Pet shop owner reimburses customer after puppy dies

Luna, a beagle puppy, was the light of Megan Ritchea's life

Luna, a beagle puppy, was the light of Megan Ritchea's life

WEBVTT KAPLAN WITH THE RESPONSE.>> THIS OHIO WOMAN TOLD ACTIONNEWS 4 ABOUT A DOG THAT SHEBOUGHT AT A PITTSBURGH AREA PETSTORE THAT DIED 11 DAYS LATER.SHE HAS BEEN DEMANDING ANSWERS.TODAY, WE GOT SOME FOR HER.>> SHE WAS SUFFERING.SHE DIED IN MY ARMS.>> MEGAN RITCHIE BROUGHT HOMELUNA ON JULY 10.FOUR DAYS LATER, LUNA STARTEDGETTING SICK.>> WE TOOK HER TO THE VET WHERESHE WAS TAG NO'S WITH THEPARVOVIRUS AND HAD TO BEHOSPITALIZED.>> SHE DIED A FEW DAYS LATER.>> THE HOSPITAL SAID THERE IS NOWAY THAT HER DOCUMENTS WERECORRECT BECAUSE SHE NEVER WOULDHAVE BEEN THAT SICK IF THEY WERETRUE.>> THE MANAGER OFFERED A FULLREFUND OF LUNA AND VETERINARYBILLS, EVEN APOLOGIZING ALONGWITH A CHECK FOR $4000, BUT SHESAYS THAT TOOK WEEKS.SHE SAID A CONDITION OFRECEIVING THE MONEY WAS REMOVINGNEGATIVE SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS.WHEN SHE WENT TO CASH THE CHECKIT HAD A STOP ON IT.>> MY FIANCEE CONTACTED THESTORE AND CONTACTED ILL DIRECTLYAND IT DID NOT END VERY WELL.>> THE STORE OWNER TELLS US THECHECK DELIVERY WAS DELAYED ANDSTOPPED THE PAYMENT AFTER ATHREAT FROM RITCHIE'S FIANCEEBUT HE DENIES MAKING THREATS.THE STORE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNEDAND OPERATED BUT PETLAND SAIDTHEY ARE GOING TO TRY TO MAKETHINGS RIGHT THAT THIS IS AHORRIBLE SITUATION.WE PUT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OFCARE AND RESOURCES INTO WHAT WEDO.THERE HAS HONESTLY BEEN SOMECOMMUNICATION -- MISSCOMMUNICATION.THE TONE OF A PLAN TO REACH OUTDIRECTLY TO MAKE AN RITCHIE TOTELL ME WHAT THEY CAN DO TORECTIFY THE SITUATION.

Pet shop owner reimburses customer after puppy dies

Luna, a beagle puppy, was the light of Megan Ritchea's life

Luna, a beagle puppy, was the light of Megan Ritchea's life. Ritchea brought the dog home to Shadyside, Ohio on July 10 after buying her at Petland in Robinson. “The girl that sold her to us said that she came from a reputable breeder, which was not true,” said Ritchea. They only had 11 days together. Luna passed away July 21. “She was suffering. I mean, it was horrible. She died in my arms. It was the most heartbreaking thing,” said Ritchea. Ritchea said after four days Luna started getting sick. They took her to an animal hospital in St. Clairsville, Ohio where she was diagnosed with parvo virus. “At the hospital where she was at, the vet said there's no way her documents were correct because she would have never been that sick if they were true,” said Ritchea. They buried her at home. Ritchea said that's when the battle with Petland started getting ugly. “He wanted me to remove my reviews and my social media posts and said he would give me a full refund,” said Ritchea. Ritchea said Petland owner Bill Davis agreed to refund her money and cover mounting vet bills. He sent her a sympathy card, signed by all of the employees apologizing, with a check for more than $4,000.But when Ritchea went to cash it, she said the payment was stopped. “My fiance called the store and talked to Bill directly, and he started yelling, so it just didn't end very well,” said Ritchea. Ritchea was referred to Petland's corporate office but hasn't heard back. Petland gave her a gift certificate to get another puppy, but she said she won't use it, and wants people to learn from her story. “A lot of times corporations or businesses or certain people have a way of bullying or manipulating -- try to scare people in a time of heartache, and I'm not one to keep quiet. It's just not right what they're doing,” said Ritchea. We spoke with Davis, but he declined to be interviewed.He said he sent the card and check to Ritchea as certified mail, but when the delivery was delayed, he claimed he was threatened by Ritchea’s fiance, so he stopped the payment. Ritchea denied those claims. Davis sent the following e-mail to Pittsburgh's Action News 4 Thursday night:"While this is an unfortunate event, several attempts we're made to go above and beyond for this family, all which are documented and can be verified. The Pennsylvania state law not the warranty were followed. As the tracking number indicated the letter was mailed on July 26th 2017. The customer was made aware of the tracking number the same day. I received the physical threat of violence against myself and my employees on August 12th, the USPS had still failed to deliver the letter at that time. Once the threat of physical violence was made I put a stop on the check. I do not condone nor will I tolerate threats or acts of violence against myself or employees. The letter was finally delivered on August 15th 2017 as you can see from the tracking information.With today's climate and acts of violence no threat is an empty threats in my eyes. No corporation or small business should take these matters lightly. I will not engage or entertain any form of reparation when the law has not been followed and threat have been made."

ROBINSON TOWNSHIP, Pa. —

Luna, a beagle puppy, was the light of Megan Ritchea's life. Ritchea brought the dog home to Shadyside, Ohio on July 10 after buying her at Petland in Robinson.

“The girl that sold her to us said that she came from a reputable breeder, which was not true,” said Ritchea.

They only had 11 days together. Luna passed away July 21.

“She was suffering. I mean, it was horrible. She died in my arms. It was the most heartbreaking thing,” said Ritchea.

Ritchea said after four days Luna started getting sick. They took her to an animal hospital in St. Clairsville, Ohio where she was diagnosed with parvo virus.

“At the hospital where she was at, the vet said there's no way her documents were correct because she would have never been that sick if they were true,” said Ritchea.

They buried her at home. Ritchea said that's when the battle with Petland started getting ugly.

“He wanted me to remove my reviews and my social media posts and said he would give me a full refund,” said Ritchea.

Ritchea said Petland owner Bill Davis agreed to refund her money and cover mounting vet bills. He sent her a sympathy card, signed by all of the employees apologizing, with a check for more than $4,000.

But when Ritchea went to cash it, she said the payment was stopped.

“My fiance called the store and talked to Bill directly, and he started yelling, so it just didn't end very well,” said Ritchea.

Ritchea was referred to Petland's corporate office but hasn't heard back.

Petland gave her a gift certificate to get another puppy, but she said she won't use it, and wants people to learn from her story.

“A lot of times corporations or businesses or certain people have a way of bullying or manipulating -- try to scare people in a time of heartache, and I'm not one to keep quiet. It's just not right what they're doing,” said Ritchea.

We spoke with Davis, but he declined to be interviewed.

He said he sent the card and check to Ritchea as certified mail, but when the delivery was delayed, he claimed he was threatened by Ritchea’s fiance, so he stopped the payment. Ritchea denied those claims.

Davis sent the following e-mail to Pittsburgh's Action News 4 Thursday night:

"While this is an unfortunate event, several attempts we're made to go above and beyond for this family, all which are documented and can be verified. The Pennsylvania state law not the warranty were followed.

As the tracking number indicated the letter was mailed on July 26th 2017. The customer was made aware of the tracking number the same day. I received the physical threat of violence against myself and my employees on August 12th, the USPS had still failed to deliver the letter at that time. Once the threat of physical violence was made I put a stop on the check.

I do not condone nor will I tolerate threats or acts of violence against myself or employees.

The letter was finally delivered on August 15th 2017 as you can see from the tracking information.

With today's climate and acts of violence no threat is an empty threats in my eyes. No corporation or small business should take these matters lightly. I will not engage or entertain any form of reparation when the law has not been followed and threat have been made."

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