ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Two Orange County pet stores have to now pay more than $200,000 in refunds to customers thanks to a legal action by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office.
According to the attorney general’s office, Hoof’s Pets, Inc., which operates both Petland Orlando East and Petland Waterford Lakes pet stores, misrepresented the health and quality of the puppies sold in its stores.
In an announcement on Wednesday, the attorney general’s consumer protection division found the stores dishonored pet warranties and violated parts of Florida’s Pet Lemon Law.
Read: Puppy sales now banned at Orange County pet stores
As part of the action, Petland will pay more than $123,000 in refunds to customers in addition to nearly $85,000 in monetary relief already paid to consumers.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said she, in addition to securing financial relief for Floridians her office, also obtained an injunction from further deception.
“I am glad that through this action my Consumer Protection Division was able to obtain thousands of dollars for harmed consumers, as well as injunctive relief to prevent these defendants from deceiving others in the future,” Moody said.
Read: $10K puppy heartache involving store that’s already part of state action
The injunction permanently bans the pet store and its owners from selling any puppy that is known to be ill, diseased, or have any disorder or making false statements about its health.
In June the Orange County Board of Commissioners passed a retail pet sales ban ordinance prohibiting the sale of puppies, kittens, and rabbits at any pet store in Orange County.
The Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General is the civil enforcement authority that protects consumers by pursuing individuals and entities that engage in unfair methods of competition or unconscionable, deceptive, and unfair practices in trade or commerce
You can report scams to the Florida Attorney General’s office by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM or filing a complaint online here.
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