Brick Puppy Store Protest Planned By Animal Activists

BRICK, NJ — Animal activists are planning a protest outside a pet store in Brick where two families say they were sold puppies that became ill and died just days after bringing them home.

The protest, planned for Saturday, April 22, will be held on the grass beyond the parking area in front of Breeders Association of America on Route 70, organizers said. Breeders Association of America has been under scrutiny in recent days in the wake of complaints by two families who purchased puppies at the store that died less than two weeks later.

Valerie Macaluso of Beachwood bought a Rottweiler mix named Brody on March 9 from the store and has told Patch Brody became sick two days after she and her daughter brought him home, with vomiting and diarrhea. He died March 18 at Ramtown Animal Hospital in Howell, the veterinarian that treats the puppies at Breeders Association of America. Dr. James Fenton, the veterinarian at Ramtown, told Patch on Tuesday that while Brody exhibited signs of parvovirus, a test on mucus from Brody did not confirm that suspicion.

Anne and Brittany Reeves of Brick bought a pomsky puppy on March 23, and the puppy, Cooper, began vomiting and having diarrhea a few days later. After Cooper continued to vomit despite receiving an anti-nausea medication, Anne Reeves called Breeders Association of America and spoke to Jen, the manager, who Reeves said told her to bring the puppy to the store to be treated by their veterinarian, Ramtown. Cooper died March 31, Fenton said, despite statements by Jen to both Anne Reeves and Patch denying the puppy had died. A postmortem test on Cooper by Dr. Adam Christman of Brick Town Veterinary Hospital was positive for parvo.

>> READ MORE: Puppy's Owners Want To Know: What Happened To Cooper?

What Happened To Cooper? Puppy's Owners Have Some Answers, But More Questions

In the wake of reports about Brody and Cooper, whose body was kept from the Reeveses for four days after Fenton said the store told him they owned the puppy, the Ocean County Health Department conducted inspections on Tuesday and Wednesday at the store. On Thursday, officials with the health department said the inquiry into the store is continuing.

According to a report by News 12 New Jersey, health inspectors found paperwork was missing during the Tuesday visit.

The health department has asked anyone who purchased a puppy from Breeders Association of America to call them at 732-341-9700 to report their issues with sick animals.

Animal activists say the protest, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 22, is in part a reflection of their frustration with the fact that Breeders Association of America was permitted to stay in business even after Brick Township passed an ordinance in 2012 banning the retail sale of puppies and kittens.

Persistent controversies with another pet store in the township led to the retail sale ban, but because Breeders Association of America already was in business, it was grandfathered in and allowed to continue to operate under a state law.

Those planning to attend the protest on April 22 are being told to park in the Target parking lot, according to the Facebook group Justice for Cooper. The protest will be on the grass in front of the store, which is in the middle of the strip mall containing several small stores, including a hair salon and a tanning salon.

Reports by Patch and News 12 on the situations with Macaluso's and Reeves' puppies also have prompted more reports of ill puppies purchased from the store, and of dogs purchased from its sister store, Breeders Club of America, in Middletown. At least 20 owners have contacted the Patch with reports of problems.

Jen O'Shea of Middletown purchased a 3-month-old Wheaton terrier from the Middletown store two days before Christmas, she said Thursday. The terrier, named Bailey, which she said was diagnosed with kennel cough by Garden State Veterinary Hospital in Tinton Falls, never recovered; after two hospital stays O'Shea said she and her family made the difficult decision to have Bailey euthanized on March 23. She said she is awaiting results of a necropsy to pinpoint Bailey's issues. She also said Breeders Club offered her 50 percent off another puppy because although she has a declaration from Garden State that Bailey was unfit for sale, it was dated 17 days after she purchased him.

"We spent $12,000 on his care on top of $2,000 to buy him, and we have no puppy bouncing around," she said. Having to have him euthanized was heartbreaking, she said.

Scott Hayes of Point Pleasant Beach said he bought his German shepherd puppy, Max, at the Brick store in late February and had similar issues.

"He was fine for the first few days," Hayes said. "Then he became extremely ill, lethargic, wouldn't eat, slept all day."

Hayes took Max to his veterinarian, who treated the puppy for kennel cough, he said.

"When I spoke to Breeders they were persistent that I should bring the puppy back to them or (take him to) Ramtown," Hayes said, adding he refused to do that. He said personnel at Breeders Association also told him he should be giving the puppy vitamins and Karo syrup "to keep him energetic," Hayes said. Max has recovered from the kennel cough, he said, "but it was a trying few weeks with a new member of our family that myself and my wife fell in love with quickly."

At least two other owners have told Patch they received similar instructions to give the puppies sugar or Karo, and former employees who have spoken with Patch have said they had to give puppies sugar to make them more playful and energetic for potential customers.

According to the website VirtuaVet, puppies that are at older than 6 weeks should be able to eat puppy food but sometimes do not get enough to eat, which can cause their blood sugar to drop. Small-breed puppies in particular need special attention, the site said.

If the puppy cannot or will not eat, "something is terribly wrong," the site said, "Probably intestinal worms or a genetic defect. Go to the vet!"

News 12 New Jersey reported the Brick store's license is due to come up for renewal in June.

Photos courtesy of Anne Reeves and Valerie Macaluso