Just Pups owner banned from selling pets in NJ

<p>The owner of a chain of New Jersey pet stores accused of selling sick puppies was banned from ever selling pets in the state again.</p>

News 12 Staff

Jul 24, 2017, 5:00 PM

Updated 2,602 days ago

Share:

The owner of a chain of New Jersey pet stores accused of selling sick puppies was banned from ever selling pets in the state again.
New Jersey Attorney General Christopher Porrino announced Monday that Vincent LoSacco is permanently prohibited from conducting business in New Jersey and is permanently barred from advertising or selling animals in the state in any capacity.
LoSacco must also pay $326,000 to settle allegations that he misled customers about the health of the puppies that his shops sold and dozens of other acts of consumer fraud.
LoSacco and his Just Pups stores have been under fire for months after customers complained that he was selling sick and dying dogs at his Brick Township location.
Just Pups made headlines again weeks later when dozens of puppies were found inside a cold, dark van outside the Paramus location.
“Leaving 67 puppies in a van in the middle of winter behind the store, he put himself on the radar,” says Collene Wronko, of Advocates for Animal Shelter Change in New Jersey.
The New Jersey SPCA found violations at many of LoSacco’s stores, including the East Brunswick and Emerson locations. The East Brunswick location was closed in March 2016 over charges of animal cruelty. The Paramus and Emerson locations were closed shortly after. His pet store in New York state was also closed last year.
LoSacco’s East Hanover location was finally closed this past March. He is now barred from ever selling pets in New Jersey.
“I think it's great. I think it's the first time Jersey has really gone after someone and made a point of telling somebody, ‘You aren't good for animals and we aren't going to have you in our state,’” Wronko says.
Wronko says that the best way to crack down on stores that sell sick puppies from mills is to not buy from these stores. She says that is it best for potential pet owners to adopt pets instead.