KENNESAW, Ga. — A federal court threw out a class-action lawsuit launched by a Georgia woman, claiming the Petland pet store sold her a sick dog from a puppy mill.
The case is based out of Kennesaw, Georgia.
Angela Zambrano bought a puppy from a store in Kennesaw in 2015, but it died less than a week later. The federal lawsuit alleges Angela’s mom paid $3,500 for a Shih Tzu puppy, who the store certified was healthy.
The lawsuit claimed Petland conspired to knowingly sell sick puppies, but a judge dismissed those charges. Other families came forward with similar stories.
“Petland is selling puppy mill puppies to unsuspecting consumers,” Attorney Tamara Feliciano said after the lawsuit was filed. “And to add insult to injury, they are selling worthless services and certifications with those puppy mill puppies. So, I think not only is it important for the public to know, but to hold them accountable.”
But in a statement to 11Alive, Petland said that’s just not true.
“For the past 50 years, Petland is proud of our commitment to healthy pets, our relationships with our veterinarians and our breeders,” the statement said. “We continue to raise the bar in supporting higher standards for breeders and for pet stores across the country.”
While the charges were dismissed, new charges, however, could still be pursued in state court.
