Vincent LoSacco, 50, and his brother Leonard LoSacco, 51, were accused earlier this year with animal cruelty.
HACKENSACK - New Jersey officials have filed an action against the owner of the Just Pups pet store, seeking to permanently bar him and his associates from selling animals in New Jersey.
Vincent LoSacco, 50, and his brother Leonard LoSacco, 51, were accused earlier this year with animal cruelty after police on April 4 said they found more than 60 puppies left unattended in small crates inside a cold van at the Route 17 pet store in Paramus.
Acting Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino and officials with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs earlier this month filed an action in Bergen County Superior Court against Just Pups LLC and Vincent LoSacco.
The action accuses LoSacco and associates of misleading customers about the health of puppies sold from stores in East Brunswick, East Hanover, Emerson, and Paramus. State officials allege LoSacco refused to reimburse customers for puppies that died or required veterinary care and committed dozens of other consumer protection violations.
"Vincent LoSacco's alleged deceptive behavior caused his customers to suffer financially and emotionally as they sought expensive veterinary care for the sick puppies he sold them," Porrino said in a statement. "This kind of consumer fraud has a devastating effect on pet lovers and will not be tolerated in our state."
LoSacco's attorney, Tony Arturi of Rochelle Park, said Wednesday he had not seen the complaint and would comment once he had.
"Obviously, we'll defend it," Arturi said.
Arturi said LoSacco continues to operate a Just Pups store in East Hanover. The attorney said he continues to defend his client against accusations in other towns where the pets were sold.
The six-count complaint alleges LoSacco advertised or otherwise represented that puppies were healthy and up to date with vaccinations, but then sold at least 55 "sick or defective" puppies and failed to provide refunds or reimbursements for veterinary fees, in violation of the Consumer Fraud Act (CFA), the Pet Protection Act (PPA), the Pet Regulations and the Advertising Regulations.
The alleged violations include:
- Misrepresenting as healthy and selling to consumers puppies suffering from Kennel Cough, Parvo, Bronchitis, and Giardia.
- Refusing to reimburse consumers for money paid for veterinary fees associated with the treatment of the sick dogs.
- Failing to refund the purchase price of an animal that died due to a congenital or hereditary cause within six months of delivery.
- Selling an animal without completed animal history and health certificate.
- Misrepresenting on the Just Pups website that all dogs are up to date with their vaccinations when such was not the case.
- Misrepresenting on the Just Pups website that all puppies are free from adverse health symptoms at the time of sale, when such is not the case.
- Misrepresenting that on the Just Pups website that Just Pups is not related to any other business with the name of Just Pups, when such is not the case.
- Misrepresenting on the Just Pups website that previous complaints against Just Pups were made by one person, when such was not the case.
- Failing to post, in a conspicuous location on the cage or enclosure for each animal, a sign with all required information, such as the date and place of birth.
- Failing to have an animal that was examined more than 14 days prior to purchase reexamined by a veterinarian within 72 hours of delivery.
- Failing to inform buyers of their legal right to recover the purchase price or the veterinary costs for an animal that dies or is deemed unfit for purchase.
"Families who purchased sick puppies were faced with the heartbreaking choice of paying costly vet fees or losing their pet," Steve Lee, director of the N.J. Division of Consumer Affairs, said in a statement. "The Division intends to hold Just Pups and LoSacco fully accountable for these alleged actions."
The complaint seeks to permanently bar LoSacco and Just Pets from advertising or selling animals in New Jersey. It also seeks consumer restitution, civil penalties, and reimbursement of attorneys' fees and investigative costs.
Lo Sacco and Just Pups face civil penalties of up to $10,000 for each of the 32 violations contained in the complaint, according to Porrino and officials with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.