Puppies from Pet Stores Could Be Making People Sick, According to the CDC

Puppies from Pet Stores Could Be Making People Sick, According to the CDC Puppies from pet stores may be carrying a bacterial strain that is one of the leading causes of food poisoning in the U.S. At least 30 cases of the illness have been reported across 13 states, including 4 hospitalizations, according to the CDC. Of the 24 people the CDC interviewed, 21 said they came in contact with a puppy shortly before becoming ill, 15 of which were from a pet store. The CDC says that 12 of the 30 reported cases have been linked to Petland stores. Symptoms of the infection typically begin to show up 2 to 5 days after exposure and resemble symptoms of food poisoning. The agency is urging people to thoroughly wash their hands after touching any puppy or dog, handling their food, or cleaning up after them. If you're thinking of bringing a puppy home for the holidays from your local pet store, make sure you take them to the vet for a checkup just to be safe.