Newfoundland family blames P.E.I. shop for dead puppy

A family in Clarenville, N.L., says P.E.I. pet dealer Snookums sent them a sick puppy, and it had to be put down a short time after they got it.

'He keeps saying that whatever we did, we caused this problem.' — Allie Balsom

Mark and Allie Balsom ordered the dog from Snookums through the company's website. The dog arrived with some pills that they were instructed to give the new family pet. The puppy remained lethargic and they took it to a vet, even thought they were told not to by the owner of Snookums, Bud Wheatley.

Allie Balsom told CBC News on Thursday that Snookums is blaming her family for making the puppy sick.

"They kept repeating, 'Every dog has this coccidia parasite, and the dog was perfectly healthy when he came to you.' And he keeps saying that whatever we did, we caused this problem," said Balsom.

Wheatley refused to be interviewed for this story.

A veterinarian in Newfoundland told the Balsoms there was not much that could be done to save the dog. It was eventually put down.

Snookums was also the subject of complaints from people in Charlottetown last year.