FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Kennel refuses to reimburse family for emergency medical bills for Maltese puppy after providing guarantee that dog was healthy.

Attorneys with The Animal Law Center in Wheatridge, Colorado announce they have filed a civil lawsuit today against North Washington Street Kennel (NWSK), 7174 N. Washington St., Denver, CO,  on behalf of clients Rochelle and Dano Goforth of Commerce City, Colorado. The Goforths are suing the kennel and owner Jeff Fortin for fraud after they unknowingly purchased a Maltese puppy infected with Parvo, Coccidia (intestinal parasites), Giardia, and kennel cough.

On May 26, 2009, Dano Goforth bought a white Maltese puppy (Lacie) from the North Washington Street Kennel and received a “10-day health guarantee,” but just three days after purchase, Lacie began showing signs of serious illness. For the next several days following strict kennel instructions, the Goforths shuttled Lacie between the kennel and its approved veterinarian for treatment. However after Lacie went into hypoglycemic shock on June 3, the Goforth’s chose to take Lacie to a different veterinarian, who immediately began providing emergency care. 

Despite its guarantee that Lacie was healthy at the time of purchase, the kennel refused to reimburse the Goforths for the emergency medical bills, which totaled over $2,000. Instead owner Jeff Fortin offered the Goforths a replacement puppy, which they refused.

 “This kennel offered a health guarantee but sold a seriously ill animal,” said Jennifer Edwards, lawyer and founder of The Animal Law Center. “This is a large scale commercial breeder that has had many, many violations and fines over the years in Colorado and Kansas. The pictures and accusations against this breeder are quite disturbing.”

 Most recently Fortin was forced to euthanize 1,200 puppies after a breeding operation owned by him in Kansas was linked to a distemper outbreak at a pet store in Cheyenne, Wyoming.