We've handled several cases and filed class actions for clients who paid thousands of dollars to website operators selling ostensibly purebred puppies. These operators merely re-sell puppies imported from overseas. The results we've seen are tragic -- very sick animals that don't live long. The website puppy sellers may produce phony veterinarian health certificates as assurance of the health of the pets they sell. This is fraud, but it costs at least as much in attorney’s fees to go after these operators than the animal cost in the first place. And these operators aren’t exactly Warren Buffett when it comes to having ready assets lying around to satisfy judgments.

Tags: Puppy mills, Puppy breeders, dog breeders