An Oceanside couple is devastated after they were forced to euthanize their brand new puppy.
Rio Quinn and her husband showed 10News the chew toy and sweater that used to belong to their Vizsla puppy Scooter.
"It's heartbreaking because we thought we were going to have a full grown dog one day," Quinn said.
Scooter died just weeks after they bought him from Carlsbad Pets.
The couple claims the dog looked ill when they saw it in the store and decided to adopt it so they could get him help.
"We were kind of in a position where, do we let this poor dog die here or do we take it home and maybe save it," Quinn said.
When they took Scooter to the vet, they learned he had severe pneumonia.
A Vizsla animal rescue group stepped in to help after the couple made the heartbreaking decision to surrender him to the vet on Valentine's Day.
Sadly, they were forced to euthanize the dog, which also tested positive for the highly contagious distemper.
"They'll show signs of vomiting, diarrhea, really weak, lethargic, dehydrated, not eating," veterinarian Meghan Landen said.
10News went to Carlsbad Pets, where a manager said the dog was OK to take home and that it could have contracted distemper anywhere.
"We're just happy we had him for the few weeks that we did so he knew love and warmth of a bed," Quinn said.
Records show the couple's dog came from Carla Steffensmeier of Top Notch Puppies.
10News' calls to the breeder were not returned.
Carlsbad Pets said this is the second dog from the breeder that has died.
The store manager told 10News they will no longer do business with Top Notch Puppies.
