Texas Woman Sues Petland Over Sick Puppy, Alleging Deceptive Practices

Webster, TX – A Texas woman is suing Petland Webster and its owner, alleging the store sold her a sick Boston terrier puppy and misled her about its health and origin.

Stephanie Gonzalez Claims Deception

Stephanie Gonzalez and her 7-year-old son visited the Petland store in Webster, Texas, and were drawn to a Boston terrier puppy named Tyler. According to the lawsuit, a Petland salesperson assured Ms. Gonzalez the puppy was “perfectly healthy,” had been seen by a veterinarian, and came from the “top 2%” of breeders, with a warranty covering all veterinary care.

Puppy Diagnosed with Giardia

Shortly after bringing Tyler home, he developed symptoms of illness, including diarrhea and lethargy. A veterinarian diagnosed him with giardia, a contagious parasitic disease, despite the salesperson’s claims of a healthy puppy. Ms. Gonzalez repeatedly took Tyler back for testing and treatment over several months.

Puppy Traced to Puppy Mill

The lawsuit further alleges that Tyler originated from Blue Ribbon Puppies, a commercial puppy broker linked to disease outbreaks and puppy mills. Petland, the lawsuit claims, misrepresented the puppy’s origin and health to consumers.

Petland Under Scrutiny

This case follows previous complaints and undercover investigations revealing a pattern of Petland stores selling sick puppies obtained from puppy mills, despite assurances of humane breeding and veterinary care. Petland has been criticized for lobbying against legislation promoting more humane pet sourcing practices.