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Petland Stores Tied to Puppy Mills, HSUS Says

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NEW YORK -- An ongoing 8-month investigation by the Humane Society of the United States has revealed that many branches of the Petland Inc. pet store franchise are tied to puppy mills.

The Ohio-based company, which has stores across the country, has been acquiring dogs from puppy mills, while telling customers the pets come from reputable breeders.

The HSUS announced the findings on Thursday at a Washington, D.C., news conference.

"They are buying from puppy mills where these dogs are not treated like pets," Michael Markarian, an executive vice president with the Humane Society, told reporters at the conference.

"They're treated like a cash crop, where mother dogs live in wire cages, sometimes stacked on top of each other in filthy, dirty, cramped conditions, where they receive little socialization or human interaction or exercise."

The charges come after investigators visited 21 Petland stores and spoke with 35 breeders and brokers who sold puppies to Petland stores. Puppies were found living in unsanitary conditions with minimal amounts of care at facilities linked to Petland.

The charges also allege that some of the dogs come from large-scale pet distributors and brokers, not individual breeders, like Petland has maintained.

Following the press conference, Petland responded to the HSUS' charges on its Web site, Petland.com.

"Unfortunately, we were not interviewed or consulted [in the investigation process]," the statement reads. "This is sensationalism at its best. HSUS has a history of publicizing false information in an effort to raise money."

Petland also states that it "does not support substandard breeding facilities."

However, HSUS officials have maintained that Petland has been supporting the establishment of places that display "a very classic puppy mill condition," said Stephanie Shain, director of HSUS' campaign against puppy mills.

"They know that our consumers won't stand for the cruelty inherent in mass-breeding facilities, so they make outrageous claims to hide the reality that the dogs came from puppy mills," Shain said.

HSUS officials have also appealed to the public, asking prospective pet owners to complete in-depth research on private breeders and commercial breeding facilities if they choose to purchase, and not adopt, a dog.

They have also advised against purchasing a dog from a pet store, with the implication that the pets' origin cannot be fully ascertained.

Tell us what you think about “Petland Stores Tied to Puppy Mills, HSUS Says” below. Share your favorite videos by clicking on the ZootooTV tab. Send us your story ideas by e-mailing us at news@zootoo.com or by calling us at 877-777-4204.

The Associated Press, CBS News and MSNBC contributed to this article.



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Ha123
Ha123
8 months ago
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Pets should not be sold in stores. They are treated like a product, which they are to them. Not to mention that most, if not all, stores get their puppies from puppy mills. You run the risk of getting a poorly bred dog which could mean big vet bills in the future or worse. Always adopt from a shelter.
 
Suzanne L.
Suzanne L. (CandysMom)
8 months ago
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I have seen puppies in pet stores and they definitely do not have ideal conditions. Adoption is the only way I would ever get a pet.
 
stiggy
stiggy
8 months ago
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The Petland in Westerville, Ohio treats their puppies like they are toys. They are mostly small dogs and only one had mats for them to sit on. Their little feet never find a flat comfortable surface. When my 12 year old daughter asked why they had not mats the woman working their replied, "The mats are too hard to clean and unsanitary for the workers." Puppies poop. People who work with puppies should make the puppy comfortable v.s. ease for workers. We have reported this to several sources. Shame on Petland!!!
 
Kelsey B.
Kelsey B. (kjberard)
9 months ago
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What a shame. I was hoping they came from reputable breeders.
 
Michelle  J.
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I dont know why anyone would buy a pet from a pet store anyway. Shelters and rescues are the way to go.
 
jeg3434
jeg3434
9 months ago
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This doesnt' surprise me but I read a more recent article and would like another update!
 
jello1
jello1
9 months ago
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Over the years I've gradually seen animals for sale in pet stores decrease. Hopefully the practice will soon be totally stamped out
 
Chris M.
Chris M. (mex1chris)
9 months ago
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And this supprises people?
 
BramLane
BramLane
9 months ago
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People should be aware of this and get there pets from a shelter. Profit should not be the top priorty when looking for a home for a pet.
 
dstrykr
dstrykr
10 months ago
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The definition of "puppy mill" needs to be clarified by both parties.
 
blackie1
blackie1
10 months ago
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They need to stop selling animals and treating them the same as a bag of dog food. Shelters that screen adopters are the way to go
 
Pia S.
Pia S. (GuinnieGirl)
10 months ago
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Sorry, but in this economy, we really don't need all of these large pet stores, especially those selling "puppy mill" puppies, despite what they say. Words are just words. Yes, they do get the pups from "breeders." Anyone can call themselves a breeder - but it doesn't mean they are good at it or, for that matter, even care about being good.
 
Michelle H.
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Pet stores sell puppies for hundreds of dollars. They claim they come from good breeders. A reputable breeder would never, ever sell a dog thru a pet store. Those puppies come from puppy mills where abuse for profit is the norm. Please spread the word. Adopt and rescue, never purchase a dog from a pet store!!
 
Karen S.
Karen S. (kstrieder1)
10 months ago
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I hope HSUS stays on top pf this.
 
Geoff L.
Geoff L. (glcats)
10 months ago
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Never buy an animal from a pet store. You're only supporting the mills!
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
10 months ago
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HomePro
HomePro
10 months ago
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We should all be boycotting Petland.
 
Jodi S.
Jodi S. (jodiscaife)
10 months ago
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I don't know why anyone is surprised that Petland sells puppy mill dogs. Reputable breeders prefer to place their puppies themselves rather than using a middle man. Besides anywhere that touts $100 off puppy prices for a grand opening promo can't be legit. I just wish that the stores in Austin and Georgetown would close.
 
KCsMom
KCsMom
10 months ago
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I'm one of those people who forked over an "undisclosed amount" for my pup!
Reasons are personal....don't get me wrong....i've owned several that i rescued myself....and they were all great pets..... i chose to do good research in the pursuit of a breeder and chose my pup carefully? Incidents like this continue to disgust me! Who in their right mind buys any animal from a big box store.....these stores are great for cheap and often dangerous products from China but come on....buying a pet!? were did you think they were coming from?? No REPUTABLE breeder would offer their pups for sale through any place like this.....irresponsible humans once again are creating these types of problems! what your shopping at the mall and you impulsively buy a skirt and a puppy!?? it's the people who keep purchasing these pups that keep the puppy mills active for that almighty dollar!
Thumbs down to all the big box stores that sell pups......and thumbs down and a raspberry to the idiots who irresponsibly purchase pets!! thanks Zootoo for putting this story out there and for letting me VENT....
 
Alison W.
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Why would anyone fork over so much money for a dog from a pet store or breeder when you can get one that is just as wonderful and cheeper from a shelter?
 
Bonnie L.
Bonnie L. (swimmomkt)
10 months ago
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My pet was rescued so I don't know much about her except I saved her and she saved me...
 
Amanda
Amanda (Silverstar54)
10 months ago
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Ya know, the siutation is so much worse just because they lied to customers who inquired, then were told they were NOT coming from mills. That is just so unethical and bad business and I hope they're revealed and shut down.
 
mattfam
mattfam
10 months ago
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Just another reason to adopt a shelter pet.
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
11 months ago
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maldune
maldune
11 months ago
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I HATE Petland!
 
Amanda  T.
Amanda T. (AmandaTeske)
11 months ago
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sickening...absolutely sickening!
 
Anne K.
Anne K. (Ayuun)
11 months ago
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This is terrible.
 
Todd C.
Todd C. (Toddnyc)
11 months ago
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This is the exact reason why as pet owners we need to shop local, independently owned pet shops. (Such as The Hamilton Dog House in Brooklyn, NY)
 
Cindi K.
Cindi K. (tinaturner)
11 months ago
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So sad the puppy mills. I would never buy a pet from a pet store. So many other dogs are homeless and need help. They need to shut down these puppy mills
 
JaneandBill
JaneandBill
11 months ago
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I hope this is not true.
 
redheadhalfbred
redheadhalfbred
11 months ago
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9 years ago I bought a puppy from a pet store that I was pretty sure was a puppy mill situation....I don't like puppy mills any more then the next person, but I look at it this way....I saved a puppy's life.
 
Amanda
Amanda (Silverstar54)
10 months ago
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The trouble is though that it's the puppy's mothers who are the real victims here, being forced to have litter after litter. Also just by buying that puppy, the money goes to support that mill producing even more puppies.
 
br200305
br200305
11 months ago
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Is anyone shocked by this information? If so, where have you been for the last ten years? I mean, I'm glad there's new information...but really, I think that anyone who doesn't realize that Petland buys from puppy mills is in denial. Talk to a former Petland employee...the ones I've met have horror stories about 4 and 5 week old puppies being brought in and not receiving medical care, etc. (Buying and selling puppies less than 8 weeks of age is illegal in itself). Ick. That said, I do think the HSUS is shady sometimes.
 
rose h.
rose h. (rosaritah)
11 months ago
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I hope that people everywhere get the chance to see this article. The inhumane treatment of animals at puppy mills needs to be outlawed and people need to know that they are only contributing to the pain and suffering when purchasing a puppy and not rescuing one.
 
BuilderBob
BuilderBob
11 months ago
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Oh, and reputable breeders do not need to sell their puppies thru pet shops, nor would they want to.
 
BuilderBob
BuilderBob
11 months ago
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Not that they may be in the right but Petland has a whole different take on this. Do a Google search and see what Petland has to say about HSUS. That being said, never buy a dog or cat from anyplace that takes a credit card.
 
Caet G.
Caet G. (Caet)
11 months ago
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disgusting... this stuff is hard to read... so upsetting... these ppl that run the mills are evil and i don't understand how they are even human...
 
l8dybird
l8dybird
11 months ago
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I would never set foot in that store (for anything), I adopted my pets from the humane society, my wife is a foster mom for cats.
 
Liz C.
Liz C. (lizcatalano)
11 months ago
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You are right, I won't either!
 
Mary Ann P.
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right, nasty operation. Just hope north easterners don't confuse this compnay with Petland Discounts.
 
Sarah H.
Sarah H. (smhammel)
11 months ago
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They recently opened a Petland just north of Austin. Despite protests, petitions and lots of bad press, the store opened and does good business. I will never set foot of a pet store that sells puppies or kittens. Puppymills are disgusting and should be outlawed in all 50 states. Unfortunately most people don't realize that cute petstore puppies come from puppymills. I have no doubt Petland is keeping puppymills in business.
 
ragdollkitties
ragdollkitties
11 months ago
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I agree....most people don't know that the cute puppies in pet stores often come from puppy mills. I also believe that people who buy pets from pet stores often do so impulsively and are won over by how cute the puppy (or kitten) is. These stores disgust me!
 
dusti
dusti
11 months ago
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The only way to stop these stores from selling animals is boycott the stores and I mean buy nothing from these stores, leashes, collars, food-BUY NOTHING FROM THEM. Visit their website and tell them that you and everyone you know will not shop their stores until they no longer sell animals. Plain and simple if it hurts their bottom line they will stop but not until.
 
ragdollkitties
ragdollkitties
11 months ago
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I don't understand why people continue to buy dogs and cats from pet stores. Where do people think these animals are coming from? No reputable or responsible breeder would ever sell their puppies or kittens in a pet store. So that leaves backyard breeders or puppy mills as the source of these animals. So terrible!
 
Heidi J.
Heidi J. (hejohnsonvc)
11 months ago
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It's scary to think that such a large chain could be tied to puppy mills.
 
Cathy B.
Cathy B. (CathyBeaver)
11 months ago
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i hope that who ever started this article is correct in their information. so many places can be trashed and it not be so. but if it is correct i hope that for the sake of the puppies, and mothers that they get shut down. puppy mills are not the way to go.
 
dusti
dusti
11 months ago
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You can bet on this being the truth. Ask rescues where many of their dogs are from.
 
Jennifer S.
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I just have to say, I went on Petland Inc.'s website just now, and it doesn't say anything about being involved with puppy mills. If I didn't know better, I would think everything was good with the pet store chain. It is scary how companies can lie about such important things for so long. It isn't right and they should have to pay for that - both monetarily, and with jail time.
 
dusti
dusti
11 months ago
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Do you really think that they are going to say on their website that their puppies come from puppy mills??????????
 
Jennifer S.
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I'm glad that one less pet store is going to be getting away with selling puppy mill puppies. Petland knows better, but they want to make a quick buck, so they have been hiding this fact to their customers all this time. It is just horrible what people will do for a buck.
 
djmoser
djmoser
11 months ago
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Picket those places! I got invited to do that at a store in Bel Aire Ca,but I live up north so I told them I would be there in spirit.
 
Eileen W.
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Our family has rescued two female dogs from two separate puppy mills in two different States: Missouri and Illinois. My dog & my sister's dog have both suffered in ways that have cost them the ability to know how to play & interact with others, as well as they both have health issues. Her dog is has aggressive tendencies and mine is extremely timid.
The pain that these loving dogs are put through during their time in the Puppy Mills and --IF they survive-- after-- is totally unnecessary and it is due to the selfishness of the human greed for dollars! Shame! I know & understand that people want a particular breed, however, it is NOT to be done in the manner--or the quantity--that the INHUMANE people (dare I refer to them as people) breed them at a Puppy Mill.
Think carefully. Choose wisely. When selecting your dog/puppy. Thank you for reading this.
 
Jennifer S.
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I'm glad to hear that two more puppy mill dogs are in good homes. You are so right about all of the suffering these poor animals go through. No living creature should be treated that way. Unfortunately, it happens every day. I think laws need tighter, and punishments stricter. What these "people" do is utterly disgusting. How would they like being put in a tiny cage that isn't much bigger than them? What if they never were given the chance to get out and walk around? What if they had to sit in their own urine and feces all day long - in the hot and the cold? There is no excuse for treating living creatures this way. NONE!
 
Denise L.
Denise L. (WonderWeezy)
11 months ago
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Most pet stores are tied to mills...they need to target them all!
 
Cate A.
Cate A. (csa356)
11 months ago
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I adopted a puppy mill mother. It is horrible what she had to go through, and I wish I could personally find every puppy mill in America and rescue all the dogs. Anyone associated with puppy mills should have to live in a dirty, uncomfortable cage with no one to love. Like jail!
 
Jennifer S.
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The problem is, I think jail would be better than the cages these dogs are stuck in. At least in jail they are able to take showers, they get fed, they aren't dirty, and they can interact with others. Those associated with puppy mills need to be shoved in cages like the ones they shove their dogs into. Now that would be a fair punishment.
 
Cate A.
Cate A. (csa356)
11 months ago
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Most definitely.
 
spongebrooke
spongebrooke
11 months ago
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wow, a pet store tied to a puppy mill. what a shocker.

reputable breeders don't produce mutts, and they certainly don't sell their puppies to a pet store. any store that says otherwise is lying just to make money from suckers.
 
Jennifer S.
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They all need to be checked out. This is something that needs to be watched much more closely. Personally, I think they shouldn't even be able to sell dogs/cats. Or, if they do, work with a shelter and try to get those animals adopted. Those animals are just as good and full of love.
 
Brandi S.
Brandi S. (Sugarpi24)
11 months ago
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I figured they were in the puppy mill business. Its sad to hear about puppy mills and all the abuse the dogs take. We had a dog at my school i went to and she seemed to come from a puppy mill or something because she looked like she had puppies any chance the previous owner had to get her pregnant and she was shy and nervous around ppl. It was sad to see. But we did our best at the school to get her to trust humans again, now she is in a loving home!
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