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On December 26th 2009, my boyfriend and I decided it was the right time for us to get a puppy. The humane society was out of the question for us, since we only rent our property and do not have a screened in backyard (learned from a previous dog rescue attempt).

We unfortunately did not have alot of knowledge about where to get a dog and after a BRIEF online search, found Petland. We viewed their website and from first glance they seemed like a pretty reputable place with words like "USDA approved breeders" and "health warranty". A little puppy Yorkie caught our eye at a location near our house in South FL and we decided to go and check out the place. We got there and were put into a room with the Yorkie.

We quickly fell inlove and were then told of a brother of the yorkie also available and he was put into the room with us as well. Well my heart sank, I did not want to separate these littermates. There was a size different of the two, the smaller one being priced at $2290! The larger one was priced at 1800$!

We spent over a hour with the dogs and left the store to privately discuss. I felt inclined, thinking that no one else would purchase these guys together and my boyfriend and I had to do something. We had saved up some money and decided to use it towards getting these two guys a happy healthy home. While in the store, of course the Manager and other sales associate used their usual Petland pitch and us being blinded by puppylove fell right into it.

We were originally told that both dogs were 100% healthy. Upon signing the paperwork, the Manager corrected herself stating that the smaller dog ( now named Bentley) had an open fontanelle and a luxating patellar grade 1. We were reassured it was nothing to be concerned about and there was really no better place to buy a dog from. When we were about to leave the store, the larger dog (now named Jack) started to cough, the Manager of course followed up with a poor excuse of the dog being stressed and it should probably go away on it's own.

When we got the new pups back to our place, we noticed the cough getting progressively worse. The following day was Sunday so we had to wait until Monday for our new puppies to be seen by a vet. On Sunday, I had all these doubts about Petland's pledge to providing healthy dogs. I turned to my computer and decided to do a little research.

And yes, I sat there stunned and horrified at what I found out. Petland=puppy mills to be frank about it. At first I was sickened to have contributed to such animal cruelty and then it hit me that I was happy that we got these guys in our lives and could provide a good home to them. **So a bit of a disclaimer that I am not writing this to be lectured about purchasing dogs from Petland or just petstores in general, so please don't reply to purely guilt me** After learning about Petland, I was skeptical to use the Vet they recommended.

I tried to make a visit with a trusted family used vet but was unable to get an appointment. I found another Vet close to my home and brought them in on Monday (two days after getting them). I was told each one had an upper respiratory infection and was prescribed Claramox. I was only able to get a stool sample from Jack and awaited the results of that.

The following day the vet called and said he tested positive for Giardia and recommended treatment for both dogs. Meanwhile I was able to get an appointment with my trusted vet for that day (Tuesday) and decided to get medicine there. UGH, well my vet was overbooked and I saw another vet who was helping out in the office for the day. I inquired about my Jack itching his ears and thought he may have an ear infection, the vet said his ears were just hairy and plucked out some hairs, said they looked clean & fine otherwise.

I was given Panacur for both dogs for the Giardia. Within the next few days, I followed treatment and dosage according to the vets in hopes my pups would get better. Bentley's sneezing and coughing was getting worse, Jack as well. I called the vet and he actually told me vet bils will begin to pile up and recommended to me that I go to the vet Petland told me to be covered.

So I did. With the holidays and such, I bought my dogs to the Petland warranty covered vet on Saturday (one week from purchase date, third vet visit). This vet, unlike the other two was actually very thorough to my delight. I went over their history with him and he examined each one.

He found earmites in Jack (hence the scratching; that the other two vets failed to find). He also told me the original dosage of the Claramox was way too low and not even a good antibiotic that gave good results. He checked each dog's stool once again, telling me that not only did Jack test positive for Giardia but also coccidiosis. I was given a new antibiotic for both and a new dosage for the Claramox.

Bentley did not have coccidiosis (at least it did not show up yet) and they only wanted to treat Jack. Jack was given his puppy vaccinations and thankfully did not have an adverse reaction. My poor babies are on a bunch of medication now. I fear these parasites will never go away, the possibility of them spreading them back and forth to one another.

My boyfriend and I clean as much as possible. They for some reason love to try and play on their wee wee pads (as we are indoor training). I strongly try to discourage that behavior but they sure are thickheaded little guys. My boyfriend and I are also having stomach issues ourselves and hope we did not get giardia from them - and that it is just our nerves from worrying about our puppies.

We are still trying to communicate with Petland to try and get some sort of refund from our sick dogs (no luck so far). I have inquired about getting in touch with their supposed breeder " Cindy Zeigenbein" and was told they could only provide an address and did not guarantee i would receive a response. I contacted Petland Corp. to only get the runaround, and was offered zero help, told that each store is owned privately and to contact the owner.

Okay, So I tried calling the owner of the store, the manager told me he was not available but I could try again tomorrow with no guarantee he would take my call. I called up the petaled warranty department, I was told they were not employed by Petland, upon asking who they were employed by I was told, well not Petland Inc. but by the store. If there really a difference?

I contacted the breeder, she was clueless as which dogs I was talking about, wouldn't a good breeder KNOW their puppies? I could go on and on, as there are other parts of my guys story but I think thats enough for now.I am getting very disgusted myself.

Monetary Loss: $3300.

Location: Pompano Beach, Florida

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Guest

My wife and I are going through the same exact thing with a boxer we purchased from petland here in florida. I told the petland workers that Maggie (the dog) had a cough and was told it was simply a kennel cough and would go away.

Now 2 weeks into having her, her cough got worse and to make it short we took her to the vet and she had worms, ear mites, and pneumonia.

We are so stressed and are contacting petland to see what we can do.

Guest

If I were you I would threaten to sue

Guest

My parents bought a dog from Petland 8 years ago. A cute little yellow lab.

They spent good money on Nattie. (named after the Washington Nationals baseball team) As a cute little puppy, she looked like all the other lab puppies. Very smart. She was potty trained over a weekends time with no problems after that.

Then as she got older, she started looking a little different. My dad researched the breeder that she came from. She came from a Labradoodle farm. So the "pure" bred lab now has a thick, curly tail.

She has more hair then any dog i've ever met. She's now blind from early cataracts, has bad hips and bad teeth. Sweetest, weirdest dog I've ever met but there's no way she will ever live the average age of a normal "lab". I recommend NEVER getting a dog from Petland.

My dad won't do anything about it but Nattie is definitely the poster child of why not to get dogs from Petland.

She is not what they paid for and they got cheated.

Guest

PETLAND IS A PUPPYMILL. DO NOT BUY ANY PETS FROM THERE!

GET THEM OUT OF BUSINESS FOR THEIR ANIMAL CRUELTY!

SPREAD THE WORD! :cry :(

Guest

If no one buys the dogs from petland, what happens to the puppies they dont sell? dont those dogs need a home too?

Guest

A friend recommended PetLand to me, so I went to check it out. I asked lots of questions about where they get their pets, was told the owner visited the breeders once a year, the dogs come with some health insurance, etc etc.

While hugging a gorgeous puppy, I was given her paperwork. A quick check on the Internet by my daughter revealed this dog came through a middleman from one of the biggest puppy mill places in Missouri.

How do we stop puppy mills? We really really have to get people to look beyond the pups and start refusing to buy them. We have to educate people that what comes out of the employees mouths is just not accurate or true.

You have to look things up on the Internet yourself, do not allow the employees to show you the only website they want you to see. The answers are well-prepared to make you feel good about the fluffy little dog in your lap.

They are misleading! People buying pets from PetLand are being SCAMMED and perpetuating poor breeding habits and conditions.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-593219

I purchased a Yorkie from the Petland in your area, many years ago. After two days, I noticed the dog had kennel cough, and also severe allergies.

I returned the dog, only two days later, and the store refused to refund my money. I felt bad for the pup, but knew I couldn't keep him, especially with the medical issues, him being so very young, etc.. I gave the dog back and, left without a refund. I only hope that, whoever did purchase the dog, gave it a very loving home.

:cry

Moving to Sarasota, I purchased a little Maltese, at that Petland. The pup was healthy, gorgeous, gets constant compliments and remains so to this day. He is 8 years young, active, vibrant, and spoiled terribly--yes I am guilty!! So smart, loyal, and potty trained in exactly 29 days!!

What's not to love?!

When one door closes, patience will open another. :)

Guest

Petland is a conduit for puppy mills. Period. DON'T BUY **ANYTHING** FROM **ANY** PETLAND STORE!!!

Guest

I am an employee at a large Midwest Petland which sells plenty of puppies every day.

Absolutely, some Petlands get their puppies from puppy mills (as I'm guessing was the case with your dogs) but all Petlands are not created equally. Each one is owned by an individual who is only given general guidelines by corporate. It leaves a lot of room for Petlands to get away with buying from places like Hunte and other barely-USDA approved breeders, but let me tell you a bit about our Petland:

In the past two years, we have had only one sick dog. It was a little Yorkie, who, by no fault of the owner, Petland or the breeder, developed a heart shunt after two years. The woman paid $1200 for her dog, and when she called the store, she was welcomed to come up and get a check covering the entire cost of the surgery- $1500, exceeding the amount the warranty even is supposed to cover. The owners of our store went and checked on the dog afterwards and took some complimentary chew toys.

The owners of our store drive out to every single breeder they buy from and check out the facilities firsthand. If there isn't genuine love and care there, they pass. They've turned down even USDA approved breeders because the kennels were too small, or they weren't fed top-line food. Our owners are PICKY about where they get their dogs.

Now, I personally will always adopt before I shop. I agree 100% it's better to save a dog from the Humane Society than save it from a pet store window.

But Petland does not equal puppy mills. Good Petlands exist, and care about their dogs more than you would even imagine.

Guest

THE PETLAND STORE IN ROANOKE VA IS A VERY NICE PLACE AND ALL THE ANIMALS LOOK IN GREAT CONDITION. I KNOW PEOPLE THAT HAVE BROUGHT PUPPYS FROM THIS STORE AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS.

I HAVE BEEN AT THE STORE WHEN THEY HAVE THE VET COME IN TO CHECK THE ANIMALS. LOVE THE STORE AND TAKING MY KIDS THERE TO PLAY WITH THE PUPPYS.

Guest

THE PETLAND STORE IN ROANOKE VA IS A VERY NICE PLACE AND ALL THE ANIMALS LOOK IN GREAT CONDITION. I KNOW PEOPLE THAT HAVE BROUGHT PUPPYS FROM THIS STORE AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS.

I HAVE BEEN AT THE STORE WHEN THEY HAVE THE VET COME IN TO CHECK THE ANIMALS. LOVE THE STORE AND TAKING MY KIDS THERE TO PLAY WITH THE PUPPYS.

Guest

Activists standing near Petland do nothing other than waste their time. Petland will not give up selling puppies from puppy mills because they will continue to make money despite you standing near their store.

If you want to make a difference, find a way to shut down the puppy mills themselves. If the puppy mills are approved and continue to operate within the law, then all your ranting just wastes your breath.

Make what puppy mills do illegal or get them shut down for their horrible environment. That is the only way you'll make a real and lasting difference. Otherwise, you're "barking" up the wrong tree and just being plain annoying.

Guest

I find it hard to believe that people still fall for buying puppies at a petstore for more than a reputable, ethical breeder sells them for. A little research would have prevented the problem. It is all over the internet...breeders and breed club post "ethical breeder would never sell to a pet store"

Guest

Okay everyone....hold on to your horses. You do not buy out a Franchise.

You wear the name you wear the shame. Petland is Petland and that is the facts. When you flog puppies and kittens in your stores and when you pressure your employees to SELL SELL SELL puppies and kittens and you promote the SALE of puppies and your whole marketing is about SELLING puppies you are exploiting and promoting impulse buying of puppies and kittens. It is where the puppies are coming from...

Mass production to satisfy the demand of the Petland monster. You stop Pet Stores from selling puppies and kittens and you cut off the most visible and prominent outlet for the puppy mill industry.

Guest

I am in no way disagreeing with you complaint as I am sure it is true and valid, and I would not ish that fate on any pet or their owner. But I would also like to point out something that is very simple yet usually overlooked, especially by people who are wronged by this company.

There are 2 companies, Petland Inc, and Petland Canada. Petland Inc as you you may have guessed is the United states version. Although they started out as the same company, long ago Petland Canada was completely bought out and is now a completely unrelated company with very different standards (much better). The only thing I ask is that you be specific to Petland Inc if/when you ever make another public complaint, because in my experience (been to most Petland Canada stores as a Hagen representative), Petland Canada has much better animal husbandry, cleanliness (honestly most times you wouldn't be able to tell there are pets there from the smell!), and knowledge base (Which is effectively imparted onto every customer who even considers adopting a pet from them.). Also, (from what I have seen) they are extremely good with their garuntees, if they garuntee it (they will tell you) they WILL follow through with the garuntee.

Thanks in advance for reading this, even if it makes no difference to you, condemming 2 different businesses for the same thing when only one is guilty is really unfair. (Especially, (no offense PeTA/HSUS) with how radical some animal rights organizations can become over.... pretty much anything.)

Guest

My firned has also purchased a dog from petland and she had it for a year and she knew about puppymills and petland. so she bought the dog and she spent over 4000 dollars on medicine for her dog.

its crazy.

if you were to buy a dog, i would go to a nearby kennel or go to an adoption center where you can make sure that your dog is healthy

Guest

Petland Pets Make Life Better. HAHA what a joke

Guest

its good that you got them out of there, but also, you contributed to keeping puppy mills in business. the only way to stop puppy mills is to stop buying their puppies!

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-237897

and what allow them just to die. They deserve a home too. I'm sure they have had nothing but *** in their lives, being born in a small cage, and never knowing nothing other than a small cage life.

Guest

at least you saved them thats the point that matters but i think you could of sued tthe store petland for lying to you?

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