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

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31. I bought a dog from this store. It was supposidly a retreiver and I was given papers - which I found were later bogus. We discovered the retreiver and a great pyrennes. The dog ended up in the vet hospital 48 hours after I bought it with severe pneumonia. The dog survived but stayed at the vets for 5 days on my dime. While my puppy was there the vet mentioned they had another dog, a spaniel from the store there also severly ill. I went back to the store to be reimbursed which I had to fight with the young woman who owns the store before I received any compensation. What they gave medid not cover the costs incurred for saving this puppy. I love the dog but the store should just be "put down".

Posted at 12:07AM on Dec 29th 2007 by Patricia

32. I've got news for all of you as a dog exhibitor for over 20 years I can tell you that EVERY pet shop gets their puppies from puppy mills because ethical breeders do not sell to pet shops. In fact in order to join every kennel club you have to sign a form that says you will not sell to a pet shop nor donate a puppy for a raffle.

Posted at 12:12AM on Dec 29th 2007 by Just Me

33. Denise Richards should just shut the hell up. She is an in-bred herself so she has not place to talk. That bitch!

Posted at 12:22AM on Dec 29th 2007 by In All Fairness

34. That is stupid they always blame the pet store or breeders for parvo. It is something natural that happens and not anyones fault. Hell lets start sueing for someone giving you the flu next. What a bunch of idiots. The laws and people with their damn dogs. Worry about something else instead of animals all the time. Hell pretty soon the animals will rule the country.

Parvo, parasites are things that is part of nature just deal with it and quit blaming others unless the dog was sick the day you got it it should be the new owners problem.

Posted at 12:28AM on Dec 29th 2007 by lee

35. ...DIANNE T...I'M HAVING SAME PROBLEM ...WEIRD..OF CRSE U KNEW...DONT'NOW WHY I BOTHER TO STATE THEOBVIOUS OVER AGAIN!! HAHAHA....I'M JUST CHATING WITH LILLIE...SLOW BOARD TONITE SO WE R STRAYING...WE R ON THE NEVER ENDING BRIT SIGHT...HAHAHHA....

Posted at 12:26AM on Dec 29th 2007 by jr

36. 33. That is stupid they always blame the pet store or breeders for parvo. It is something natural that happens and not anyones fault. Hell lets start sueing for someone giving you the flu next. What a bunch of idiots. The laws and people with their damn dogs. Worry about something else instead of animals all the time. Hell pretty soon the animals will rule the country.

Parvo, parasites are things that is part of nature just deal with it and quit blaming others unless the dog was sick the day you got it it should be the new owners problem.

Posted at 12:28AM on Dec 29th 2007 by lee

--------------------------------
Get your facts straight...parvo is a VIRUS that puppies get from living in an area that hasn't been sanitized after a previous infection or from being around other infected dogs. Also, it takes over a week to show any signs, so if the puppy is sick within the first week it should definately be the pet store's fault.

Posted at 1:27AM on Dec 29th 2007 by J

37. The incubation period for parvo is 7-14 days.... chances are, the dog had the virrus BEFORE ownership took place! Pet stores DO NOT take proper care of animals... go into ANY pet store in the country and OPEN YOUR EYES - you can't tell me diffierent!

Posted at 1:27AM on Dec 29th 2007 by BARB

38. I'm glad they are finally getting what they deserve. I ordered and paid for an item there and they never bothered to place the order and would never return my calls or emails - for 6 months!

Posted at 4:32PM on Jan 2nd 2008 by Disgruntled

39. I always thought that for the most part these comment sites were to share knowledge and give advice. Is it really important that Britney Spears or Paris Hilton bought dogs there? Like it says in the article these dogs come from puppy mills here the female dogs are forced to continue reproduce over and over probably until they die and they sit n cages 24/7, it woudnt surprise me to hear that they arent walked and most likely sit,lay and sleep in their own feces. This is cruel. This is sad.

Posted at 2:41AM on Dec 29th 2007 by crystal

40. Haven't we been saying DON'T BUY FROM PET STORES!!!!!

Posted at 4:44AM on Dec 29th 2007 by Celebuspawn

41. People think nothing of buying from petstores you can tell them the puppies come from bad places like puppymills but they dont care I know I groom and folks tell me all the time well I got free financing and blah blah blah

Posted at 5:43AM on Dec 29th 2007 by danie

42. Good for him. Like others have said, Breeders (good breeders) would never put their animals in a pet store or a flea market or anywhere like that. Their focus is on the well being and health of their dogs (or anyone worth their salt would be) . Parvo runs rampant in puppy mills and is dangerous. Parvo is transmitted through the fecal matter of other dogs, so either the puppy store is filthy and infected or the mill where they are getting their dogs is infected. Either way one of them (if not BOTH) are not clean and NOT keeping the best interest of the dogs in mind.

Google puppy mill for those of you who think buying your pups from a pet store is a "fine idea". See what conditions your furry friends mother lived in. Filth, confined space . . . it's disgusting. Actually try google images, the pictures would horrify you.

Pet stores should be banned from selling animals and should just stick to selling accessories and supplies.

It's not a matter of if Bel Air Pets or what have you is in the wrong they (all pet stores selling puppies or kittens) are in the wrong.

Posted at 7:10AM on Dec 29th 2007 by JD

43. Celebs can help in closing puppy mills if they stop buying dogs from pet shops.

Posted at 7:20AM on Dec 29th 2007 by Benny

44. AKC does mean something if you are a breeder or if you plan to show your pet. It means that your dog is purebred. CKC is the one that matters not. You can register mutts with them. I show dogs and breed English Mastiffs. I do actually have two other dogs and a cat from a shelter though and thy all have great personalities. Neve buy from a pet shop though. I only breed my dogs 2 times and they are all indoor/outdoor dogs. I am not the typical breeder. I am also selective about who gets one of my pups and I do donate a puppy sometimes to select charities

Posted at 8:39PM on Dec 29th 2007 by ravenslvr

45. in addition to perpetrating the horror of puppy mills, buying from a pet store contributes to the death of 5 million healthy animals who destroyed every year because there are not enough homes for them. if you don't want the all-American "mutt" , then check out breed rescue organizations. you may not get registration papers but unless you are going to show the dog professionally, who cares? NEVER BUY A PET FROM A PET STORE.

Posted at 9:12AM on Dec 29th 2007 by lizzie

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