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Published: Thursday, November 09, 2017 @ 5:27 PM
— Two local women claim Petland sold them sick puppies after promising that they were healthy. They are among a number of people here in the Miami Valley and across the country making allegations against the national pet store chain based in Ohio.
Courtney Miller, of Tipp City, said she found her German Shepherd, "Thor" at the Petland store off York Commons Blvd.
"I was on Petland's site and I saw Thor and I'm like, we have to go get him. I'm in love with him," said Courtney.
RELATED: Puppies sold at pet stores linked to Ohio outbreak, six other states
Her father-in-law, Frank Miller, paid $4,000 for Thor. He is now 11-months-old and whines all the time because their veterinarian said the dog is in constant pain.
"It started actually when we got him. He went up and down the steps and you could tell it was hurting him," Courtney said.
After taking the dog for tests, x-rays showed that Thor suffers from severe hip problems. Courtney said it was the worst case her vet had ever seen.
"I called Petland in Dayton and they hung up on me," said Courtney. She then called Petland's corporate office in Chillicothe and eventually got them to make an offer. However, it was not one that she and her father-in-law wanted.
"$2,000 for his expenses, which we know is going to be more, or we'll give you $4,000 towards a new dog," said Frank Miller. "Well, you know that's like giving up your kid. I can't do it. There's no way."
"He's our baby," said Courtney. "I'm hurt because he shouldn't have to be in pain."
RELATED: Petland agrees to pay for puppy’s hip dysplasia surgery
WHIO-TV reached out to Petland and the company declined an on-camera interview but emailed this statement: "Petland takes the health and welfare of our pets, our customers and staff very seriously. In a 2016 study, less than 1.2% of puppies purchased from Petland incurred any sort of medical issue requiring medical hospitalization. In addition, health warranties offered by our stores typically provide for veterinary treatment for various bacterial, viral and congenital issues."
In Georgia, our sister station, WSB-TV reports that a class action lawsuit has been filed alleging Petland knowingly sold sick puppies.
"They've bargained for a happy, healthy adoptable pet and they got heartbreak and pain and expense," said Tamara Feliciano, the attorney representing the plaintiffs in the Georgia lawsuit.
There is also the Campylobacter virus outbreak that was reported back in September. The CDC reported 67 cases across the nation and 24 of them were here in Ohio. All of the cases were linked to puppies sold from Petland.
Dr. Daniel Carey, an emergency veterinarian and partner at the Dayton Care Center in Centerville, said the dogs he sees from pet stores are usually unhealthy.
RELATED: Woman denied refund after dog bought at pet store died 11 days later
"Buying a puppy from a pet store is potentially, maybe the worst place you could buy a puppy," Dr. Carey said. "They're coming from puppy mills even if the folks at the store don't think that they're coming from that."
Jenny Brown from New Carlisle, said she found her Bernese Mountain Dog, "Franklin" on the Petland website.
"It reels you in. You see the pictures and they're there and you can take them home today and I think that's what got me," Brown said.
Brown said she paid $3,500 to take Franklin home and started to notice that he had problems walking when he was only 3-months old. By the time Franklin was 10-months old, their vet diagnosed him with severe hip dysplasia.
"I just thought about all the times he had been walking up the stairs and taking him on walks and doing stuff. He was probably hurting the while time," Brown said.
Petland gave Brown a full refund and let her keep the dog. But, his hip replacement surgery was twice the amount that he cost and Franklin will always be lame in his back legs. Brown said she wishes that she had known more about the dog before buying him.
"Do your research before and don't get wrapped up and sucked in like we did," Brown said.
Meanwhile, Petland has agreed to pay for Thor's double hip replacement surgery. It will cost $12,000 and is being performed on Thursday at the Columbus MedVet.
Published: Wednesday, April 25, 2018 @ 12:40 PM
DAYTON — Police are investigating a reported armed robbery at a Dayton Circle K location Wednesday afternoon.
Officers responded to the business at 816 Watervliet Avenue around 12:10 p.m. after the robbery was reported.
Initial reports indicate a man displayed a knife and made off with cash and cigarettes.
Published: Tuesday, April 24, 2018 @ 4:02 PM
Updated: Wednesday, April 25, 2018 @ 5:35 AM
RIVERSIDE — Update@1:12 p.m.:
Alpha Adams doesn’t show up in any recent DPD reports and has no Dayton Municipal Court or common pleas court cases.
She did have some old Miamisburg Municipal Court case driving stuff, all from 1996. They included:
Feb. 14, 1996 – stop sign violation
Aug. 11, 1996 – improper lane usage, DWI of .147
Oct. 15, 1996 – speeding (40 in 25 zone) and driving under suspension which was amended to no operator’s license.
First report:
A 46-year-old woman killed in a head-on collision in Riverside Tuesday afternoon has been identified.
Alpha Adams, of Dayton, has been identified as the driver killed in the crash on southbound Harshman Road, according to the Montgomery County Coroner's Office.
An autopsy on the Woodman Park Drive resident is scheduled for today.
OTHER LOCAL NEWS: Arrest made in drug case
Witnesses said she was driving erratically, “being aggressive and making hand gestures” just before she was involved in a head-on collision on southbound Harshman Road near Airway Road and Woodman Drive at about 3:45 p.m., Riverside police Sgt. Dave Crigler said.
Witnesses said the woman appeared to be driving erratically on Harshman, headed toward Airway, when she sideswiped a school bus, then hit a second vehicle as she continued on.
She drove left of center as she approached the intersection at Airway Road, striking another vehicle head-on, the sergeant said.
Three other people were injured in the accident that involved as many as eight vehicles, he said, and they have been taken to different hospitals.
There were no children on the school bus, Crigler said.
“We don’t exactly know what the hand gestures were,” the sergeant said.
Zeke Bowling, whose girlfriend was driving one of the vehicles struck in the incident, said she was taken to a hospital and his daughter and son were also in the girlfriend’s vehicle.
Bowling characterized the fatality was the result of a road rage incident.
Crigler said he could not confirm whether the fatality was the result of road rage.
Published: Wednesday, April 25, 2018 @ 8:31 AM
Updated: Wednesday, April 25, 2018 @ 1:57 PM
PERRY TWP. — UPDATE @ 11:57 a.m.:
The suspect involved in this morning’s standoff is out of the Wolf Creek Pike home and is in custody, deputies said.
We’re working to confirm the suspect’s identity.
UPDATE @ 11:15 a.m.:
A man who identified himself as David Clark, the suspect from the March 31 standoff, called this newsroom early Wednesday morning, saying that he was going to do something “newsworthy” today.
RELATED: Boyfriend, girlfriend arrested after hours-long standoff at Perry Twp. home
Clark said he was “a peaceful person” but was planning to do something that was “going on the news today.”
This news outlet, out of concern for public safety, immediately contacted law enforcement. The current standoff started a short time later.
Investigators have yet to identify to this news outlet if Clark is the suspect in Wednesday’s ongoing standoff.
UPDATE @ 9:45 a.m.:
SWAT crews have arrived at the scene of an apparent standoff at a Perry Twp. home Wednesday morning.
The standoff is currently occurring at the same house as a previous standoff on March 31, according to dispatch records.
RELATED: Boyfriend, girlfriend arrested after hours-long standoff at Perry Twp. home
Two people were arrested in the March 31 incident, however, it was not clear if Wednesday’s incident is connected to the previous incident.
Several officers continue to block both directions of South Wolf Creek Pike near Keener Road for the incident.
We’ll update this page as new details become available.
FIRST REPORT
South Wolf Creek Pike is currently blocked in both directions between Keener and Air Hill roads in Perry Twp. due to police activity.
Reports multiple deputies and officers are currently blocking the road, but additional details about the incident were not available.
Published: Tuesday, April 24, 2018 @ 6:12 PM
Updated: Wednesday, April 25, 2018 @ 10:40 AM
MIDDLETOWN — A former Middletown police chief has died.
Russell Dwyer, who served as police chief from 1975-87, died Monday night. He was 80.
Funeral services are at 10 a.m. Friday at Breitenbach Anderson Funeral Home, 517 S. Sutphin St. Burial in Springboro Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
MORE: Read more local obituaries
Born Jan. 31, 1938 to Lillian and Lawrence Dwyer in Warren County, Ohio, Dwyer graduated from Franklin High School, attended Miami University, and was later awarded the Bishop Medal and a graduate of the FBI Dignitary Protection Academy.
Dwyer retired after 27 years of service from the City of Middletown/Division of Police where he served as police chief for 13 years. He was involved with many organizations and held various positions within the Middletown community; secretary/treasurer for the International Association of Chiefs of Police; secretary/treasurer for the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police; founder of the Narcotics Division for the City of Middletown; founder of Safety Town; founding committee for the All American Weekend; member of the Chamber of Commerce; member of the Rotary Club; director of safety at Bob’s Truck Service; director of safety and vice president for Excel Trucking; news director for WPFB radio; and a member of the Madison Athletic Boosters.
MORE: ‘Schoolhouse Rock’ musician dies at age 94
He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Patricia Dwyer; children Anthony Dwyer (Molly), Robert Dwyer, Dennis Cox (Kathy) and Dana Stephens (Matt); sisters Norma Baird and Crystal Harsha (Ron); brothers Roger Dwyer (Kathy), Ralph Dwyer (Joyce) and Paul Dwyer (Marty); eight grandchildren, Russell Dwyer, Anthony Dwyer, Dylan Dwyer, Brandon Dwyer, Ashley Cox, Allison Cox, Alex Cornele and Lucas Cornele; four great grandchildren, and a very special caregiver, Mariah Smith.
Middletown police department’s Facebook page read: “With sad hearts we inform you that former Police Chief Russell Dwyer passed away last night. He was the Chief from 1975 -1987 and served the City of Middletown for over 30 years. MPD’s thoughts are with his family today.”
Rodney Muterspaw, Middletown’s police chief, said he met Dwyer after he had left the department. Every time, Muterspaw said, Dwyer took “a real interest” in his career.