Sick-akc unregisterable puppies from"The Puppy Shoppe" Tampa Florida
My room mate & i purchased an 800.00 miniature pincher puppy. We purchased from a puppy store against our better judgement because they claimed to be a christian store & said their breeders are local and owners who have a stake in the business.
We later found out in paperwork that our puppy was from OKLAHOMA.Hardly TAMPA,FLA. OR even Florida for that matter. Both statements turned out to be lies.
The puppy we bought had flaky skin so we inquired before purchase as to what was wrong with her skin. We were assured the puppy had been seen by a doctor & it was nothing. Also they said they had 1000.00 dollars insurance on their puppies just in case.
Their ads also guarantee akc registration,which is certainly a selling point as far as i'm concerned. We purcased the puppy on their (so-called) christian word."Big mistake".
The puppies you purchase have to be seen by your vet within 72 hrs,so we took her in and per skin scraping were notified that she has a genetic form of mange that carries through the bloodline. So breeding her is out of the question "that is if you're a reputable breeder or store-which obviously they are not!.
We had her treated every 2 wks for approx.2 mnths,which was pointless because with this type of mange the problem comes right back every time the puppy gets stressed.Some of the bills were paid,some were not covered.
As an added bonus the breeder "the puppy shoppe" dealt with refused to pay akc fees evidently, so guess what? Our 800.00 puppy/mutt is not registerable with akc. We might as well have bought a puppy from somebodys back yard for 400.00 less. We made over 30.00 worth of long distance calls to their akc person who was to straighten out the problem.
They tried to stick us with some stupid registration grp i've never even heard of. Why would we pay for that?
They claim that in small print at the bottom of our contract there was a claus that if akc won't accept their dogs,they'll find some other registry. Not what they advertise in the newspaper! And i have yet to find that little treasure of a comment/claus. I spoke with the local manager & was treated with complete contemp. She said i did'nt have to buy the dog it was choice!
I spoke with another manager Lee/long distance of course! She promised a 50.00 gift certificate for all our trouble(to put it lightly). Of course the gift certificate never transpired (shock of all shocks).I called lee again on 2 more occasions to tell her the gift certificate never arrived. THEY JUST KEPT LYING & SAYING IT WAS MAILED.
I also wrote to her because i got tired of the long distance expense."no response of course. If these are so-called christians-MAY GOD PROTECT THE REST OF US FROM PEOPLE LIKE THEM! PLEASE PLEASE LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES!-THIS COMPANY HAS 3 LOCAL LOCATIONS.
TAMARRA
TAMPA FLORIDA
6 Updates & Rebuttals
Corinne
Tampa,Florida,
Thank you for posting this report
#7Consumer Comment
Mon, September 16, 2002
As badly as I feel about your experience, I still say thank you for posting it. I agree with the other commenters that you should have researched reputable AKC breeders that probably would have sold you a mini-pin for the same price (if not lower) and immediately produced a health certificate from a vet and the AKC papers.
A little research about the breed (such as what to look for in a healthy pup) may have helped you avoid the situation. But unless you were planning on showing and/or breeding your dog, whether or not it has AKC papers doesn't matter. It doesn't sound like you knew enough about the breed to become involved in breeding anyway.
That should be left to people who can trace the generations of their animals to avoid health problems and have had successful, healthy litters that are true to breed standards.
But still, I am thankful that you did alert the public to your plight. My family is going to adopt a pet, but first we had decided to go someplace to let our child look at different dogs and see what he liked, to narrow down what we would look for at the Humane Society.
I had seen the Ad for the Puppy Shoppe and thought that might be a good place to LOOK (not buy, as I know all about puppy mills and pet shops) at pups. Now I don't even want to bother. We'll just go to the Humane Society and narrow our choices with the expert help of those who work there.
VOCAL
tampa,Florida,
Congrats, Amanda
#7Consumer Suggestion
Wed, June 19, 2002
Actually, the local Humane Society (Humane Society of Tampa Bay) is a private 501c3 charity, with no affiliation with HSUS. None. Fact is, they don't offer any education or assistance on issues such as puppy mills. "Humane Society" is a generic term.
As for working with them, I did their website, was volunteering 10 hours a week, and was on their Board. They removed me, and I'm no longer allowed to volunteer there due to my beliefs. I felt that all shelters should work together, and work on the many issues facing all animals today. They didn't agree with me, sadly enough. Why not check out our website and seeing our views before you go off on one of your ill-informed tangents.
You should get your facts straight before pointing your finger. Shame on YOU, Amanda for jumping the gun.
Amanda
Springfield,Missouri,
HOW DARE YOU VOCAL
#7Consumer Suggestion
Tue, June 18, 2002
Look I agree 100 percent that animals should be kept out of pet stores but do not dare to say the local Humane Society does not care/would not care/ and can not care about local puppy mills.
Did you know stsaistcly speaking Fl. is the worst state when it comes to "puppy mills" these agencies(Humane Society) reserves the right to refuse these puppies based on space availability yet they do not! these are goverment controlled and yet the goverment does not do give a single penny of funding to help support them they reley completely on donations.
The National Humane Society (Which the Tampa is a member of) has the most lobbyist in D.C. working to help the voicless(thats the animals moron) they do all this 90% of the people whom work at the humane society volunteer thier time out of love for animals.
It is a sad and unfortunate fact that some of these animals are put down due to time limitations, diseases, etc...It is a part of life for them and a part they HATE. The humane societies go to local t.v stations for adoption help, they go to stores, they go to fairs, they do one million plus things for these asnimals to find a GOOD, CARING and LOVING home.
When was the last time you donated your time for the cause not jumped on a bandwagon to say hey look at me I believe in somthing. If you care for these animals you would be at the Humane Society simply adopting each animal as the alloted time ended.
Maybe would should start alloting time for people then when your time was up I could look you ion the face and go no way someone didnt want her/him earlier thats why their here lets go somewhere where they dont allot time and let all these die!
I will now be sure to voice my 2 cents loudly about your so-called advocacy group you obviously have no concept and niether does your "cult" about the true issues of animal welfare it requires all advocacy to WORK TOGETHER not DIVIDED!
VOCAL
Tampa,Florida,
Campaign Against Pet Stores
#7Consumer Suggestion
Sun, June 16, 2002
Voice Of Compassion for Animal Life (VOCAL) would like to help you with your problem. We are a local (Tampa based) animal welfare group that seeks to educate the public on puppy/puppy mill issues. We'd love a copy of your paperwork to use in our campaign against this and other pet stores.
You can find us at www.forthevoiceless.org
Your local humane society (Tampa) won't help you. They don't/won't/could care less about issues like puppy mills.
Although you got taken, please remember that your puppy is a living, breathing animal that depends on you. Love and cherish your companion. Best friends don't need papers.
Next time adopt.
Amanda
Springfield,Missouri,
your puppy/mutt is still a puppy
#7Consumer Suggestion
Fri, June 14, 2002
Im sorry for your experience with this company however it seems to me your two biggest concerns are the money and the akc regerstation hence puppy/mutt a mutt or mixed breed is still a puppy if you had been concerned with just these two things you should have done your research and piocked a reputable breeder not a store! If what you had wanted was the company of a pet the love and the companinship the new member of your "christian" family not somthing just to breed under your specifications then you should have gone to a shelter where there are your so called "puppies" and mixed breeds how would you feel if your parents had you then told you well you have a pimple now we cant breed you shame on you!
Beth
lakeland,Florida,
Please report
#7Consumer Comment
Thu, March 07, 2002
Please report this operation to the local Humane Society.