Customer accuses local pet store of selling him dog with Parvo

A Clay County pet store is under fire following a Facebook post showing an emaciated Boxer in a window.

Action News Jax's Courtney Cole talked to several people who accuse the BFF Puppy Store in Orange Park of selling sick puppies.

Eduardo Acevedo says he fell in love with a Yorkie at BFF Puppies Pet Store nearly three weeks ago.

“On Tuesday we received the puppy, because on Monday the puppy had to be verified by the pet shop’s vet,” Acevedo told Action News Jax.

He had to speak to me over the phone, because while the puppy was purchased here, he goes to school in Tallahassee.

Acevedo said since his new pup was checked out by a vet and he wasn’t made aware of any problems, Acevedo thought the dog was OK.

But that same day, Acevedo said the dog was vomiting and had diarrhea.

His cousin took him back to the pet store's vet, and that's when he found out the dog had Parvo.

According to the American Kennel Club, Parvo in puppies is caused by the canine parvovirus.

The Merck Veterinary Manual says it’s a disease of the stomach and small intestine.

It’s highly contagious and spreads through direct contact with an infected dog or by indirect contact with a contaminated object.

“He presented himself like he didn’t know anything. His wife was the one who selected the puppies, and they were in good shape," Acevedo said the owner of the shop told him he had no idea anything was wrong.

Acevedo also said he had to raise money to pay for the dog's treatment, which came out to a whopping $5,000.

Acevedo isn't the only one with these concerns about this shop.

There's a local advocate group called Citizens Against Jax Pet Store Abuse that is demanding the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services investigate the business.

The department is responsible for making sure businesses that sell or transport cats or dogs are meeting the standard health requirements.

There is a five-page letter from the advocacy group with signatures from 48 people addressed to Commissioner Adam Putnam of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, as well as the Attorney General and the State Attorney's office.

The letter states the group believes BFF Puppies, along with three other pet stores in our area are "covering up a widespread outbreak of Parvo, Giardia and Bordetella" and "intentionally selling puppies that have been exposed to these diseases, to unsuspecting customers."

The letter also says employees at the four pet stores, who asked to remain anonymous, claim more than 40 puppies have died of Parvo, Giardia, and Bordetella in the past four months.

Cole went inside the BFF Puppies store to take a look and didn't see anything unusual, but when she tried to ask employees if they are aware of any problems, she was asked to leave the store.

Citizens Against Jax Pet Store Abuse believes the store is putting the public in danger, committing acts of animal cruelty and is also committing fraud.

Cole called the Office of Communications as well as the Director of Communications at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to find out if this pet store is being investigated, but has not yet heard back.

Cox Media Group