SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB) — Nicole Bajnoci thought she had found the perfect fit and purchased her dog Gabby from purebredbreeders.com for $1,200, but eight months later, Gabby started showing signs mentally and physically that something was wrong.
After an expensive surgery, Nicole found out that Gabby had a serious liver disease and was told the dog would probably only live for another ten months. She e-mailed the website to let them know, but says they never got back to her.
“For me to not be able to contact them, or for them not to care enough to contact me back, makes me think something shady’s going on,” said Bajnoci.
Purebredbreeders.com representatives, however, say that’s not the case. They sent ABC40 a statement that reads in part:
“Our records indicate that we have not received any correspondence from the Bajnocis since February 2011 when they informed us that their new family member was doing great. Ms. Bajnoci’s puppy came from one of our very best USDA-licensed breeders and received a perfect health report upon its physical exam performed by a licensed veterinarian the day prior to the puppy’s arrival at her new home.”
The website told ABC40 it will be getting in contact with Bajnoci and Gabby’s breeder to make sure no other dogs have the condition.
Because not every website can be trusted, though, lawmakers have introduced P.U.P.S: the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety Act. It would require all breeders to undergo inspections and meet Department of Agriculture standards for caring for dogs.
“They’ve sought to skirt state and federal animal welfare regulations by dealing directly with the consumer, rather than through the often-regulated middle man, which is often times a pet store,” said Leslie Harris of the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society.
Harris says, because you never actually visit the breeder and see the conditions, you can’t be sure the animals are treated well.
“Animals who are bred repeatedly, who lack socialization, and who lack just basic cleanliness and food and water and shelter,” said Harris.
Two years later, Gabby is still alive, healthy and happy, thanks to a daily, and expensive medicine regimen.
Adopt, adopt, adopt. People need to stop buying puppies at the mall and online.
Couldn’t agree more with Brian. There are so many kill shelters out there, and in other parts of the country. Look for rescues and shelters online or locally to adopt from, not breeders to buy from. Save the poor, innocent animals that are already out there in need of furever homes, and stop supporting the breeders. Please! Dakin gets dogs shipped here locally that have been saved by rescues & fosters in the south.
Regulate??? It should be banned!!!!
We wanted to adopt but it was almost $500 thats alot of money so we looked creigs list and found my lill homie Hershey for $200 brought it down to $150 best decision ever made
We need more of them thar dogs from Texas.
There are many that you can adopt from. Many also look for homes to foster dogs. Lots of times that leads to adoption. The local rescues can only pull from shelters what they know they have room for. 99% of them have no place to hold the dogs, they go straight to foster homes while they are waiting for a forever home.
If you can’t afford adoption fees then you can’t afford a dog. I kills me that people “order” animals online. Why would you even think that’s ok when there are so many loving and wonderful pets looking for their forever homes. And yes this includes puppies, for those of you that use that as your excuse not to adopt…oh and by the way the have small “designer” dogs too. I adopted my Jack Chi (a Jack Russell and Chihuahua mix) almost a year ago from the Northeast Animal Shelter, I couldn’t imagine my life without him.
You don’t know what you’re getting when buy an animal on Craig’s List either. Has that animal been spayed/neutered? When you adopt from a shelter the animal has already had her/his surgery – that’s included in the adoption fee, as are shots, exam, microchip, etc. I have to agree with Jessica, if you can’t afford the adoption fee than maybe you can’t afford to own a pet.
You don’t know what you’re getting when buy an animal on Craig’s List either. Has that animal been spayed/neutered? When you adopt from a shelter the animal has already had her/his surgery – that’s included in the adoption fee, as are shots, exam, microchip, etc. I have to agree with Jessica, if you can’t afford the adoption fee than maybe you can’t afford to own a pet.