The Attorney General of New York has issued a punishment of $200K on a pet business for making New Yorkers believe they were buying healthy puppies and kittens, when in fact they were not.

A pet business will have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for misinforming New Yorkers regarding the well-being of the animals it sold.

On Monday, Jan. 9, the state Attorney General's Office declared a settlement deal which saw Bell Pet Company, also known as The Pet Zone, agree to pay a civil penalty and build a restitution fund up to the value of $200,000 to respond the reimbursement of medical costs for those entitled.

The Attorney General’s Office declared that the business had not produced the full medical records, such as a register of medications given to animals, as an effort to keep past illnesses concealed.

The Attorney General’s Office announced that the company had failed to give out medical records in their entirety, like a register of treatments dispensed to animals, as a means to keep preexisting sicknesses secret.

The Attorney General’s Office reported that a number of puppies and kittens were taken ill soon after their adoption.

New York Attorney General Letitia James declared in a statement that deceiving families into purchasing unwell puppies and kittens is both cruel and illegal.

She continued, saying that what was supposed to be a joyful experience of welcoming a new pet at The Pet Zone, sadly turned into misery for pet owners who were met with a sick animal and the unwelcome surprise of high medical costs.

This agreement will guarantee that no one is fooled regarding the wellness of a pet they take home.

The Pet Zone must additionally hand over $2,500 in penalties to the state.

James urged consumers who had bought a pet from The Pet Zone and were misled concerning its well-being to file for a refund.
 
Individuals who bought a pet after the start of January 2014 that had a medical certificate from a veterinarian declaring it should not have been sold due to being ill, can apply for reimbursement.

Qualifying consumers will have access to the fund for a period of 12 months.

The Pet Zone can be found in Albany, Poughkeepsie, Watertown, and Queensbury.

If you have queries regarding the settlement, please telephone the Watertown office of the Attorney General on 315-523-6080.