ComplaintsforShake-A-Paw

• Initial Complaint

  02/07/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I purchased a puppy from Shake a Paw less than 30 days ago and have already had to visit the vet twice. My dog is still being treated for parasites/blood in stool that was noticed immediately after bringing her home. Upon further investigation Shake a Paw tends to have a habit of selling sick or near death dogs for really high prices ($4k+)

  Business response

  02/07/2022

  We spoke to the customer as well as her mother and the ********************** was diagnosed with a very common puppy parasite and we told the customer that we would reimburse them for the stool samples as well as the treatment. They were told that all they needed to do was submit the bills to us for reimbursement. As far as we know, no bills have been submitted yet. Once they are submitted they will be reimbursed.

• Initial Complaint

  12/22/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I purchased a German Shepherd puppy from Shake-A-Paw Lynbrook location. Price tag over $5,500.00 Little did we know that our little guy was sold to us sick. When we brought the puppy home the first 3 days the puppy was not playing or eating as expected for an 8 week old puppy. I was worried so I took him to **** ********************* in Huntington, **. We thought we were taking him home the same day. They told us that he had a parasite inside of him and was hospitalized for a week. I have all the medical records for the puppy to prove that I was sold a sick puppy. ( I can provide medical records if needed, please let me know).

  Business response

  01/12/2022

  Hello,

  We have reviewed our records and we have no recent purchase by anyone with that name or address. We were only able to locate someone with a similar name and different address for someone that purchased a puppy in October of 2020. In that file we have no records of anyone ever contacting the store in regards to any medical issues. We are not sure that this is the same customer since that ********************** was sold well over a year ago. If it is the same person and they waited 14 months to file a complaint please have them submit to us any medical bills that they feel we may be responsible for, although we needed to be notified within 14 days if the puppy was medically ill as well as been presented with a letter of Unfitness for Sale issued by the Veterinarian. As of today, *********************************************************** received any medical information whatsoever.

• Initial Complaint

  11/23/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On or about 11/6/2021, I purchase a puppy for my family from Shake a Paw Hicksville. I specifically requested a hypoallerginivc breed based on the needs of my family. After a few says with the puppy in the home, my wife and children has severe reactions to the pet dander. I called for some assistance. They were extremely rude and focused on the no return policy. Exchange was never an option. They told us that the puppy was stored with other puppies who were not hypoallergenic. They told us to wash the dog 10 times. "How should we know that you are one in a gazillion people that would have an allergic reaction. That is not our responsibility. We are not legally responsible. Surrender the puppy if you have to". It is truly unfortunate that my wife and children's allergic reactions were taken so lightly.

  Business response

  12/13/2021

  The customer was in our ********************** on 11/6/2021 with their entire family and asked for a dog considered to be "hypo-allergenic" but also on sale at a lower price. The salesperson showed them a few puppies, giving them time with each in a room alone with the puppy to see how they do with it. The puppy they decided to purchase was a "hava-poo" which is a mix of a havanese and a poodle. Although it is explained that customers that there is no such thing as a "100% hypoallergenic" some people are allergic to all dogs, but there are select breeds considered "hypoallergenic" that are the best dogs to get for allergies. a havanese and a poodle (and a mix thereof) is a dog with a low/non-dander "non-shedding"coat that is considering one of the dogs good for people with allergies. I am including links to some websites that show the list of "hypoallergenic" dog breeds and you can see how poodle and havanese are in the top ten of all of them. We always recommend a customer spend time with the ********************** and give our customers as much time as they desire in a private playroom alone with the puppy so they can see the puppys health, quality and to see if any issues arise while being with the puppy. Only after much time with the puppy did the ******* family decide they were going to purchase the puppy. At this time the customers are still left alone in the room with the puppy while the salesperson gets the puppies paperwork and purchase documents ready. In all the ********* spent over an hour with the puppy prior to going upfront to do the paperwork on the purchase of the puppy. At no time during any of this was any issue with the puppy brought to the salesperson attention. At this point our salesperson sat with ****************** and his family and went through all of the paperwork on the puppy. This included the contract of sale which specifically states that puppies are a "Final sale" and cannot be returned for any reason. It even outlines allergies as one of those reasons. After the customer was given and read the contracts, he signed that he understood these conditions.Approximately a week later Mr. and ******************* called and spoke to one of the store managers about the issue they were encountering. They stated that some of the family was showing an allergic reaction to the puppy. Mr. and ******************* were adamant from the beginning and throughout the entire conversation that nothing,but a return and refund would be satisfactory to them. The store manager tried to offer much advice to the ********, which was disregarded at that time, just as it was in their complaint. The manager did not state that washing the dog 10 times would solve the problem. He stated how the dogs are housed with other non-hypoallergic puppies while in the store and sometimes this could be the reason, they are having a reaction. It could be to something in the puppys coat, not the puppy itself. If this was the case it could take a few baths to get anything out that is bothering them. The ******** also informed our manager how the reactions they were feeling were getting better until they brought the dog to a groomer and when the puppy came home it was much worse. He explained this is like what happens in the store as the groomer has all types of dogs being housed together.All the dogs are being brushed with the same brushes and the same tools being used on each. This can also cause contamination of the puppy they own which could exacerbate the problem they are encountering. In the complaint the ******** state that an exchange was never an option. The manager did mention exchange but the ******** themselves stated that was unsatisfactory as the dog they purchased is considered hypoallergenic so they felt there was nothing they could exchange for that would be a better option. They also stated that the manager told them to surrender the dog which could not be further from the truth.The Manager pleaded with them to listen to the advice he was trying to give, stating that they could be giving away a pet that could potentially be a good option for them. Without trying the advice he gave, they would not know exactly what was causing the reaction they were feeling. At no point where they interested in anything the manager had to say, in fact stating that they were getting rid of the dog tonight no matter what. The ******** repeatedly talked over the manager and cut him off, constantly stating that they only wanted to return the dog for a full refund. There are many reasons the store must have a final sale policy on the puppies. One being, that just bringing the puppy to the groomer is exposing the puppy to many things the young puppy is not fully vaccinated against. If we just let anyone return or exchange a puppy, we could expose every puppy in the store to potential disease and risks none are fully vaccinated against. To say our manager took their allergies lightly is far from the truth.He tried multiple times to offer advice and guidance on how to try to correct the issue they were encountering. It is sad that they were not interested in any of it, and only interested in returning the puppy for a refund. Unfortunately as the customers were unwilling to give any other options to us than a refund on the puppy, we were unable to offer any other assistance to them.

  below are links to the list of dogs considered "hypoallergenic"

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*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩