KENT COUNTY, Mich. (WZZM)- A local pet store 13 On Your Side first told you about three weeks ago when it shut down due to a deadly case of Parvo, is being taken to court.
Lily's Puppy Pad on Northland Drive, is being accused of selling pets that are supposed to be pure-bred. Up until now, most of the complaints were about sick puppies, but in this case, the owner of the dog says her puppy is likely a mixed breed and she wants her money back. She contacted 13 On Your Side for help.
Stacy McGinnis of Kentwood says she fell in love with 9-week old "Noodles" the minute she saw him at Lily's Puppy Pad, back in September. He was expensive, $699 dollars.
"The owner offered for me to pay $600 dollars cash and I could get if for a cheaper price." Stacy was told the puppy was a pure-bred Maltese. She decided to buy him and handed over the money. She was told to come back the next day for his paperwork. "They gave me the dog, they gave me vet papers, but there was no papers saying this was an American Kennel Club registered dog. No papers in terms of who his mom was or dad was. I didn't get any of that information."
Stacy says she also saw the employee scribble out the breed of the dog on the health certificate. The Veterinarian, who saw the puppy, had written it was a "mixed breed". The employee at Lily's Puppy Pad re-wrote it as a "Maltese", which is a pure-bred dog. "So, I told him immediately I wanted a refund and I would leave the pup. And he told me I couldn't do that. He said you can leave the pup, but we're not going to give you you're money back."
Stacy took "Noodles" home and asked if the owner, Lily Braford, could give her a call. She says she never heard back. So, on Thursday, she took Braford and Lily's Puppy Pad to court. It wasn't the first time they had been sued. During the proceedings, Rockford District Court Magistrate, Alan Smith said, "I've had a thing or two with Lily's Puppy Pad before." In 2008, Lily's was sued for selling a puppy that got sick a short time later. The plaintiff gave the dog back, but settled for half the cost of the dog, which was about $446 dollars.
In McGinnis' case, the defendants didn't show up, so Stacy was given a judgment for $450 dollars. McGinnis says she's learned a lesson along the way. "Come to find out, you really need to do research prior to buying a puppy, no matter where you buy it."
When WZZM 13 News went to the store to see if the owner would comment, it was still closed. The name had been changed to J & K Puppy Pad. The phone number had also been disconnected. The owner of the building, who leases the space, tells us, as far as he's concerned, the business is closed and the store will be cleaned out within the next few weeks.
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