
Kristin of saint Petersburg, FL on Jan. 25, 2010
On December 21st, 2009, I purchased a teacup Chihuahua from the Petland in Largo. I named her Ruby. The window advertised that she was 1.7 lbs and was the cutest thing I've ever seen. After the devastating loss of my previous Chihuahua of 15 years (Pepe) this past April 2009, I was ambivalent to allow another Chi into my heart, but my partner (who actually made the purchase as a Christmas gift) convinced me it was time to love again, so we brought her home.
Bridgett, the senior pet manager from the store, informed me that she had a little runny nose and because of her size, it was necessary that she eat every 3 hours due to hypoglycemia being so common in those breeds. I assured Bridgette I had owned a Chihuahua for many years and am very familiar with how to care for them. She also informed me to be sure to visit their veterinarian within 4 days (free of charge) to ensure her health. My partner gave Petland 4 postdated checks approximately $400 each to be cashed every two weeks to cover the total cost of the dog ($1594 + tax). Off we went to start our long happy life together.
The evening of 12/22/09, I noticed Ruby to be congested and snotty so I made an appointment with their recommended vet VCA of Saint Petersburg for 12/23/09. She was seen by Dr. Jacqueline ** DVM, who stated she was not 1.7 lbs (as initially stated in the window at the store), but that she was barely 1 lb. She diagnosed her with an upper respiratory infection, sent her home with Doxycycline, 4 ml for 10 days. Later that evening, Ruby developed a horrible cough and became a little more lethargic. I returned her to VCA on 12/24/09. Dr. ** stated it was a kennel cough, gave me some cough medicine and advised me to keep up with the Doxy. A follow-up appointment was scheduled for 12/26/09. After that appointment, Ruby appeared to be doing better; she was active and seemed pretty normal. I brought her back to VCA on 12/30/09 for a re-check. Though she had not gained any weight, she appeared to be getting healthy.
On 1/6/10, the day started out as any other, Ruby came to work with me (she remained in a playpen in my office while I worked). I let her out to run around. I noticed she had a little diarrhea and was drinking a lot of water but throwing it up immediately and was a little unsteady on her feet, becoming increasingly lethargic. When she squatted to pee and nothing came out, I rushed her to the only vet that knew her, VCA. As I gathered up her belongings (her bed), I noticed a chewed leaf, thinking she may have ingested it while outside. I brought it with us to the vet and Dr. ** wanted to keep her there to run some tests. $546.81 later, Dr. ** called and said her labs were alarming and she needed overnight care.
I picked her up and immediately drove her to Tampa Bay Emergency Care Center in Largo. Dr. ** DVM/MS evaluated Ruby and stated the chewed leaf may have caused a dietary upset, but she would evaluate for other potential causes. Ruby did test positive for giardia (an internal parasite) and was given 3 doses of medication consecutively for 3 days with a 3 week and 3 month follow up. The doctor was unsure why the previous labs were so screwy, but stated it may have been a lab error because they were normal that morning.
On 1/7/10 and additional $555 later, Ruby was discharged and appeared to be in good health. That next week, Ruby was doing great! She's eating well, developing normal, and stealing my heart with her love and affection. On 1/12/10, after a completely normal day at work, I did notice that she was sleeping a bit more that day and drinking a lot more water than usual, but she was urinating normal so I let it go. I let her out of her pen when we got home. Strangely, she ran so fast around the house like a maniac barking like I've never seen her (I thought she was "goofy" from being in her pen all day and needed the exercise), but when she stopped running, her head bobbed like she was dizzy and I thought it was from running so fast.
But then she kept falling over and when I picked her up, she literally became alarmingly lethargic. Without reservation, I immediately rushed her to Tampa Bay Emergency Care Center. By then she was not herself at all. Dr. ** attended to Ruby and stated because Chihuahuas are predisposed to many congenital defects, she would keep her and evaluate her. At approximately 9:15 pm on 1/12/10, Ruby vocalized, had a seizure and went into cardiac arrest; subsequently she died. The emergency care center had no explanation as to why Ruby passed. That visit cost me an additional $520.
The next day, 1/13/10 at approx 3:45 pm, my partner contacted the manager of Petland to inform them about Ruby's death and demanded a refund of the $800 previously paid to them (I did stop payment on the 2 un-cashed checks, approximately $800). She was advised by the manager on duty to have all the medical reports faxed to them and they would evaluate it and get back to me. VCA faxed their p-work on 1/13/10 approximately 5:30 pm, and the Emergency Hospital faxed theirs on 1/15/10 at approximately 5:30 pm. I have yet to hear anything from Petland. On 1/20/10, I called Petland, left a message for Bridgette (MOD) to contact me and have yet to hear from anyone. Needless to say, I am heartbroken!
Anyone who knows me knows how protective I am of my pets. I do not have any children and look at my pets as my life. I had the luxury of being able to have Ruby with me 24 hours a day, even at work. She was always with me. I was very careful treating her as a baby due to her small size. I do feel Petland and/or the breeder gave me a sick dog from the beginning. I thought I would never buy a pet store animal; however, I justified it as my "rescuing" her from their facility. Though I am financially out $2421.00, I am least concerned about retaining a refund and more concerned with not allowing any other consumers experience the pain and suffering that I have gone through in the 3 short weeks that I had her. I have experienced sleep deprivation; guilt; and have re-lived the loss of my first Chi, Pepe, all over again. Please help me seek justice for my Ruby. Thank you.