A customer is suing a New Jersey pet store for allegedly selling a Pomeranian puppy that was too sick to be sold.
Berna Canseven, on behalf of herself and those similarly situated, filed a lawsuit July 17 in Superior Court of New Jersey Middlesex County Law Division against Just Pups and its owner Vincent LoSacco.
According to the complaint, Canseven purchased the puppy from Just Pups in East Brunswick in October 2014 for $1,663, and was told he was still on medication for a parasite. The dog was “shaking vigorously” when Canseven picked him up, the suit says, and she later took the puppy to the emergency vet the following day where he was given more medication. The plaintiff later received an “unfit for purchase" certificate from the emergency clinic, the lawsuit states.
She brought the puppy back to Just Pups and attempted to obtain a refund on several occasions, the lawsuit says, and also got into a verbal argument with one of the managers of the store. However, after the store tested the puppy for parasites it said it wouldn't offer her a refund, the suit states.
The lawsuit says the company violated the New Jersey Pet Purchase Protection Act based on sales documents and health certificates given to those who purchase puppies.
Canseven seeks class status for the Just Pups' alleged state law violations and also seeks refunds of the puppy and the veterinarian visits, plus court costs. She is represented by attorney Matthew S. Oorbeek of The Wolf Law Firm in North Brunswick.
Superior Court of New Jersey Middlesex County Law Division case number 3:15-cv-05633.