Sick Puppies: Pit Bull Pups From N.J. Shelter May Carry Deadly Parvo Virus

NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A warning has been issued in the Garden State for anybody who bought puppies from an animal rescue group.

Some of the animals turned out to be sick and now some of them are dead, reports CBS 2's John Slattery.

Slattery spoke with Brian Neilson, a dog lover who is heartbroken over the loss of a puppy that he purchased from a rescue organization last month.

"Our pets are our kids, and I have three little boys crying every day. She sits at home in a little wooden box," Neilson said.

The female pit bull puppy named "Skyler" was just 9 weeks old when adopted from a litter of six. Neilson said that he saw the dog inside of a PetSmart in North Brunswick.

He said that it was sold by a rescue group called Pound Puppy Protection Rescue of New Jersey. The group, run by Christine Yurgel, had a table set up in the store.

Neilson said he saw the puppy in the store and adopted it the next day at Yurgel's home. When the dog got sick, he called her.

"She got back to us and told us two of the puppies came down with parvo. I called (the) vet. She tested positive. She died," Neilson said.

Parvo is a reference to canine-parvo virus, a highly contagious disease. It is a very common and serious health problem often encountered in animal shelters.

Neilson said that there seemed to be a connection between the rescue operation and the store.

"There was a PetSmart slip we had to return after picking the puppy up, and it died shortly thereafter. Had her all of five days," Neilson said.

The New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has issued five charges against the owner of the rescue group. CBS 2 was unable to locate the owner.

A corporate phone number given to CBS 2 at the PetSmart store did not return a call.

If there are other sick dogs from the rescue group, the New Jersey SPCA wants to know about it.

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