The Humane Society of the United States on Thursday sued Wizard of Claws, the Broward County-based pet store that sells expensive dogs nationwide.

The group alleges the store is selling sick and defective dogs that are actually supplied by so-called puppy mills. The kind of places NBC 6 found are a key part of the lawsuit.

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Humane Society Sues Wizard Of Claws
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NBC 6 undercover video shows the inside of a massive dog breeding operation in the Midwest. It's one of the places the Humane Society of the United States says has an elevated risk of disease and genetic defects.

And one of the pet stores that buys some of its dogs from this breeder is Wizard of Claws, advertising happy healthy dogs with satisfied celebrity clients.

Jim Anderson runs Wizard of Claws.

"We buy the best of the best. We buy the premium," Anderson told NBC 6.

"You think you're getting the best of the best. What you're getting is often times a very sick animal with genetic defects who came from a puppy mill," said HSUS President Wayne Pacelle.

HSUS is suing Wizard of Claws for claiming its dogs are "not from puppy mills when in fact they are" and for selling sick and defective dogs.

A four-month NBC 6 investigation found customers nationwide that made similar claims.

"We don't think this guy in this store should continue to get away with deceiving the public, misrepresenting what he's doing, and victimizing people and animals in the process," Pacelle said.

"We do the best we can. We operate the business the best we can. We try to be honest. We try to be fair. We try to be good to the customer," Anderson said.

But attorney Marcy Lahart, who represents unhappy customers nationwide, disagrees.

She originally filed the lawsuit now being joined by HSUS.

"Wizard of Claws sells sick puppies banking on the fact that people who buy these puppies will become too emotionally attached to return them when they realize that they are sick or suffer from congenital defects," Lahart said.

To his critics, Anderson said: "I've proved blatantly they're liars. Just blatant liars."

Anderson, who did not return a phone call Thursday from NBC 6, said last week that because of our investigation, he and his wife plan to tour the Midwest to inspect dog breeders with which they do business. And he insists he has many happy customers.

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Airdate: Feb. 9, 2006
Reporter Jeff Burnside, Investigative Producer Scott Zamost, Photographers Pedro Cancio and Robert Hernandez