customers of their pig's minuscule size, breeders may invite them to look at the piggy parents. Don't be fooled, says Susko. Because these pigs "can breed when they are as young as 6 to 8 weeks old, the parents of a piglet may be piglets themselves." Therefore, she says, "their size is not an accurate measure of how large their offspring will be in adulthood. Potbellied pigs can grow until they are 5 years old and reach well over 100 pounds."

Keeping pigs that small is simply unhealthy

Some breeders inbreed their pigs to try to achieve a smaller size, but that produces a host of health issues resulting from reduced genetic diversity, such as squished snouts, which cause breathing problems later in life. And breeders often instruct buyers to feed their pig a diet that amounts to starvation.

Susko says her sanctuary takes in numerous pigs turned in by people who said they "were told by the breeder that the pig will only get big if you feed him too much. Many pigs come in malnourished and emaciated. Underfed pigs also suffer from weak immune systems, sensitive skin and hoof problems." Indeed, underfed pigs — like too-little Wilburt here — tend to come with a host of health problems caused by malnutrition. Wilburt was fed guinea pig food to keep him small, but after being surrendered to a shelter, this curious 2-year-old is on a more appropriate diet of fruits and vegetables.

And it makes them unhappy

Potbellied pigs need other piggy friends and lots of space to roam — otherwise they can become depressed or angry. Pigs love to root, dig, roll in mud and splash in water. Their intelligence makes them exceptionally curious animals who will probably get into some trouble when they're bored, just like a toddler, and they can get territorial and moody, too. Pigs simply being pigs is oftentimes enough of a reason for teacup pig owners to abandon their pigs or surrender them to sanctuaries like Best Friends Animal Society or Pig Placement Network.

The Dodo reached out to Janette Reever, the Humane Society's deputy manager of animal fighting response for the Animal Rescue Team, for comment on the pet pig craze. Between her former job as an animal control officer, her current position at the Humane Society and her active volunteer work at PIGS Sanctuary, Reever says she has "seen firsthand countless pigs that were surrendered to shelters, rescues, and dumped because the 'teacup' pig grew to 100-plus pounds." Reever shares her home with two such rescues from PIGS Sanctuary — Annabelle and Arnold (pictured below) — and she "can attest to how smart they are, how closely they bond to their families and the specialized care they require."

Keeping pigs is more expensive than you may think

Because customers expect these piglets to stay tiny, they can't possibly imagine the mountainous costs associated with keeping a fully grown potbellied pig. As Susko puts it, "Many people think they are buying a teacup Yorkie and end up with a Saint Bernard. Not many people can handle a 100-, 200- or even 300-pound pig in their house."

There's the initial price of the pig, which may be several thousand dollars, the proper food (no dog or cat kibble), the space needed, the vet bills (finding a good vet for these piggies can be almost impossible), sterilization costs and the expenses for a qualified pig-sitter if the humans go out of town and don't take their pal along.

They also may be illegal

No matter what teacup pig purchasers may think or how small their pig may be, in the eyes of the law, these little pigs are livestock — just like farm pigs or cows. Many local governments outside of farm country forbid the keeping of livestock, so it might be illegal to keep these pigs as pets, even if you do have the money and the ability to care for them.

Unfortunately, the prevalence of misinformation about the care of these complex creatures means that most teacup pigs live only about five years, even though "the average life expectancy for a potbellied pig is 12 to 18 years," according to Susko. "We've had some that barely made it past two years of life."

And their popularity doesn't seem to be waning anytime soon. "I have been at the sanctuary since 2002 (going on 13 years) and have worked with well over a thousand pigs during this time," Susko says. "We get an average of 30 requests a week to take in pigs that people have purchased under the assumption that they will be micro or teacup pigs. When the pigs start growing, they call us. We have 120 potbelly pigs here at PIGS and 85 percent of them have been pigs that people bought without doing their research and fell for the teacup pig myth."

Don't be "pignorant" — find more information about "teacup" pigs here. When you see photos or videos tagged "teacup" or "micro" pig, remember that many of these pigs have a hard time finding a forever home after they no longer fit into that teacup. "It is an unethical industry," cautions Reever, "and the victims are the pigs."

Instead of an actual pig, why not gift a pig sponsorship this holiday season? There are also plenty of opportunities to donate to shelters that provide the proper care for abandoned or surrendered pigs.

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Why You Should Never Acquire Littermates When Choosing Pets

Many experts and organizations in a position to know (for example, animal behaviorists, dog trainers, and rescue professionals), discourage dog guardians from acquiring puppy littermates. In fact, many shelters and breeders simply refuse to place siblings together.

The reason, according to certified professional dog trainer Jeff Stallings, writing for The Bark:

“Anecdotal evidence suggests that behavioral issues may arise during key development periods because the two puppies’ deep bond impedes their individual ability to absorb and grasp the nuances of human and canine communication.”

In other words, canine siblings can be so closely bonded on a primal level, that if they go on to share the same home and family, that deep connection can inhibit their ability to learn how to communicate with their humans and interact with other dogs.

They wind up with a “muddled understanding of the world around them,” according to Stallings, which can create fearfulness and other undesirable coping behaviors.

The phenomenon is known as “littermate syndrome,” and it doesn’t occur in every single pair of littermates who are raised in the same home. However, it happens often enough that experts in canine behavior and the human-canine bond advise against bringing home siblings.

Signs of Littermate Syndrome

Some of the signs of littermate syndrome include:

• Fear of strangers (people and dogs)

• Fear of unfamiliar stimuli

• High level of anxiety when separated even for a short time

• Failure to learn basic obedience commands

• Training two littermates is not just a matter of twice the work, but also the level of difficulty resulting from the puppies constantly distracting each other. According to Patricia McConnell, applied animal behaviorist and author of several books on canine behavior:

“It’s just hard to get their attention. They are so busy playing with each other … that you become the odd man out.

I suspect this indeed does have to do with social bonding to some extent, but I have seen pups of a duo who clearly adored their humans. Adored them. They just didn’t listen to them.

It seems harder to get their attention, harder to teach them emotional control, and harder to teach them boundaries. I imagine that we humans become more like party poopers that interfere in their fun with their playmates, not to mention that we are more tiring, because they have to learn a foreign language in order to communicate with us.”

Another Potential Problem Among Littermates: Fighting

Sometimes littermate syndrome can take the form of non-stop fighting between the dogs.

Bullying and aggression between siblings seems to happen more often than between unrelated dogs, and it can get nasty. Many well-intentioned dog guardians have terrible tales to tell about the harm caused to one sibling by the other.

Shelters have stories as well of pairs (or one of a pair) being returned because the adoptive owner feared for the well-being of the sibling being bullied.

Unhealthy Emotional Dependence

Nicole Wilde, canine behavior expert and author of “Don’t Leave Me!” believes the separation anxiety between littermates is the result of hyper-attachment, which is also what interferes with the puppies’ ability to be properly socialized.

“People assume that having two same-age pups who play together and interact constantly covers their dog-dog socialization needs,” Wilde told Stallings, “but they in fact don’t learn how other [dogs] play and have no idea about social skills with other puppies, adolescents or adult dogs.

“Perhaps one puppy is a bit of a bully, which his littermate puts up with,” Wilde continued, “but his rude behavior might not be tolerated by a new dog in a new setting.”

Many canine behavior experts feel it’s best to rehome one of the siblings when a pair is showing early signs of littermate syndrome, so that both puppies have the opportunity to grow separately into stable, balanced adults.

Since this can be a difficult time for the original owners, it’s often easier to have prospective new owners meet both puppies and decide which one to take.

Uh Oh … I’ve Already Adopted a Pair of Littermates. Help!

It’s important to keep in mind that it isn’t a given that every pair of puppy siblings will develop littermate syndrome. In fact, I’m sure there are many people reading here right now who are in complete disagreement with the advice of the experts I’ve cited.

With that said, according to Pat Miller writing for the Whole Dog Journal, there are things you can do to prevent or mitigate littermate syndrome if you’ve already brought sibling pups home with you.

The goal is to keep the puppies from developing a counterproductive degree of emotional dependence on one another.

Two dogs, two crates:

Miller recommends crating your puppies separately at night. The crates can be near each other initially, but one pup per crate helps each dog learn to adjust to being alone. The next step is to gradually increase the distance between the crates until the pups can no longer see each other.

Make sure the crates are in bedrooms at night so the pups spend several hours in close contact with their human family members.

Two dogs, two training sessions:

Train your puppies separately so that you can count on their undivided attention. Miller also suggests walking and socializing them separately to avoid ending up with a leader and a follower who looks to the leader – not you – for social cues, commands, and direction. This will help both pups develop into confident, independent adult dogs.

Use training sessions to lavish attention and affection on one puppy, while the other works on a treat-release toy in his crate in another room. This will allow you to develop a bond with each puppy.

Two dogs, two play sessions:

Miller suggests separating the pups for play sessions at least some of the time so that the less assertive of the two can come into her own.

“For example, if you always play ‘fetch’ with the two together,” says Miller, “you’re likely to see that one pup repeatedly gets the toy and brings it back, while the other runs happily along behind. If you watch closely, you may even see the more assertive one do a little body language warning if the other tries to get the toy – a hard stare and stiffened body, perhaps.

The less assertive one defers to her sibling by letting go of the toy and looking away. That’s a fine and normal puppy interaction, but it can suppress the ‘softer’ pup’s retrieving behavior.

Unless you make the effort to give her positive reinforcement for fetching toys when you play with her alone, you might find it difficult to get her to retrieve later on in her training.”

A Good Rule of Thumb for Most Dog Guardians: One Pup at a Time

As I mentioned earlier, littermate syndrome isn’t a foregone conclusion for every pair of puppy siblings. Genetics play a role, and certainly the knowledge and commitment of the dogs’ owner to raise two well-socialized, balanced individuals does as well.

However, the general advice given by professionals is: don’t do it. Instead, adopt a puppy who is most likely to fit into your lifestyle, and then focus on training and socializing your pup to insure she is comfortable in her environment and when she encounters other dogs and people.

Only after your puppy has grown into a well-balanced adult is it smart to think about adding a second canine companion to the family.

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A Bittersweet Story: Meet Lily, and Listen to the Letter Written by the Founder of National Mill Dog Rescue, Theresa Strader [Video]

In 2007, Theresa Strader, the founder of National Mill Dog Rescue, purchased Lily at an auction. Lily was the inspiration and the catalyst to what would become an organization and a documentary featuring what goes on in the deplorable world of puppy mills.

Theresa was sickened by what she saw and gave Lily a beautiful life after years stuck in a cage, breeding for profit. Lily’s well being never mattered nor did her health. She never got to play. She never got to be a dog. She was there for one purpose: to make money.

While hearing this letter may be gut-wrenching, I believe it’s necessary. Many of us do so much for animals but it’s easy for others to go through life not knowing much about the horrors of puppy mills. I believe sending them this video will change the way they view shopping for animals, forever.

Website: National Mill Dog Rescue





Please view this video. It is approximately an hour long…but worth the watch.
To view the video, click here: I Breathe: Lily's Legacy

You may be interested in reading: 

A Message From Theresa Strader
In Honor of Lily

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Laxed Pet Store Laws Have Pet Owners Paying Pricey Medical Bills

Julie Franceschini was heartsick when she had to return her new Yorkshire terrier to the pet store, unable to afford the pricey medical care a veterinarian said it would need.

But the teacher and Town of Poughkeepsie resident was furious, she said, when she learned the tiny black and brown puppy, though ill, had been put back in the store window. So she called the Dutchess County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Franceschini's misbegotten purchase, in March 2011, kicked off a probe, SPCA officials confirmed, that led to the seizure of 10 dogs from the newly opened Puppies & Kittens store in Wappingers Falls, the arrest of owner Richard Doyle and his guilty plea to one count of selling a diseased animal under the state's animal cruelty statute.

While Doyle met the terms of an agreement to do better by his live animals, seven other store customers nonetheless told the Poughkeepsie Journal of newly purchased puppies that soon became sick, some incurring vet bills in the thousands. That includes three puppies sold in March — a figure Doyle said was very low considering he sold 231 dogs in that time.

"My problem ratio is less than 2 percent," said Doyle, who has three stores operating under the name American Breeders.

Puppy seller blames humane group: ASPCA says better care needed

Contending the dogs were "not that sick," he said, "It drives me nuts that a vet can sit and charge even $1,000 for a dog with pneumonia and kennel cough." The "worst case" of pneumonia, he said, should cost no more than $50 to treat.

Indeed, some of the bills, provided by owners to the Journal, are far higher.

One owner spent $3,500 to hospitalize an Australian shepherd named Jack for pneumonia. A 20-year-old student carrying college loans has so far spent $3,400 to treat a Jack Russell terrier mix, Muffin, for life-threatening parvovirus, which killed another puppy among the seven cases. And Karen Kessler of Hopewell Junction has racked up $7,000 in veterinary fees for an English bulldog named Petunia.

"She was a sick, sick, very sick little dog," said Kessler, adding she deferred paying her mortgage to care for Petunia, 15 weeks old. "It really wiped us out."

Gaps in law

Inspections by the state Department of Agriculture and Markets show the Dutchess store has been deemed "compliant" in 12 inspections since January 2011, including one in December after a customer returned a sick dog.

But the problems encountered by these customers, undoubtedly a minority of buyers at Puppies & Kittens, demonstrates what animal-welfare experts say are glaring gaps in statutes governing the sale of these pets.

Under the state law, animal welfare officers cannot take action if puppies get sick after purchase, they said, even though the pets may be incubating serious illness, like kennel cough, pneumonia and even deadly parvovirus, before. And the law requires reimbursement only up to the price of the dog, though vet costs can go much higher.

"Despite the search warrants, resulting animal seizures, criminal charges and complaints from consumers," said SPCA Senior Humane Law Officer Kim McNamee, "these stores still remain in business." She called state law "antiquated" and inadequate to address pet-store issues.

While the SPCA enforces animal-protection laws, only the state can revoke licenses. Figures show it has pulled store licenses five times in the last five years; three of the revocations were for a chain with one shop in Yonkers. Currently, there are 274 licensed pet dealers, including stores and breeders.

In response to questions about the Puppies & Kittens store, the state Department of Agriculture and Markets, which oversees pet sellers, said in a statement for this article: "We are investigating the owner's cruelty convictions and will take appropriate action once this investigation is complete." Doyle declined comment on the statement and ended a phone interview, maintaining the Journal had spurred the investigation and was on a "witch hunt."

In addition to the revoked licenses, the department handed out $13,500 in pet-retailer fines in the latest fiscal year, including to dog breeders. Some animal-welfare advocates see such figures as anemic — or "absurd," said Deborah Howard, president of the Massachusetts-based Companion Animal Protection Society, who contended the agency seldom cites violations.

Moreover, the enforcement efforts — defended as robust by state officials — do little to curb what the SPCA and others see as the underlying problem: a profitable and harmful trade in puppies that begin life in factory-like breeding facilities in states like Iowa, Kansas or Missouri, as reported in the Journal March 29. There, adult dogs — considered livestock under federal law — are confined to cages, while their vulnerable offspring are birthed, weaned and transported in ways that can make them sick.

And while such conditions are legal, the Journal's report showed two local puppy stores, Puppies & Kittens in particular, at times used breeders with violations involving lack of veterinary care, dirty water and vermin infestations.

"They are aware these animals do not come from the best of conditions, are exposed to many illnesses, overcrowding and are under a lot of stress from transporting," SCPA's McNamee said, referring to puppy stores. "They should be exemplary in their care standards but seem to fall short." She suggested the store should alert recent puppy buyers to the parvovirus case, while testing dogs that came in contact with the puppy.

Agriculture department officials said Wednesday they would visit the store to see if proper follow-up was done. Meantime, the dog's owners, Meghan and Geniene Arnold, 19 and 20 years old, have struggled to fund hospital care as the dog teetered between life and death. The terrier had been transported from Missouri by a broker cited for overcrowded vans in 2013 and other violations, records show.

Wrenching choice

Puppies & Kittens is not the only local seller to have puppies get sick after purchase. Two customers of The Pet Zone in the Town of Poughkeepsie Galleria also told of buying puppies that soon began coughing and became lethargic, even unresponsive.

As vet bills mounted, they, and the other puppy buyers interviewed, faced a traumatic choice under the state's pet "lemon" law that to most was no choice at all. They could trade the pet in for cash or a new dog. Or they could be compensated for costs, but only up to the price of the dog, generally from about $1,000 to $3,000. Most kept the animals, over which they had become fiercely protective.

"The dog stays in my hands," insisted Lena DiSiena of the Town of Poughkeepsie, when offered an exchange at The Pet Zone for her daughter's $1,600 Shih-poo, Chase, sick with Bordatella or kennel cough. "I will nurture it."

In another Pet Zone case, a Town of Poughkeepsie man, Scott Sweeney, bought a 1.8-pound Havanese, Charlie, in February 2014 that soon turned critically ill.

Pet Zone officials acknowledged that refunds were given for the two dogs. DiSiena was paid $855 for medical care. Sweeney was refunded nearly three times the cost of the dog, store owner Ted Bell said, the outcome of a small claims lawsuit.

Sweeney won his case for veterinary bills — and circumvented the lemon law limit — by relying on a 2009 Appellate Division case. In that case, a judge ruled a sick dog was a defective product under the state commercial code, entitling its owner "to recover the resulting veterinary expenses."

"It was a couple long nights, a lot of anger, a lot of emotions," Sweeney said of the experience. "I think that that (lemon) law needs to be re-examined."

Last August, the Pet Zone store was cited for two "critical" violations of state animal-welfare regulations when a Cavalier/Cocker and a Pomeranian puppy were "in the sales room ... coughing and sneezing," an inspection report states. Bell said, "the puppies were immediately taken to the veterinarian ... (and) found to be healthy." Another inspection a week later found the store in compliance.

Warning issued

While Puppies & Kittens was found not to have violations, records show eight of 12 inspections were marked "special" — usually those prompted, officials said, by complaints or concerns; one report in December referred to a returned puppy that had been reported sick.

It isn't known how often pet-store pups turn ill; no state figures are kept on dogs declared by vets to be "unfit for purchase," the legal term that allows owner refunds. But the Dutchess SPCA warned, after the 2011 seizure of seven ill puppies from a Galleria pet store that has since closed, of buying at pet stores or online because of where puppies originate.

Pet-store purchases, said Matt Bershadker, president of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, in a statement to the Journal, "are feeding the profit-making machine that keeps these cruel puppy mills in business."

Among pet-store puppy buyers, pneumonia was the most common problem of sick dogs. It can be caused by exposure to many pathogens but most commonly to kennel cough, a highly contagious canine disease, according to Dr. Justin Nowowiejski, a critical care clinician at VCA Animal Specialty and Emergency Center in Wappingers Falls, a 24-hour care center to which vets refer seriously ill animals. The vet said in the last few months he had seen three puppies with pneumonia that had been bought at Puppies & Kittens and none from Pet Zone.

Bethany Wise, 20, of the Town of Poughkeepsie bought a tiny white Maltese puppy last Sept. 30 at Puppies & Kittens; Rosie was declared unfit last Oct. 4, four days after her purchase for $1,400, medical and sale documents show.

"Pet is emaciated and ill" with digestive and respiratory issues, wrote Dr. Bette Meyer-Davis of Dutchess Animal Clinic, Wappingers Falls. "I cannot predict future costs of treatment."

$25,000 spent

That assessment sums up a quandary faced by owners of sick puppies: How much to treat. In one pneumonia case, Nowowiejski, the VCA vet, said $25,000 was spent on a dog that did not survive; it was not known if it was purchased at a pet store.

Elena Reitberger of Wappingers Falls has paid nearly $5,000 in hospital and outpatient care for her daughter's Australian shepherd, Jack, bought March 11 and declared unfit on March 29. A silky black and brown pup with a white blaze between the eyes, Jack waged a battle for his life that involved nebulization, oxygen and intravenous medications, records show.

Reitberger's daughter, Lisa Querrazzi of Clintondale, took him home April 1, hoping she and her fiancé Jane DiDonato could maintain his health there. The pup was so fragile that, like Karen Kessler and her bulldog, she felt it could jeopardize the dog's health to have a photographer shoot a picture.

Doyle, the Puppies & Kittens owner, had a simple solution to the thousands in bills racked up by these customers: let one of his four vets treat the dogs.

"They didn't have to pay that money. They chose to," he said. Care would have been free, he said, "if they pulled the dog ... They could bring the dog to the vet and there would be no bill — they just don't believe in that system."

Reitberger said when Jack got sick, she was told by the store manager only to bring him back for nebulization — "never that a vet would take care of him for free." But "he was beyond a vet; he had to go to a hospital."

And when the terrier with parvovirus turned critically ill, Arnold and her family did seek care through the store, they said. But it was the Saturday night before Easter, and the vet's office was closed, they were told.

One owner, Maureen Feltman of Cold Spring, said she was reimbursed by the store for veterinary care of her Shih Tzu-Bichon mix, Jingles; the puppy died about a week after purchase last October of parvovirus, leaving Feltman, 71, bereft. She was one of six owners to get money back from the store on the dog's cost (one did not pursue a refund).

A veterinarian who provides services to Doyle's local store, Dr. Jay Weiss, said he sees all store pups after arrival and rules few unfit. "In my experience, they do as well as they can with the 8-week-old puppies that they have," he said of the store.

The Yorkie, meantime, named Sawyer by her former owner, Franceschini, was nursed back to health and adopted from the SPCA, officials said.

"The vet said this is going to be a long process ... with multiple vet visits, multiple medications," Franceschini said. "I thought bringing him back would get the care that he needed, and that wasn't the case."

Doyle was ordered as part of his guilty plea to pay Franceschini $922, among $2,140 in restitution to three customers. (The store manager, Elizabeth Mesquita, denied it was being offered for sale when seized.)

Jessica Segal, a Dutchess County senior assistant district attorney who prosecuted the pet-store case, said Doyle met the terms of his plea deal. "He took it seriously, he did have a vet on staff, and he didn't have any more complaints," she said.

To avoid such cases, animal-welfare advocates are pushing for stronger local laws. New York City recently enacted an ordinance that would ban puppy stores from buying from breeders with high-level violations or through intermediary brokers that sometimes shield where puppies are from.

Howard, the protection society president who helped pass the city law, said sale of "puppy mill" pups should be banned completely — a provision state law forbids, or preempts, localities from enacting.

"Preemption must be completely overturned," she said, "so that municipalities can mandate that pet shops not sell puppies, kittens unless they are from rescue organizations or shelters."

Holly, a Labrador retriever, was purchased at Puppies & Kittens Jan. 4 and hospitalized Jan. 6 for pneumonia, veterinary records show. This photo was taken during hospital treatment. The dog’s $1,400 cost was refunded. Holly is now five months old and doing well. (Photo: Christina Antolino/courtesy photo)

Holly, a Labrador retriever purchased Jan. 4, was hospitalized Jan. 6 for pneumonia, veterinary records show. The $1,400 cost of the dog was refunded. Shown here in February, Holly is now five months old and doing well. (Photo: Christina Antolino/courtesy photo)

This sick Yorkshire terrier was seized in 2011 by the SPCA from the Puppies & Kittens store in Wappingers Falls, SPCA officials said. The store owner, Richard Doyle, pleaded guilty to one count of selling a diseased animal and met conditions to provide better care, officials said. (Photo: SPCA/courtesy photo)

Lisa Querrazzi and her fiancé Jane DiDonato of Clintondale were joyful when they brought home a two-month-old Australian shepherd they named Jack on March 15. The dog was declared “unfit for purchase” on March 29 due to pneumonia; its cost was refunded but vet bills have run into the thousands. (Photo: Lisa Querrazzi/courtesy photo)

An Australian shepherd, Jack, purchased in March from Puppies & Kittens, is nebulized by his owner Lisa Querrazzi of Clintondale a day after release from a veterinary hospital. She preferred taking her own photo rather than allowing a photographer near the dog, whose condition was “guarded,” she said. (Photo: Lisa Querrazzi/courtesy photo)

Chase, a 14-month-old Shi Tzu-poodle mix, gets his belly scratched by owner Lena DiSiena of LaGrangeville. The puppy was diagnosed with kennel cough soon after purchase from The Pet Zone in the Town of Poughkeepsie, where officials refunded $855 for care. The store is currently in compliance with state regulations, records show. (Photo: Alex H. Wagner/Poughkeepsie Journal)

Lena DiSiena of LaGrangeville poses with Chase, a 14-month-old Shi Tzu-poodle mix. The puppy was diagnosed with kennel cough soon after purchase from The Pet Zone in the Town of Poughkeepsie, where officials refunded $855 for care. The store is currently in compliance with state regulations, inspection records show. (Photo: Alex H. Wagner/Poughkeepsie Journal)

Rosie, an eight-month-old Maltese, was diagnosed with digestive and respiratory problems shortly after purchase last September from Puppies & Kittens in Wappingers Falls and declared “unfit for purchase.” She poses with her owner, Bethany Wise, 20, of the Town of Poughkeepsie. The store is currently in compliance with state regulations, inspection records show. (Photo: Alex H. Wagner/Poughkeepsie Journal)

Rosie, an eight-month-old Maltese puppy, chews on a small piece of wood in her owner's home in Poughkeepsie. She has recovered from a digestive issue just after purchase. (Photo: Alex H. Wagner/Poughkeepsie Journal)

Sara Mazzella, 20, of New Paltz, and J.T. Ferraro, 21, of Highland, check out a French bulldog, priced at $2,499 at the Puppies & Kittens pet store in Wappingers Falls. They later adopted a rescue dog. (Photo: Mary Beth Pfeiffer/Poughkeepsie Journal)

Muffin, a 14-week-old terrier mix, was purchased March 25; she is shown here before she became ill and was hospitalized with parvovirus, her records show. The Puppies & Kittens store, which is violation-free, refunded her $899 purchase price, her owner said. (Photo: Geniene Arnold/courtesy photo)

Muffin, a 14-week-old terrier mix, is shown at a veterinary hospital last week, where she was being treated for life-threatening parvovirus, according to medical records. The Puppies & Kittens store refunded her $899 purchase price, her owner said. (Photo: Geniene Arnold/courtesy photo) FOLLOW US!

You Have Good Intentions, and You List Your Pet on Craigslist, as 'Free to Good Home' - Find Out Why That is Not a Good Idea: Things You Should Consider First

For whatever reason, you have found yourself in a situation where you can’t keep your beloved furry family member and you want to find them a really good home. Money isn’t important – you just want them to be loved and cherished the way they deserve to be and you’ve run out of family or friends who are willing to take them. There are no shelters with no-kill policies nearby and you refuse to gamble with fate and hope that they get adopted in time.

So you put an ad up on Craigslist or Facebook and advertise your dog or cat under “free to a good home.” Sounds innocent enough, right? You’re just looking out for your dear pet and trying to find them a new forever home.

However, as good as your intentions may be, there are some very serious reasons why you might want to reconsider.

During a recent study, it was discerned that 41 percent of all owner-surrendered animals at shelters were obtained via “free to good home” ads. Not to mention, when you forfeit your pet to someone you’ve never met nor know anything about, there’s a potential that Fluffy’s new happy ending could really be a horror story wrought with neglect, cruelty, and abuse.

While we wish this weren’t the case, here are a few things that you might want to consider before submitting that advertisement.

1. Cruelty

It can be difficult to discern the true motivations of the person to whom you are giving your pet. While they might appear to be the perfect candidate on paper, is that a risk you’re really willing to take?

In 2012, Patricia Hervey was found guilty of scouring Craigslist for animals listed as “free to a good home,” and contacting guardians claiming that she ran a shelter. Hervey would then charge the pet parents a fee for “rehoming” their animals, house the claimed pets in filthy conditions and then shoot them.

2. Test Subjects

People known as “Bunchers,” collect groups of pets to sell to Class B dealers. These dealers are licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to buy and sell animals “from random sources” into research trials. Often times the dealers take the animals and transport them out of states. According to Save our Shepherds, “Almost every cosmetic, household, and chemical product is tested on animals, including former pets obtained from shelters and Class B Dealers. Veterinary schools and medical schools, and even some engineering schools use dogs and cats in classrooms and ‘research.’ Textile manufacturers who make products for medical use test and demonstrate on dogs, frequently retired racing greyhounds.”

3. Breeders

Animals not spayed or neutered are often obtained by puppy mill owners to serve as breeding dogs. They are kept in cramped kennels, often outside, and human contact is minimal. There is often no regular veterinary care and they are used purely as baby-making machines.

4. Bait

Dog fighters will often target “free to good home” ads to find cats, kittens, puppies and submissive dogs that they will use as bait to train other dogs to be aggressive killers. Some larger dogs are trained to be fighters, as well, and if they lose a fight they are brutally punished and left to die. In a tragic recent incident, a female Pit Bull, Cabela, was purchased to serve as a fighting dog but was “too sweet-tempered” so her owners shot her and left her tied to the train tracks. Luckily, Cabela was rescued and is now in recovery.

5. Flippers

These people collect animals from freebie ads to resell for profit in flea markets and online ads. Their care is minimal are they are not vetted; they are seen as money-makers and nothing else. Additionally, these sellers take little interest in where they animals they “flip” end up, meaning another potential disaster for former pets.

6. Food

Free animals are sometimes obtained as food for pet snakes and even, at times, to be eaten by humans. Earlier this year David Williford was arrested for getting free and low-cost pets from Craigslist, torturing and killing them, and then eating them. Some of the animals were starved to death and there were bones found all around his home. He was charged with twelve counts of animal cruelty against rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, and dogs.

Finding a Better Option for Your Beloved Pet

It can be easy to be tricked by people who reply to “free to good home” ads. They often arrive as a family, complete with children in tow. They put on a good front and have a wonderful story about how they are all animal lovers and are looking for a new addition to the family. They will tell you whatever they think you want to hear.

When you are considering re-homing your pet please consider whether or not you absolutely need to do so. Upon adopting a pet, you take on the responsibility to provide that animal with love and to see to his or her needs for life. If you are having behavioral issues with your pet, perhaps a trainer or veterinarian can help. If you don’t have as much time to spend together as you used to, hire a pet sitter to come visit during the day.

If there absolutely is no option to keep your pet and you truly must re-home her, please do so responsibly. There are a few things that are absolutely required to help ensure her safety.

Charge a re-homing fee. Show the animal is worth something to you and anyone who really cares will understand. This will help discourage those who prey on free and cheap animals.

Use an adoption application and adoption contract. You can find them online or you can ask to use one from your local animal rescues.

Get a copy of their driver’s license to verify their identity. Be sure to check public records for any criminal history.

Do a vet check. This simply entails calling their veterinarian and asking if their pets are all current on vaccinations and are spayed or neutered. If they are, that’s a good indication they will take proper care of your pet.

Ask for two or three personal or professional references.

Do a home visit. Go to their house and make sure it is safe. Is the backyard fenced in? Are there outer buildings that look like they may have housed breeding animals at one time? You don’t have to require a meticulous home that would pass a white glove test, but you want to make sure the home is safe and that your pet will be treated like part of the family.

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