Animal Advocates Say Woman Sold Sick Puppies Online

SHELBY, N.C.,None — Lisa Hendren said her dogs are like her kids, but officials from the Cleveland County Humane Society said Hendren "preyed on… the animals."

Marguerite Mebane, the president of the society, said Hendren, who lives in Shelby, was buying puppies and selling them on craigslist.

"They had contracted the parvovirus and would die, sometimes within hours, after they were purchased," Mebane said.

Mebane showed Eyewitness News some of the e-mails that concerned people have sent to her about Hendren.

"Underfed, have worms and parvo," one e-mail said. "Posted on craigslist."

• VIDEO: Animal Advocates Say Woman Sold Sick Puppies On Craigslist

Mebane said she has been getting complaints about Hendren for two years, but can't do anything about it because there are no regulations in place.

Hendren told Eyewitness News that Mebane's claims are not true. "If a dog is sick, then why are you going to take it home with you?" she said.

Hendren brought three of her seven dogs to an interview with Eyewitness News reporter Ken Lemon to show that they are well-cared for.

"What more is there to say?" she said. "They are not abused."

The state veterinary medical board has charged Hendren with administering vaccinations to other people's dogs, which is illegal without a license.

Hendren said that was an honest mistake.

"It's not illegal to do it for your own dogs," she said. "I didn't realize it was illegal to give them to other people's dogs."

She said she did it to help cash-strapped friends avoid big vet bills.

"If you are trying to take care of your dogs, then why not help someone?" she said.

Humane Society officials said the regulation is in place to protect animals, because only trained vets can assure that the vaccine is properly stored and effective.

WSOC