Petland Sued Over Sale of Puppy With Debilitating, Painful Brain Damage

For Immediate Release:
August 12, 2026

Contact:
Moira Colley 202-483-7382

Today, PETA Foundation attorneys filed a consumer protection lawsuit against Petland Lake St. Louis and Petland, Inc. on behalf of customer Carla Hutson, who bought a two-month-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with an undisclosed condition that causes his brain to be squeezed out of his skull. The lawsuit argues Petland violated the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act through false claims about dogs’ health and its standards for breeders by omitting crucial information about ailments common in purebred dogs. The condition is present in at least 95% of purebred Cavalier King Charles Spaniels—though this warning is nowhere on Petland’s website—and is caused by dogs being bred to meet American Kennel Club (AKC) breed standards, which mandate a specific head shape that often results in skulls that are too small for their brains.

Within days of buying the puppy from Petland Lake St. Louis, Hutson took the dog named Seven to a veterinarian, where he was diagnosed with Giardia, a potentially life-threatening parasitic infection that causes vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss. He later developed painful symptoms—including yelping, “phantom scratching,” shaking, and other neurological signs—and was diagnosed with Chiari-like malformation, a genetic defect that causes his brain to be pushed through the opening in the back of his skull. After spending thousands of dollars on veterinary bills, Hutson was forced to surrender Seven to an adoption group on June 15 because she could no longer afford his treatment.

The lawsuit states that when Hutson bought Seven, who is registered by the AKC, she was assured the puppy was healthy and had received appropriate veterinary examination and treatment, and that Petland’s breeder standards went “above and beyond” industry requirements. However, the lawsuit details that Petland’s standards require nothing beyond the minimum requirements breeders must comply with to remain licensed under the federal Animal Welfare Act and fall below other regulations, including certain Missouri requirements for dog breeders. Also, as detailed in the lawsuit, Petland also does not require genetic screening protocols to reduce the prevalence or severity of conditions like Chiari-like malformation and syringomyelia, a related condition where fluid-filled cavities form in and damage the spinal cord.

“I love Seven, and I’m devastated that I had to give him up; I could no longer provide the time and care he needs. He needs to be around someone at all times because I never know when he will have an episode. I hope his story will show people how dogs like him suffer when they’re bred and sold in pet stores. No one should have to suffer from the heartbreak I’ve experienced. I thought I was going to have a companion for as long as he lived, but instead it was cut short, and my heart will never heal.”

“Dogs like Seven are in such agony that even a collar or a gentle touch can make them cry out, yet Petland continues peddling to its customers puppies bred for a certain look that predisposes them to these painful conditions,” says PETA Foundation General Counsel Asher Smith. “Pet stores and breeders churn out sick, deformed animals, and that’s one of the reasons PETA urges everyone to adopt from a shelter.”

Hutson is seeking damages to recoup veterinary costs, emotional damages, and a court ruling that would prohibit Petland and its franchise from making certain “healthy puppy” and “highest standards” representations and from omitting key health-risk information about breeds sold.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.