Monday, January 12, 2009
Animal folk stage protest at Petland in Plano for selling animals raised in puppy mills
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PLANO — Approximately 118 animal activists staged a protest on Saturday at the Petland store in Plano to discourage the pet-store chain from selling animals bred in puppy mills, and encourage consumers to obtain their pets from shelters, not pet supply stores.
According to one attendee, a veterinarian who works for Petland "turned the sprinklers on the protesters this a.m., and they got a little wet. It was probably only 38 and very windy out there today."
The protest was one of many that took place across the country after a report from the Humane Society of the United States revealed that "many Petland stores across the country are supporting cruel puppy mills, even while telling unsuspecting customers that the dogs only come from good breeders." After the report got attention from Oprah Winfrey, some franchisees have sued the chain, claiming that the pets supplied by Petland are sick or dying.
Posted by T.G.
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Comments
Mike Orren Staff
Via the emails:
Dear Editor,
Thank you for the January 12th article, “Animal folk stage protest at Petland in Plano for selling animals raised in puppy mills”. There is a severe pet overpopulation problem in this country today. An estimated 6-8 million dogs and cats enter animal shelters each year. Only 3-4 million are adopted. The remaining 3-4 million are euthanized. No shelter wants to euthanize animals, but it is a necessity that needs to be done until we as individuals and as a community do something about it.
Buying an animal from a pet store or breeder is irresponsible. For every dog or cat you buy from a pet store or breeder, a dog or cat in a shelter dies. There are simply too many dogs and cats in shelters to be breeding more. Pet stores such as Petland need to stop selling animals.
Next time you decide to add a new family member in your home, adopt from a shelter instead of buying from a pet store or breeder.
Sincerely,
William McMullin St. Paul, MN
10 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
John McClelland Verified
I am against dogs and cats being sold in pet stores too. There are plenty out there to adopt. And if you want to buy one that isn't "used", there is always the local yocal selling dogs in parking lots or the side of the road around DFW.
10 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Teresa Gubbins Staff
john, pet stores are bad but buying it from "the side of the road" or from a random stranger is not much better. backyard breeders aren't much better than puppy mills.
a neighbor behind my house is raising dogs in his backyard - you can't even fathom the misery those dogs appear to be enduring. they're outside all day and night; listening to puppies whine when the temperatures drop below 32F is heartbreaking. i feel bad for the nice family that lives right next door. they've had a lovely retriever for years who never had fleas until this dog operation began two years ago.
shelters, the SPCA, the pound -- that's the best way to go
10 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Lisa Lawrence Merritt Verified
I adopted my baby from that very same Petland in question. He was not abused and was in great shape when I took him home.
I would have ten more just like him!
Btw, I had a Lab for 15 years that I also adopted from pet rescue (had been abused and was a complete mess- not from a puppy mill) so I'm not going to listen to anyone's crap.
Not all breeders should be lumped together or blamed for abusive conditions.
10 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
DC Anonymous
Yes, they should.
9 months, 4 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Pavel Lishin Verified
"Not all breeders should be lumped together or blamed for abusive conditions. "
True, but you should know where you're getting your dogs from. Breeders have a reputation for being shady crapbags for a reason.
9 months, 4 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Erin Rice Verified
I also agree that many breeders around town are bad news. Breeding animals in your backyard in a suburban neighborhood is certainly shady.
And the "but" is coming and here it is. But - when I was a kid my family was looking to adopt a miniature daschund and after being unable to find one at a shelter, not knowing about rescues at the time, and having a really bad experience buying from a pet store, we turned to a breeder out in Prosper, TX.
This breeder lived on a huge farm, had tons of land, and only had a few dogs, who she would spay after a couple litters. She took great care of the animals and, of course, would sell puppies with all their proper breed registration.
While I agree that rescuing animals is optimal, there are just some people, breeders and those looking for pets, who fall in love with certain characteristics belonging to certain breeds. Our family was a daschund family for a long time (before I adopted a MinPin for my brother and my parents fell in love with that breed and rescued two more). I don't think those people should be ostracized or looked down upon if they are being responsible and take care of the animals.
People should just be careful and put a lot of thought into adopting a pet.
9 months, 4 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Pavel Lishin Verified
Did anyone hear/read about HB 458?
Some folks from my hometown are vehemently opposed to this, since they have huge yards that a dozen dogs can live on in ease and comfort, and I got an e-mail via a mailing list.
9 months, 4 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
DC Anonymous
People can say whatever they want to make themselves feel better about justifying breeders, but there is no reason to propagate companion animals for some aesthetic or imagined behavioral characteristic when there are shelters are full of all sorts of animals that make great pets.
If we're going to keep breeders around I suggest a ticket system. That is if you're going to breed and sell dogs, for every dog you want to sell, you get a ticket at the SPCA. If you want to buy a dog from a breeder, you could also get a ticket from the SPCA. A legitimate breeder transaction would occur when the buyer and seller exchange tickets and whatever cash is deemed appropriate by the breeder.
I propose the only mechanism for getting a breeder / buyer ticket is through going down to the SPCA and personally hands on euthanizing 5 dogs that are going to be put down since they don't have homes. This should include the whole procedure, including shaving the legs, starting the IVs, checking that they're dead and putting the bodies in the trash or whatever protocol your local shelter uses.
Seems fair. The staff and volunteers hate that job. All responsible buyers and shelters would surely be up for supporting the community and they could appreciate what they're really participating in.
9 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Travis Bush Verified
"The staff and volunteers hate that job."
Yes, it is very disheartening and I agree about having to work at the SPCA. In fact, if you intend to own an animal, it wouldn't be a bad thing to have to do. Definitely gives you a different perspective.
9 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
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