[News] Humane Society sues Petland and Hunte Corp. over 'puppy mill' dogs

[WalnutHill]

Just FYI to everyone, the HSUS is NOT the Humane Society. I think people get it confused. The HSUS is NOT affiliated with local shelters (they don't run any shelters). It is not an animal welfare organization, it is an animal rights organization. They spend about 6 times as much on raising money as they do on actual prorgrams that benefit animals, and they have said that they actually advocate the extinction of all domestic pet animals. It's a very misleading organization. So, just FYI, they do stuff like this for publicity and to get people to donate to them. They have many lawyers on their board, but no vets. The breeders I know call them the H$U$.

[crystalsmom]

Originally Posted by WalnutHill

Just FYI to everyone, the HSUS is NOT the Humane Society. I think people get it confused. The HSUS is NOT affiliated with local shelters (they don't run any shelters). It is not an animal welfare organization, it is an animal rights organization. They spend about 6 times as much on raising money as they do on actual prorgrams that benefit animals, and they have said that they actually advocate the extinction of all domestic pet animals. It's a very misleading organization. So, just FYI, they do stuff like this for publicity and to get people to donate to them. They have many lawyers on their board, but no vets. The breeders I know call them the H$.

WHATwell this is another story.

[WalnutHill]

Sorry, I meant the H$U$.

Anyway, I didn't mean to rant, I just wanted everyone to be aware that the HSUS is NOT the Humane Society.

Here's a link:

Humane Society of the United States

[yorkiesmiles]

Originally Posted by WalnutHill

Sorry, I meant the H$.

Anyway, I didn't mean to rant, I just wanted everyone to be aware that the HSUS is NOT the Humane Society.

Here's a link:

Humane Society of the United States

About a year ago, I posted a thread entitled something like Dp you know the real Human Society - it's still out on YT - you could find it, but it got locked down because of the huge clash of views.

I do not support all that they stand for or do. But if they can help shut down Petland that is a good thing! No one is working as hard at is as they are. Plus this is a class action lawsuit - so many people who bought dogs from Petland are bringing this very valid lawsuit. Last I read, I think it was 22 people & they are inviting more people wronged by Petland to join them

[yorkiesmiles]

West Virginia Record | West Virginian joins class-action against Petland

West Virginian joins class-action against Petland

3/26/2009 8:00 AM
By Justin Anderson -Kanawha Bureau

CHARLESTON - At least one West Virginia resident has joined in a class-action lawsuit filed against Petland, a national retail pet store, and Hunte Corporation, an alleged broker between so-called "puppy mills" and Petland.

The lawsuit, brought by The Human Society of the United States, seeks to recover damages for people who bought dogs from Petland that were allegedly products of puppy mills.

The complaint alleges that Petland and Hunte have conspired to sell unhealthy dogs to consumers while misrepresenting the dogs as the "finest available." Petland has about 140 retail locations in 31 states.

There are six named plaintiffs in the lawsuit -- Jodell Martinelli, Stephanie Booth, Melia Perry, Abbigail King, Nicole Kersanty and Ruth Ross. The Humane Society says there are other plaintiffs from at least 20 states.

The Humane Society adds it's been getting telephone calls from people wanting to join the lawsuit, filed in federal court in Phoenix, Ariz. federal court. The complaint was brought after eight months of investigation, the Humane Society says.

The complaint lists one West Virginian as a member of the growing class of plaintiffs.

Identified only as "Travis of Madison," the man said he and his wife bought a teacup Yorkie for their daughters for Christmas.

"The dog never made a sound on the 30-minute drive home, so we were able to keep her hid," Travis wrote in a Nov. 22, 2008 statement. "Little did we know that the reason the dog was quiet was because she was sick."

Travis said they took the dog to the veterinarian, who prescribed glucose gel. Travis said the family administered the gel adamantly, but the dog continued to get worse.

During the family's final trip to the vet, they were told that the dog needed to be sent to an emergency animal hospital. Travis said the family couldn't afford this because it already had spent $2,800 on the dog. So, the family called Petland.

"They told us to bring the dog in and they would care for her," Travis said. "A few days later we were told (the dog) passed away. Our children were heartbroken and they tried to blame us. However, we had documentation from the vet."

Travis says Petland agreed to replace the Yorkie with a Chihuahua. But the new dog was only worth $1,400, Travis said.

The plaintiffs are being represented by the law firms Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP, of Phoenix, and Saltz Mongeluzzi Barrett & Bendesky of Philadelphia.

[yorkiesmiles]

Petland founder fighting back | chillicothegazette.com | Chillicothe Gazette

Petland founder fighting back
HSUS has alleged retailer using 'puppy mills,' selling sick animals
BY LOREN GENSON • Gazette Staff Writer • April 5, 2009

After months of attacks from the Humane Society of the United States, Petland founder and CEO Ed Kunzleman is fighting back.

At a business breakfast last week, Kunzleman said he is frustrated the HSUS helped file a lawsuit against Petland alleging the locally-based chain uses "puppy mills" to provide animals in its stores. Kunzleman said many people don't understand the HSUS is not affiliated with local humane societies.

"Everyone assumes (HSUS) is something it really isn't; they do more harm than good," Kunzleman said, adding the multi-million dollar organization is more interested in lobbying issues than animal rights and care. "They have a $100 million yearly budget, and they only spend four percent on shelters, they spend $30 million on payroll."

In 2007, the HSUS reported a total revenue of $120.5 million. It spent $6.6 million on animal care facilities. Kunzleman said the HSUS uses its name to mislead people into believing its goal is helping local animal shelters when instead it is concerned with promoting its agency and lobbying goals in Washington.

"They are primarily concerned with perpetuating their own existence," Kunzleman said. "They're trying to raise money, and a lot of people remember this name 'puppy mill' and donate."

The HSUS said Kunzleman's comments are an unfair representation of the work done by the HSUS. The organization uses its money to contribute to animal shelters in ways that are not represented in specific dollar amounts awarded to shelters, said HSUS President and CEO Wayne Pacelle.

"We offer continuing education for shelter directors, and we offer a number of education opportunities and help shelters improve, and none of those efforts are represented in direct donations to shelters," Pacelle said.

Pacelle also said he believes Kunzleman's comments are an attempt to distract the public from the subject at hand.

"This is an obvious bait-and- switch effort to take the focus off Petland and attack the messenger," Pacelle said.

In the suit filed against Petland, Petland customers alleged the store sold them puppy mill animals that were sick and lied about their breeding to suppliers.

Kunzleman said his stores do not use puppy mills and said his company works hard ensure the health of animals they sell in their stores. Elizabeth Kunzleman, a spokeswoman for Petland, said Petland stores purchase their animals from licensed U.S. Department of Agriculture breeders as well as local hobby breeders, and the animals are checked by a licensed veterinarian twice before they go home with a family.

"A puppy must be seen by a veterinarian and have a health certificate before it is ever in a Petland store," Elizabeth said. "Many times, it is seen by more than one veterinarian before ever entering the store. Once the puppy is in the store, it receives an additional veterinarian check by the individual Petland store's consulting veterinarian."

Elizabeth also said Petland has established an Adopt-A-Pet program in which stores often partner closely with local humane societies to help with adoption drives and donations. Many Petlands offer kennel windows where shelter animals can be purchased in the store.

"Overall, Petland has adopted out more than 270,000 pets through the program since 1998," Elizabeth said. "Unfortunately, there are many shelters influenced by the negative, unverified information that animal rights groups disseminate."

And Petland isn't the only group in Ohio that disagrees with literature circulated by the Humane Society of the United States. The Ohio Farm Bureau has been concerned about literature and campaigns by the HSUS regarding livestock and farm operations. Joe Cornely, senior director of corporate communications for the Ohio Farm Bureau, said the HSUS unfairly asks farm animals to be treated as family pets and encourages the reduction of meat from the American diet.

"They don't have the recognition of how farmers treat their animals and why it's different," Cornely said. "You treat them both humanely, but being humane to a farm animal is different than the treatment of family pets."

On its Web site, the HSUS recommends Americans cut down on meat consumption as a way to combat inhumane treatment of animals on farms. Cornely said the portrayal is unfair and hurts the farming community.

"If you don't want to eat milk or eggs or meat, that's fine, you can live your life as you choose," he said. "Our concern is when they try to shove that lifestyle down our throats."

Cornely also echoed Kunzleman's concern that most people believe donating to the HSUS will help benefit their local shelters.

"People send them five or 10 dollars, and it goes into their Washington and Hollywood vegan lifestyle promotion," Cornely said. "Our local shelters are doing good work, and a lot of times they're not getting the funding they need. People don't understand their money isn't helping animals locally."

Pacelle said the HSUS is a nonprofit organization and only spends less than 5 percent of its budget on lobbying efforts. He said lobbying efforts have resulted in stronger penalties for dog fighting and the banning of imported dogs from puppy mills.

"Our targeted lobbying efforts benefit animals and shelters and are a small but vital part of our program."

[yorkiesmiles]

I've been thinking about all of this & I think in addition to suing Petland - lawsuits should be brought against these so-called veterinarians that have oked these pups to go homes - only to die a few days later. These vets must be the scum of the vet pool to work with Petland - I say expose who they are & other vets would run from Petland & then the chain would be in a heap of trouble if they had no vets to work with them

Can you imagine the kick-back money the vets must be getting from Petland?

Also, suit should be brought against these mills where the pups came from to begin with.

Please, please, please do not buy from anything from a store that sells pets - don't even walk in their doors - who knows what disease you are risking bringing home to your beloved pets

[ChantalB]

Originally Posted by yorkiesmiles

I've been thinking about all of this & I think in addition to suing Petland - lawsuits should be brought against these so-called veterinarians that have oked these pups to go homes - only to die a few days later. These vets must be the scum of the vet pool to work with Petland - I say expose who they are & other vets would run from Petland & then the chain would be in a heap of trouble if they had no vets to work with them

Can you imagine the kick-back money the vets must be getting from Petland?

Also, suit should be brought against these mills where the pups came from to begin with.

Please, please, please do not buy from anything from a store that sells pets - don't even walk in their doors - who knows what disease you are risking bringing home to your beloved pets

Good point about the vet! They are sooooooooo guilty too!

I don't go to pet store that sell pets either... No way they are getting my money...