Paw Prints Rescue reviews and complaints

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.