Pixies and Paws has placed dogs with families throughout the tristate – but there are questions about the fees, and where they get their animals. News 12’s Senior Investigative Reporter Walt Kane has the Kane In Your Corner exclusive.

Jonisha Lewis and her family say they are still devastated by what happened when they adopted a puppy from an animal rescue called Pixies and Paws.

“My son was crying. And he was just like, 'Why? Why Is this happening? Like, why is he sick?' And we couldn't really explain what happened,” Lewis said. “At the time, I felt great. He was a mini golden doodle, which is what we wanted. We heard that golden doodles are great with children."

First, Lewis said she was taken aback by the adoption fee, a whopping $1,500. Then, she says her veterinarian found the puppy had serious medical problems, even declaring it "unfit for sale.”

“He has a hernia. He has an undescended testicle. And he had two microchips. Like no dog has two microchips,” she said.

Pixies and Paws agreed to take the dog back but said the $1,500 was a nonrefundable donation. And she's not the only one who's unhappy. The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs says it has 14 complaints about Pixies and Paws, and the Humane Society of the United States says it has 18.

John Goodwin, of the Humane Society, recommends avoiding rescues like Pixies and Paws, that charge more than a few hundred dollars and offer designer puppies.

“When you have a large number of particularly popular breeds of puppies, high adoption fees, getting up into the thousands of dollars, that's just not what real rescues do,” Goodwin said.

News 12 wanted to ask Pixies and Paws about their fees and where they get their dogs but the group ignored calls and emails for weeks.

News 12 also tried to catch up with the owner, Jennifer Lamb, at her home, but didn't even get to the front door.

Lewis said after News 12 started asking about Pixies and Paws, the group changed its tune and refunded her money. But she's still unhappy with the experience.

“This is very unfair. You hurt a family,” Lewis said.

The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs says it's reviewing the complaints it's gotten about Pixies and Paws. They also say the group is not licensed as a nonprofit in the state, as required by law, and says that could result in penalties.