Strudel's Story

My sister and her husband purchased a dachshund from Animals and Things in Woodbridge, NJ in late October. We called her Strudel. She was the sweetest little girl. My sister's husband had been against getting a dog for so many years but one day he just gave in and the three of us went and picked out Strudel. Her nose was running when they took her out of the cage and we were told it was just kennel cough and we should bring her back to see their vet in a week. The very next day Strudel got sicker and my sister took her to her own vet where she was told the Strudel had pneumonia. Since this vet did not have the facility to keep Strudel overnight he told them they could take her home and bring her back each day for medication and hydration. She seemed to improve over the next few days but by the end of the week had taken a turn for the worse. This whole week my brother in law cared for Strudel as he did not work because he had a severe heart condition. He loved this puppy and became so attached to her ... we all did.

We took her to the animal hospital in Southern, NJ. The doctor said she had severe pneumonia and needed to biopsy her lungs. She only weighed three pounds and the doctor did not hold out much hope, but we did. We thought she would be able to fight it. We were wrong. She died that night, ten days after we bought her. We were devastated. Because of the puppy lemon law my sister got all of her money back, plus the vet bill but this did not help them, or me, with the loss that we felt. The person who took it the hardest was my brother in law, the same man who against getting a puppy in the first place. My brother in law died a week after Strudel from a heart attack. I believe in my heart that the pain he felt in watching Strudel struggle and then ultimately losing her had a little to do with what happened to him, even though we know he was quite ill.

The owner of the pet store was not remorseful and didn't seem to care at all. I fought with him on more then one occasion, wrote a letter to the NJ Star Ledger and tried to get the ASPCA involved, to no avail. I have been guilty myself of purchasing my puppies from the pet store. I will never do that again, even though I feel for those poor little babies and know they too need a good home. I don't even go into pet stores anymore that sell live animals. It just breaks my heart to see them.

I just wanted to write and tell you what happened to us. I saw the picture of McKay and she was a beautiful puppy. I am sorry for your pain.

Madeline

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