- NY AG Letitia James sued a tri-state area pet store chain called Shake A Paw on Thursday.
- The lawsuit alleged that the stores had mistreated their animals and misled customers.
According to the lawsuit, at least 52% of the puppies were coughing, sneezing, or had an upper respiratory infection when purchased, with over half infected with parasites, and close to ten percent diagnosed with pneumonia.
One hospital, Sunrise Animal Hospital, treated at least 251 animals who were sold by the store.
"The illnesses and congenital defects in these animals were found to be consistent with puppies that are purchased from puppy mills," James wrote, adding that the stores sourced over 2,000 puppies from puppy mills since 2016, and alleged they lied to customers about the breeders they used.
The lawsuit is seeking restitution for the duped customers, civil penalties as well as a permanent injunction preventing the stores from selling, importing, exporting, bartering, exchanging, or gifting any animals in the future.
The AG's office analyzed records from Shake A Paw and found that 62% of the animals were sold a week after receiving a health certificate, through a network of selected veterinarians.
James' lawsuit added that alongside interviews with disgruntled customers who were promised the "highest quality, healthiest and most friendly puppies," according to the store's website, a former veterinarian testified that he discontinued a contract with the stores because of "the frequency with which Shake A Paw puppies were presenting at his practice with severe, sometimes life-threatening illnesses, shortly after their sale."
The Attorney General's office also alleged that Shake A Paw broke the law and "gave customers the run around" by not honoring their own guarantees, which included the promise of a full refund should a pet die, or paying for up to half of the cost of potential surgery.
"Shake A Paw representatives also directed consumers to the company's own veterinarians, who often failed to diagnose illnesses; telling consumers that they would not be reimbursed if they visited their own veterinarians," James wrote.
In the press release, James said that the state has frozen the store's assets as well.
"I just hope that in the future other families don't have to suffer the same grief that we did. I'm proud that I could be involved in this because it feels like I'm getting justice for my dog Merlin," said Erin Laxton, who purchased a dog from the company. Merlin passed away weeks after the purchase.
Insider reached out to the Attorney General's office and to Shake a Paw for comment.