This guy obviously doesn't have a clue. Studies show that the average happy shopper tells between one and three people about the experience, but the dissatified shopper tells ten people on average. A bad experience spreads far further.
Report him to the Better Business Bureau. I agree about the paper...Do it based on the angle that you are a pet lover, but this guy might have changed your mind.. Also that your money is just as good as any adults and you should be given respect, even if the loser is in debt- makes you wonder why, huh?
Just let it be. You dont know what the guy is going through and if all this comes down in the newspaper or whatever, how are you gonna feel if the guy blows his brains out. Just dont go back, and forget about it.
I had a local feed store owner who got mad at me for ordering from Ideal directly instead of through him. He told me he could have saved me money. I asked him if he would order them for me and I'd cancel my Ideal order but he was still mad I didn't order from him in the first place. He told me, "It's just money". I agreed with him. I haven't spent a dime there since.