Ohio family contracted stomach bug from puppy bought from Petland, lawsuit claims
GROVE CITY, Ohio (WCMH) – A Grove City family has filed a lawsuit against Petland, claiming a puppy they bought from the Chillicothe-based retailer transmitted an ailment to them.
The lawsuit, filed by Brian Guerin and Cara Gozzard on April 29 in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, states the couple bought a female mini Bernadoodle puppy from Petland's Grove City location in January 2023.
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The dog, who the family named Nellie, began to have diarrhea within 24 hours of bringing her home, the lawsuit claims. The couple originally thought this may be due to the stress of a new environment.
However, the lawsuit claims that within days, the couple's 5-year-old daughter came down with a stomach bug. Within a week of their daughter falling ill, their 5-year-old son began experiencing the same symptoms, including 'severe abdominal pain.' A short time later, Guerin also contracted the ailment.
The couple took Nellie to the veterinarian, where she tested positive for Campylobacter, a bacterium that can cause diarrhea, stomach pain, vomiting and a fever. Guerin and his two children then also tested positive for the bacteria, which can spread between humans and animals.
Guerin contacted Petland to inform them of the diagnosis, to which the company suggested the family could have acquired the bacteria through another source like raw meat, the filing states.
The lawsuit claims both parents had to take time off work to care for their sick children, resulting in lost income. Guerin missed out on a work bonus amounting to thousands of dollars due to his inability to travel, and Gozzard, who is paid hourly, missed nearly a full month of work.
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Additionally, the filing states Guerin has experienced long-term complications of Campylobacter, including stomach pain that impacts his daily life.
The lawsuit argues the store knowingly sold the family an animal that was not healthy and violated the terms of a contract they signed with the retailer, which assured them the animal was kept in a clean and safe environment. The legal action is asking for damages of at least $25,000.
The lawsuit was filed by the Ohio-based law firm Holland & Muirden, with assistance from Humane World for Animals, an animal welfare nonprofit. Nellie is now a 'happy' and 'healthy' dog, according to the organization.
'Taking weeks-old puppies away from their mothers and sticking them in a crowded store window is a recipe for spreading disease,' said Mark Finneran, state director of Humane World for Animals. 'The Guerin's case is a reminder that the puppy mill-to-pet store pipeline harms all of us, humans and animals alike.'
Petland communications director Maria Smith said the company's attorneys are still reviewing the lawsuit. She claimed the retailer maintains 'stringent health protocols' for the puppies in its care, including an exam by a veterinarian before being offered for sale.
'In the event a puppy shows any signs of illness, it is not available for in-store visits or sale until the pet has undergone its full course of treatment, is no longer symptomatic, and has been re-checked by the store veterinarian and cleared for sale,' Smith said. 'In this particular situation, Petland does not know the facts surrounding how the family contracted Campylobacter and we cannot comment further at this time.'
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The April filing is not the first time the pet store chain has been at the center of a legal battle. Several other lawsuits were brought against the company in 2024, accusing it of selling sick animals to customers.
In response to the previous lawsuits, Petland's CEO Joe Watson said Humane World for Animals is a 'radical animal rights group' that is 'burdening Ohio's busy legal system' to generate publicity.
Campylobacter has also previously been connected to Petland. In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigated an outbreak of Campylobacter infection, stating many affected people 'had contact with puppies or were employees at pet stores, including Petland.'
Most people recover from Campylobacter infections within a week; however, in rare cases, it can be fatal among young children, the elderly or those with weakened immune systems, according to the World Health Organization.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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