Woman left devastated over deaths of puppies
A WOMAN was left devastated after a puppy given to her for Christmas died a week later – then a “replacement” pup also died within weeks.
Illegal dog breeder Jamie Parvizi was jailed last week after admitting to running a “sophisticated” fraudulent business which also left another victim from Newport facing £7,000 vet bills.
Leah Warton, from Ferndale, Rhondda, was overjoyed when her husband presented the tiny pomeranian as a gift in 2014.
She said: “Little Lady quickly became my world. But on Boxing Day, the nightmare began.”
The teacup-sized pet fell ill and the couple spent every day over the Christmas period at the vets.
Her husband Gareth had paid £900 to a puppy seller in Staffordshire after spotting an advert online.
“After a tough fight, the vets told us the only option was to have Lady put to sleep,” Mrs Warton said.
“We contacted the seller and they offered us a second, replacement pup.
“We believed what happened to Lady could only happen once, but we were very wrong.”
The couple picked up another pomeranian, Ben, in the new year – but he too fell ill just a few days later before being treated in intensive care for parvovirus. He later died.
“Within four weeks, we had lost two little puppies,” the distraught owner said.
“We were devastated and we were also £2,000 out of pocket. This was such a stressful, emotional and financially stretching time for us.”
Vets told the couple that it was likely both puppies had parvo, a highly contagious viral disease that can produce a life-threatening illness. Both dogs also recorded heart murmurs.
Natasha Langmaid, from Lliswerry in Newport, was another victim.
She spent £650 on her pomeranian pup Bailey after buying him from the same dealer in March 2014.
Little did she know he would go on to cost about £7,000 in vet bills in his first few years of life due to the care he received as a puppy.
“This little fluffball came bounding from the back, jumping over all the others.
“I picked him up and just knew from that moment he was the one,” she said.
“He looked like a little bear cub and had a cute little white stripe on his chin like a goatee. I fell in love instantly.”
The next day he fell ill and when she took him to see a vet, she was told the puppy was likely to be younger than advertised – four or five weeks instead of eight.
“What was meant to be a happy time was turning into a nightmare,” she said.
“Then, one day, he was going for a drink and he collapsed in his water bowl.”
He was rushed back to the vets and kept on a drip for five days before pulling through.
Jamie Parvizi, 37, was jailed last week after admitting a number of animal welfare and fraud offences relating to the selling of dogs in Staffordshire. Parvizi, of Stone Chair Lane, Scholar Green – on the border of