The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) have filed a formal complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) about the dubious enterprise of “pet leasing,” claiming the industry is misleading and deceiving consumers.
Specifically, the complaint urges the FTC to investigate Wags Lending and Monterey Financial Services, the latter being a company that manages the lease payments for Wags.
Pet leasing is touted as a way for people to purchase a dog over a longer period if they can’t make the full payment immediately; however, HSUS reports that the method is not made clear to customers, who aren’t aware that they are leasing a puppy instead of buying one, and, in the long run, pay up to double the advertised price of the animal.
Research undertaken by the animal advocacy groups showed that many consumers did not realize that signing the agreement entitled Wags Lending to remove the dog from their care if they missed a payment — and also made Wags the legal owner.
“Pet leasing is a growing industry that dupes unsuspecting people into paying thousands of dollars or risk losing a beloved family member,” says ALDF executive director Stephen Wells. “The Federal Trade Commission should take swift action to protect Americans from these unethical businesses.”
HSUS is also concerned that pet leasing is another way for pet stores to sell puppy mill dogs to unwitting buyers.
“It’s time for the Federal Trade Commission to hold the pet industry to a higher standard,” says John Goodwin, senior director of HSUS’s Stop Puppy Mills Campaign. “Pets are family members for most Americans and the process of acquiring a new pet should be humane for the animals and fair to families.”
California, Nevada and New York have already banned pet leasing, and many other states are now looking into the dodgy practice.
Now, HSUS and ALDF await a response from the FTC; their complaint has been followed up with a letter of support signed by seven United States senators, all encouraging the FTC to take action.
Yes, needs to STOP!
California, Nevada and New York have already banned pet leasing, and many other states are now looking into the dodgy practice.
Now, HSUS and ALDF await a response from the FTC; their complaint has been followed up with a letter of support signed by seven United States senators, all encouraging the FTC to take action.
ADOPT! DO NOT SHOP! Rescue, and save a life.
Your local human society and animal rescues have dogs and cats for a small fee.
If you feel the need to have a purebred, there are rescues for those, too.
Our cats and dogs are family. They have the same feelings we do, and love unconditionally.
WHY would anyone deal with people who treat dogs – or cats, or any animal – like a commodity?
These dirtbags help to keep puppy mills, and kitten factories, in business. They deal in nothing but pain.
Stop puppy mills ans animal abuse!!
There are some very sick people in this world
There are some very sick people in this world
It’s time to stop treating animals like property to be bought, sold or leased. Animals are living, breathing, feeling, thinking beings who should have individual rights, free from abuse, neglect, enslavement, etc. They should not be forced to breed, or to be sold for financial gain!
Another money making sceme to be abused an miss representing
Terms to people and dogs being
Moved around. It is sick
BOYCOT THIS BUSINESS PEOPLE!!!
This is truly an evil method to trick people.
Who can do such awful abuse to innocent animals..they have to be phsycopaths…and they deserve the same horrid treatment. Not a slap on the wrist…awful…
How can this happen. Didn’t even know this was happening. How can it be legal. This is the lowest of the low.
Adopt ! All these animals ! Just have lovely homes found for them !
Gandhi said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated.”
We must be in end days (& I’m not even religious!). Setting bulls’ horns on fire for entertainment, drenching dogs in tar, shipping horses hunched over in cattle cars for days for slaughter in other countries, the atrocities committed against so-called lab animals & so-called food animals – and this. No normal person could think up this shit, let alone carry it out.
ADOPT THESE BEAUTIFUL INNOCENT FURBABYS. BUYING AN FAMILY MEMBER IS WRONG. ADOPT DONT SHOP!!!!!!!!!!!!
These are living creatures. Let the people that get involved in this vile idea change places with the animals.
This insane evil individual should be behind bars!!!
The trade of animals should be regulated.
Nobody should profit
Scammers will do absolutely anything. The FTC and any other authorities must put a stop to this.
I simply adore animals. My favorite charities are all for animals’ benefit.
I can barely bring myself to read some of these articles due to the breadth of their content, but I cannot struggle against what I do not know.
God help us to stop this madness.
To whom it may concern,
I have been told by my teacher, a master scholar and monk of the vedic lineage, that people who harm or kill dogs will face terrible karmic consequences in his and or following incarnations due to the fact that dogs are man’s best friend, loyal and trusting beyond reason for their human being stewards. To kill a dog will bring untold suffering in following lifetimes. I wish Westerners and all people understood the consequences of their abuse and torture perpetrated on dogs and other animals. Some Karma is bound to happen in this life as well. You reap what you sew.
sincerely
Dorbe
That idea is not limited to only dogs but to all animals. I hope your teacher and you are vegans. Look cows for example, most trusting and gentle creatures and what we do to them in agriculture. Abuse beyond comprehension in particular to dairy cows and their murdered babies.
I can’t believe this is a real thing. What a scam! Poor people and pets. Couldn’t imagine my dog being taken away from me. This must be stopped!!
This is a shameful practise and must be stopped.
The FTC needs to.take action against Wags Lending and Monterey Financial Services. This is a preposterous thing to do. I’ve never heard of anything this bsfore. Leasing to own a pet. Preposterous.