ST. LOUIS — PETA Foundation attorneys have filed a consumer protection lawsuit against Petland Inc. on behalf of a St. Louis-area woman whose puppy developed a painful neurological condition that pushes his brain out of his skull, according to the animal rights organization.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of customer Carla Hutson, alleges Petland violated the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act by making false claims about the health of the dogs it sells and by failing to disclose ailments common among purebred dogs, PETA said. Hutson bought a 2-month-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel from Petland Lake St. Louis without being told the breed carries a high risk of a painful skull deformity, according to the lawsuit.
Within days of the purchase, Hutson took the puppy, named Seven, to a veterinarian and learned he had Giardia, a parasitic infection that can cause vomiting, diarrhea and weight loss, PETA said. He later developed yelping, shaking and other neurological symptoms and was diagnosed with Chiari-like malformation, a genetic defect that pushes the brain through the opening at the base of the skull, according to the release.
The condition is present in at least 95% of purebred Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and stems from breeding dogs to meet American Kennel Club head-shape standards, which often leave the skull too small for the brain, PETA said. The lawsuit contends Petland does not disclose that risk and does not require genetic screening to reduce the prevalence of the condition or a related spinal disorder called syringomyelia.
Hutson spent thousands of dollars on veterinary bills before surrendering Seven to an adoption group on June 15 because she could no longer afford his treatment, according to the lawsuit.
“I love Seven, and I’m devastated that I had to give him up; I could no longer provide the time and care he needs,” Hutson said in a statement distributed by PETA. “He needs to be around someone at all times because I never know when he will have an episode. I hope his story will show people how dogs like him suffer when they’re bred and sold in pet stores.”
“Dogs like Seven are in such agony that even a collar or a gentle touch can make them cry out, yet Petland continues peddling to its customers puppies bred for a certain look that predisposes them to these painful conditions,” PETA Foundation General Counsel Asher Smith said in a statement.
Hutson is seeking damages to cover veterinary costs and emotional distress, along with a court order barring Petland from advertising “healthy puppy” and “highest standards” claims and from omitting breed health risks, according to the lawsuit.
The Missouri filing comes as Petland continues to face scrutiny closer to home — the company’s puppy mill dispute with the Ohio Attorney General has also drawn on allegations that its breeder standards fall short of what customers are told.
The information contained in this story was obtained from PETA.
