A “chic’’ Chelsea pet store is peddling sick pooches raised in puppy mills — doctoring the poor animals’ veterinary files to sell them to unsuspecting customers for up to $4,000 apiece, the Humane Society says.
The Chelsea Kennel ClubMatthew McDermottThe animal-welfare organization says it conducted a two-month undercover investigation into the Chelsea Kennel Club and found the workers there routinely abused the ailing pets.
According to a stomach-churning video, one worker at the Manhattan pet store routinely smacks crying puppies with a towel and bangs on their glass cages, the society says.
The organization says it launched a probe after receiving complaints that sick pure-breds were being sold off without disclosing their illnesses, a violation of New York’s pet laws.
“We were shocked by how widespread the problem was in this store. Whether it was puppies with open surgical wounds on their bellies or a dog who could barely breathe because of advanced pneumonia, our investigator witnessed a shocking disregard for the care these puppies deserve,’’ said John Goodwin, senior director of The Humane Society of the United States’ Stop Puppy Mills campaign.
Chelsea Kennel Club owner Yardenna Derraugh told The Post on Monday that she was equally shocked — to learn of the Humane Society’s accusations.
“Is this a joke?” she said. “This is one of the best pet shops you’ve ever seen in your life!”
Derraugh, who bought the store seven years ago, said she never witnessed any of her employees striking puppies and insisted that she has a regular veterinarian who monitors the animals at least once a week.
“Water is clean with vitamins, [and they] get clean food, medication, toys. We treat them the way they wanted to be treated at home. I’m working so hard,” Derraugh said.
The employee seen on the video snapping a towel at one pup and seemingly choking another told The Post that she wasn’t being abusive.
“We want the dogs to not fight,” she said. “I grabbed the scuff of the neck like a trainer would so that the dog understands like a parent doing it. This is showing dominance over the dog so it doesn’t hurt the other dog or hurt them.”
