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| 7.6.2010 |
Puppy Tales
John Carillo, Huntington Station
One of my mine and my wife’s greatest joys is our dogs Jockamo and Hansel. We love going on walks, watching them play and all of their crazy antics and sometimes just snuggling up. My wife though sorely misses our large shepherd mix that passed away last November. He was beautiful and the type of dog you just felt safe with.
All of our dogs have been rescued mutts but this time my wife wanted something more specific, a large shepherd or shepherd mix puppy. So she started watching Craigslist and local classifieds. Her assumption was that any of the litters of puppies posted would be from locals and that they would know the parents so we would be better able to predict the size and get the large dog we wanted. After a long time of watching, finally on June 18th, there it was – “German Shepherd puppies, vet checked, shots up to date and with papers”. I called at once and thus met Richard Goldstein.
What had started out as a $1500 puppy quickly went down to $600. Still beyond what was feasible, we kept an eye on Craigslist and over that weekend the German Shepherd ad appeared and disappeared then reappeared once again as it was flagged off and reposted. Then on Sunday during one of the “on” moments the price on the dog has been lowered to $400. Then my wife called and spoke to Mr. Goldstein and said we would like to see the puppies.
My first red flag was that he wanted to meet in a parking lot. My wife declined and we agreed to meet at an address in Melville. Upon our arrival we were ushered through a small split level out onto a deck where there were two skinny little German Shepherd puppies and a young Rottweiler. Second red flag. The temperature that day was oppressive and these poor little guys were out in the scorching sun with no shade and no water. They looked wet. Third flag. My wife and I each picked up a puppy. The poor things stunk. They were coated in urine and feces, were damp and had some awful coconut stuff on them. My guess was in a vain attempt at to cover up the odor. Mr. Goldstein’s girlfriend laughed and said her lotion must have gotten on the pups since she was holding them so much all day. My wife asked about the size of the puppies parents. Goldstein and his girlfriend both answered at the same time – differently. I asked where the parents were and Goldstein said that they were his cousins’ dogs and he was only helping to sell them. I asked where the pups were Vet checked and he said at the Vet behind Canine Corral – a puppy store on New York Avenue.
During our conversation, my wife and I passed the two pups back and forth. Both of our shirts had large stains on the front from the poor pups. Looking at the one in my arms I noticed a clear bite on the top of his head. Mr. Goldstein said that it from one of the other pups stepping on his head. My assumption was that the young Rottweiler was most likely the culprit. By this point I had lost track of how many red flags there were.
I looked over to my wife trying to signal her that it was time to leave but she turned to me and informed me that the puppies name was Zephyr. My wife asked if he would give us the other dog too and he said for another $400. Amidst all the red flags was my wife holding what was soon to be our new puppy. Mr. Goldstein informed me that the “papers” for the pup would be an additional $100. I said I don’t want to buy them but I do want to see them. He brought out a form from the American Canine Association. I asked him “what is the ACA?” as I never heard of them. I expected that “papers” meant AKC since the pups were supposed to be pure-bread. He said there are a number of groups like the AKC and they all recognize each other. I handed the paper back. Mr. Goldstein then said he would throw the paper in for free as it would bring him good Karma and he was sure to sell the next one for $1500.
Before we left my wife asked if they would please give the pup some water. Mr. Goldstein’s girlfriend brought out a small bowl so the puppy could have a drink before his trip home. On our way home we tried to get an appointment with our Vet but they were already closed. As I was driving my wife looked over the medical records provided us and there were shots and wormings but from a Lonewolf Kennels - in Missouri. When we got home we looked up the kennel and found out they are puppy brokers, they purchase litters from breeders and resell them to pet shops and puppy stores.
That night little Zephyr seemed lethargic and was sneezing a bit and wouldn’t eat. First thing the following morning we took Zephyr to the Vet. They checked him out, gave him his beginning shots, and took a stool sample for testing. The Vet said to give him a chance to adjust and give him a call the next day. That next day his sneezing got worse, he was even more lethargic and had no appetite at all. The Vet said bring him in and he was put on an antibiotic and de-wormed since his coat didn’t look good. The next day he was even worse. He slept most of the day and would not eat anything we tried. That evening we went back to the Vet. They took blood samples and did and abdominal x-ray to check for a blockage.
I called Mr. Goldstein using the phone number he posted in most of his ads. He answered and I said “Richard?” He said “yes”. I said “Richard Goldstein?” After a pause he said “No”. I said “yes this is” and identified myself as the person who just purchased a puppy from him and filled him in of the issues we were having and asked if he knew anything. Mr. Goldstein said he didn’t. His only concern was for how I knew his name as he was careful not to use it and went so far as to cross it out on the records he provided. He said that all the puppies were healthy and nobody else has said anything. I asked for the name of the Veterinarian at the office behind Canine Corral that examined the puppies. He said that he didn’t take the puppies to the Vet and that was the Vet where he took his dog. I said “you told me you took the puppies there”. He said there must have been a misunderstanding.
The next day there was no improvement at all and we returned to the Vet for the fourth day in a row. The doctor did another x-ray to see if suspicious materials observed in the puppies bowels was gone or moving. He also did a chest x-ray to make sure that Zephyr didn’t have pneumonia. He took blood again for more involved testing and gave us Clinicare – a high calorie and high nutrient supplement we would have to force feed him with a syringe.
I called Mr. Goldstein once again and updated him on what was going on with the puppy. I told him we wanted our money back. “What about the pup” he asked. I said that we would keep him. “So you want your money back but you want to keep the dog?” he said. I told him that the New York State Puppy Lemon Law states that when a dog is sick you are entitled to a refund or medical bills up to the price of the dog. I said that since we had already spent more on medical bills than we spent on the puppy, we prefer to keep the puppy and continue to treat him so that he has every chance of survival. Mr. Goldstein outright refused. At this point his only concern was recent posting on Craigslist concerning his puppies and various claims made at to their health. I said we know nothing about this.
I spoke with Mr. Goldstein several times over the next couple of days. He asked “What do you want me to do?” Taken back by Mr. Goldstein’s cavalier attitude I told him that he has legal responsibilities which he is not living up to and I want him to do the right thing. I said give me back my money, hand over the remaining pups to a rescue like North Shore Animal League, and don’t do this again. He said “what did you expect for four hundred dollars?” I was actually shocked. I told him he needs to review the New York State “Puppy Lemon Law” and give our money back. He said “You didn’t buy a dog, you adopted a dog”. I said that I have his ads and its clear he was selling these dogs. I told him that he misrepresented where the dogs came from. He said “that’s not entirely true”. I said “you got them from a puppy mill”. He said he doesn’t think he can get into trouble for this. I told him point blank, “tell me you are going to give me my money back or tell me that you will not”. He said he wasn’t going to and I said that there was not anything else to discuss. I told him we would do everything that we could. I told him that there is not more need to talk again and hung up. He sent me a text asking what was going on. I texted back “give me my money back”.
Meanwhile, we continued to force feed Zephyr the Clinicare. We also tried every food we could think of and was recommended including Vienna sausage, liverwurst and baby food. Then on Sunday, one week after bringing Zephyr home we had a breakthrough. Using a combination of Earthborn Holistic Puppy Vantage, Iams Proactive Puppy, Stella and Chewies freeze-dried chicken patties, a teaspoon of molasses and a squirt of Nurtra-Cal - Zephyr ate dinner.
We returned to the Vet once again for more antibiotics for his wheezing and pronounced cough and for a new medication to treat Giardia – a canine parasite that sure enough he tested positive for.
So how on earth when we would never ever have purchased a puppy from a pet store could we have ended up with a puppy mill dog? I called the Kennel and spoke with the owner. As it turns out, the litter that Mr. Goldstein continued to insist were from his cousin were actually from a breeder in Missouri that the broker knows personally. Furthermore, Goldstein had also misrepresented himself to the broker as the owner of a pet store – Riches Pets of Levittown. He told the kennel owner that he got their name from another pet store owner and wanted to purchase a litter. He placed his order, was faxed the information met the truck on the road to pick up his order.
I did a little investigating to see what the rights are for puppy purchasers and what the sellers’ responsibilities are. According to New York State Law, the transaction and remedies are covered by the states “Puppy Lemon Law”. INFORMATION ON BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU WEBSITE. Sellers who are purchasing animals for resale are also required to be licensed and inspected. Legal remedies also include Small Claims Court.
So in conclusion my advice to those looking for a puppy on Craigslist or anywhere…. Why would anyone take advice from my wife and I when we did everything you shouldn’t do. We all know that the world is filled with people like Mr. Goldstein and his girlfriend who are looking to make a quick buck. His “pet store” business plan did not take into consideration the proper care these poor creatures require and deserve.
So, do we regret what we did? Zephyr loves to play with our dog Hansel and barks every time someone walks past our house. He sits and stares in amazement at the 3 dogs next door and cries like a little baby when he doesn’t get his way. He keeps untying my wife’s shoe laces and climbs up on our legs when he wants to be held. After having only two “accidents” in the house during his first two days, he seems to be totally housebroken. When you talk to him he tilts his little head like he’s listening. So I guess that’s the answer.
UPDATE: Ten days after getting Zephyr he still has a pretty bad upper respiratory infection. His treatment for Giardia is ongoing. He is eating and gaining weight and we are hopeful that he will make a full recovery with no lasting ill effects.
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