Dwayne Trent says he wanted to do the right thing and give an unwanted pet a home and his kids some happiness. But instead, Trent says all his family got was heartbreak and a loss of $160 to the shelter.

For Nicholas and Brandon Trent, getting two dogs from the Loudon animal shelter was a happy day to have a pet and give them a name. "We would lay on the ground and then the pups would come and lick us and chew on our hair and stuff," says Nicholas. "It had three names, Cutie Pie Trent," Brandon says.

But not a week passed before Cutie Pie and Tippy were found to be infected with Parvo, a highly contagious disease among young dogs. "Did confirm they were sick and they had to be euthanized," says Interim Shelter Director Gordon Harless.

"Watched them take it into the room," says Nicholas. "And how did you feel?" Stephen McLamb asks. "Awful," he replies. Their veterinarian, Dr. Heather O'Brien, says the virus usually takes up to two weeks to show itself.

Dwayne Trent says he went to get his $160 back from the shelter but was told no. "As it states on our adoption contract, there is no guarantee to their health," Harless says.

So were the remaining population of dogs checked for the virus at the shelter? Harless says no. "We don't have a veterinarian on staff nor could we afford to parvo test every single animal that entered the facility."

That has Trent concerned. "It's not responsible or even ethical." Harless said he offered the Trent's two other dogs from the shelter but was told no. "Don't want two more dogs that more than probably have that virus and bring them home and break the kids hearts again," Trent says.

Harless says he is making a request to the county commission workshop meeting for them to consider giving Trent his money back. Trent says he hopes the shelter will take on new policies to insure healthy dogs are sold so other children's hearts won't be broken like his children's were.