Pet Store Raided, Puppies Found Dead
Owner's Sister Says Dog Tested Positive For Parvovirus
POSTED: 2:36 pm PDT September 19,
2002
UPDATED: 8:43 am PDT September 20,
2002
CITRUS HEIGHTS, Calif. -- Sacramento County Animal Care and Regulation Thursday seized 50 puppies from a Citrus Heights pet store that had been the focus of a CALL 3 investigation.
CALL 3 received several consumer complaints in the last six months about the Puppy Warehouse. The complainants say that the puppies they bought from the business died of the parvovirus.CALL 3's Lynsey Paulo Thursday waited outside Puppy Warehouse for owner Jeff Nycum. While she waited, she noticed a small puppy in the window that appeared sick. During that time, Paulo says other larger puppies started biting and pulling on the dog.CALL 3 called Animal Care and Regulation and the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Animal services officers arrived and tried to distract the puppies. The owner still had not arrived, so sheriff's deputies broke in the back door, and the animal officers rushed in to rescue the puppy.
"These (the puppies) need immediate treatment. What we're going to do is take these to the vet, get them treated, come back, and we're going to impound everything here," said Animal Care and Regulation spokeswoman Tricia Fairchild.Of the 50 puppies removed, three were dead. Six sick animals were taken to a nearby vet. The rest were taken to animal control."There is no food on the premises except some canned food. There is no dry food in the bowls. The water dishes have very little water in them," Fairchild said.All the puppies will be tested for parvovirus.
The storeowner's sister, Shannon Nycum, said that they knew there was parvovirus in the shop."Because we had an animal that was tested positive for parvo," Nycum said.Parvovirus can be deadly to dogs and is difficult to destroy. Jeff Nycum Wednesday said that he was closed last Friday through Monday to disinfect the store. But the message on the shop answering machine said that he was closed just Saturday and Sunday.Animal Care and Regulation wants to talk with Jeff Nycum before it decides what to do next.
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"These (the puppies) need immediate treatment. What we're going to do is take these to the vet, get them treated, come back, and we're going to impound everything here," said Animal Care and Regulation spokeswoman Tricia Fairchild.Of the 50 puppies removed, three were dead. Six sick animals were taken to a nearby vet. The rest were taken to animal control."There is no food on the premises except some canned food. There is no dry food in the bowls. The water dishes have very little water in them," Fairchild said.All the puppies will be tested for parvovirus.The storeowner's sister, Shannon Nycum, said that they knew there was parvovirus in the shop."Because we had an animal that was tested positive for parvo," Nycum said.Parvovirus can be deadly to dogs and is difficult to destroy. Jeff Nycum Wednesday said that he was closed last Friday through Monday to disinfect the store. But the message on the shop answering machine said that he was closed just Saturday and Sunday.Animal Care and Regulation wants to talk with Jeff Nycum before it decides what to do next.Copyright 2007 by KCRA.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
