"A Very Sick Puppy": Local Owner of a New Puppy Who Died from Parvovirus Holds Woodbridge Pet Store Accountable
Toms River's Doreen Longo bought a new German Shepherd as a present for her daughter. Just days later, the puppy's life ended from parvovirus.
Update: Sasha, the German Shepherd puppy, died from intestinal parasites and parvovirus shortly after this story was written.
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When Doreen Longo of Toms River brought home an adorable German Shepherd puppy as a Christmas present for her daughter, Longo thought that the holidays would be filled with love and cheer.
Instead, less than 36 hours after she brought little Sasha home, Longo devoted the last ten days and more than $1,000 at her veterinarian's, trying to keep the terribly sick puppy from death's door.
"I feel so terrible. That poor puppy didn't ask for this," Longo said, close to tears.
Longo purchased the puppy at Fancy Pups, a pet store in the Avenel section of Woodbridge that specializes in purebred canines.
"The puppy started vomiting and had bloody diarrhea the second day after we brought him home," Longo said.
In panic, she called Fancy Pups owner Rocco Guarruto, who had sold her Sasha for $950.00 and told him she had taken the dog to the Point Pleasant Veterinary Hospital.
"They said the dog had roundworms. They did a stool sample and the puppy was also infected with Coccidia and Giardiasis", two other type of parasitic worms, Longo said.
That wasn't the worst of it. Little Sasha was also infected with parvovirus, a highly contagious disease that is frequently fatal to canines, especially puppies. When she bought the puppy, it had been in a cage with two other German Shepherds of the same age.
Two Puppies with Parvo
The veterinary assistant at the Point Pleasant hospital was shocked when she heard about Sasha, because it was the second German Shepherd puppy they had come in contact with who was infected with parvo.
The assistant confirmed that that puppy, too, had been purchased from Fancy Pups in Avenel. She could not say whether the puppy had died from the disease because of privacy laws.
Guarruto said that the puppy wasn't sick when he sold the dog to Longo.
"We called the owners of the puppy's litter mates. They all seem to be fine," Guarruto said. "I'm not one to point fingers, but I don't know her environmental situation. I don't know if the puppy got it from being exposed to another dog [in Longo's home] who had it."
Guarruto said that the puppy had been vaccinated against parvo before it was sent home with Longo. "I do this myself. I'm a breeder myself," he said.
In addition to selling puppies, Guarruto said he boards dogs and grooms them, and he has his "own infirmary" in the puppy store where he himself takes care of sick animals.
The store was supposed to provide Longo with a form, signed by a veterinarian, that the dog was in good health. Longo said she never received such a form, a contention Guarruto disputes.
"Yeah, she got a form," he said, but he refused to say which veterinarian he uses to certify that the puppies his store sells are healthy and disease-free.
A Special Puppy
Sasha is a special puppy, Longo said. The family had owned Blitz, a purebred German Shepherd who had been part of the family for 13 years.
Blitz had passed away in July, right before Longo's 19-year-old daughter, Angela Trahan, who had joined the Army, was leaving home for boot camp in Alabama.
As a Christmas present, Longo had wanted to get a German Shepherd puppy to surprise her daughter, who was coming home for a vacation.
Angela fell in love the minute she set eyes on Sasha. "She adored that puppy," Longo said before breaking down in tears.
Instead of spending Christmas at home with the new puppy, Angela will be leaving for her Army assignment on January 3. The puppy has been mostly unconscious, still vomiting and oozing diarrhea, and hooked up to an IV for dehydration at Calling All Creatures, a Toms River veterinary center near Longo's home.
Longo herself has spent nights sitting up with the sick puppy at the veterinary clinic.
Other Complaints
This isn't the first time that complaints have been filed against Fancy Pups. A variety of agencies and organizations throughout the county and state have heard of problems residents have had with puppies purchased at the store.
The NJ Division of Consumer Affairs affirmed that there have been 10 complaints filed against the pet store from 2008 to now. In fact, the Middlesex County Division of Consumer Affairs in New Brunswick confirmed that they are suing Fancy Pups for defying the state's Consumer Fraud Act in selling sick animals.
That case is on the docket to be heard in Woodbridge Municipal Court on January 5.
Longo, who said she spoke to Phillip Bujalski, the chief health inspector at the Woodbridge Health Department, said Bujalski asserted there were "no complaints" against Fancy Pups.
The township's health department licenses and annually inspects pet stores.
Bujalski's assistant referred questions to the mayor's office.
The NJ Dept. of Health has also received complaints about the Avenel pet store.
Daniel Emmer, a spokesman with the NJ Dept. of Health, said that they have also received complaints against the store.
"The state has received three complaints since 2007 for selling puppies deemed unfit for purchase. One complaint was from 2007, while another complaint was received in 2009," Emmer said in a statement. "These complaints were referred to both the local health office and the Division of Consumer Affairs within the Department of Law and Public Safety."
Matthew Stanton of the NJSPCA, which leads the charge in the state in cases of animal cruelty, said that they "have a history at that address", referring to Fancy Pups in Avenel.
"We have received a complaint. It's under investigation," Stanton said.
'A Very Good Reputation'
For his part, Guarruto scoffed at the complaints, saying they were so few in number as to be meaningless.
"I have five dogs myself. I'm an animal lover. My whole family are animal lovers," he said. "Check stores within a 26 mile radius and see who has the least complaints," referring to another Woodbridge pet store he said doesn't take care of their pets.
"We have been here almost 10 years. We have a very good reputation."
Guarruto at first denied he was being sued. "I have a lawyer, and he hasn't contacted me," he said, but then added: "My lawyer is resolving it with Consumer Affairs. I won't have to be in court. I wasn't served."
Guarruto said he had "no problem paying for legitimate veterinary bills," but that he wanted Longo to provide him with blood tests to prove the puppy actually has parvo.
"I'd like to see how the dog caught parvo. I've got no problem talking about the puppy. If it's a legitimate claim, I have no problem paying for the dog to go to the vet. Why won't the vet talk to me?" he said.
Things Don't Look Good
Sasha rallied a bit on Thursday, even going so far as to sit up. But Friday the puppy had a relapse, and things aren't looking good, Longo said.
"The vet gave Sasha a 50-50 chance. He was being optimistic," she said. "The dog's eyes were rolling in the back of his head, now they're just sunken.
"I'm expecting to hear the worst any minute."
When Longo heard that Guarruto had called her vet several times, and demanded to know why her vet wouldn't return his calls, she laughed sardonically.
"That's easy. My vet said that anyone who would sell a puppy in this condition is a monster. He doesn't want to talk to monsters," she said.
Come Thursday, Longo said she will be at Woodbridge Municipal Court to bear witness to Guarruto, if only through his lawyer. She herself has retained an attorney.
"No one should ever, ever have to go through this," Longo said. "My dog should be running around and enjoying her new life, not sick in a cage with an IV stuck in her."
Karina Pecorale
5:30 pm on Friday, December 30, 2011
Awwww....that poor little puppy ;( I truly hope she gets better what a terrible thing to do....selling a dog in that state of health.....bless the family for saving her I'm sure she knows she's loved.........my advice is try adoption.....many lovable dogs wanting a home and they take better care of them than these stupid pet stores. Best of luck
Deborah Bell
5:33 pm on Friday, December 30, 2011
Isn't that THE most adorable puppy you've ever seen? Ever since I saw these pictures, all I do is pet and hug my dog! (Who is almost 10, but all dogs are puppies at heart!)
michele
5:36 pm on Friday, December 30, 2011
prayers for the puppy...it's so sad, & i hope she pulls through.
Doreen Longo
5:37 pm on Friday, December 30, 2011
Thank you Karina for your well wishes. Sadly Sasha dies in my arms at 1:15pm today after this article was written.
Heather C
1:44 am on Saturday, December 31, 2011
Doreen
So sorry for your loss. This story sounds very similar to ours. Kallie was purchased for me by my boyfriend as an early Christmas present. Perhaps our Kallie knew your Sasha, and now they are together again in heaven.
Best Wishes
Heather & Josh
Pt. Pleasant
lisa
5:47 pm on Friday, December 30, 2011
omg how sad Doreen, I am so so sorry.
lisa
5:50 pm on Friday, December 30, 2011
these pet stores need to be put out of business..all of them and this place sounds like a terrible place. Stop supporting pet stores. if you must buy a purebred, go to a breeder. Parvo is going around, and now every puppy in that store is now in danger of getting it. these pigs should be shot.
Doreen Longo
6:01 pm on Friday, December 30, 2011
EVERYONE....Thank you for your kind words. To have my puppy who should be home and being a happy puppy die in my arms has to be the worst experience of my life. I just can't understand WHY Woodbridge (including their Mayor) who is well aware of this MONSTERS issues allows him to remain in business selling seriously ill puppies. For Rocco Garruto to blame me is just plain DISGUSTING and EVIL. Parvo has an incubation period of 10-14 days. I had this dog for 2 days before she became ill. So how on God green earth can I be at fault? I have no other animals in my home. My heart breaks knowing that I am not alone and there is other seriously ill puppies out there purchased from this MONSTER.
CLBair
12:48 pm on Sunday, January 1, 2012
We purchased both of our GSD's from Rocco. Our first, a male, was so sick he couldn't eat for weeks, and when he did try to eat he threw up. Thankfully he is now a happy and healthy dog. I just couldn't convince my husband that Rocco was at fault. Our second, a female purchased two years later, was also infested with parasites. She is healthy now too, but I can already see that she is going to have serious hip problems when she is older, and she is only two now. They both had Giardia and worms. When I finally investigated the "papers" that came with my dogs in depth, I found that the "breeders" were actually puppy mills that had several cases brought against them. The one piece of vet paperwork that I got with my male came from the "breeder" when the dog was only 3 weeks old. My female came with no vet paperwork. My husband finally sees the truth now about Rocco. Sadly, a friend of ours purchased a French bulldog from Rocco a few years ago, and she died before she even reached her second year due to some sort of genetic disorder that caused her to become paralyzed,and her body shut down. And I can't tell you how annoyed I was when I read that he has in "infirmary" in his store to care for sick animals. His "infirmary" is a few crates in the back room of the store, with not a qualified vet in sight. I don't care how long Rocco has been in business. That does not mean he should stay in business. He's only looking out for himself, not the animals he sells.
carol
6:08 pm on Friday, December 30, 2011
So sorry for the loss of Sasha, may you have the peace of knowing that at least she did not die unloved and was in the best of care.....the thought of a sick puppy being left to die in a cage with such a monster would be really unbearable.
Years ago I had purchased a Cocker Spaniel puppy in a pet store I was lucky to have a vet not give up on him and though he had kennel cough he lived but it was a long recovery. Bless the Beast and the Children for in this world they have no say...
Bless you Doreen.
Carol from Bayvile
lisa
6:29 pm on Friday, December 30, 2011
don't worry Doreen, there isn't a vet in this world that would not agree with you about parvo and they would laugh at that idiot saying it was YOUR fault. quick story, my sis has a rescue and one of the volunteers wanted to do a good deed for christmas and on christmas eve drove up to a shelter in northern jersey and brought home a puppy to go with about ten other rescue's she is fostering now, it came down with parvo the next day and died and she is heartbroken....it happens but in controlled environments it shouldn't and his store is supposed to be a controlled environment. so sad, i have two sheps myself that i rescued in toms river
Kathy
6:29 pm on Friday, December 30, 2011
Puppies purchased in pet stores come from Puppy mills. Who was the breeder? Was it Mr. Garruto? Where are the parents of this dog? Their parents suffer 365 days a year to produce puppies living in tiny cages, in their own filth. In the USA between 5-7 million perfectly adoptable dogs (MANY puppies) are killed each year simply because they do not have a home. Adopt, don't shop. Don't you WANT to save a life?
michele
6:30 pm on Friday, December 30, 2011
Doreen, I am sooo sorry for your loss. I understand completely....please email me at fullmoonillust@aol.com, I would like to "speak" to you privately.
michele (milltown,nj)
paul miceli
7:10 pm on Friday, December 30, 2011
Doreen im so so sorry for the loss of your puppy .Ive read your story here and it is horrible . Some one has a lot of explaining to do. I recently to lost my boxer of 9 years to a short but quick battle of cancer and had to put her down. I was sick for a week it is a horrible thing to go thru. I hope things start looking up for u in this up coming year. sincerely Paul M. South Plfld. N.J.
Victor Demeski
8:06 pm on Friday, December 30, 2011
also if a pet store sell a puppy they are responsible for 2.5 times the price of the puppy.. if a dealer or puppy store sells a puppy they are only responsible for 2 times the price of the puppy......in the state of nj. and yes the store is responsible for the first 14 days of the puppy life in its new home.
Mark Morrison
9:37 pm on Friday, December 30, 2011
Best wishes to Sasha and the family. With that being said, pet stores are nothing more than puppy
slums and only encourage puppy mills. There are many pets available through shelters or rescues. I spent many years working with Boxer rescues and I will never 'buy' a dog again. While some may have minor issues, they all have a heart of gold and deserve a good home.
Michael Cohen
10:54 pm on Friday, December 30, 2011
My question is, how bad can this Monster really be when he takes time away from his family and children every Sunday at 11:00am to train our problem animals for FREE! Who's the monster?
Kelly Corbo
9:40 am on Saturday, December 31, 2011
Takes time away from his family? Hmmm how crushed would his daughters be to know their dad is selling sick animals? He blames the Longo's living conditions? Funny he blamed the vet in our case. I find it amusing that he calls himself a breeder. The only thing he breeds are lies and heartache to families who think they are getting a great companion. These dogs deserve proper care which obviously cannot happen in his hands! Monster is too polite if you ask me.
wetfrog18
5:37 pm on Saturday, December 31, 2011
Duh! Numnuts. He's using this training program as a sales pitch.
Doreen Longo
11:03 pm on Friday, December 30, 2011
Michael Cohen....18 COMPLAINTS TO STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS, 8 OF THESE CHARGES TO BE ANSWERED 1/5/2012 IN WOODBRIDGE MUNICIPAL COURT.
YOUR A SAD TROLL
Mitchell
11:30 pm on Friday, December 30, 2011
I've had dogs all my life and my present dog came from a local shelter. He is, by far, the best dog that has ever owned me. I highly recommend a rescue dog. Good luck to you.
Teresa Policastro Rapach
2:40 am on Saturday, December 31, 2011
Dear Doreen.. I am sooo very sorry for your loss. I pray that Fancy Pups rights their wrong by refunding your money and taking full responsibilty for all the vet bills. This in NO WAY will take away the pain, suffering and trauma that you must be going through..... from one animal lover to another, I pray for your peace and for Shasa's peace. xoxo
tweetiexx
3:30 am on Saturday, December 31, 2011
Heather C
Was your dog a german shepherd? Did you get it from Rocco? Did she pass too?
If so I'd really like to talk with you. please contact me at tweetiexx@comcast.net
Chuck Ward
4:26 am on Saturday, December 31, 2011
I'm sorry about your puppy Doreen. I love cats and dogs and I have had many in my lifetime. I'm a retired police officer and I would suggest filing a small claims case against the man who sold you the puppy. You can file the complaint up to $3,000 in small claims court in Middlesex County. If I remember correctly it will cost you about $60 to serve the breeder with court papers. I know that wont bring the puppy back or fix your broken heart but at least you can recoop some money back. I'm in the process of getting a Pitbull/Dingoe puppy right now. If you need any help with the small claims paperwork, email me at wcw50@aol.com. I live in Jackson and I can help you file the complaint, I have done it a few times before in my 25 years of service. Make sure you have all records from the vet as well as your reciept from the Pet Store. Again, my condolences on the losss of your puppy and I know you are upset but I would refrain from making any statements "publicly" against the Pet Store owner at this time. Slandering him may hurt your case in the long run or open you up to a law suit. Do it in court, backed with the proper paperwork, and at least we can get your money back. Email me if you want assistance. I must admit, I had tears in my eyes when I read this article and saw the pictures of your puppy. Good luck in what ever action you take and know that many people stand behind you right now.
beaches
6:23 am on Saturday, December 31, 2011
Doreen I am so very sorry for the loss of your Sasha. My heart goes out to you. We had a similar situation involving our beloved Ragdoll kitten. Please know I am praying for your entire family.
Rachel Tomasi
8:55 am on Saturday, December 31, 2011
Doreen you have my deepest sympathies. I'm sure these ppl who left their emails etc will help u find a reputable breeder when the time feels right. If you have any questions on that I'm a former Akita breeder and show fancier and can assist you to avoid future heartbreak. My oldests name is Angela too...broke my heart reading what you two went thru when you only wanted to make your daughter happy and give a pup a home. My condolences. Hugs Rachel mamabear2my4cubs@aol.com
mary smythe
10:00 am on Saturday, December 31, 2011
Doreen,
one question....if you felt the puppy store wasn't clean nor conditions acceptable, why did you buy the puppy in the first place???
sue
10:27 am on Saturday, December 31, 2011
Doreen, So sorry...all of us animal lovers out there know exactly how you feel. I truly hope this guy hangs himself in court.
Please, anyone out there who reads this...do not buy your pets from stores! Go on line and find a good breeder. I traveled to Culpepper VA to purchase all of my labs. It was well worth the trip! You can buy pet quality puppies at a reasonable price. Just ask!!
Yes Doreen, he is a little troll!!
Connie
11:13 am on Saturday, December 31, 2011
Doreen,
So sorry for your loss. I have heard many stories about this piece of garbage from my vet alone. He should be brought up on cruelty charges. Places and people like this Garruto guy are greedy and don't care. Have you tried calling the Humane Society or ASPCA to complain about him?? They maybe able to help or at least put some kind of pressure on him. The word needs to get out about this guy and his business taken away...
Deborah Bell
11:26 am on Saturday, December 31, 2011
There is a complaint against him at the NJSPCA. They are investigating it.
sue
11:20 am on Saturday, December 31, 2011
I heard you can go onto his site and rate it. Maybe the bad publicity will hurt his business?
Karen
11:36 am on Saturday, December 31, 2011
If all other counties had an animal control officer like Buddy Armato stores and people like this wouldn't be in NJ. Monmouth County is the only one I ever read about people getting Jail time for animal cruelty. As I said before so many websites will tell you the tell tale signs of puppy mill sellers. Bottom line don't buy any animal from pet store or backyard breeders. Do your research know what registrations are real. There is a guy in freehold sells all diff small breeds has fake papers. All the contacts on them are bogus or his family. Also as soon as you see that certain local vet's name on any paper work run away ASAP. How he is still in business amazes me, yet again the fact that puppy mills are legal anywhere boggles my mind. Someone needs to protect the voiceless innocent animals. Just as all children and women should be protected.
g
2:30 pm on Saturday, December 31, 2011
.....bless the family for saving her
Pat S.
3:36 pm on Saturday, December 31, 2011
Thank God that Sacha had someone to love her before she passed away. My heart breaks for you and the puppy.
Pat Ali
4:18 pm on Saturday, December 31, 2011
So sorry for your loss, whether it's 2 days or 12 years it is never easy to say goodbye to an innocent animal. I hope this story serves as a wake up call to everyone who is looking to purchase an animal thru a pet store. We need to stop pet stores from selling dogs and hopefully this is turn will stop the puppy mills. I agree with Chuck, file a small claim case against this store to help put him out of business. If he wants to keep his store, maybe he can sell higher end dog products rather than live dogs.
wetfrog18
5:52 pm on Saturday, December 31, 2011
I'm so sorry to hear about your Dog.....spelled backwards......GOD. Keep in touch with the Woodbridge Patch. We'll back you up. As far as Woodbridge goes don't expect anything from them (especially the Mayor aka Bully from One Main Street). And in my opinion, this is one corrupt town.
bayway mike
6:11 pm on Saturday, December 31, 2011
Doreen, Our hearts break along with yours..
This article will run him out of business,
which is a good thing.
Carol
1:33 am on Sunday, January 1, 2012
When will people realize they need to stop buying dogs in pet stores. I really don't feel sorry for the consumer. Perhaps she and all her friends will think twice about giving money to those who support the puppy mill industry.
Karin Miller Van Dalen
7:34 pm on Monday, January 16, 2012
You're a heartless pig. Keep your comments to yourself. When will people like you realize how nasty you are? She lost a member of her family!
Joseph Herbert
1:41 am on Sunday, January 1, 2012
Doreen, I am sorry for You, Your daughter and for Sasha.
For anyone interested in purchasing a pet, please take this to heart. Do not deal with a Puppy Mill Pet store or any store where you do not personally know the owner. The smartest way to purchase a pure breed dog is through an AKC Registered Breeder where you can select from a litter, ACFA for cats. For someone who isn't particular about a "breed" the local county shelters have a selection of healthy loving pets.
tweetiexx
1:54 am on Sunday, January 1, 2012
@ Carol
I was raised to feel sorry for lonely pathetic people like you.
Steve Cacamese
7:47 am on Sunday, January 1, 2012
@ carol
Haven't you ever made a mistake? To call ms. Lingo Pathetic is heartless and cruel. She did everything she could to save Sasha.
I "rescued" what I thought were 2 labradoodles from a shelter in St. Louis. Only $100 adoption fee each so this must be legitimate..... Right? WRONG!!!
I drive to St. Louis, The place was clean, When see the puppies, they are VERY small. I say there is no way these are labradoodles. They also did not look 9 weeks old. But I just drive 1000 miles so I bring them home. Long story short, BOTH had Parvo. $6500 later thank God both survived. North Star Vets in Millstone did an amazing job. I complained to Missouri authorities. What did they do? Nothing.
Ms. Longo, I am so sorry for this ordeal and for the loss of Sasha. However if not for you. Sasha would have died alone. At least she had some comfort from you at the end. I know that is not much. Again, I am so sorry for your loss.
Katy Lake
8:11 am on Sunday, January 1, 2012
Doreen, I'm so sorry about your puppy. She was a beautiful dog!
Anyone who tries to blame you for what happened is a monster! Or more likely a troll for the puppy mill store.
jules mazza
8:50 am on Sunday, January 1, 2012
All the more reason to not buy from puppy stores. There are many breeders who sell quality pups. Do your homework.
janice
10:17 am on Sunday, January 1, 2012
im sorry about the puppy being sick but when will people learn that buying from a pet store is in fact buying from a puppy mill and if people did their research they would never do it again. if you want to spend 950.00 on a dog go to a shelter adopt one and donate the rest to them. you will save a life have a pet that will love you and feel good about the great thing you did. people need to stop supporting these stores and they and the puppy mills will shut down and if they tell you they do not get the dogs from these mills they are lying to you
Arlene M. Baladi
12:13 pm on Sunday, January 1, 2012
Doreen...my condolences to you and your family on the loss of your beloved Sasha! I know that the loss of a dear pet is like losing a family member...may 2012 hold nothing but wonderful events for your family from now on!
George
4:55 pm on Monday, January 2, 2012
There is a silver lining to this sad situation. Talk this guy up and he'll be gone in no time. Pet lovers are a strong consituency.
CKS
1:48 pm on Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Hey Michael Cohen...are you really Rocco Guarruto?
wetfrog18
9:28 am on Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Doreen, what was the outcome at Court? My guess, NOTHING........They all stick together.
Heather C
8:07 pm on Thursday, January 19, 2012
Court was postponed
tweetiexx
8:24 pm on Thursday, January 19, 2012
Middlesex County Consumer Affairs v Fancy Puppies to be heard in Woodbridge Municipal Count on 1/26/2012 8:45am. These charges for selling seriously ill puppies. Hopefully it will not be postponed AGAIN.
wetfrog18
8:54 am on Friday, January 20, 2012
Unbelievable!!!!!!!!!!!!! This will go on and on. He's a shrewd S.O.B. I wonder how many businesses he's had for the past 11 years or so. This Fancy Pups has only been there for a few years. It also says on the store front "we specialize in small breeds" What a bull crapper.
ginger
3:29 am on Friday, January 20, 2012
so sorry for your families loss.. However buy from a registered breeder use a pet store you can be GUARANTEED these pups are out of state puppy mill dogs If they are bred in PA oklahoma missouri RUN dont walk!!
David Fisher
2:24 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
Unfortunately, the Longo's experience is typical of pet shop purchases.
WHEN WILL THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT THAT PET SHOP PUPPIES COME FROM MASS BREEDING FACILITIES AND THAT MEANS UNSANITARY CONDITIONS, LONG TRANSPORTS OF YOUNG PUPPIES WITH WEAK IMMUNE SYSTEMS AND ILLNESS!!!
This poor family is devastated, the poor puppy lost his life and Rocco Garruto the owner of Fancy Pups keeps taking his check to bank at the expense of these people and the animals that breed for life in puppy mills.
This man insults our intelligence to insinuate that the Longos had anything to do with the puppy contracting parvo (not unless they own the puppy mill or do the transport of puppies). The puppy was in the home 3 days - not long enough for parvo to incubate. Rocco Garruto is a liar and is making excuses.
Guess what, Mr. Garruto? Your business is fraudulent as it deceives the consumer into believing that your puppies are healthy and come from good breeders. You are a disgrace to the human race. As far as your children go, when they are old enough to realize the money you made was off of the backs of innocent animals in puppy mills, I hope they lose all respect for your business.
I wish I could talk to Ms. Longo personally as we are working to rid our state of bad businesses like this. D. Fisher, Manasquan, NJ.
David Fisher
2:31 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
One more comment. Please consider starting peaceful demonstrations on the public right-of-way at his store. We are doing this in various towns. It is perfectly legal and you can, at least, warn others about the heartache you have experienced. You can also educate the public on the subject matter of where these puppies really come from.
Any of you animal lovers/advocates can join in or start the group. You don't need a lot of people or a lot of money. If anyone needs help, contact jfdf2@optonline.net and we will be happy to get you started.
You will be doing such good for the sake of these pathetic souls in the puppy mills.
tweetiexx
12:25 pm on Monday, January 23, 2012
The sad story of Sasha will be airing tonight on WABC news during the 11 pm news broudcast. Please watch and of course please share. The public needs to be aware that Fancy Puppies/Rocco Garruto is selling serioulsy ill puppies who have died. Also please know they will be answering charges brought by Middledsex County Consumer Affairs on 1/26/2012 8:45am. This case is dealing with 8 affected families and their puppies who have suffered tremendously at the hands of this MONSTER.
Heather C
11:48 am on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Watch Doreen here if you missed it!!! =
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/video?id=8516264
Heather C
11:49 am on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
He messed with the wrong families this time. He will get whats coming to him!
David Fisher
12:16 pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
If everyone who sympathizes with Doreen would make a commitment to one weekend day for a few hours to stop by the store and peacefully demonstrate, this would make a big impact. Our group does this for other local pet stores (Breeder's Association of America in Brick, NJ and American Puppy Club, Middletown, NJ). It is, by far, the most satisfying thing because we actually educate people. It is ALL legal and we have been doing this for a year with the blessing of the municipality and the police dept. PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING US. Contact: jfdf2@optonline.net
Deborah Bell
12:34 pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Hi, everyone who is following this. I did an update on the story: http://patch.com/A-qwDy
Heather C
7:55 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
any victims of rocco please consider this
http://heyburnlaw.com/?s=fancy+pups&search=Search
tweetiexx
12:07 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
After some real difficult legwork. My puppy was a puppy mill dog. Sasha was purchased from a Jacob Beiler in Kirkwood, PA. Mr. Beiler is not licensed as required by law. Gretta Rosie (my pups mother) has had litters in the Spring 2011, October 2011 and is pregnant again. Rocco told me he WAS the breeder. All info was obtained from the AKC, The USDA and Mr. Beiler. Rocco Garruto is a vile and evil scam artist. He defaulted on restitution payment #1 for the other 7 families of dead/sick puppies. That was why he was in court.
Does anyone think there will be justice for these puppies? Heck no not when the Woodbridge Mayor and his spokesman Haggerty is protecting this MONSTER (they refer to Rocco as an honest businessman). If you want justice because you purchased a sick/dead pup from Rocco Garruto/ Fancy Puppies please contact Edward Harrington Heyburn at 609-259-7600
Rocco's next court date is 2/9/2012 1pm. I WILL BE THERE.
Jeff
10:06 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
this is an awful story; so sad to hear that the dog did not make it. This "Fancy Pups" has been there for several years now (not sure if it is 9yrs); I have been in there a few times before and the place seemed clean and well kept. HOWEVER, this doesn't ensure that a puppy is healthy! No puppy should have parvovirus; that is unacceptable.
Jeff
10:14 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
I've owned pups both from breeders and pet shops; worms are not uncommon, even when they have been wormed. Giardi has been going around lately (my last pup got it, from where I can't say).. But the parvo is very serious and tells you that this guy is not taking the proper steps. Also, there should be several guarantees you get at time of purchase INCLUDING a vet's certification of good health!