Click here to read more about the recent controversy at a Ridgefield Connecticut pet store:
http://www.ridgefieldctblog.com/2010/03/the-state-of-connecticut-shuts-down-true-breeders-pet-store/ridgefield-ct-activities/comment-page-1/#comment-8526
Showing posts with label Ridgefield. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ridgefield. Show all posts
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
NEWS - Ridgefield Press, June 10
ANOTHER PET STORE PUPPY DIES
by Macklin Reid, Press Staff
Another puppy from True Breeders store in Branchville has been put down, and the buyer reports that she has gotten a refund of the purchase price and is awaiting reimbursement for her veterinary bills.
"I have never purchased a dog from a pet store before," said Kim Wakuluk of New Milford. "Besides feeling like a fool, I am sad for my child, who is heartbroken."
True Breeders employee Cheryl Mollica said the puppy, a Yorkshire terrier, had a "liver shunt" - a congenital defect known to occur in Yorkies, she said.
"I'm giving her a check for the full amount, the price of the puppy, her papers, her microchip, the vaccine costs. She's getting every penny back with an apology, of course," Ms. Mollica said last week. "As soon as it happened, I personally called her and told her we were very sorry to hear what happened. Unfortunately, none of us could foresee this. Unfortunately, it happened."
In March, a Wilton couple reported having to put down a Teacup Yorkshire terrier puppy purchased at True Breeders after unsuccessful treatment for the canine parvovirus. The store was also put under a 14-day state quarantine as a result of the infection with parvo, which is highly contagious among dogs.
The store has also been the subject of protests and a barrage of criticism by local dog breeders and animal advocates who disparage it as an outlet for "puppy mills."
Also known as "portosystemic shunt," the liver problem Ms. Wakuluk's puppy had involves a blood vessel that doesn't close off as it should after birth, allowing blood to bypass the liver. Since the blood doesn't get filtered by the liver, toxins build up. The dog becomes sick and, eventually, will die. The condition is sometimes treated with surgery.
Ms. Wakuluk confirmed this Tuesday that she'd received the $1,474 that she'd paid for the puppy, its crate and other puppy paraphernalia. She was still waiting for reimbursement on the $384 in veterinary bills she ran up on the dog.
"I cashed the check that Thursday for the full amount of the puppy and everything else," she said. "I'm still waiting for the vet bill check."
Ms. Wakuluk said True Breeders owner Christine DiCarlo told her she would give her the money for the vet bills, after the store received reimbursement from the puppy supplier, Kansas-based Lambriar, Inc.
Ms. DiCarlo asked Ms. Mollica to return calls from The Press on the situation.
"I'm sure Christine is paying for the vet bills," Ms. Mollica said. "Christine, she does the right thing."
Although she has gotten most of her money back and said Ms. Mollica treated her well, Ms. Wakuluk was not happy with Christine.
In a long e-mail and a couple of phone calls, Ms. Wakuluk detailed her experience with the puppy and her efforts to get her money back.
Ms. Wakuluk said she and her nine-year-old son went to three or four pet stores in the area, looking for a female Yorkshire terrier puppy and picked one out at True Breeders in Branchville on May 12.
"I brought the puppy to my vet the next morning at 9:15. She had kennel cough and parasites and while I was a bit dismayed, I understand that these are fairly common occurrences for dogs confined in close quarters," Ms. Wakuluk wrote. "I came home with antibiotics and parasite medicine and began life with new puppy.
"The puppy seemed a bit off kilter from the beginning. She was not the most energetic puppy, but I chalked it up to the medication and her illnesses. On May 19, the dog stopped eating. On Thursday, May 20, I came home to find the dog half-comatose, cold and unresponsive. I immediately brought her to my vet. She was in hypoglycemic shock..."
After treatment under the direction of Ms. Wakuluk's vet - including a feeding tube - the puppy was taken to Ms. DiCarlo's vet, at the store owner's direction, she said.
He diagnosed the liver problem, and telephoned Ms. Wakuluk to explain it and say that Ms. DiCarlo "had declined further testing and was requesting that the dog be put to sleep," Ms. Wakuluk said. "Our puppy was euthanized that morning."
Ms. Wakuluk then described her back and forth with Ms. DiCarlo trying to get a refund of the dog's purchase price and reimbursement for what she spent on vet bills - all of which she said she was clearly due under Connecticut's "puppy lemon law."
"I find it abhorrent that she would make me jump through hoops to get this situation rectified," she wrote.
"She is the one who declined further testing on the puppy, she is the one who requested and authorized euthanasia of the puppy, through her vet. I, however, am the one who had to explain this situation to my child and deal with the aftermath."
Ms. DiCarlo did not return calls from The Press, but asked Ms. Mollica to speak to a reporter on the situation.
Ms. Wakuluk said she heard some criticism of pet stores as outlets for puppy mills, but wasn't that worried when she took her son dog shopping.
"My sister purchased a dog from a pet store and it's perfectly happy - the healthiest, the happiest dog in the world," she said.
She recalled her son's reaction when they'd first brought the puppy home. "He was saying to me, 'Thank you for the dog, Mommy. Thank you for the dog, Mommy,'" she said.
They may try getting another puppy somewhere, sometime, she said.
"He'll miss the dog," Ms. Wakuluk said. "We had to come home and put all the dog toys away, and put the dog crate away, and the dog bowl."
(From the Ridgefield Press, pg 1A and 11A, June 10, 2010)
by Macklin Reid, Press Staff
Another puppy from True Breeders store in Branchville has been put down, and the buyer reports that she has gotten a refund of the purchase price and is awaiting reimbursement for her veterinary bills.
"I have never purchased a dog from a pet store before," said Kim Wakuluk of New Milford. "Besides feeling like a fool, I am sad for my child, who is heartbroken."
True Breeders employee Cheryl Mollica said the puppy, a Yorkshire terrier, had a "liver shunt" - a congenital defect known to occur in Yorkies, she said.
"I'm giving her a check for the full amount, the price of the puppy, her papers, her microchip, the vaccine costs. She's getting every penny back with an apology, of course," Ms. Mollica said last week. "As soon as it happened, I personally called her and told her we were very sorry to hear what happened. Unfortunately, none of us could foresee this. Unfortunately, it happened."
In March, a Wilton couple reported having to put down a Teacup Yorkshire terrier puppy purchased at True Breeders after unsuccessful treatment for the canine parvovirus. The store was also put under a 14-day state quarantine as a result of the infection with parvo, which is highly contagious among dogs.
The store has also been the subject of protests and a barrage of criticism by local dog breeders and animal advocates who disparage it as an outlet for "puppy mills."
Also known as "portosystemic shunt," the liver problem Ms. Wakuluk's puppy had involves a blood vessel that doesn't close off as it should after birth, allowing blood to bypass the liver. Since the blood doesn't get filtered by the liver, toxins build up. The dog becomes sick and, eventually, will die. The condition is sometimes treated with surgery.
Ms. Wakuluk confirmed this Tuesday that she'd received the $1,474 that she'd paid for the puppy, its crate and other puppy paraphernalia. She was still waiting for reimbursement on the $384 in veterinary bills she ran up on the dog.
"I cashed the check that Thursday for the full amount of the puppy and everything else," she said. "I'm still waiting for the vet bill check."
Ms. Wakuluk said True Breeders owner Christine DiCarlo told her she would give her the money for the vet bills, after the store received reimbursement from the puppy supplier, Kansas-based Lambriar, Inc.
Ms. DiCarlo asked Ms. Mollica to return calls from The Press on the situation.
"I'm sure Christine is paying for the vet bills," Ms. Mollica said. "Christine, she does the right thing."
Although she has gotten most of her money back and said Ms. Mollica treated her well, Ms. Wakuluk was not happy with Christine.
In a long e-mail and a couple of phone calls, Ms. Wakuluk detailed her experience with the puppy and her efforts to get her money back.
Ms. Wakuluk said she and her nine-year-old son went to three or four pet stores in the area, looking for a female Yorkshire terrier puppy and picked one out at True Breeders in Branchville on May 12.
"I brought the puppy to my vet the next morning at 9:15. She had kennel cough and parasites and while I was a bit dismayed, I understand that these are fairly common occurrences for dogs confined in close quarters," Ms. Wakuluk wrote. "I came home with antibiotics and parasite medicine and began life with new puppy.
"The puppy seemed a bit off kilter from the beginning. She was not the most energetic puppy, but I chalked it up to the medication and her illnesses. On May 19, the dog stopped eating. On Thursday, May 20, I came home to find the dog half-comatose, cold and unresponsive. I immediately brought her to my vet. She was in hypoglycemic shock..."
After treatment under the direction of Ms. Wakuluk's vet - including a feeding tube - the puppy was taken to Ms. DiCarlo's vet, at the store owner's direction, she said.
He diagnosed the liver problem, and telephoned Ms. Wakuluk to explain it and say that Ms. DiCarlo "had declined further testing and was requesting that the dog be put to sleep," Ms. Wakuluk said. "Our puppy was euthanized that morning."
Ms. Wakuluk then described her back and forth with Ms. DiCarlo trying to get a refund of the dog's purchase price and reimbursement for what she spent on vet bills - all of which she said she was clearly due under Connecticut's "puppy lemon law."
"I find it abhorrent that she would make me jump through hoops to get this situation rectified," she wrote.
"She is the one who declined further testing on the puppy, she is the one who requested and authorized euthanasia of the puppy, through her vet. I, however, am the one who had to explain this situation to my child and deal with the aftermath."
Ms. DiCarlo did not return calls from The Press, but asked Ms. Mollica to speak to a reporter on the situation.
Ms. Wakuluk said she heard some criticism of pet stores as outlets for puppy mills, but wasn't that worried when she took her son dog shopping.
"My sister purchased a dog from a pet store and it's perfectly happy - the healthiest, the happiest dog in the world," she said.
She recalled her son's reaction when they'd first brought the puppy home. "He was saying to me, 'Thank you for the dog, Mommy. Thank you for the dog, Mommy,'" she said.
They may try getting another puppy somewhere, sometime, she said.
"He'll miss the dog," Ms. Wakuluk said. "We had to come home and put all the dog toys away, and put the dog crate away, and the dog bowl."
(From the Ridgefield Press, pg 1A and 11A, June 10, 2010)
Friday, March 12, 2010
NEWS - Couple reimbursed for price of dead puppy - Ridgefield Press, March 12
Couple reimbursed for price of dead puppy
Written by Macklin Reid, Press Staff
The purchasers of the puppy that was put down after being diagnosed with parvovirus confirmed Friday that the True Breeders store in Branchville had reimbursed them what they’d paid for the dog.
“Yes, we did get refunded the purchase price of the dog, Oprah — $1,603,” said Cheryl Muniz.
So far, the couple has not been reimbursed for $2,700 in veterinary expenses.
Canine parvovirus is highly contagious and is regarded as particularly threatening to young dogs that have not had all their “puppy shots.”
With symptoms that include diarrhea that is often bloody, sometimes accompanied by vomiting, the disease is often fatal to dogs without immunity.
Ms. Muniz and her husband, Victor, Wilton residents, bought a Teacup Yorkshire Terrier puppy at the True Breeders store in Branchville on Sunday, Feb. 28.
The dog began showing symptoms, was taken to two different veterinarians, and was diagnosed with canine parvovirus. After failing to respond well to treatment, the puppy was put down Friday, March 5.
The incident led the state to impose a 14-day quarantine on the True Breeders store, which cannot take in or sell dogs during that time.
People may come and go from the store during the quarantine, and it is allowed to continue with retail sales of merchandise other than live dogs.
Ms. Muniz said she and her husband were trying to get True Breeders owner Christine DiCarlo and the Hunte Corporation of Missouri, the broker that supplied the store with the puppy, to repay them for more than $2,700 in veterinary bills they accumulated trying to save the puppy.
“That’s all we got refunded,” Ms. Muniz said of the $1,603 purchase price. “We haven’t gotten any kind reimbursement for vet bills. She says she’s working on that with Hunte Corporation.”
As reported in more detail in this week’s Press, the the couple had bought to puppy as a present for Mr. Muniz’ mother.
Written by Macklin Reid, Press Staff
The purchasers of the puppy that was put down after being diagnosed with parvovirus confirmed Friday that the True Breeders store in Branchville had reimbursed them what they’d paid for the dog.
“Yes, we did get refunded the purchase price of the dog, Oprah — $1,603,” said Cheryl Muniz.
So far, the couple has not been reimbursed for $2,700 in veterinary expenses.
Canine parvovirus is highly contagious and is regarded as particularly threatening to young dogs that have not had all their “puppy shots.”
With symptoms that include diarrhea that is often bloody, sometimes accompanied by vomiting, the disease is often fatal to dogs without immunity.
Ms. Muniz and her husband, Victor, Wilton residents, bought a Teacup Yorkshire Terrier puppy at the True Breeders store in Branchville on Sunday, Feb. 28.
The dog began showing symptoms, was taken to two different veterinarians, and was diagnosed with canine parvovirus. After failing to respond well to treatment, the puppy was put down Friday, March 5.
The incident led the state to impose a 14-day quarantine on the True Breeders store, which cannot take in or sell dogs during that time.
People may come and go from the store during the quarantine, and it is allowed to continue with retail sales of merchandise other than live dogs.
Ms. Muniz said she and her husband were trying to get True Breeders owner Christine DiCarlo and the Hunte Corporation of Missouri, the broker that supplied the store with the puppy, to repay them for more than $2,700 in veterinary bills they accumulated trying to save the puppy.
“That’s all we got refunded,” Ms. Muniz said of the $1,603 purchase price. “We haven’t gotten any kind reimbursement for vet bills. She says she’s working on that with Hunte Corporation.”
As reported in more detail in this week’s Press, the the couple had bought to puppy as a present for Mr. Muniz’ mother.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
NEWS - State orders quarantine at store after dog with parvovirus dies - Wilton Bulletin, March 11
State orders quarantine at store after dog with parvovirus dies
Written by Macklin Reid
A teacup Yorkshire Terrier was put down after unsuccessful treatment for the highly contagious canine parvovirus, a diagnosis which led state authorities to impose a 14-day quarantine on True Breeders, a new “puppy store” on Route 7 in Branchville where the dog had been purchased less than a week before.
“It was heartbreaking. It’s a nightmare. I don’t want anybody to go through this,” said Cheryl Muniz of Wilton, who bought the dog with her husband, Victor, as a present for his mother.
The 14-day quarantine is designed to limit the potential spread of parvovirus, which is regarded as particularly threatening to young dogs that have not had all their “puppy shots” — and is often fatal.
“On Friday, one of our officers received a complaint from a consumer that their dog was diagnosed with canine parvovirus,” Raymond Connors, animal control supervisor with the state Department of Agriculture, said Monday.
“It was confirmed from the veterinarian that that indeed was what the dog had. The officer responded to the store and notified the owner, Christine DiCarlo, that the dog died of parvovirus.”
Canine parvovirus is most frequently characterized by diarrhea that is often bloody, and may be accompanied by vomiting. It is generally viewed as a threat to puppies, although their are a number of variants of the virus in circulation and some can affect older dogs. Parvovirus has been reported recently at dog shelters in Stratford and Fairfield, (For more on Parvovirus, see related story.)
Mr. Connors said the state would allow the True Breeders store to reopen at the end of the 14 days if no dogs there showed signs of the disease.
“The purpose of the quarantine is, if any of the other dogs are incubating the virus, the virus will manifest itself within that 14-day period,” he said.
Cheryl and Victor Muniz bought the dog Sunday, Feb. 28, for his mother, who has a Chihuahua and had long wanted a teacup Yorkie, they said.
“We were doing a good thing for her, and it backfired,” Ms. Muniz said. “That’s the heartbreaking thing about it: My mother-in-law fell in love with her in the two days she was with her.”
They said the puppy, who was named Oprah, began showing symptoms Monday night and was clearly very sick by midweek.
“Wednesday afternoon the dog seemed to be getting worse so my wife took it to the 24-hour place in Norwalk,” Mr. Muniz said. “And they did a bunch of tests and determined the dog had the parvovirus, so we had to leave the puppy there.
“...They did an I-V, they did blood work, they did as much as they could for the puppy, up until Friday,” Mr. Muniz said.
“Friday morning we came to the conclusion it wasn’t getting any better, it was just in really bad shape, and the best thing to do was put it down.”
The puppy’s death was hard Mr. Muniz’ mother, and also on the family’s nine-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter.
“My mother was destroyed,” said Mr. Muniz. “My kids, we only had the puppy a couple of days, but the love was there. This was my mother’s dream dog. I gave my mother the puppy, for it to die a few days later? It’s ridiculous.”
When they told their story Tuesday afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Muniz were still seeking promised restitution from True Breeders LLC for the $1,603 they’d paid for the puppy. The couple also believes the store should reimburse them for the $2,757 in veterinary bills they piled up treating the dog.
Puppy mills
Christine DiCarlo, who opened True Breeders in January, declined to discuss the incident with The Bulletin’s sister publication The Ridgefield Press, but promised a written statement — which had not been received by publication time.
In a interview broadcast Monday night by News 12 Connecticut, the Cablevision news show, Ms. DiCarlo affirmed her intention to pay her customers back.
“I’m so sorry. I’m so so sorry,” she said, according to a transcript of the interview provided by News 12 Connecticut. “I will do everything to make it right.”
In the interview, Ms. DiCarlo insisted the puppy had not picked up parvovirus at True Breeders, but had been brought in with it.
“This puppy came in with parvo. It had nothing to do with my store,” she said.
Where the puppy came from — Missouri, according to Mr. Connors of the state Department of Agriculture — adds fuel to the controversy that has surrounded True Breeders since the store opened in January.
A coalition of local dog breeders and activist dog lovers has opposed the store — lobbying local officials to take action, writing letters to The Press, sometimes protesting in the store’s Route 7 parking lot.
Their chief objection has been a conviction the store would be an outlet for “puppy mills” — unscrupulous dog breeders, particularly from the Midwest and Pennsylvania, said to care more about profit than their animals’ health.
Ms. DiCarlo has insisted this is not the case: “I do not deal with puppy mills. I love dogs,” she said in the News 12 Connecticut cable TV interview.
The Missouri origins of the puppy that died are pointed to by Ms. DiCarlo’s opponents as evidence that she has not been truthful about buying puppy mill dogs.
Mary-Jo Duffy of Wilton is the president of the board of directors of ROAR, which runs the non-profit dog shelter in Ridgefield, said opponents had seen a big tractor trailer truck unloading puppies at True Breeders two Tuesdays in a row.
“It’s from Hunte Corporation, based in Missouri, and they are probably the country’s biggest broker of puppy mill puppies,” she said. “She’s absolutely deceiving the public,” Ms. Duffy said of Ms. DiCarlo. “She has a sign in her window that says ‘We do not buy from puppy mils.’ Maybe that’s true. But she buys from a broker who buys from puppy mills.”
Mr. Connors The Press he’d been to the store Monday, and thought the operators were reacting responsibly to the parvovirus threat.
“I was there yesterday, and there was no fecal material on the floors or in any of the holding areas where the dogs are being housed,” he said. “Ms. DiCarlo, the licensee, is using the proper disinfectant for controlling parvovirus, so there’s no need for concern about tracking anything out of the store.”
Written by Macklin Reid
A teacup Yorkshire Terrier was put down after unsuccessful treatment for the highly contagious canine parvovirus, a diagnosis which led state authorities to impose a 14-day quarantine on True Breeders, a new “puppy store” on Route 7 in Branchville where the dog had been purchased less than a week before.
“It was heartbreaking. It’s a nightmare. I don’t want anybody to go through this,” said Cheryl Muniz of Wilton, who bought the dog with her husband, Victor, as a present for his mother.
The 14-day quarantine is designed to limit the potential spread of parvovirus, which is regarded as particularly threatening to young dogs that have not had all their “puppy shots” — and is often fatal.
“On Friday, one of our officers received a complaint from a consumer that their dog was diagnosed with canine parvovirus,” Raymond Connors, animal control supervisor with the state Department of Agriculture, said Monday.
“It was confirmed from the veterinarian that that indeed was what the dog had. The officer responded to the store and notified the owner, Christine DiCarlo, that the dog died of parvovirus.”
Canine parvovirus is most frequently characterized by diarrhea that is often bloody, and may be accompanied by vomiting. It is generally viewed as a threat to puppies, although their are a number of variants of the virus in circulation and some can affect older dogs. Parvovirus has been reported recently at dog shelters in Stratford and Fairfield, (For more on Parvovirus, see related story.)
Mr. Connors said the state would allow the True Breeders store to reopen at the end of the 14 days if no dogs there showed signs of the disease.
“The purpose of the quarantine is, if any of the other dogs are incubating the virus, the virus will manifest itself within that 14-day period,” he said.
Cheryl and Victor Muniz bought the dog Sunday, Feb. 28, for his mother, who has a Chihuahua and had long wanted a teacup Yorkie, they said.
“We were doing a good thing for her, and it backfired,” Ms. Muniz said. “That’s the heartbreaking thing about it: My mother-in-law fell in love with her in the two days she was with her.”
They said the puppy, who was named Oprah, began showing symptoms Monday night and was clearly very sick by midweek.
“Wednesday afternoon the dog seemed to be getting worse so my wife took it to the 24-hour place in Norwalk,” Mr. Muniz said. “And they did a bunch of tests and determined the dog had the parvovirus, so we had to leave the puppy there.
“...They did an I-V, they did blood work, they did as much as they could for the puppy, up until Friday,” Mr. Muniz said.
“Friday morning we came to the conclusion it wasn’t getting any better, it was just in really bad shape, and the best thing to do was put it down.”
The puppy’s death was hard Mr. Muniz’ mother, and also on the family’s nine-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter.
“My mother was destroyed,” said Mr. Muniz. “My kids, we only had the puppy a couple of days, but the love was there. This was my mother’s dream dog. I gave my mother the puppy, for it to die a few days later? It’s ridiculous.”
When they told their story Tuesday afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Muniz were still seeking promised restitution from True Breeders LLC for the $1,603 they’d paid for the puppy. The couple also believes the store should reimburse them for the $2,757 in veterinary bills they piled up treating the dog.
Puppy mills
Christine DiCarlo, who opened True Breeders in January, declined to discuss the incident with The Bulletin’s sister publication The Ridgefield Press, but promised a written statement — which had not been received by publication time.
In a interview broadcast Monday night by News 12 Connecticut, the Cablevision news show, Ms. DiCarlo affirmed her intention to pay her customers back.
“I’m so sorry. I’m so so sorry,” she said, according to a transcript of the interview provided by News 12 Connecticut. “I will do everything to make it right.”
In the interview, Ms. DiCarlo insisted the puppy had not picked up parvovirus at True Breeders, but had been brought in with it.
“This puppy came in with parvo. It had nothing to do with my store,” she said.
Where the puppy came from — Missouri, according to Mr. Connors of the state Department of Agriculture — adds fuel to the controversy that has surrounded True Breeders since the store opened in January.
A coalition of local dog breeders and activist dog lovers has opposed the store — lobbying local officials to take action, writing letters to The Press, sometimes protesting in the store’s Route 7 parking lot.
Their chief objection has been a conviction the store would be an outlet for “puppy mills” — unscrupulous dog breeders, particularly from the Midwest and Pennsylvania, said to care more about profit than their animals’ health.
Ms. DiCarlo has insisted this is not the case: “I do not deal with puppy mills. I love dogs,” she said in the News 12 Connecticut cable TV interview.
The Missouri origins of the puppy that died are pointed to by Ms. DiCarlo’s opponents as evidence that she has not been truthful about buying puppy mill dogs.
Mary-Jo Duffy of Wilton is the president of the board of directors of ROAR, which runs the non-profit dog shelter in Ridgefield, said opponents had seen a big tractor trailer truck unloading puppies at True Breeders two Tuesdays in a row.
“It’s from Hunte Corporation, based in Missouri, and they are probably the country’s biggest broker of puppy mill puppies,” she said. “She’s absolutely deceiving the public,” Ms. Duffy said of Ms. DiCarlo. “She has a sign in her window that says ‘We do not buy from puppy mils.’ Maybe that’s true. But she buys from a broker who buys from puppy mills.”
Mr. Connors The Press he’d been to the store Monday, and thought the operators were reacting responsibly to the parvovirus threat.
“I was there yesterday, and there was no fecal material on the floors or in any of the holding areas where the dogs are being housed,” he said. “Ms. DiCarlo, the licensee, is using the proper disinfectant for controlling parvovirus, so there’s no need for concern about tracking anything out of the store.”
NEWS - True Breeders owner says she is still open for non-puppy sales, training - Ridgefield Press, March 11
True Breeders owner says she is still open for non-puppy sales, training
Written by The Ridgefield Press
Christine DiCarlo, owner of True Breeders, issued a statement Wednesday, expressing sympathy to the family of the dog that died, and reporting that her store is still in business for non-puppy sales and for training. Her statement follows:
"I feel the need to express my heartfelt sympathy to the family who bought the teacup Yorkie from my store, True Breeders. It was a very unfortunate incident.
"I just want to clear up any rumors or half truth that is going around.
"As many of the Connecticut papers have published in recent months, there is an outbreak of parvovirus going around the state. This virus mostly affects puppies who are not yet fully vaccinated.
"This puppy came to our store vibrant, healthy and happy. Three days after the puppy went home, it started showing signs of being ill. I informed the family to bring it to our vet, Dr. Dann, immediately and I would cover all the medical expenses.
"The family chose to take it to their vet who in turn gave it fluids and sent it home. It was never tested for the parvovirus. If it had been detected and diagnosed in a timely manner, the puppy may have been able to be saved.
"As a standard precaution, the Department of Agriculture quarantined our dogs for 14 days from when the puppy left our store. All of our other puppies are healthy and showing no signs of parvo, but cannot be sold until Monday, the 15th, when the Department of Agriculture returns.
"We are still open for retail and dog obedience training, which is held in a separate part of our store.
"I just want to let our previous and any potential customers know that we are taking every precaution to ensure this doesn’t happen again and that the health and safety of our puppies is our #1 priority."
Written by The Ridgefield Press
Christine DiCarlo, owner of True Breeders, issued a statement Wednesday, expressing sympathy to the family of the dog that died, and reporting that her store is still in business for non-puppy sales and for training. Her statement follows:
"I feel the need to express my heartfelt sympathy to the family who bought the teacup Yorkie from my store, True Breeders. It was a very unfortunate incident.
"I just want to clear up any rumors or half truth that is going around.
"As many of the Connecticut papers have published in recent months, there is an outbreak of parvovirus going around the state. This virus mostly affects puppies who are not yet fully vaccinated.
"This puppy came to our store vibrant, healthy and happy. Three days after the puppy went home, it started showing signs of being ill. I informed the family to bring it to our vet, Dr. Dann, immediately and I would cover all the medical expenses.
"The family chose to take it to their vet who in turn gave it fluids and sent it home. It was never tested for the parvovirus. If it had been detected and diagnosed in a timely manner, the puppy may have been able to be saved.
"As a standard precaution, the Department of Agriculture quarantined our dogs for 14 days from when the puppy left our store. All of our other puppies are healthy and showing no signs of parvo, but cannot be sold until Monday, the 15th, when the Department of Agriculture returns.
"We are still open for retail and dog obedience training, which is held in a separate part of our store.
"I just want to let our previous and any potential customers know that we are taking every precaution to ensure this doesn’t happen again and that the health and safety of our puppies is our #1 priority."
Monday, January 25, 2010
NEWS - Ridgefield Press, January 25
Puppy store lacks documents
Letters to the Editor
I attended a meeting the first selectman had with True Breeder store owner, Christine DiCarlo. It was to learn from where her puppies would come, and other particulars. It was clearly stated that no one at the meeting had the desire, intent nor standing to interfere with the legitimate right to run the business and lease the property. Ms. DiCarlo said all the puppies would come from New York, New Jersey or Connecticut. She would personally pick them up from breeders she knew.
On a visit to the place just after opening, and, after the meeting, all four puppies there came from an Oklahoma puppy mill which, in April '09, had its recognition by the AKC revoked. Very rare - the AKC seems to "recognize" any breeder with a pulse. So, to have such recognition rescinded, the place must have been worse than awful.
Ms. DiCarlo was unable to produce any documentation for registration of either of the English mastiff puppies, nor for the Miniature Doxy on premises. For the Doxy she said she had documentation but could not produce it. Nor could she produce sign-off by the state, which she claimed had just been there and said she was in compliance with the Oct. 1, 2009 statute requiring, within 10 feet of their housing, data as to name, location and contact information for the breeder from which the puppies came. She clearly was not in compliance. She claimed, too, that the puppies not AKC registered were "CKC" registered, whatever that is, but could produce no documentation.
In 25 years as a New York state special agent for the SPCA, I have never found a puppy store, the stock of which did not come from a puppy mill. True Breeders seems to be true to that finding.
John Katz
Ridgfield, Jan. 25
Letters to the Editor
I attended a meeting the first selectman had with True Breeder store owner, Christine DiCarlo. It was to learn from where her puppies would come, and other particulars. It was clearly stated that no one at the meeting had the desire, intent nor standing to interfere with the legitimate right to run the business and lease the property. Ms. DiCarlo said all the puppies would come from New York, New Jersey or Connecticut. She would personally pick them up from breeders she knew.
On a visit to the place just after opening, and, after the meeting, all four puppies there came from an Oklahoma puppy mill which, in April '09, had its recognition by the AKC revoked. Very rare - the AKC seems to "recognize" any breeder with a pulse. So, to have such recognition rescinded, the place must have been worse than awful.
Ms. DiCarlo was unable to produce any documentation for registration of either of the English mastiff puppies, nor for the Miniature Doxy on premises. For the Doxy she said she had documentation but could not produce it. Nor could she produce sign-off by the state, which she claimed had just been there and said she was in compliance with the Oct. 1, 2009 statute requiring, within 10 feet of their housing, data as to name, location and contact information for the breeder from which the puppies came. She clearly was not in compliance. She claimed, too, that the puppies not AKC registered were "CKC" registered, whatever that is, but could produce no documentation.
In 25 years as a New York state special agent for the SPCA, I have never found a puppy store, the stock of which did not come from a puppy mill. True Breeders seems to be true to that finding.
John Katz
Ridgfield, Jan. 25
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Our First Protest!!!!!
OUR FIRST PROTEST!!
Saturday, January 16th was our first protest of True Breeders in Ridgefield!!
True Breeders were obviously not happy to have us there, but thanks to the advice and guidance of the Ridgefield Police Department, we held a successful and legal protest! We had about a ½ dozen members protesting from 12noon until 3:30pm. The weather was good for a January afternoon, and the honks and support from passersby kept everyone warm inside!
Our group members stood on both the north and southbound sides of Route 7 and held signs in protest of puppy mills. Several pedestrians and drivers stopped to ask for information and were given our 2 brochures (one about puppy mill and pet store “realities” and the other about the new CT Lemon Law).
To our knowledge, no puppies were purchased while the protest was occurring, and unfortunately a few people (typically families with children) did enter the store. Despite the occasional wind and unkind comments from the True Breeders staff, it was a great afternoon and very successful!!
MANY THANKS to EVERYONE who came to protest, helped make signs, print/copy fliers and show support! Photos coming soon! PLEASE JOIN US NEXT WEEKEND! Saturday, Jan 23rd, from 12noon – 4pm.
WEBSITE UPDATE
Our website has become very popular! We have had 216 hits to our home page since the site launch last week, including 88 hits YESTERDAY thanks to our protesters!!
Please visit our site and browse around – if you have any questions, comments, edits, or ideas, please email info@againstpuppymills.org and share! Also, our blog is up and running! Please email any updates or information and tell your friends to check us out!!
WHAT’S NEW?
We are in the process of ordering items to show support – bumper stickers, hats, t-shirts, etc. They will hopefully be available online soon! We have an opportunity to order “MY DOG DIGS” stickers (http://diguntilyoufindit.com) so if you have an idea for our sticker, PLEASE SHARE! Let’s all show support and help stop the sale of puppy mill puppies in Ridgefield!
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION!
Saturday, January 16th was our first protest of True Breeders in Ridgefield!!
True Breeders were obviously not happy to have us there, but thanks to the advice and guidance of the Ridgefield Police Department, we held a successful and legal protest! We had about a ½ dozen members protesting from 12noon until 3:30pm. The weather was good for a January afternoon, and the honks and support from passersby kept everyone warm inside!
Our group members stood on both the north and southbound sides of Route 7 and held signs in protest of puppy mills. Several pedestrians and drivers stopped to ask for information and were given our 2 brochures (one about puppy mill and pet store “realities” and the other about the new CT Lemon Law).
To our knowledge, no puppies were purchased while the protest was occurring, and unfortunately a few people (typically families with children) did enter the store. Despite the occasional wind and unkind comments from the True Breeders staff, it was a great afternoon and very successful!!
MANY THANKS to EVERYONE who came to protest, helped make signs, print/copy fliers and show support! Photos coming soon! PLEASE JOIN US NEXT WEEKEND! Saturday, Jan 23rd, from 12noon – 4pm.
WEBSITE UPDATE
Our website has become very popular! We have had 216 hits to our home page since the site launch last week, including 88 hits YESTERDAY thanks to our protesters!!
Please visit our site and browse around – if you have any questions, comments, edits, or ideas, please email info@againstpuppymills.org and share! Also, our blog is up and running! Please email any updates or information and tell your friends to check us out!!
WHAT’S NEW?
We are in the process of ordering items to show support – bumper stickers, hats, t-shirts, etc. They will hopefully be available online soon! We have an opportunity to order “MY DOG DIGS” stickers (http://diguntilyoufindit.com) so if you have an idea for our sticker, PLEASE SHARE! Let’s all show support and help stop the sale of puppy mill puppies in Ridgefield!
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION!
Friday, January 15, 2010
PROTEST TOMORROW!
TRUE BREEDERS STORE PROTEST TOMORROW!
Saturday, January 16, 2010
TIME: 11am - 3pm
LOCATION: In front of/across street from Georgetown Travel Agency
41 Ethan Allen Highway (Route 7)
Ridgefield, CT 06877-6206
PARKING:
Please park in the commuter lot of the Branchville Train Station. It is about a 100 yards from the store on the right hand side. Please do NOT park in front of the store or in the store lot.
PLEASE USE CAUTION WALKING FROM THE TRAIN STATION TO THE PROTEST SITE! IT IS ONLY A FEW YARDS, BUT ROUTE 7 CAN BE A BUSY INTERSECTION.
Visit www.againstpuppymills.org for information, or email us info@againstpuppymills.org
Saturday, January 16, 2010
TIME: 11am - 3pm
LOCATION: In front of/across street from Georgetown Travel Agency
41 Ethan Allen Highway (Route 7)
Ridgefield, CT 06877-6206
PARKING:
Please park in the commuter lot of the Branchville Train Station. It is about a 100 yards from the store on the right hand side. Please do NOT park in front of the store or in the store lot.
PLEASE USE CAUTION WALKING FROM THE TRAIN STATION TO THE PROTEST SITE! IT IS ONLY A FEW YARDS, BUT ROUTE 7 CAN BE A BUSY INTERSECTION.
Visit www.againstpuppymills.org for information, or email us info@againstpuppymills.org
Sunday, January 10, 2010
BREEDERS SUSPENDED BY AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB
2 of the puppies for sale in True Breeders are "English mastiffs" - their store identification card states they were bred by Stephen and Teresa Holsey in Oklahoma (see previous post about Oklahoma breeders!!!)
The Holsey's were fined and suspended in 2009 by the American Kennel Club Management Disciplinary Committee. On April 13, 2009, the Holsey's were fined $2500 for:
- non-compliance with AKC record keeping and dog identification
- non-compliance with the AKC’s Care and Conditions Policy (which includes unacceptable conditions, dogs and/or facility)
Their AKC privileges were suspended for 5 years (effective April 13, 2009 through April 13, 2014)
In addition to Mastiffs, the Holsey's are listed by the AKC as "breeders" of Wire Fox Terriers and Miniature Schnauzers.
NOTICE:
The AKC's Management Disciplinary Committee has suspended the following individuals from all AKC privileges for five years, effective April 13, 2009, and imposed a $2500 fine for non-compliance with AKC's record keeping and dog identification requirements, and non-compliance with the AKC's Care and Conditions Policy (unacceptable conditions, dogs and/or facility:
Mr. Steve Hosley (Tulsa, OK) Mastiff
Ms. Teresa Holsey (Tulsa, OK) Wire Fox Terrier, Mastiff and Miniature Schnauzer
You can read the entire AKC suspension report here http://www.akc.org/pdfs/about/secretary_page/0509.pdf
Teresa Holsey ALSO sells her dogs on the internet (perhaps to individuals OR puppy stores??) and has a listing for a mastiff here
http://www.petsunlimited.com/local_pet_adoptions.cfm/id/19067
MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION BEFORE BUYING A PUPPY FROM A PET STORE!!!!
The Holsey's were fined and suspended in 2009 by the American Kennel Club Management Disciplinary Committee. On April 13, 2009, the Holsey's were fined $2500 for:
- non-compliance with AKC record keeping and dog identification
- non-compliance with the AKC’s Care and Conditions Policy (which includes unacceptable conditions, dogs and/or facility)
Their AKC privileges were suspended for 5 years (effective April 13, 2009 through April 13, 2014)
In addition to Mastiffs, the Holsey's are listed by the AKC as "breeders" of Wire Fox Terriers and Miniature Schnauzers.
NOTICE:
The AKC's Management Disciplinary Committee has suspended the following individuals from all AKC privileges for five years, effective April 13, 2009, and imposed a $2500 fine for non-compliance with AKC's record keeping and dog identification requirements, and non-compliance with the AKC's Care and Conditions Policy (unacceptable conditions, dogs and/or facility:
Mr. Steve Hosley (Tulsa, OK) Mastiff
Ms. Teresa Holsey (Tulsa, OK) Wire Fox Terrier, Mastiff and Miniature Schnauzer
You can read the entire AKC suspension report here http://www.akc.org/pdfs/about/secretary_page/0509.pdf
Teresa Holsey ALSO sells her dogs on the internet (perhaps to individuals OR puppy stores??) and has a listing for a mastiff here
http://www.petsunlimited.com/local_pet_adoptions.cfm/id/19067
MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION BEFORE BUYING A PUPPY FROM A PET STORE!!!!
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Ridgefield Store Opening
A new pet store opened in Ridgefield, CT this week - True Breeders, located on Rt 7 near the Branchville train station.
There are currently 5 puppies available for sale in the store. The information cards on display say the puppies are from 2 different breeders - one located in Bridgeport, CT and the other in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma is one of several midwest states known to have puppy mills - please CLICK HERE to read about puppy mills in that state.
Did you know?
Before you visit ANY pet store, learn about where those dogs come from! Please visit our site for more information here
There are currently 5 puppies available for sale in the store. The information cards on display say the puppies are from 2 different breeders - one located in Bridgeport, CT and the other in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma is one of several midwest states known to have puppy mills - please CLICK HERE to read about puppy mills in that state.
Did you know?
- 12.3% of all USDA licensed dog dealers in the US are located in Oklahoma
- The number of licensed facilities in our state has increased by over 70% since 2000
- Of all states with a high volume of puppy producers, only Oklahoma and Arkansas have no state regulations (Oklahoma has roughly double the number of facilities as in Arkansas)
- USDA regulations mandate that a dog have its’ length plus six inches times, that same length, for cage space. They must have six inches of headroom. Food is only mandatory one time per day and water twice a day, no matter what the outdoor temperature is. (Source: http://www.okpuppymilltruth.org)
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