Debby's Petland - New England Pet Centers ripoff sold sick dog wouldn't refund money wouldn't honor own warrenty deceptive practices West Roxbury, Nashua Concord New Hampshire
My daughter bought a "pug" dog from debby's petland in Nashua New Hampshire 8/29/03 at closing time. the begining of labor day weekend, 8/30/03 late at night my wife noticed something funny about his eye but it wasn't bothering him so we figured we'd wait and see. 8/31/03 upon awakening we noticed that "Sulleys" (the 9 week old pug) eye had clouded over and waited for the pet store to open, when it finally did we were told to call their vet, which I did and discribed the problem to him, he stated that he worked for Debby's and didn't have a office
I could bring the dog to BUT I should get him looked at right away, we found a open vetrinarian office in Nashua N.H. and brought Sulley to them, they stated that we need to get him to a specialist right away and THEY called one in woburn Massachusetts, (Mass Referial Hospital) we brought Sulley there, they kept Sulley overnight, The next morning (monday) we received a phone call from mass referial, Sulley's eye had ruptured and we were to meet the opthamoligist at Bulger hospital in Andover Massachusetts, we went to Woburn to pick Sulley up and then drove to Andover, they checked Sulley out and said his eye would have to be removed, they also had noticed that Sulley has a upper respitory diesease that debby's told us was "Kennel Cough".
The vet stated that we should get over any emotional ties we had with the dog and bring him back to the store and gave us a letter on Hospital stationary stating the same, we brought Sulley back to Debby's in Nashua and was told that they wouldn't take him back, a employee also stated "he was fine when he left here, you must have broke him" So there I was, with a sick dog, and NO MEDICINE, for either his eye or his respitory problem or his pain. So back to bulger hospital We went with Sulley, there they gave him something for his problems and gave us the name of the MSPCA hospital and said they would do the operation cheaper for us, now Sulley's eye had been removed and he still has the respitory problem but he funtions like a normal dog execpt you can't exercise him because of the respitory problem. now I'm in the process of suing.
Rick
Lowell, Massachusetts
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Kim
Canton,Massachusetts,
U.S.A.
Cat Scratch Fever
#4REBUTTAL Owner of company
Thu, August 07, 2008
What this customer neglected to mention in his ripoff report was that the poor puppy pug was scratched in the eye by his CAT!!! That is why the court threw out the claim. We have a full warranty covering puppies' health for the first 14 days post-purchase. This customer decided to use our good will to his advantage but his deceit overpowered the case.
Rick
Lowell,Massachusetts,
U.S.A.
Lost In Court, something is amisss here. 89 complaints against it in the last few years with articles about other pet owners. Go figure.
#4Author of original report
Sun, January 09, 2005
I REALLY beleive that something is amisss here, I went to court with Doctors notes that state that Sulley's eye problems were in fact NOT my fault (as a matter of fact 3 Doctors and 1 opthamoligist) and still lost in New Hampshire Court! the desision came down on 1/7/05. now, on 12/13 and 12/14/04 a local newspaper (the Boston Herald) did a special report on how LOUSY Debby's petland is and how it has 89 complaints against it in the last few years with articles about other pet owners that had problems with debby's. Go figure. I now know I'm not the only one with problems here and I STILL lost in court! UNBELEIVABLE !
Kristina
Las Vegas,Nevada,
U.S.A.
Steps to take to get your money back....
#4Consumer Suggestion
Wed, October 06, 2004
Dear Rick:
I'm sorry to hear about your adventures in Petland. I also fell victim to Petland. I have some suggestions for you to help get your money back, as I have already gone through this myself and finally got all my money back. See my story listed in here "Las Vegas, NV".
First: Write a demand letter telling your story and requesting your money back, give them 15 days to reply or you will pursue this further. Send it Certified mail so you have a signature copy it was received.
Second: Contact your local News media. Tell them your story, you may have to call more than one, but do it. Here in Las Vegas our local news stations have what's called a "Consumer help line". The news contacts Petland and try's to get your money back, first by phone then they go public. (This worked for me)
Third: Contact the BBB, Better Business Bureau. Tell them your story and they will pursue it for you. Should it not be resolved Petland could get what's called a negative mark on their record. I believe after three negative marks, they are closed and inspected.
Fourth: Go on line to the "Law Library" for your state. Look under "Petshop laws". Here in Nevada if a Petshop knowingly sells a sick puppy that has a contagious disease, Kennel Cough, or an illness which requires immediate hospitalization, it is illegal for them to sell it. It is only a misdermenor, but they also have to close their business for a year! This will help you in court.
Should you decide to take them to court, you will win your case. You have proof from your Vet that the puppy was sick prior to purchase. Be sure to look at the print out they should have given you for the dogs shots. If the Vet wrote the puppy had Kennel Cough then they got you, but I highly doubt this. This too can be shown as proof in court. Also be sure to print out your laws on Petshops it will also help your case. You may have to look under a few different titles but it will show they canot knowingly sell a sick and contagious puppy.
Finally, PLEASE DONT EVER BUY FROM A PETSHOP AGAIN!! Go to your local pound and save a life, or adopt as I just did. Good Luck to you!