Just Puppies Agrees To Ban, $100K In Fines After Allegedly Selling Dogs From Puppy Mills, AG Frosh Says

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Just Puppies, a favored store with locations successful Towson and Rockville, agreed to a colony prohibiting the institution from selling dogs successful Maryland pursuing allegations the concern violated authorities instrumentality by sourcing animals from puppy mills, Attorney General Brian Frosh announced connected Friday.

Under the settlement, Just Puppies and proprietor Mitchell Thomson agreed to refund payments for dogs purchased since Jan. 1, 2020 oregon to screen the outgo of attraction of definite aesculapian conditions for dogs bought astatine the store.

READ MORE: Slamming Baltimore, Gov. Hogan Lays Out $150 Million 'Re-fund The Police' Plan

Frosh’s bureau levied a $500,000 civilian punishment connected Just Puppies, but the fig tin beryllium reduced to $100,000 if the concern complies with the different stipulations successful the settlement.

“This colony resolves allegations that Just Puppies and its proprietor violated laws intended to support animals from irresponsible breeding and mistreatment,” said Frosh. “Consumers who were misled by Just Puppies and purchased sick dogs volition get their wealth backmost oregon person compensation to assistance wage for their pet’s care.”

READ MORE: COVID-19 In Maryland: 1,068 New Cases, 18 Deaths Reported As State Approaches 200K Booster Shots

In a statement, Jennifer Bevan-Dangel, Maryland authorities manager for the Humane Society of the United States, praised the colony and encouraged Frosh to spell aft different companies that root animals from puppy mills.

The authorities passed the No More Puppy-Mills Act successful 2018 to prohibition the merchantability of puppy mill puppies successful favored stores. The legislation, which went into effect astatine the commencement of 2020, was designed “to support Maryland consumers from unknowingly purchasing a sick and often behaviorally-challenged puppy from a puppy mill, starring to steep veterinary bills and excessively often, heartbreak,” Bevan-Dangel said.

Frosh charged Just Puppies successful June, alleging the institution violated the puppy mill instrumentality and the Consumer Protection Act erstwhile it misled customers astir wherever its puppies were sourced.

MORE NEWS: Court Delays Detention Hearing In Annapolis Couple's Espionage Case

Just Puppies besides allegedly continued to run its Rockville determination adjacent aft the metropolis pulled its favored store license, Frosh’s bureau said.

CBS Baltimore Staff