Last year, they sadly lost their beloved dog Gracie at the age of 17.
The loves of their lives
Gracie was a Shih Tzu. The couple also had another dog they adored, a Bichon Frise named Benny.
The couple wanted a puppy that was a cross between their two favourite breeds: a Shih Tzu and a Bichon Frise.
They then came across a little black and white puppy named Leroy in a pet shop. The seller assured them that he was indeed a Shih Tzu-Bichon Frise cross.
The documents provided by the pet shop did indeed state that Leroy's mother was a purebred Bichon Frise and his father was a purebred Shih Tzu.
Neil and Cathy paid $4,799 for Leroy, confident that he was the mix of the two dog breeds they wanted.
Bad news
After bringing him home, they bought a puppy wellness plan from Banfield Pet Hospital, which included a DNA test.
The test revealed that Leroy is mainly a mix of Bichon Frise and Poodle, with no trace of Shih Tzu DNA.
Neil asked the pet shop for a 50% refund. When they didn't respond, Neil contacted the media outlet ABC Action News to tell them his story.
When the news outlet contacted the pet shop, they insisted that they trust the breeders regarding the dogs' breeds.
They agreed to give the couple a 50% refund, as the puppy did not match their expectations.
ABC Action News went a step further and verified the Carltons' DNA test results.
The results of the new DNA test were similar to the Carltons' report. They showed that Leroy is 50.5% Bichon Frise, 45.5% Poodle, and 4% Havanese.
Even though they don't have all the answers, the Carltons said they were happy with their 50% refund and wouldn't trade Leroy for any other dog – they love him with all their hearts!
