Paw Prints Rescue

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Category: Family & Pets

Contact Information
Orangevale, California, United States

Paw Prints Rescue Reviews

andierose77 April 20, 2011

Sick Animals

We got Tyler (Hank) from Paw Prints on 4/2/11. Happy and playful at first, Hank started showing signs of illness less than 24 hours after he got home. We took him to the vet and began aggressive treatment to help with his coughing, lack of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea. He was given antibiotics, supplements and SQ fluids, but all he did was lay in his bed.

On the evening of 4/10/11, Hank seemed to be doing better and began drinking on his own. Unfortunately, the next morning I woke up and found him dying. I held him and cried. Our family was in love with him, especially my daughter, who was heartbroken by his death.

I called Shawna at Paw Prints to let her know and she offered us another puppy. Believing Hank was an anomaly, I agreed and made the hour-long trip back to Yuba City. We picked up Rocky and my daughter was, again, in love.

Less than 10 minutes after being home, Rocky began to vomit. It was late so I decided to would watch him through the night to see if it was nerves. He continued to throw up and had foul diarrhea all night. He made no attempts to escape his pen, and didn't whine to be let out, as most puppies do. He just laid there, same as Hank, showing no interest in food or water or human contact. The next morning, I told my daughter that we had to take him back because he was sick. She was devastated.

I called Shawna and told her, I also said I wanted my $250 “adoption” fee back. She refused, citing the contract. I told her she knew, as well as I, that the contract was bull. I also asked her for the name of the vet who had cared for the puppies while they were there. SHE ADMITTED TO ME THAT THE PUPPIES HAD NEVER SEEN A VET AND THAT SHE AND HER SISTER HAD ADMINISTERED ALL OF THE VACCINATIONS.

I threatened legal action and told her I would be in touch. A few minutes later, she called back and said she would give me back my money. After driving back to Yuba City to return Rocky, I suggested that they test the puppies and clean the facility. I was regarded coldly and told “We've been doing this for a few years; we know when puppies are sick.” I said I had spent the last week nursing the last puppy they gave me, who had the same symptoms, and he died. I was told I was a troublemaker and they left. Rocky is now back up for adoption (http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/19082144).

I then spoke with the manager of ********, who hosts Paw Prints in-store. He said there were recent complaints about them. He also told me that Paw Prints always had puppies, rarely older dogs, and agreed that the puppies smell like they live in filth, though they are supposedly bathed before being shown (I gave Hank a bath the first night, and even when sick, he never smelled as bad as he did when we first picked him up!) The manager of ******** is currently investigating them.

Looking back on my experience with Paw Prints, I can't believe how naive I was. The signs were all there. Some odd things of note:

The night we got Hank, I asked Shawna when I should take him to the vet. She said I didn't need to.

Their website claims they want to find the best home for their animals, but I was never asked one question, other than if I brought cash.

The shot record and sticker they gave me were photocopies, and only showed the first set of shots, but I was told he had two sets.

When we picked up the second puppy, we were told we didn't need to sign a new contract, but the first was specific to Hank (his information and the date).

Before we got Rocky, I requested to see Roxy, and Hurley, her brother. Shawna claimed that Hurley had been eating his bed and she didn't want us to have him (?). She agreed to bring Roxy and made references to Roxy being a girl. They showed up with Rocky, a boy, and claimed I had asked to see him, even though he wasn't on the website. When I asked if they could get Roxy, they were visibly uncomfortable and skirted around the issue. Were Roxy and Hurley sicker than Rocky?

Shawna admitted to me that the puppies don't see a vet, yet the Paw Prints website states, “The adoption fees cover expenses like VETERINARIAN CARE." (http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/CA1311.html)

OTHER PEOPLE RECENTLY REPORTED THAT PAW PRINTS GAVE THEM DOGS WITH PARVO. APPARENTLY NO STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO QUARANTINE OR HELP THE SICK PUPPIES.

PARVO IN YUBA CITY, CA February 10, 2011

Sick Animals/Deceptive Business Practice

Adopted a puppy from this "non-profit" rescue for $350 cash only. The puppy was taken to the vet the next day for a wellness check up. She had Parvo. We sadly euthanized her after much thought. Tried to let the rescue know that they may have other sick animals. We were verbally berated and called dog murderers. After filing a complaint with the BBB, they responded with a death threat - in writing. They are getting dogs from puppy mills and animal shelters. They didn't take our puppy to the vet, as their wesite claims they do, and don't take responsibility for their animals. All they could do was yell and say horrible things. DO NOT USE THIS "RESCUE". They are FOR-PROFIT - not nonprofit as they claim.

Below is the rebuttal to the BBB that we have submitted:
1. The puppy was adopted on 1/30/11 not 1/31/11.
2. The puppy NEVER vomited in our presence. If the puppy vomited in the presence of Paw Prints, they never gave us that information prior to adopting.
3. According to Paw Prints, they boldly state on their website that they ensure all of their animals go to the vet prior to adoption. This puppy did NOT- making the contract a moot point.
4. Paw Prints stated that no other dogs ”came down sick”. Unless all of the puppies were evaluated by a licensed veterinarian that did an anal swab, there is no way of knowing if the other dogs are indeed sick.
5. We made the choice to humanely euthanize this sick puppy to stop the spread of the Parvo Virus.
6. Paw Prints stated in their BBB rebuttal “no one said this puppy did not have Parvo”. That statement relays that Paw Prints knowingly sold a sick animal. Paw Prints also vacillates on the subject of the puppy absolutely not having Parvo but if she did, Paw Prints would have treated her. Paw Prints cannot have it both ways.
7. Paw Prints stated that they were very upset speaking to us. If by upset Paw Prints means they verbally berated us, we can agree on that statement.
8. Paw Prints stated that there could have been a “false positive” on the Parvo Virus reading. We followed up with our veterinarian to see if that was indeed a possibility due to her recent shots. She said a VERY STRONG POSITIVE was in no way a “false” reading. The veterinarian, taking it one step further, called the manufacturer of the Parvo test to get their input. The manufacturer said there was no way this was a “false positive”. The puppy did indeed have the Parvo Virus.
9. Paw Prints stated that our daughter called them and cursed at them for 20 minutes until they politely hung up. Shawna (of Paw Prints) called her, not the other way around. As soon as our daughter answered the call, Shawna began yelling at her and calling us puppy killers/murderers, calling her stupid and remained very argumentative during the duration of the call. Our daughter openly admitted to us that she said the “F word” a few times and raised her voice but only after Shawna called us puppy murderers. Our daughter asked for Paw Prints veterinarian’s name and phone number so we could speak to them about the puppy’s examination prior to adoption. Shawna said that she was the one that administered the first set of shots to the puppy and that the puppy had never seen an actual veterinarian. Our daughter ended the phone call.
10. Paw Prints stated that Animal Control came to their house and did an inspection. Animal Control found no puppies on the property, so the inspection was clean. Paw Prints neglected to give them the names and numbers of all of their FOSTER HOMES - where, at last count, 39 puppies are being kept and the Parvo Virus may be found.
11. Paw Prints wished illness on my family and stated “off with them is the answer”. That is a physical threat and now we feel our safety is in jeopardy.
12. Paw Prints stated that they made “piece” with losing this puppy. We have not made peace with losing our puppy – a puppy we instantly loved. A puppy Paw Prints say we murdered because of diarrhea.
13. If we do decide to take this to court, we will bring Paw Prints contract as well as the slanderous statements made about us on Paw Prints Facebook page including the statements on that page that said “we need to get these dogs adopted so we can pay our bills”. We were under the impression this was a non-profit agency.
We will also bring the list of promises on Paw Prints Rescue website. It clearly states that Paw Prints ensures the health of their animals thru veterinarian check-ups. In the event Paw Prints does not know what we are referring to here is their statement:

“The adoption fees cover expenses like veternarian care, vaccinations, medications, testing, worming, flea meds, spaying/neutering, food, dishes, bedding and many other supplies that you need on a daily basis. The cost per animal is what it basically cost us and sometimes it cost more than the adoption fees. Vet care alone can run from the hundreds and up. We sometimes (always) never recover from these expenses.”

Although Paw Prints removed their Facebook page, we printed a copy of it for our records.
14. Paw Prints states that they are a rescue.
Any reputable rescue would not berate people that drove for hours to get a puppy only to find out it was sick with a potentially deadly virus. They would try to solve the situation to ensure all of the animals were healthy.
Any reputable rescue would not make death threats to people that tried to save a puppy’s life by adoption and the unfortunate euthanasia due to the Parvo Virus.
Any reputable rescue would not get rescues from Animal Control at the cost of $10 (plus a refundable $40 when proof of spay/neuter is received) and SELL a puppy for $350 to make a profit on these animals, especially when they are a non-profit entity.
Any reputable rescue would not have reacted the way Paw Prints did unless they are used to this type of situation.
Any reputable rescue would have more on their contract than the ways of refunding money. How not to get money refunded and all things money related. It would ask you how big your home is; if there are small children in the home; if there were other animals. The contract would be more interested in the health and welfare of the animal being adopted than the money.

All we wanted from the beginning was to ensure the safety of the other puppies. If any of the volunteers at Paw Prints would have simply stated, “We are so sorry for your loss. We can’t return your money because of the contract but we will ensure a vet checks the rest of the puppies to make sure they are all healthy” that would have been the end of this situation.

Due to the lack of compassion from the volunteers at Paw Prints Rescue, we are requesting a refund for the puppy as well as reimbursement of the vet costs. All monies received will be donated to an animal cause of our choice. This was never about the money. It was always about the animals.