CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINAA A troubling investigation revealed that 11 puppies died in the Charlotte pet store’s care and that sick animals were being sold to unwary consumers nationwide, forcing the business to close.
State Investigation Leads to Store Closure
After an official investigation that found extensive animal abuse, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services ordered Happy Puppy Universe to close. State records show that the company was selling puppies with unspecified medical issues while promoting them online as healthy and including high-quality, expertly taken pictures.
State officials took action after numerous social media complaints from consumers claimed they purchased puppies that became ill very quickly. According to the study, the business was responsible for the deaths of at least 11 puppies in a two-month period.
Dozens of Dogs Transferred to Rescue Facility
38 canines were taken from the business and taken to Peanut’s Place Rescue when it closed. In contrast to the store’s assertions that the animals were prepared for sale, founder Colleen Sowers stated that each and every dog needed urgent medical attention.
According to the documents I have, the dogs are prepared for sale, Sowers stated. They obviously weren’t. Individuals were ill and spending between $1,500 and $3,500 from all over the nation.
Upon arriving, Sowers observed that every dog needed to be put on a minimum of three different drugs. Rehabilitating the animals and getting them ready for safe adoptions is now a significant challenge for the rescue.
Puppies Came From Out-of-State Breeders
According to documents, the puppies were sent from facilities in Missouri to Charlotte when they were only 8 weeks old—a very young and vulnerable period for small dogs. Concerns regarding the breeder-to-retail pipeline that allowed for this degree of neglect were raised by Sowers, who described the number of small puppies coming as overwhelming.
Customers Paid Thousands, Received Sick Puppies
Thousands of dollars were spent for what the pet store victims claimed were healthy, well-bred puppies. Instead, many animals deteriorated soon after purchase, resulting in hefty veterinary expenditures and emotional suffering.
Happy Puppy Universe’s owners were not contacted for comment, and the Department of Agriculture has not provided any further information regarding possible sanctions.
Do you want to tell local breeders about your experience or offer your opinion on animal safety regulations? Participate in the discussion at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com and make your opinion known.
