RIVERSIDE (CNS) - A federal lawsuit has been filed against several puppy stores in Riverside and San Diego counties, as well as an allegedly fake Missouri-based animal rescue organization accused of taking part in an illegal puppy mill operation, adding to existing litigation claiming the stores fraudulently label their dogs as rescues.
The lawsuit, filed Friday in San Diego federal court on behalf of Maryland-based nonprofit PetConnect Rescue Inc., is one of several filed recently against Utah resident David Salinas, who owns Hello Puppies in Temecula and The Fancy Puppy in Corona.
The suit also names as defendant Jase Demetrius Shamore, the owner of Villaggio Family Pets and Town Puppies, both also located in Temecula.
Plaintiffs' attorneys say the stores obtain their puppies through
