Cute teacup puppy sitting outside on a wooden deck.
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Puppy Dies in a Week, Dog Owner Blames Iowa Breeder

A Pennsylvania resident’s adorable Papitese puppy died within a week of her receiving him from an Iowa breeder. Within hours of receiving the canine, he was vomiting blood and needed to be taken to the pet hospital. Unfortunately, after losing the precious pup, Lauren Stevenson was left with thousands of dollars in vet bills.

Pennsylvania buyer blames Iowa breeder after puppy dies within a week

A Papitese is a dog breed that is a mix of Maltese and Papillon. Pennsylvania resident Lauren Stevenson already has a senior Papitese named Dexter, whom she loves very much. She wanted a puppy that matched his cuteness. So, she put down a deposit of $250 for a male puppy with an Iowa breeder, per The Gazette.

However, after she picked up the puppy, named Lemmy, it became apparent that he was extremely sick. The canine was throwing up blood within hours of arrival. He had to be taken to the vet multiple times and ended up passing away within a week. Not only was Lemmy’s passing a traumatic event for Stevenson, but she also had to pay up to $8,000 in hospital bills.

Unfortunately, when Stevenson raised this issue with the Iowa breeder, Heather Anderson, she stated that the puppy was healthy when he left the facility. Anderson refunded the payment but didn’t take responsibility for the vet bills. The breeder noted that she wouldn’t have sent the puppy if he wasn’t in good health and hadn’t cleared the health check.

Lauren Stevenson isn’t only blaming the Iowa breeder for her puppy’s death. She also blames the state for not having more laws to safeguard the buyers. She also highlighted that the state should have a pet lemon law. With a pet lemon law in place, breeders must reimburse the buyers if a newly purchased animal falls sick or passes away. They can choose to refund, exchange, or reimburse vet costs.

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