Petland Novi due in court

Pet store stonewalls buyers by refusing to provide complete 

answers to questions regarding its business practices

MEDIA ADVISORY: February 18, 2019

CONTACT: Pam Sordyl, 734-718-7100, pamsordyl@gmail.com

NOVI, MICHIGAN – The third Petland Novi civil case is headed for hearings on Wednesday, February 20, 2019 at 8:30 am at the Oakland County Circuit Courthouse (located at 1200 Telegraph Rd, Pontiac, MI) in the Honorable Judge Phyllis McMillen’s courtroom located on the third floor, room 3C.

According to court documents, a Northville family purchased a sick puppy that passed an antibiotic resistant Campylobacter infection on to the owner requiring time off of work and medical treatment. Link to press release.

The complaint (Doug Rose v Northlake Pets Inc, dba Petland Novi, Case No 2018-170078-NO) claims fraud, negligence and breach of contract as the dog was represented as healthy and fit for sale as a companion animal.

On Wednesday, the court will be hearing motions regarding Petland’s failure to provide answers to basic questions and repeated failure to provide deposition testimony.  These motions to compel were filed by the Haas & Goldstein law firm representing Plaintiffs Doug and Dawn Rose. The motion states “the Plaintiffs have been requesting dates for the depositions of Randy Horowitz who is the owner …, as well as, Alayna Markle and Melissa Norvakowski, …sales managers” and that the counsel for the defendants “refused to provide dates”.

The motion also states that the counsel for the defendants “refused to provide complete discovery responses...” and that “the Plaintiffs need such documents and information to adequately prepare for cross examinations of witnesses, case evaluations and trial”.

“It is clear the counsel for the defendants (Petland Novi), is engaging in a discovery shell game and purposely attempting to thwart Plaintiffs right to discovery. “

  

Members of Puppy Mill Awareness of SE Michigan will be attending the hearings. Link to Facebook event. 

Puppy Mill Awareness of SE Michigan recommends families adopt their next pet from their local shelter or Michigan Certified foster-based animal rescue organization - many of whom specialize in specific breeds.

Learn more about Puppy Mill Awareness.

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Petland Novi - Michigan man hospitalized after purchasing infected puppy

Lawsuit filed after man contracts a multi-drug resistant 

 Campylobacter infection. The CDC traces multi-state 

 outbreak to Petland stores 

PRESS RELEASE: November 28, 2018 

CONTACT: Pam Sordyl, 734-828-1400, pmamichinfo@yahoo.com 

NOVI, MICHIGAN – A third lawsuit was filed against Petland, located in the Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi, MI after a Northville man was hospitalized shortly after purchasing a sick puppy infected with Campylobacter. Doug and Dawn Rose are seeking monetary damages after Doug became infected with a multi-drug resistant Campylobacter infection acquiring weeks’ worth of medical expenses. 

The Beagle-Pug mixed puppy named Thor, was also diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection, parasites, coccidia and giardia by the same veterinary clinic in Farmington Hills which signed off on the health of the puppy at the store. Petland has not paid for Thor’s medical expenses. In January 2018 the CDC completed a multistate investigation of a Campylobacter outbreak linking 99% of the cases to puppy stores. The vast majority of those individuals sickened reported they had contact with a puppy from a Petland store. The investigation included 113 cases across 17 states with 23 hospitalizations. 

The most common clinical symptoms of Campylobacter infections include diarrhea (frequently bloody), abdominal pain, fever, headache, nausea, and/or vomiting. Link to the CDC Outbreak Investigation: https://www.cdc.gov/campylobacter/outbreaks/puppies-9-17/index.html 

 “..people sickened in this outbreak were resistant to commonly recommended, first-line antibiotics. This means it may be difficult to treat these infections with the antibiotics usually prescribed for Campylobacter infections. 

The Rose’s puppy came from a commercial kennel, however their puppy and other puppies in the store could have become infected at various points along the distribution chain when they had contact with infected puppies from other breeders or distributors during transport. 

In February, seventeen plaintiffs filed a lawsuit against Petland Novi and nine more families filed a second lawsuit in April after purchasing puppies from the store. Their puppies suffered from a range of issues, including genetic defects, infections and some had highly contagious diseases, costing the plaintiffs thousands of dollars in veterinary care. 

This third lawsuit was filed at the Oakland County Circuit Court and assigned to Judge Phyllis McMillen. The Plaintiffs are represented by attorney Jenifer Measel of Haas & Goldstein, P.C., a Farmington Hills based law firm which recently prevailed in similar pet store retail fraud cases in Mt. Clemens, Mich. 

The founder of Puppy Mill Awareness of Southeast Michigan, Pam Sordyl, is urging city officials to end the retail sale of puppies and protect families from irresponsible puppy brokers. “Cities should promote humane business models and encourage families to adopt from their local shelter or Michigan Certified foster-based animal rescue organization - many of whom specialize in specific breeds.” 

Puppy Mill Awareness of Southeast Michigan is a grassroots organization dedicated to ending commercial breeding "puppy mills" and protecting families from puppy peddlers, pet stores and bad breeders by lobbying for stronger laws, setting up information booths, completing research studies and launching pet store campaigns. 

Learn more about Puppy Mill Awareness 

Links to prior media coverage: 
Petland sold sick, worm-infested puppies, lawsuit claims 
Detroit Free Press Published March 19, 2018 

Novi Petland sued for allegedly selling diseased and sick puppies 
The Oakland Press 03/14/18 

Lawsuit says Novi Petland sells unhealthy puppies 
Local 4 March 16, 2018 

Couple says Novi Petland sold them sick dog that had to be put down 
FOX 2 Detroit MAR 16 2018  

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Nine more families file lawsuit against Novi Pet Store

Two dozen families claim Petland Novi knowingly sold puppies 

with genetic issues, illnesses and disease from substandard breeders
violating the Consumer Protection Act 

PRESS RELEASE: April 27, 2018

CONTACT: Pam Sordyl, 734-828-1400, pmamichinfo@yahoo.com

NOVI, MICHIGAN – On April 20^th, 2018 a second lawsuit was filed against Petland, located in the Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi, MI. Nine additional plaintiffs are seeking monetary damages for breach of contract and multiple violations of the Consumer Protection Act.

In February, seventeen plaintiffs filed a lawsuit after purchasing puppies from the store. 

The puppies suffered from a range of issues, including genetic defects, infections and some had highly contagious diseases, costing the plaintiffs thousands of dollars in veterinary care.

This new lawsuit was also filed at the Oakland County Circuit Court and assigned to Judge Hala Jarbou.

Both complaints also allege fraud, claiming the store and its owner knowingly sold animals with deformities and illnesses, as well as misrepresenting the origins of the animals.  In many cases, after investigating the documents provided by Petland upon purchase, the animals were found to have been bred in horrific conditions by commercial breeders who many allege are well known “puppy mill” owners.

The Plaintiffs for both lawsuits are represented by attorney Jennifer Measel of Haas & Goldstein, P.C., a Farmington Hills based law firm which recently prevailed in similar pet store retail fraud cases in Mt. Clemens, Mich.

Those wanting to add a pet to their household are encouraged to adopt from their local shelter or Michigan Certified foster-based animal rescue organization - many of whom specialize in specific breeds.

To follow the progress of the Petland Novi cases, click below

https://courtexplorer.oakgov.com/OaklandCounty

(Case Number 2018-163984-CZ and 2018-165230-CZ)

Puppy Mill Awareness of Southeast Michigan is a grassroots organization dedicated to ending commercial breeding "puppy mills" and protecting families from puppy peddlers, pet stores and bad breeders by lobbying for stronger laws, setting up information booths, completing research studies and launching pet store campaigns.

Learn more about Puppy Mill Awareness

https://www.meetup.com/puppymillawareness/

Links to prior media coverage:

Petland sold sick, worm-infested puppies, lawsuit claims

Detroit Free Press Published March 19, 2018 https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2018/03/19/petland-sold-sick-worm-infested-puppies-lawsuit-claims/425661002/

Novi Petland sued for allegedly selling diseased and sick puppies

The Oakland Press 03/14/18

http://www.theoaklandpress.com/general-news/20180314/novi-petland-sued-for-allegedly-selling-diseased-and-sick-puppies

Lawsuit says Novi Petland sells unhealthy puppies

Local 4 March 16, 2018

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/lawsuit-says-novi-petland-sells-unhealthy-puppies

Couple says Novi Petland sold them sick dog that had to be put down

FOX 2 Detroit MAR 16 2018

http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/local-news/couple-says-novi-petland-sold-them-sick-dog-that-had-to-be-put-down

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