Celebrity Justice
Dog Dead Afternoon Suit for Pet Shop to the Stars

Pets of Bel Air -- the trendy pet shop that was exposed for having purchased their dogs from puppy mills -- has been hit with a class action suit by one dissatisfied customer. Their celeb clients include Paris Hilton, Denise Richards, Demi Moore, Britney Spears and Robin Williams.
Read the lawsuit
In a lawsuit filed today in Los Angeles Superior Court, Wayne Kreger alleges he purchased a Chihuahua puppy from the store in August 2007. He claims he was told that dog was a "purebred American Kennel Club Chihuahua" and would be given papers proving it. He claims he never got the papers.

The lawsuit goes on to say that the Kreger was told by an employee that the dog might "become dehydrated and show a lack of interest in food." Sure enough, within two days, that happened and the dog was diagnosed with Parvo virus and died 10 days later.

Kreger is suing the store for false advertising and fraud and is asking for unspecified damages.

A rep for the store tells TMZ they have no indication on record that there was anything wrong with the dog, nor were they ever notified that anything was wrong. If they had been notified, they would have done all they could to fix it.

Reader Comments

(Page 2 of 4) Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

16. ...DIANNE T....HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!... i don't have pets , just 4 sons!! hahahaha...it is grt when a posting oomes up where people can share knowledge as opposed ot opinions....lots of learning abt the whole puppy mill business I never knew abt...how sad!!!!!..geesh...

Posted at 9:24PM on Dec 28th 2007 by jr

17. 15. i don't have pets , just 4 sons!! hahahaha...it is grt when a posting oomes up where people can share knowledge as opposed ot opinions....lots of learning abt the whole puppy mill business I never knew abt...how sad!!!!!..geesh...

Posted at 9:24PM on Dec 28th 2007 by jr

--------------------

That sounds about right



Bitches do have a liter of four . . .

Hav knows



Thank - You and have a nice night

Posted at 9:35PM on Dec 28th 2007 by FlyontheWallTMZ@Aol.com

18. It can't be a "CLASS ACTION SUIT" with just one plaintiff. A class action suit - would indicate a whole 'class' of plaintiffs (several+). You might want to go back and look at your wording on that one drama queens.

Posted at 9:38PM on Dec 28th 2007 by SDJ

19. What kind of lousy headline is that? Whaat?

Posted at 9:49PM on Dec 28th 2007 by db

20. This is BS. I bought my dog--a very expensive dog--from Pets of Bel Air and couldn't be happier. The dog is pure breed with papers and couldn't be a better dog.

I would definitely buy again. It's a wonderful place.

I'm surprised that TMZ is going after Pets of Bel Air like this. Sometimes TMZ goes too far.

Posted at 9:46PM on Dec 28th 2007 by MacGuffin

21. Huge congrats to HSUS for doing an outstanding job in catching this pet shop fraud and staunchly defending their excellent investigation. Y'all deserve the best New Year ever!

Posted at 12:35AM on Dec 29th 2007 by D

22. Just remember its not just the ritzy stores. Petland one of the largest pet corporations in the country sells dogs from puppy mills. They also buy from puppy mills. Just google Petland Horror and all the websites come up about Puppy Mills

Dont know what a Puppy Mill is then go to you tube and type in puppy mills. You will be shocked at what you see!

Posted at 7:28PM on Dec 30th 2007 by Petland

23. I had a similar problem with a petshop in NC. They claimed the dog had been vaccinated and all this other stuff. Get him to the vet the very next day and what do you know he's got Parvo. On top of that, he gave it to my other dog who was one shot away from his complete set. This pup was out in 2 with a bill of 400 bucks and a week later the other was a whopping 1500. THe pet stores always deny knowing anything. Just to cover their rear. They don't care about the welfare of the animals they just care about the profit. Also, parvo isn't always able to be cured. You have to catch it REALLY early otherwise the dog could die within days because even water, they can't keep down.

Posted at 10:17PM on Dec 28th 2007 by B

24. All pet stores buy their puppies from puppy mills and unethical commercial breeders. No reputable breeder would ever sell a puppy to the general public via a store or broker.

Posted at 10:50PM on Dec 28th 2007 by Kaiden

25. #9. Remember - even dogs from puppy mills can be AKC certified!!! AKC doesn't mean anything - research the breeder and NEVER buy from a pet store!

Posted at 11:00PM on Dec 28th 2007 by Jenny

26. NO THEY WOULD NOT HAVE!!!! I BOUGHT A MALTESE FROM THERE AND IT WAS SO SICK FOR OVER A MONTH THAT IT ALMOST DIED. I HAD TO TAKE IT TO MY OWN VET AND PAY FOR IT BECAUSE ALL THEY WANTED TO DO WAS GIVE ME "FREE" ANTIBIOTICS WHICH DOES NOT CURE KENNEL COUGH. COME TO FIND OUT, OTHER DOGS THERE HAD KENNEL COUGH AS WELL AT SAME TIME THEY SOLD ME MINE. I SAW THEM UPSTAIRS WITH MY OWN EYES. WE HAVE 3 MALTESE AND, 2 NORMAL AND THE ONE WE BOUGHT FROM THERE YOU WOULD THINK IS A MUTT, NOT A MALTESE IF SHE WAS NOT WHITE. WHICH IS FINE, WE ADORE AND LOVE HER AND THE ONLY REASON I BOUGHT HER IS I WAS GETTING TEA THAT DAY AND SAW HER IN THERE BEING PASSED AROUND AND FELT SORRY THAT THIS TINY LITTLE DOG WAS GOING TO BE SOLD TO ANYONE THAT HAD $$'S TO PURCHASE HER. THAT IS WHY I CANNOT GO IN PET STORES BECAUSE THOSE DOGS NEED TO BE RESCUED ALMOST AS MUCH AS THE ONES IN SHELTERS. I HAVE HAD MANY DOGS FROM THE SHELTERS IN MY LIFE AND THEY ARE MUCH HEALTHIER. PET STORES LIKE THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE CLOSED DOWN

Posted at 11:14PM on Dec 28th 2007 by SAM

27. All these pet stores should be shut down. This is what I like about TMZ the most! They always are reporting on animal cruelty and making these issues aware to the public (Michael Vick, Pet Stores, Ellen's Iggy) These issues need to make it to the forefront. And yes the dogs in Pet stores, do need to be rescued! They are victims of this disgusting industry. I adopted one because I saw 5 kids banging on the front window scaring it to death. What should happen is these stores need to be protested so they are completely shut down and stop buying fro these puppy mills who can then stop breeding these animals so much. Kudos to TMZ for making animal issues newsworthy. THIS IS WHY I VISIT YOUR SITE 100x a day!

Posted at 11:26PM on Dec 28th 2007 by Jiga

28. To:

(Posted at 9:38PM on Dec 28th 2007 by SDJ)

I think you missed the part that says: "and on behalf of all others similarly situated".

Happy holidays to you too, jr.

That can't be the real fly .... too mean!!

Posted at 11:34PM on Dec 28th 2007 by DIANE T

29. ...Dianne T..I ignore the lack of wisdom ones now...many young kids have lots of interesting thoughts...but there r the same 2 or 3 who seem to thrive on whatever I post...I take that now as a compliment!!! hahahahaha....the REAL Fly as u well know , doesn't hurt a flea and isn't around lately!! hahahaha....I learn't alot abt this puppy mill stuff a couple weeks ago on another blog....geez...rackets everywhere in life!!! ...

Posted at 11:41PM on Dec 28th 2007 by jr

30. Hey jr,

I tried to post back to you for hrs, but it wouldn't go through. Happens some times. I knew that wasn't the real fly!!!

Posted at 11:55PM on Dec 28th 2007 by DIANE T

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