 Pet store allegedly selling sick puppies
McAllen, TX (US)Date: Mar 2005
County: Hidalgo
Local Map: available
Disposition: Not Charged
Person of Interest: Jesse Vasquez
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An Action 4 News investigation into a pet shop owner in McAllen has a state agency on alert.
One woman tells Action 4 News she wants the operation shut down for allegedly selling sick puppies to unsuspecting dog lovers.
Since the story first aired back in March 2005, Action 4 News continues getting Listens e-mails and phone calls about Jesse's Pet Shop in McAllen, located on the 900 block of Houston street, off of south 10th Street.
Action 4 News Viewers claim the owner is knowingly selling sick dogs. Many have told Action 4 News they are out of hundreds of dollars but now one viewer says she's had enough.
Daisy Flores is one of those unhappy owners.
Last year she paid Jesse's Pet Shop in McAllen $250 for a Chihuahua, who she named Tinkerbell. Days later Tinkerbell became disturbingly ill and eventually died.
"Her neck would be jerking back and fourth, she would be showing her lips, foam would be coming out of her mouth. It's just something terrible to watch your pet go through something like that," Daisy said.
Flores says she had been offered a warranty with her pet purchase but claims owner Jesse Vasquez wouldn't honor it.
Back then, Action 4 News approached Jesse.
He told us he was unaware of her situation and offered to refund Flores half of her money. But she never received a penny. She says she also lost more money taking Tinkerbell to a veterinarian.
She also took her complaint to McAllen animal control. Action 4 News learned at that time the city had received eight complaints against the pet shop.
"We have, our office has received complaints about sick puppies," confirmed Chris Sanchez, an animal control supervisor. "At this time, we are working on the investigation."
In March 2005 Sanchez admitted there wasn't much the city could do.
"It's unfortunate that here in McAllen and in the state there aren't regulations with pet shops."
Since then, Action 4 News viewers have continued sending e-mails claiming they too have been cheated by Vasquez. Many claim he knowingly sells sick animals.
Action 4 News contacted the Consumer Protection Division of the Texas Attorney General's Office to see if they could help.
Spokesman Paco Felici says three formal complaints have been filed against Jesse's Pet Shop.
"Of course, we're dealing with animals who are sometimes susceptible to disease," said Felici in a telephone interview.
"However, if there is any kind of pattern and particularly consumers are being promised one thing that is turning out not to be true, then that is something that we would be concerned about."
He encouraged consumers to contact his agency.
Daisy is convinced there is a pattern of deception with the pet store. To prove a point she purchased a classified advertisement in a local newspaper.
"Yes, I did place an ad in the paper for anyone who wants to contact me," said Flores. "And I also put the number for the attorney's general's office, the 1-800 number. So you people out there call, and you know you're call is going to make a difference."
Flores says she plans to go before the McAllen City Commission hoping to stop what she considers the breeding and selling of sick animals as animal cruelty.
Over the phone, Vasquez and his attorney told Action 4 News there is now way to compare the handful of complaints to the volume of pets he sells.
He claims others shops are jealous of his operation. Vasquez says he offers a 15 day guarantee each time he sells a pet and after that it's the pet owners responsibility to have their animal checked by a vet.
For those who have had a bad experience, the Texas Attorney General's Office is investigating whether there were any deceptive trade practices.
If you'd like to phone in a similar complaint to the Attorney General's Office, you can reach them at 1-800-252-8011. Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
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