Woman accused of selling diseased puppies

SANDPOINT — A jury trial is pending for a woman accused of selling puppies infected with parvovirus out of her Oldtown store.

Roxane M. Clairmont is charged with selling animals affected with communicable diseases, a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and $5,000 in fines.

Clairmont pleaded not guilty to the offense and a jury trial was set for next month, although it’s being rescheduled because of additional discovery evidence in the case, court records show.

New dates for a pretrial hearing and trial are pending.

Clairmont, a 46-year-old from Newport, Wash., owns the Feed Bag pet store, according to court records. She is accused of selling two puppies in August, one of which died. The other had to be euthanized, according to a sheriff’s deputy’s report.

A deputy and an investigator from the Idaho State Department of Agriculture found that two more puppies had been sold at the store and later tested positive for parvo, a disease that is especially fatal to puppies.

Canine parvo causes gastrointestinal tract damage, cardiac problems and dehydration. It is spread by contact with an infected dog’s feces.

Clairmont had allegedly been purchasing puppies and kittens from others even though the animals did not have health certifications or vaccination records.

The deputy’s report indicated that a veterinarian had counseled Clairmont on dealing with a parvo outbreak and authorities had received several complaints about the cleanliness of the store prior to her being charged.

Bonner County Deputy Prosecutor Valerie Fenton made a pretrial settlement offer in the case in exchange for a plea of guilt. If Clairmont pleads, the state would recommend a 60-day jail sentence with 55 days suspended and five days on the sheriff’s labor program. The offer also includes a $2,500 fine with $2,000 suspended.