Notorious pet store has closed, but owners continue to sell puppies
May 14th, 2010 by admin
In the “Pets” section of today’s Palm Beach Post classifieds there are five ads that feature photographs of puppies for sale. Each ad includes the phone number 954-353-7864. A quick search of that phone number brings you to the website PuppiesForSaleSite.com, a domain owned by James Anderson.
James and his wife Gilda are well-known for operating a pet store in Pembroke Pines called Wizard of Claws. The store closed in 2009 after a lawsuit was filed accusing the Anderson’s of selling sick dogs. According to the Sun-Sentinel, “The suit alleged the Andersons bought unhealthy dogs from puppy mills across the United States, then sold them for $1,000 or more, and the dogs died within days or weeks of purchase. The suit was settled in February.”
In court on Wednesday a judge was not happy to learn that the Andersons were continuing to sell dogs. A lawyer representing a woman who purchased a puppy from the Andersons in March told the court that the puppy died 5 days after purchase. Broward County Judge Robert Rosenberg ordered Mr. Anderson to stop selling puppies, and assigned a third party to take temporary custody of the 45 puppies currently at the Anderson’s home. Judge Rosenberg added, “I am concerned about the health of those animals.”
The Anderson’s next court hearing is May 20, which explains the message that has been added to the top of their website, “Closed - May 12 until May 21, 2010.”
ARFF has contacted the Palm Beach Post to make sure that they are aware of the judge’s order placing a hold on the Anderson’s business.