COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) – Three families who bought puppies from central Ohio Petland stores are now suing the Ohio-based chain, claiming it sold them sick puppies from puppy mills despite assurances otherwise.
In separate lawsuits filed Jan. 18, the customers, with the backing of the Humane Society of the United States, have accused Petland of lying about the health and origin of puppies it sold for thousands of dollars – leaving owners with seriously ill dogs and hefty veterinary bills. The Chillicothe-based international chain not only sold sick puppies, the complaints claim, but encouraged customers who couldn’t afford to pay upfront to enter into high-interest financing plans.
Ohio pastor guilty of Jan. 6 Capitol breach charges
Macey Mullins, suing in Delaware County, bought a Jack Russell terrier puppy for $4,600 from a Petland franchise store in Lewis Center in June 2020. In her complaint, she claims that Petland employees called the puppy, June, a “top-of-the-line” dog from a small-scale breeder. But seven months later, veterinarians at Ohio State had to euthanize June due to kidney failure arising from a genetic disorder.