MONTGOMERY COUNTY, N.Y. -- Police in Montgomery County are keeping an eye on one home. The owner, Dake Fu, 27, is the subject of two current criminal complaints for selling sick and diseased puppies has faced animal cruelty charges in the past.

“We kind of got a bait and switch,” said Aretakis.

Local attorney and 21st District Congressional candidate John Aretakis says he's one of the victims.

“He's been sick for all the six months that we've had him,” Aretakis said.

Aretakis says he and his wife bought a 10-week-old pug, Ollie, from Fu in December. They saw problems right away.

“We wanted a female and when we got home that night, we noticed he was a male,” Aretakis said.

Along with getting a different pet than they picked, Aretakis says the dog had a severe intestinal infection and a neurological disorder. Vet bills piled up and Ollie started costing the family thousands.

“You can see this dog has gone to the vet twenty times. This is the lab reports that show what he's tested positive for,” said Aretakis.

“The illness he had for the first few months was due to the poor conditions he was raised in,” said Aretakis.

Fu's kennel has come under fire before. In 2005, he was arrested for 15 counts of animal cruelty, but he was acquitted of all charges. Law enforcement officials say it's not surprising. They say cases like these are tough to prosecute because animal abuse laws lack teeth.

“If you call getting off with a slap on the hand and a fine then yes, that's how it usually ends,” said Michol Smith, Town of Perth Dog Control Officer.

Smith says the current laws only ensure that animals get food, water and shelter and unscrupulous breeders often know their way around them.

“They make good money and if you don't abide by the rules it's an inexpensive way to make big bucks,” Smith said.

To make sure buyers aren't helping them out, she says they should make sure they using a reputable breeder and have the dog checked by a vet, even before taking it home.