A lot of stores buy their 'stock' from breeders in Pennsylvania; that's where this particular puppy came from. They aren't sentimental when it comes to puppies; they consider them to be livestock, something to be raised and brought to market.

He got a new lawyer recently. Some kid. Here's some interesting reading about his last lawyer.

http://woodbridge.patch.com/articles/fancy-pups-attorney-pleads-guilty-in-2-6-million-fraud-cause

Goes to prove that "Birds of a feather DO flock together"

OMG ....smrtzonemary... are you kidding me ?
Back in Feb he says.....Now that Bellotti is unavailable, Garruto is looking for other legal representation. "[Bellotti] told me he's going to be in jail for 90 days," Garruto said. "I guess I have to find another attorney."
AND yet the courts don't laugh him out of court?
Any reputable attorney would/should never take his case... no matter how hard up you are for business.

@Redonred

I wish I was kidding.... Mortgage FRAUD and ID theft is why Mark J. Bellotti is "unavailable" . He's gonna be in orange jumps for a while!!!!!!!

REPUTABLE is the key word here!!!!!

Rocco new lawyer is Milton Bouhoutsos Jr. http://www.boulaw.net/

Deborah Bell... I think there are two types of "breeders" out there. One that only sells privately to people and the other that just breeds and sells to these "puppy stores".
I believe a reputable breeder would not sell their puppies to a Store owner. I think the puppy came to the store owner in good contition. I think these puppies were in terrible living conditions and he knowingly sold them.

Couldn't agree more with RedonRed. I have 3 dogs. Two from a breeder and one from a New York City kill shelter. The breeder was very concerned with meeting and interviewing my fiance and I - she wanted all the details of our history with animals, where we lived, what we did for a living, vet references, character references, etc. It was the same as adopting an animal from a reputable rescue. She likes to keep in touch with the parents of her "kids", too. There's no way in hell she'd sell her puppies to a store of any kind. I know it keeps coming up but EDUCATION is key. You absolutely have to do your homework when buying a pet.

Ya know why John ? And do understand why they have to be so strict... but these shelters make it so hard to adopt a pet that it discourages alot of people. And they aren't cheap either...and yes I know they need the money to upkeep these shelters. They are all that either.... many years ago I bought a puppy from a shelter in Long Island (cost me $75.00) and then took it to my Vet and a week later had to put the puppy down bc of distemper. Called the shelter and they just about said,Oh Well ! No restitution and we didn't know better and pursue it. So I can see where people might think the way to go is to purchase a puppy from one of these stores.
Just saying....

Yes, it's usually easier to buy a pet from a business looking to make a profit. They usually want whatever makes the sale of this—as Deborah Bell put it above—"livestock." Things get more complicated and sometimes (thought not usually) more expensive when you go to a pound or rescue group or shelter of some sort, where the people there tend to see pets as living beings worthy of a modicum of respect and want to get them into a good home. Of course, not everyone who works in a shelter is a good egg, and not everyone who works at a pet store is a Rocco Garruto. I'm sorry to hear about your sick puppy story, RedonRed, but that's not the norm. And despite the sad turnout, you did the right thing going to a shelter and giving a dog a chance at life over euthanasia, rather than support a business whose very existence is based on intentionally bringing dogs and cats into the world when there are already so many that countless of them being put down daily.

But yes, people do think pet stores are the way to go. It's about education. Though things are slowly moving in a good direction overall, the public at large doesn't see the big picture when it comes to getting a pet. Shelters can barely make ends meet, but pet stores make money. They can advertise. So in general, people think to go to a pet store when you want a pet. Just like you go to the drug store to get drugs. But the pound? That's for bad cats and dogs. I mean, why else would they be there, behind bars? Education.

Don't get me wrong John, I wholeheartedly agree with you.
I wasn't trying to make excuses for people who purchase their dogs at a
shelter or a pound as you call them. Its just that people have the right to get a pet anyway they want....but they should be educated to know what the possible consequences are. Another short story....11 years ago we went, after searching for a particular breed in the local shelters and pounds, and bought a boer puppy at a Dog store on Fischer Blvd. I guess we lucked out... He was wonderful.... I say was bc he did pass away after almost 10 years of good living and giving us much love.
There are good stories and bad ones from all sides.
AND you have to admit alot of people do dispose of their unruley, mistreated pets to the "pound", thus getting the stigma of the "bad doggie" house!
This Garruto guy is not a nice guy so why would he care for his animals that he sells?.
AND WHY when paying a large amount of money would you not do your homework first ?
We can go around and around with this... bottom line...this guy is an ass and he deserves a deportation and hefty fines that should go to help the local shelters.
All he had to do is say I'm sorry let me give you another puppy (not that it would make up for the loss of the first one), but TRY to make restitution, be a good business man. BUT NO... he rather be an A**h*le. So he should be made to pay.

RedonRed, I believe we are more or less on the same page here. And it's true, there are mistreated dogs at the pound. But they can be rehabilitated. Likewise, many puppy mill dogs grow up with social problems from having been born into unloving conditions. But too few people understand that. All they know is that doggy in the window sure is cute! What more do they need to know? Sold!

Very true John.... its the rash, spear of the moment, lets get a puppy its so cute mentality that feeds into these stores and keeps them going.
Gotta love Instant gratification ! LOL

In response to RedonRed ... the LI shelter you went to you is completely different than the Woodbridge Animal Shelter. For a minimal fee, you will get a quality dog that is fully vetted before adoption, which includes all innoculations and S/N (it may also include microchipping, but I cannot be 100% sure.) All WAS animals are temperment tested as well so that the dog can go to the appropriate home.

Goldei Locks, can you clarify? which is the better shelter ? The LI one or Woodbridge? Now I'm going back over 25 years ago and we thought/told that the puppy we pid a miminal fee for was Vetted and deemed healthy adopt. I believe it was called North Shore Animal League... as a matter of fact we always sent donations to them before going there to get a puppy. We thought we were doing 'our part'. Not so much.

Tamara this guy is NOT a breeder, just a middle man making a huge profit
from poor people who only want a puppy!

Why isn't McCormac on TV telling us how he bought his dog from Garruto? What's wrong with this story that Mayor ME-Cormack doesn't want to be associated with breaking news?

That has been going through my head since I read this follow-up.

So weird. "Deporation" was going through my head.

The new lawyer handles foreclosures, bankruptcys, etc., but does he handle INS issues?

Let me get this straight... you read a story about a puppy who died COUGHING UP BLOOD and you still went to this guy to buy one? Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Obama's America.

Well Tamara I wouldn't claim she is Obama's America that I think woold be insulting them.
LOL