undercover photo of a sick puppy

The HSUS

Pet Seller Complaint Form

If you purchased a sick puppy from a pet store, please use this form to file a complaint. After submitting this form, you will receive a copy of the form via email, with a list of additional agencies that you should contact. 

Please save all documentation related to your dog, including purchase records, breeder papers, veterinary records, kennel club papers, legal documents, and anything else that pertains to your complaint. After submitting this form online, you will receive a copy of the form via email, with a list of additional agencies that should receive a copy of your complaint. 

Please send a copy of any related documents or photographs of your dog to Stoppuppymills@humaneworld.org and note in the subject your dog’s name and your last name.

Your Information

Contact information

Dog Information

Please check one of the following. The dog was purchased:
Was your dog altered (spayed/neutered) by the breeder or pet store?
Was your dog altered by you?
Were you required by the pet shop/breeder to use their veterinarian in order to comply with a guarantee or warranty?
Did your veterinarian issue a “Not Fit to Sell” certificate upon examining your dog?
Were you advised of veterinary care your dog had received prior to purchase?
Is your dog currently living?
Were there any prior medical conditions you were aware of upon purchasing your dog?

Breeder Information

Please provide as much information about the breeder as possible. If you purchased your dog from a pet store, please be sure to fill out Pet Store Information.

Was there an interview before you were allowed to purchase your dog?
Did the breeder provide references
If yes, did you contact those references?
Is the breeder registered with a “kennel club” [e.g. American Kennel Club (AKC), United Kennel Club (UKC), Continental Kennel Club (CKC), etc.]?
Did the breeder provide you with registry papers for your dog?
Did the breeder provide you with medical records for your dog?
Did you sign a contract with the breeder?
Were you advised of any health guarantees for your dog?
If yes, were they supplied in writing?
Were you told of any state law protecting you as a consumer?
Did you request to tour the breeder’s home/facility?
If yes, were you given a tour?
Were there specific concerns you had when touring the facility (e.g. areas you were refused access to)?

Pet Store Information

Complete this section only if your dog was purchased from a pet store.

Did your dog leave with you on the day of purchase?
Did the pet store provide you with health certificate/breeder papers/etc. listing the name of the breeder/broker who provided your dog?
Did the pet store provide you with kennel club registry papers for your dog (e.g. American Kennel Club (AKC), United Kennel Club (UKC), Continental Kennel Club (CKC), etc.)?
Did the pet store provide you with medical records for your dog?
Did you sign a contract with the pet store?
Were you advised of any health guarantees for your dog?
If yes, were they supplied in writing?
Did you buy your puppy using financing arranged by the store, such as a loan, store credit card, etc.?
Were you told of any state law protecting you as a consumer?

Additional Contacts

Humane World for Animals team sometimes works with national and local media outlets or other organizations/agencies to help spread the word about puppy mills and related issues.

Would you be interested in being contacted if we find an opportunity to share your story with the press or other parties?
Have you contacted any other agencies, organizations, groups or professionals about your complaint?
Have you contacted a lawyer?
Have you received any reimbursement from the seller?

While Humane World for Animals will do what it can to help you resolve your complaint, we cannot promise that an outcome will be what you hope for. Humane World for Animals is not a law enforcement agency, nor a legal firm, but rather an organization dedicated to using its resources to help advance the cause of animal welfare across the globe.

Due to the large volume of breeder complaints received by Humane World for Animals on a daily basis, we cannot guarantee a response with in a certain time period, although every effort will be made to respond in a timely fashion. We will be in touch if we require additional information.

While all personal information submitted to Humane World for Animals will remain confidential, Humane World for Animals cannot guarantee the confidentiality of personal information submitted to other agencies. For more information, please contact each agency directly about its policies.