Petland

Andrea of Papillion, NE November 19, 2009

In February 2006 my husband and I bought a male maltipoo from Petland. We had another maltipoo at home, a girl we'd bought from a breeder the previous year. We'd had such a flawless experience with our maltipoo from the breeder that we let our hearts take over when we saw the maltipoo at Petland. We hadn't planned on buying a dog that night (we went there just as something to do) but we were told he was in great health. Once we took him to our vet, however, we were told he had problems with his knee caps and other things that might be issues in the future - but since there was nothing major at the time, we assumed "the future" wouldn't be until he was elderly.

While our maltipoo from the breeder has had zero problems (she will turn five in January 2010) - we've had to take our maltipoo from Petland to the vet on numerous occasions because he gets sick and we never knew why. Just days after he turned four years old we learned that he has stage 2 cancer. It is just a matter of time before it becomes stage 3 or 4 which means he will only have months to live at that point. Of course we don't regret buying him because he's been such a sweet joy to our family - but, as I've reflected over the past few years, it is so obvious why I hear people say don't buy from pet stores. My maltipoo from the breeder is so strong and healthy compared to my fragile maltipoo from Petland. We don't know where he came from or what kind of life he led prior to buying him when he was 3 months old. I am certain his cancer and other problems are a result. Yes, our pets die but having it happen at 4 years old and spending huge amounts of money in the meantime is not the way it has to be. Use your head - get your pet from the Humane Society or a breeder, never a pet store. I thought Petland had higher standards than others, but I've learned the hard way that I was wrong.

Shane of Laredo, TX November 10, 2009

My family has bought dogs in the past and we had luck finding healthy ones. None being from Petland. I wanted to add that it is VERY IMPORTANT, and I will repeat myself, it is VERY IMPORTANT to do lots of research before you buy a dog. Do not ever buy puppies or dogs from puppy mills. I know it is hard to say this because they have a life like we do, but every time somebody buys a pet from these places, the puppy mills only get more money, which means more business and more dogs that are hurt and abused. STOP buying from Petland.

I believe they acquire their dogs from puppy mills which come with all sorts of diseases and nasty infections. Be careful about other pet places as well. Other pet stores may recieve dogs from puppy mills as well because they are cheap and can be sold for a lot of money. This is how they keep their stores alive. My family was considering buying a norfolk terrier at a pound on November 6, 2009. The dogs in the same kennel with it looked diseased and sickly. My mother was thinking about getting it and we decided we would rather wait a couple days. We went back and the same kennel was empty.

I asked the people in the front what happened to the dogs and apparently they had contacted parvo. All of them were put down the morning we had visited there. We looked at some other dogs and found another one. They tested the dog for lyme disease and it was in the early stages of it. They wouldn't consider helping us pay to help it and get the problem fixed.

victoria of bolingbrook, IL October 20, 2009

we bought a pomeranian puppy who had a bilateral hernia operation already preformed on her. also she had an upper respitory infection, coccidia, & giardia infections. they did pay for all medications, but not the stool sample, i had to pay for that test! she is still sick, but we love her & do not want to take her back. she shakes alot & seems very scared, i cant imagine what this poor puppy went through!

i found out that this puppy came from a confirmed puppy mill in indiana that goes by various names, "KNEPP", deliaha, jean, abner, etc...& this puppy was bought through a broker who is known to sell sick puppies named, "levi G." PLEASE, buy from a reputable breeder instead where you can visit their home & see where your puppy was raised! do NOT BUY FROM PET STORES! i wish i knew this before, we need to put these mills out of business!

Monica of Aurora, IL October 20, 2009

Purchased a 15 week old boxer pup on October 8, 2009 and less than 12 hours later I had to rushed the puppy to the animal hospital because the puppy had kennel cough. Today is October 20, 2009 and the puppy is still hospitalized. I have made numerous attempts to make arrangements with the store manager Jackie who insists that the new environment caused stressed on the puppy. We checked with the Vet and they assured us that it was no way possible that a puppy new environment could caused the puppy to get kennel cough and that the puppy had to be contamnated within the kennel at Petland prior to us bring the puppy home. The tragic part is that he informed Petland employees the day we bought the puppy that we noticed a runny nose and a strange cough, the employee stated that it was merely a hairball. They offered a gift certificate for our troubles and said that it was nothing more they could do.

mark of pittsburgh, PA October 20, 2009

We recently bought a Labradoodle from the Petland in Robinson Town Centre, Pittsburgh, PA. Let me first start off by saying that the management does not know a thing about customer service! This dog was 1,000 which is expensive enough, but then upon reading through the paperwork, the manager asks us if we want the dog microchiped. We said no, as we've never done that with any of our pets. She then insists that we cannot buy the dog without the microchip. We finally agree, and she tells us that it will cost us 70 to have him microchipped. I said ok, you can take that cost off of the cost of the dog, mind you we were already giving them 1,000 for the dog. The girl says no, and we were forced to pay another 70 on top of all of that.

As part of Petland's requirements, we were to take our new puppy to the vet within 7 days. We complied, as any good pet owner would, and our dog tested positive for Guardia. The vet also informed us that our new dog had been severely underfed, as well as could have only gotten the Guardia from unsanitary conditions. Petland had an obligation to tell us this before we brought home the dog, but again they failed to follow ethical business practices. Petland's policy states that if there is anything wrong with the dog, that if in writing from a vet, will be taken care of by the owner of the particular store. This is where things really got bad. I had the extreme misfortune of having to speak to the ignorant store owner who proceeded to insult me, and stated that it was my fault the dog had Guardia. Mind you we took him to the vet the day after we bought him, and he was living with our two other dogs who did not test positive for guardia (we got them tested too just to make sure).

When we got all the proper documentation over to this I can't even call him gentleman that owned the store, he stated he would not pay for our dog's medical expenses. It's horrible to think that a pet store would sell you a sick dog, and then leave you with the medical expenses, but it happens. Fortunately our dog is still alive, but requires regular medicine which is a significant cost to us. You would think especially in a down economy that businesses would do anything to get your business. Well Petland did! They sold us a sick dog! In closing I warn customers to beware. This store and its owner are criminals and do not deserve your business! Go to a shelter and rescue a dog!

rose of the colony, TX October 17, 2009

We purchased a silky terrier from Petland, Lewisville, TX. on 9/26/09. Within 5 days the puppy died of PARVO. The puppy was purchased for our 7 yr old grandson. He contributed 400 of his hard earned money for this puppy. Unbelieveably, the store owner and Petland were not at all concerned. They offered a new puppy and frankly, we had no choice. Our grandson was so distraught the puppy was sick, we could never tell him the puppy passed away.

The store brought in another silkee terrier. We picked this puppy up on 10/7/09. We just took her to the vet on Wed., this puppy has a upper respiratory infection and the vet advised that the puppy could get pneumonia. I am in such disbelief that we could pay so much for this puppy and continue to get sick dogs. How can they get away with this. Are there not laws? No financial concessions, everything purchased had to be thrown away due to the Parvo infection, my house had to be thoroughly cleaned with clorox. It cost hundreds of dollars and now we are going through it again. I am stunned; our grandson loves this puppy, believing it is the same puppy he originally picked out. He says she's the toughest little puppy ever. I cannot even, nor do I want to imagine how distressed my grandson will be if this puppy dies as well. Can they get away with this? You might as well purchase a puppy for 1/4 of the price at a flea market, your likely to get a healthier dog.

tom of wonder lake, IL October 9, 2009

recently purchased a yorkie pup 1500.00 dollars. within 24 hours had to take ntge pup to vet. was told it was hypoglicemic. two days later brought puppy to emergency and within a hour the pup was dead; petland said nthey would refund my money and imn still waiting, they keep giving me the run around. i would mnever recomend them to any one. now im told it could take weeks before they process my refund

Amber of Janesville, WI October 8, 2009

My daughter and I went into Petland at their Janesville, WI location. We wanted to just look at puppies to see what they had. They had a Boston Terrier in their that we liked. I was very interested in her, I had them take her out so I could play with her. She was pulling on my pant leg and being a typical puppy. I decided to give it a week and think about getting her for their 800 price. A week later I went back and they were trying to pressure me into purchasing her. They showed me her vaccination records and just said that she was A.C.A. registered. Needless to say, I purchased her. I took her home. About an hour after I brought her home she was making a coughing/weezing type of noise. I called petland and they told me that it was normal because they have the smushed in face which makes it difficult for them to breath. I was like well how come none of my other bostons I have had have done this. Not to mention they told me that they have a vet( the same vet they have use take our puppy to)that goes into their store once a week to examine each and every puppy. They assured me that the puppy was healthy. They told me to make an appointment to get the puppy in to their vet, which I am sure they pay lots of money to. The vet wouldnt get the dog in until a week later.

Well, the day after I made the appointment to get her in she had green snot coming out of her nose and her cough was much worse. I called the vet again and persisted that she needed to be seen. They finally got her in and they diagnosed her with a bacterial infection that would have turned in to kennel cough if I would have waited any longer. At this point I was furious because I was lied to by Petland. I called them and told them I wanted my money back, but they refused. My puppy I purchased from them is still not very playful, she is very timid when it comes to people. She will not come to me at all no matter how much I try to bribe her with treats or whatever. She runs everytime I walk towards her. It sounds like they may have abused this poor puppy. If you know bostons then you know they are happy little dogs that love to cuddle, play, and be with their humans. There are more problems to this story that I have not mentioned but I would be on here all day typing. I would never recommend Petland to anybody! Please people do your research when buying a puppy, it will save you lots of money and heartache if you do your research. There are hundreds of people that are buying these unhealthy animals only to be disappointed. If you want a healthy animal please just go to a REPUTABLE breeder. Petland needs to be shutdown. Petland is only in this for making money off of unhealthy puppies from puppymills.

Shelly of Ankey, IA October 2, 2009

I purchased a puppy from Petland West Desmoines, and I have had very good luck it did get kennel cough. But if you understand that kennel cough is like a child getting a cold at day care you people would stop complaining! I have purchased puppies from home breeders in the past and have had just as many problems.

suzanne of mentor, OH September 18, 2009

Recently puchased a 10 week old puppy from the Petland in Mentor, OH location we had the puppy for 4 nights, I was going through the packet on the 3rd night and noticed that the puppy had some sort of Hernia surgery, I contacted the owner of the Petland store and was given a few options one being to return the dog and receive a full 100% refund because the sales person did not mention anything about any "surgery" done to the dog. That same night I returned the dog back to the store with the promise of a full refund the next day. The owner called me back the next day and has changed his story stating that the sales rep fully explained the surgery, what it intails and I was ok with this???? First of all, I would have NEVER purchased a dog under these circumstances, now the owner has the dog, will not give any refunds and I have contacted the corporate office, the local news station and an attorney to pursue this further...

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