Lisa Vanderpump‘s dog rescue is being sued for negligence and fraud by a woman claiming a dog she adopted had its records falsified, which led to her getting worms.
The plaintiff alleged that she played with a dachshund named Cassie at the Vanderpump Dog Foundation in Los Angeles in July 2019, according to documents obtained by TMZ and RadarOnline. She also alleged staff members informed her that it was safe to play with Cassie even though she wasn’t dewormed yet.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that humans can get worms from dogs or cats “when soil, sand, or plants that have been contaminated with infected animal feces are accidentally put in the mouth and ingested.”
The woman alleged that after bonding with Cassie for multiple hours, she was approved to adopt the dog the next day, according to the lawsuit.
Vanderpump Dog Foundation employees allegedly informed the woman the animal was a “puppy in healthy condition” with all its needed vaccinations and treatments.
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Furthermore, she alleged that the foundation provided false immunization records and a false certificate claiming Cassie had been dewormed when it was time for her to bring the dog home.
The woman alleged that as soon as she brought the dog home from the Vanderpump Rules rescue center, the dog showed signs of a worm infection that had to be treated at a veterinary hospital.
According to her complaint — after taking her pet to the hospital, the plaintiff became ill with a severe worm infection later diagnosed as intestinal parasites that required medicine.
The woman has alleged that she has contacted the Vanderpump Dogs Foundation and has yet to hear back. She claimed in court documents that she is “utterly traumatized” from the experience and still suffers from emotional distress, disgust and nightmares.
The woman is seeking payment for all medical expenses and hospital bills as well as cleaning expenses required to get rid of the parasites in her apartment.
According to the nonprofit’s website, “…the Vanderpump Dog Foundation has built a community of dedicated dog activists that are working to find forever homes for homeless animals across the city. We work with shelters across Los Angeles to help relieve overpopulation; many shelters are at capacity and don’t have the resources, or the manpower, to save all the unwanted pets in our city…”