According to the results of a recent investigation, it turns out that the largest chain of pet-selling stores in the US is also the nation's largest retail supporter of puppy mills.
An eight-month evaluation by the Humane Society of the United States uncovered that Petland stores are purchasing and selling puppies from horrific conditions despite promises that the dogs come from known breeders with only "the highest standards of pet care." Many hail from massive commercial facilities or are purchased from large scale "pet distributors" (read: puppy brokers) . . . and the company itself may not even know what the standards of care were like in the first place.
See some shocking statistics and learn what you can do when you read more.
By the numbers:
- Number of Petland stores across the country: 140
- Number of puppies linked to Petland stores: 17,000
- Number of stores visited by the HSUS: 21
- Number of breeders and brokers visited by the HSUS: 35
- Number of additional USDA inspection reports from Petland breeders evaluated by HSUS: more than 100
- Number of those with "serious violations of basic animal care regulations": 60 percent
If this shocks you too, take action and sign a petition letting the company know this is unacceptable to us pet lovers!
Peacocks
Lanvin
Nike
I saw a protest at a new Petland in this huge new outdoor mall here in Austin. I diddnt know it was because of this. So sad.
1I live in Montréal, Quebec. Unfortuntly, it seems our province is known to be very light on puppy mills. There are not enough funds to help investigate and find those mills. Also once found, the perpetrators are prohibited to have have animals for only 2 years!! It should be for life. There was a report on it tv this weekend and it broke my heart to see the conditions in which the pups are living. We have to stop buying from petshop and help raise funds for the humane society worldwide.
2This is sad. I've never been to a Petland, don't have them here, but I'll look at the petition.
3this is so awful. why are people so cruel?
4That's so horrible.
5I would never ever buy dogs from a pet store.
Terrible. Never been to Petland and never will now because of this.
6thas so cruel n sad....
7Do NOT buy a puppy from a pet store!!! This is so sad!
8This is so sad. I've never heard of Petland, I didn't think we had them in Austin, but Siguros says we do. Well, I definitely won't be visiting them now.
9I think one way for all of us to advocates for these animals is always promote adoption from a pound or a shelter. There are so many unwanted doggies in the US there is really is no excuse for buying a dog from a pet store. No you know so educate people you know!
10Hear, hear, sexylibrarian!
Adopt!! adopt adopt adopt!
And if you must have a purebred then check out rescues .. there is a rescue for every breed!
11Oh my gosh!! I almost bought 2 pinschers from a Petland before I got my Princess. My dad used to take me to Petland every Sunday after church to look at the puppies, ferrets, and birds. In fact, I think my bunny rabbit Lora came from a Petland. Also my 5 birds!!! I'm feeling sick, I could not watch that entire video
Petland sucks.
12I remember that there use to be a Petland in Huntington Beach. I went in and checked out a Samoyed. That dog was so sad and unresponsive that it was depressing. I could only imagine the type of conditions it came from. Petco is just as bad in my opinion
13We have a lot of Petlands here in New York. I've bought supplies from them a few times at different stores and at each one all the animals that they had from birds to lizards all looked to be in horrible condition w/ no food or dirty cages. I stopped buying from them years ago. I'm glad to see they are finally being busted for this.
14I have never even heard of Petland... I would never buy a dog from a pet store but now I know never to shop there either.
15STOP BUYING FROM PET STORES!
16I have gotten two puppies from Petland, myself... mind you, this is before I knew better... both were very very very healthy and I have never had an issue with them. (One charged out my front door and got hit by a car, so he's no longer with us, but my white Chihuahua that I love more than life itself is also from Petland)
17I have even seen the place my dog was bred... it wasn't some skanky nasty place... it was a local breeder.
I don't disbelieve everything they say about these places, but I do tend to think they are exaggerated....
Would I buy from them again? Probably not, as they are overpriced and if there is any truth to the stories, I'd feel bad.
Why was an investigation needed? I thought everyone knew that Petland and all pet stores that sell puppies get their dogs from puppy mills (mostly via Hunte Corp).
18Wow, Spiderlove. How sad is that? You won't buy from there again because prices are high and MAYBE the claims are true?? Just because you got your dog there doesn't mean that 8 months of investigation is wrong. You got lucky and frankly so did your dog. And just because you saw the conditions where he came from, means nothing. Absolutely nothing.
I detest puppy mills and wish a very slow death on anyone who runs one or who knowingly buys from one.
19Wow. You're a little dramatic there, aren't you? Wishing my death. You can go fry ice, momto2tzus.
20Never been to a Petland before, but there two petstore called "California Pets" in the area.
I don't know if they get their dogs from puppy mills (I have my suspicions) but the puppies that I've had a chance to play with there seemed very lethargic and sick to me :[ not to mention they were being displayed in those little glass boxes with barely enough room and children screaming and pounding the windows.
It's so sad that puppy mills even exist
21NOOOOO! it even says on their website that they work against puppy mills! That's so sad, I used to love going to my petland and seeing the cute puppies. They all looked healthy in my opinion :[
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