Puppy mill - 250 puppies
Douglassville, PA (US)Incident Date: Sunday, May 2, 2004
County: Berks
Disposition: Civil Case
Person of Interest: Traci Murai
The state Attorney General yesterday, May 2, 2006, filed suit against a Berks County woman for allegedly selling sick dogs and deceiving customers under Pennsylvania's "puppy lemon law."
The suit alleges that Traci Murai, a licensed kennel operator in Douglassville, sold imported English bulldog puppies to consumers around the country and required them to sign a contract waiving their rights under the state's lemon law.
"This is a particularly egregious case," said Barbara Petito, a spokeswoman for Attorney General Tom Corbett. "She was allegedly selling sick and diseased animals and was deliberately deceiving consumers about what their rights are if they purchase dogs." Since 2004, Murai sold 250 puppies for as much as $2,400 each, according to the Bureau of Consumer Protection. Among them were at least seven puppies that suffered from various diseases or defects - fatal in three instances. The illnesses cost owners more than $11,000 in veterinarians' bills, Petito said. Murai's attorney, Steven Nierenberg, said his client was aware of only three complaints about sick puppies, and one customer got her money back. Murai "did not know they were sick and diseased at the time they were sold," said Nierenberg. "She wanted to comply and sell happy, healthy puppies; that was her intent."
Murai's Web site - www.bulliepupsrus.com - boasts of her "passion for animals" and her concern about "the health and welfare" of her puppies, imported from South Africa and Russia and sold via the Internet throughout the United States.
The suit came as Gov. Rendell issued a pledge to crack down on Pennsylvania's growing number of "puppy mills," large dog-breeding farms where animals are housed in crowded, filthy conditions. In the last six months, Rendell convened a panel of experts to make recommendations and review proposed changed to the state's dog law. The 1997 "puppy lemon law" provides limited warranty protection for consumers who purchase sick dogs.
Yesterday's lawsuit seeks restitution for the cost of the dogs, as well as civil penalties of up to $3,000 per violation. The suit also asks the court to shut down the kennel until restitution, fines and costs are paid.
Consumers who want to file complaints in this case or others should contact the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection by calling 1-800-441-2555. References« PA State Animal Cruelty Map
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