Coastal Pet Rescue Issues Consumer Warning for Puppy Sale Ads
(Savannah, GA) - May 22, 2008
Every child should be blessed to know the joys of raising a puppy, the fun of learning to play, the warmth and softness of puppy fur, and the pleasing aroma of puppy breath.
But for one local family, those joys have yet to be experienced since purchasing their puppy May 18th.
The Lane family decided to buy a Rottweiler puppy for their teenage son, Jacob. They found an ad in the Tell-N-Sell and contacted the seller, Roy Newsome, owner of Newsome Enterprises and UncleRoys.com where he sells trailers and signs.
The Lanes went to get their puppy, Bubba, from Mr. Newsome. They were told the puppies, five males and four females, had seen the vet twice and had two dewormings. After paying $400 and receiving the CKC registration papers, the Lanes left to enjoy their new life with Bubba.
But Bubba didn’t feel well. He wouldn’t play, and became very lethargic. The Lanes thought he was depressed, having been separated from his mom and littermates. But on the morning of May 21st, Bubba began to vomit, and the Lanes immediately rushed him to the vet, where he was diagnosed with hookworms and parvovirus, which is often fatal to puppies.
The Lanes never received any actual paperwork to prove veterinary care, nor were they ever shown a Georgia Department of Agriculture license which regulates pet breeders.
The Lanes notified Mr. Newsome and went back to get a refund. When the family returned to the point of sale, Mr. Newsome refused to come meet with the family members, instead sending his daughter out the front door with the refund.
The Lanes remain hopeful that little Bubba will pull through with diligent veterinary care, but they worry about the other families that may purchase a sick puppy unsuspectingly. It is their hope their story will be heard and families will ask more questions when they decide to bring home a pet.
Instead of purchasing a puppy through newsprint and online ads and perpetuating these sad stories, Coastal Pet Rescue urges families to consider adoption from local rescues and animal shelters first. These agencies are also regulated by the Department of Agriculture and required to perform veterinary care as well as spay and neuter of pets.
In consideration of bringing home a new pet, families should ask to meet with the caretakers of the pet, ask about specific behaviors (the good and the bad), and convey their lifestyle information to ensure a proper match. Families should always ask for copies of veterinary records and call the veterinarian listed to verify the information. Adoption or sale contracts should always outline the family’s options if the adoption does not work out or if the pet becomes ill.
For families that have recently purchased a puppy, Coastal Pet Rescue suggests you consider purchasing a pet insurance policy to cover any issues that may arise, particularly in the first year. Treatments for illnesses such as parvovirus can run into the thousands, an often unexpected and hard to pay expense.
For more information, contact Coastal Pet Rescue at 912-228-3538.
Coastal Pet Rescue is a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal rescue organization dedicated to saving the lives of homeless, abused and neglected dogs and cats in Savannah and surrounding areas. Founded in February 2003, Coastal Pet Rescue changes the lives of homeless pets in Chatham, Bryan and Effingham Counties through its foster home program and small capacity shelter, Camp Pawsawhile Retreat.
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