Man upset over high priced rent-to-own puppies deal

[pstokely]

Source: KSHB

In November, Cook purchased a female dog named Lilly from Petland at the Independence Mall for $2,135. He agreed to 25 percent interest and to pay roughly $100 a month for four years to pay for the dog.

In January, he went back to Petland and signed a second deal for a male dog, Pepper. This time, under terms of the contract, Cook had to pay $182.16 a month for two years, or more than $4,300 total, just to rent the dog.

In order to buy it, the contract says he'd have to pay an additional $300 after paying all the rental money.

Cook says he didn't understand the deal Petland's saleswoman presented him.

Read more: http://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/investigations/man-upset-over-high-priced-rent-to-own-puppies-deal

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shelter pets are a lot cheaper

[silvershadow]

1. Gotta pay for those puppy mills somehow... nt

[shenmue]

2. Poor critters

[JoeOtterbein]

3. Never Heard of Rescue Pets?

[awoke_in_2003]

9. Welcome to DU

When it comes time to get another cat, I will get it from the local shelter. Too many people want newborn pure breeds and not enough of the animals other assholes discard.

[Archae]

25. That's what I did a year ago, after my tuxedo cat died.

I went to the Humane Society shelter and saw Raven.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=747358958717823&set=pcb.747359055384480&type=3&theater

[No Vested Interest]

4. There are pet rescues even for pure-bred dogs such as Pomeranians.

The dogs shown are beautiful; I can understand why someone would choose one, though the grooming and shedding would be more than I would want.

Just google "rescue" for any type of dog, cat, bird, and likely other animals as well.

[Major Nikon]

7. I've rescued several pure-bred dogs over the years

Many of them are tossed aside or even euthanized just because they don't show well and can't be used as breeding stock. Others are abandoned by people who got one solely based on looks while ignoring traits and had no desire to train them. Two of my three current dogs have an AKC pedigree and one of those also has registration through ABCA. The third is all mutt and has essentially been rescued twice.

[Scootaloo]

5. Two grand for a pet store pomeranian?

You can actually get an animal from a reputable breeder for half that. Even less, if all you're after is a cute animal and not a show option. often much less - three hundred dollars, plus veterinary expenses.

I mean if you HAVE to have a pure breed animal. As everyone's saying, a rescue is even better.

This guy entered a contract to buy two hideously overpriced animals. He undoubtedly got ripped off, hard. But there's a saying about fools and money.

[pstokely]

11. probably an impulse buy

many impulse buyers at malls

[LisaL]

19. He got one dog in November. Then in January went back and got another one.

The first dog could be an impulse buy, but what about the second?

[Divernan]

6. 22 yr. old making $12/hr. at hospital job; more $$$ being sucked up to corporations/1 %

I'm sure the contracts required him to provide vet care, and dogs from puppy mills are notoriously in poor health from overbreeding of their mothers. Sounds like a classic case of a young adult being high pressured by a salesperson. When I was 22, I bought a really crap set of encyclopedias under a 3 year contract - convinced by the slick, door to door salesman that I should do this as a good parent for my 8 month old baby! Live and learn.

For Cook, who has a $12 an hour job at a local hospital, he says he's already made $2,000 in payments for the two dogs. He says Petland representatives misled him.

"I think that they need to do something because this is making me really stressed out," Cook said.
When asked if he thought Petland was taking advantage of him, he said, "Yes sir, I do."

After speaking to 41 Action News on Tuesday, Cook says he returned the dogs to Petland. Under terms of his two contracts, he could be responsible for thousands of dollars if Petland decides to sue.

Cook is consulting an attorney. A Petland spokesman said the company wouldn't sue. He also said he was seeking further information on the rent-to-own contract and would supply further information to the 41 Action News Investigators at a later time.

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[revbones]

8. "he says he's already made $2,000 in payments "

For comparison, that's still not enough to get a single ticket into one of Hillary's fundraisers...

[Divernan]

22. Yup! Screw peons who can't afford to be ripped off by a corporation!

[Duppers]

10. Insane.

[uhnope]

12. dog-owning idiocy has reached epidemic levels

my family always adopted mutts & strays, and they were the best as well as healthy & happy. Now fools are paying hundreds or thousands for purebred neurotic dogs prone to illness, and paying thousands for doggie meds & pampering. What's wrong with people

[Bad Dog]

13. It's not like there aren't dogs out there in need of a home.

[skepticscott]

14. Why do so many people's minds

seem to be incapable of forming the thought "I can't afford this"?

[mdbl]

15. Now he has two problems

The contracts he signed and the separation anxiety he is feeling after losing the animals. In this case, Petland should just give him the animals. On $12 an hour, just the annual vet bills and pest control costs will kill him.

[egold2604]

16. All the dogs I have owned have been rescue dogs

Three years ago I got two 3 month old male Jack Russel puppies from a rescue shelter. Both of the dogs needed hernia operations so they did not get sold by their breeder. I paid $200 each which covered rabies shots and spaying. The hernia operation was $40 extra. Since they were rescue, I did not get their papers. However, since they were going to be spayed, it did not matter.

Jake and Elwood Blues were a handful. Unfortunately Jake ate something three weeks after we got him and he died. Elwood has been my constant companion ever since. I live on 4 acres in Central PA and he runs constantly.

Central PA is the home to many Amish owned puppy mills. I will never buy a dog from a pet store ever.

[Ghost of Tom Joad]

17. April is rescue a retired greyhound month

they are wonderful, sweet dogs and are always in need of good homes.

[Shadowflash]

18. P.T. Barnum was a wise, wise man.

NT

[Sunlei]

20. Petland extends credit at 25% interest,ok thats buyers decision. Petland, 'car leases' an animal?

That shouldn't be allowed for the animals welfare.

[secondwind]

21. Here in FL, there are no spay or neuter laws.. it's shameful... rescue shelters everywhere. Puppies

for sale at flea markets, etc. spending all day in someone's hand, being hoisted up, etc. ugh

[RealAmericanDem]

23. Stupid is as stupid does.

Then he is stupid enough to publicize his stupidity.

[sendero]

24. Exactly....

....if I goofed this seriously I wouldn't want anyone to find out.

This guy needs to acquaint himself with rescue shelters, there are scads of beautiful loving dogs to be had for almost free.

[restorefreedom]

26. this shit needs to be outlawed

when there are no longer 3 million murders a year at shelters, and companion animals are hard to come by, we can revisit the idea of limited breeding.

but until then, fuck this shit

[SheilaT]

27. While the Petland people may be guilty of overcharging

in the first place, and charging absurdly high interest rates, this guy clearly can't even begin to do any math in his head. $100/month for 48 months (four years) is $4800, well over twice the sticker price for the dog.

This is why basic consumer math needs to be taught to kids, and you'd hope parents would also set good examples in this department. It's genuinely sad that people can be duped like this.

Oh, yeah, and the local shelter. Or a rescue group. As just about every other poster has already mentioned.

[leftyladyfrommo]

28. Pet land and Land 9f Paws here in KC

Are puppy mill dogs. They charge huge prices for dogs bred by commercial breeders.

I wish people would just stay away from them but a lot of people want a puppy right now and there is no waiting out there.

They really misrepresent those dogs. They have this whole spiel about how all the breeders are local and have great reputations. And all the puppies are vet checked - the whole operation is owned and run by vets. And they charge twice what you could buy a really good puppy directly from a reputable breeder.

It's such a scam. And there is so much money to be made in that business. It's horrible for the consumers and horrible for the dogs. But it's not illegal in the state of Missouri.

[Hotler]

29. Fucking idiot. Yes sut down the puppy mills and

neuter this man so he can not reproduce.

[olddad56]

30. you are never going to be able to fix stupid.

not even Magic Donald can fix stupid.