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Pet Giant Linked To Puppy Mills

By CBS/AP

Published: Fri, November 21, 2008 - 12:12 pm Last Updated: Fri, November 21, 2008 - 12:17 pm

Short URL: http://wkrg.com/a/21161/

For anyone planning on getting a new puppy this holiday season, the key question may not be "How much is that doggie in the window?" but rather "Where did that doggie come from?"

It may be hard to imagine the cute pups found in reputable pet stores being born in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions, but that is just what a new investigation alleges, reports CBS' Early Show resident veterinarian Dr. Debbye Turner Bell.

According to a report by the Humane Society of the United States, many stores of the Ohio-based Petland Inc. pet store chain support puppy mills while telling customers the dogs come only from good breeders.

The animal protection group made the charge at a Washington, D.C. news conference, saying it conducted an eight-month investigation of the chain headquartered in Chillicothe in southwest Ohio.

Petland Inc. did not return repeated calls from CBS News seeking comment on the report. But in a message posted on the company Web site, Petland said the company does not support substandard breeding facilities and provides each store with humane care guidelines developed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Petland also said the Humane Society's reports "surface every year around the holiday season in conjunction with their annual fundraising efforts ... This is sensationalism at its best."

The Humane Society said investigators visited 21 Petland stores and 35 breeders and brokers who sold puppies to Petland stores and reviewed interstate import records of an additional 322 breeders, USDA reports and more than 17,000 puppies linked to Petland stores.

"We found very classic puppy mill condition," the Humane Society's Stephanie Shain told CBS News. "Dogs in small cages. These animals were living in those cages 24 hours a day, 365 days out of the year."

In puppy mills, hundreds of breeding dogs are packed into cramped, barren cages with no socialization, exercise or human interaction, she said.

The stores investigated are perpetuating an abusive industry where dogs are treated like a cash crop instead of as pets, said Shain, director of the Humane Society's campaign against puppy mills.

"They know that 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.

The Humane Society said its investigators saw puppies living in filthy conditions with inadequate care at breeding operations linked to Petland stores. Also, many of Petland's puppies are not supplied directly by breeders, but are purchased from large-scale pet distributors or brokers - some of whom also buy from puppy mills, the Humane Society said.

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Planning on getting a new puppy this holiday season, the key question may not be "How much is that doggie in the window?" but rather "Where did that doggie come from?"

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southfan1981 Says:

Fri, Nov 21, 2008 at 10:40 pm

I looked at them. WOW! Those are gorgeous big things. I think I’ll stick to my dog who will be second best at everything!

Fix your critter don’t litter.

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rosepetal Says:

Fri, Nov 21, 2008 at 4:10 pm

lol, i bet she does. i can tell its vice versa also. love those stories. tosa is in the mastiff bloodline. i love mastiffs also. darn i love them all. but the only problem with giant breeds is they do not live but around 7-9 years. i had a fila who stole my heart. he only lived for 7 years. i also have a chihuahua who thinks she is a shepherd. never a dull moment.

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southfan1981 Says:

Fri, Nov 21, 2008 at 3:54 pm

Tosa Inu?

I have to say my husband told me he’d never have a German Shedder because he couldnt afford the kind he wanted. We were given our dog. She was not a good fit for being left outside all the time. Instead, she worships me! Someone should!

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rosepetal Says:

Fri, Nov 21, 2008 at 3:05 pm

thanks southfan, great post about adopting these babies. when people stop buying from these pet stores they will help stop the puppy mills. you might also want to post a picture of that fine girl of yours to show what is waiting to be adopted. there are rescues for every breed from chihuahua to tosa inu.

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southfan1981 Says:

Fri, Nov 21, 2008 at 2:47 pm

NO reputable breeder would place their dog for sale in a pet store. If you contact a breeder for a potential puppy purchase, ask them how many other breeds they breed, how often they breed their females and how they choose a buyer.

There is no excuse for most people to be allowing their dogs to have litters. When we aspire to carefully choose parents as good representatives of a breed and understand the real dedication a breeder must have to the aspects of the breed, we will realize that not just anyone can do it successfully.

If you want a dog, check out breed rescues first. Usually foster families are well versed in basic training. They can give you a realistic idea of the dog’s demeanor and the dog comes housetrained.

And Rose, you can post your pic of your gorgeous German Shepherd Dog. He is a true example of quality and doing your homework.

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briarrose Says:

Fri, Nov 21, 2008 at 12:59 pm

I wish I could save all those poor babies. :( How could you look into a puppy’s face with such indifference?

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Missknowitall Says:

Fri, Nov 21, 2008 at 12:56 pm

It’s is so evil that people treat dogs like that. Those folks should be caged and forced to reproduce in filthy conditions. Grrrrrrrrr It makes my blood boil and makes me SICK

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