Today, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) announced the filing of a class action lawsuit in Florida's Broward County Circuit Court against a south Florida puppy dealer known as "Wizard of Claws."  The suit alleges that Wizard of Claws has defrauded customers by misrepresenting the origin of puppies, and by selling puppy mill dogs who suffer from severe health problems and genetic defects, all in violation of Florida law. The class includes members of The HSUS and over a hundred individuals from Florida and other states.

"This case highlights a nationwide epidemic of greed and deception in the puppy mill industry," said Jonathan Lovvorn, vice president of animal protection litigation for The HSUS. "Pet stores and dog dealers like Wizard of Claws reap huge profits by pushing sick and dying animals on the public every day.  It is long past time for a reckoning."

The class action lawsuit is the result of months of legal investigation by the law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP and lawyers at The HSUS.  Through extensive investigation, Weil and The HSUS uncovered reports of serious, systematic violations of Florida's animal and consumer protection laws, including allegations concerning the sale of puppies with life-threatening genetic defects and highly contagious parasitic infections, and the refusal to reimburse customers for either the purchase price of sick dogs or veterinary treatments that sometimes cost thousands of dollars.

The class action complaint includes numerous examples of Wizard of Claws selling sick or dying puppies, including:

• A puppy with severe giardia, a contagious parasite.  The dog died two days after being brought home.  
• A puppy with a severe liver defect that resulted in constant seizures up to the point of death only a few weeks after purchase.
• A puppy with severe pneumonia and a collapsed lung. The dog only partially recovered after a four-day stay in a veterinarian's oxygen chamber followed by months of intensive follow up treatment.

The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages for the class members, and injunctive relief against any further sale of puppies by Wizard of Claws. The plaintiffs are being represented on a pro bono basis by the New York and Miami offices of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.

Facts:

• Approximately one-third of the nation's 11,000 pet stores sell puppies.
• The HSUS estimates that 2 to 4 million puppy mill puppies are sold each year in the U.S.
• In Florida, as in every state, many dogs sold at pet stores come from puppy mills.
• Puppy mill puppies often have severe health problems, genetic defects and behavioral issues.
• Documented puppy mill conditions include over-breeding, inbreeding, minimal veterinary care, poor food and shelter, crowded cages, and lack of adequate socialization.
• Dogs kept for breeding in puppy mills suffer for years, being bred as often as possible, and are killed, sold, or abandoned when they are no longer useful to the mill operator.
• The Internet has proven to be an ideal tool for puppy mills and pet stores wanting to dupe the public into thinking that they are dealing with a reputable breeder. They hide behind attractive websites.
• Reputable breeders never sell their puppies over the internet or through a pet store. Rather they will insist on meeting the family who will be purchasing the dog.
• Puppy mills drastically contribute to the millions of unwanted dogs euthanized at shelters every year.
• Never buy a dog from a pet store. Visit a shelter where one of four dogs is a purebred, or find a breed rescue group.

Timeline:

• April 2007 – In response to a petition filed by The HSUS and Florida residents, Florida's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDAC) announces it will begin developing rules to formalize the veterinary inspection and certification procedures in an effort to prevent the sale of unhealthy puppies to an unsuspecting public.
• April 2007 – The HSUS and several Florida residents file a petition seeking new rules from FDAC to formalize the veterinary inspection and certification process to ensure that veterinarians do not rubber-stamp sick dogs as fit.
• June 2006 – The Florida Attorney General's office files a lawsuit alleging that Wizard of Claws defrauded customers in violation of Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.
• February 2006 – Miami's WTVJ-TV NBC 6 airs ten-part investigative story documenting complaints from Wizard of Claws customers, including undercover footage of terrible conditions at a puppy mill from where the shop obtains puppies (click here to view the story).
• December 2003 – Several consumers file suit against Wizard of Claws, a notorious Broward County puppy-mill front. The suit alleges that Wizard of Claws' veterinarian has been signing health certificates allowing the sale of puppies with contagious diseases, internal parasites, and severe genetic problems.

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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization – backed by 10 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- On the web at humanesociety.org .