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A Long Island pet store sold sick puppies to unwitting customers, with some pooches so ill that they died mere days or weeks later, the New York Attorney General’s office alleged in a new suit.
Shake a Paw — at both of its locations in Hicksville and Lynbrook — sold canines that came from puppy mills while telling customers they were from legitimate breeders, alleged a Nassau County Supreme Court lawsuit filed by AG Letitia James’ office on Thursday.
Many of the puppies had serious illnesses including pneumonia, breathing problems, infections and congenital defects — in addition to many having parasites, the suit claims.
But customers were kept in the dark about the issues, as the store used a slew of deceptive practices including doctoring health certificates, advertising having healthy dogs and lying about the breeds, the filing alleges.
At least nine of the dogs that Shake a Paw sold “died soon after sale” from various diseases, the court papers claim.
The store hawked the sick pets — along with “hundreds of dollars of unnecessary additional goods and services” — for prices ranging from $2,500 to $8,000, the suit claims.
“When New Yorkers purchased puppies from Shake A Paw, they did not expect to bring home dogs in such heartbreaking and horrifying conditions,” James said in a prepared statement. “Today, we are holding Shake A Paw accountable for their unlawful and inhumane actions by filing a lawsuit to permanently ban the company from selling puppies any longer, as well as to recoup what consumers paid.”
“Animal mistreatment is despicable and will not be tolerated,” James said.
From 2016 until now, the AG’s office has received 99 complaints while the Better Business Bureau received another 33 complaints, prompting the office to open an investigation into the stores.
After investigating veterinary records for 408 pooches sold by Shake a Paw, the AG’s office found that roughly half had infections, coughing, sneezing or breathing problems. Over half were infected with parasites and 10 percent were suffering from pneumonia, the office alleged.
Many customers had to foot the bill for expensive vet bills, which the shop allegedly wouldn’t pay them back for. When customers called to complain, they were given the run around, the suit claims.
And Shake a Paw wouldn’t pay customers back in the cases where the dogs passed away, the AG alleges.
Erin Laxton — who bought a furry friend that died weeks later — said in a statement: “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.”
James is seeking restitution and civil penalties from the shops.
Shake A Paw lawyer Richard Hamburger adamantly denied all of the allegations and said his client has been cooperating with the AG’s investigation.
“Shake a Paw has never knowingly sold a sick puppy, or knowingly misrepresented the pedigree, or breeder from whom the puppy was acquired,” Hamburger said.
“On the rare occasion when a sold puppy has taken ill, Shake A Paw has reimbursed veterinary bills up to the sales price, given a full refund, or exchanged the puppy for another,” the lawyer said, adding that the store doesn’t purchase dogs from puppy mills.
Hamburger also noted that the state Department of Agriculture and Markets found the stores to be in compliance after “numerous unannounced inspection.”
The lawyer said the suit is reckless and “threatens to destroy the good will and reputation of a good and decent small business that has, over the past 28 years, brought joy to 80,000 loyal and highly satisfied Long Island pet owners and their families.”
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