Pet Store Protest!!
 

There are a lot of members here who indicate that they are aware of stores in their areas that get their puppies from puppymills. I found this guide to staging a protest on the Prisoners of Greed.org website.

How to Protest a Pet Store that Sells Puppies
Attend a Protest

1. You first have to choose a pet store to protest. Make a list of all the stores in your area. Go and visit the stores. Note whether they sell puppies, how many puppies they have, what breeds they are. Pretend as if you are interested in buying a puppy and ask where they buy their puppies. Then ask to see the AKC papers. Look at the breeder and the broker. If there is a broker listed, in our opinion the puppies have come from a puppymill. If the breeder is located in a puppymill state - Missouri, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma or Arkansas - then the likelihood is very high that the puppies came from a mill. Look up the breeder on the USDA list. If the breeder is listed, then in our opinion they are a mill. If you determine that the puppies in the store are from mills, then you have a good target.

2. Look at the location. You want a location where you can get a lot of attention, educate a lot of consumers and get a lot of press. Visit the location, note whether there are any areas that are public. Take photos of every angle and store.

3. Call the American Civil Liberties Union in your area. Ask them what the law and the regulations are on protesting. You may have to get a permit. The pet store may be on private property but if the public is allowed access, you should be allowed to protest as long as you follow some guidelines like you can't block the door or bother customers. You need to find out the rules from the ACLU and follow them.

4. Put together a group of people. One person is really not that effective. Five to ten can be an effective protest. Many pet stores have been closed down by the efforts of small but determined groups of people.

5. Prepare your signs and your handouts. Consider whether you want to decorate a car and put it in the parking lot. You can get a lot of publicity from a well done car that sits in the parking lot in front of the store. You have every right to park in the parking lot and go shop in the other stores. Go to Downloads to find flyers you can have printed. Or you can get full color brochures from www.ihelppets.com

6. The few days before the protest, notify the tv stations and the papers. Also, call into call in radio shows and raise the subject of mills and talk about the protest.

7. Be prepared with the comments that you are going to make to the press. You should write them down in advance and rehearse saying them. Make your points short and clear. Take a lesson from the politicians - sound bites are necessary for the press.

8. If the store owner asks you to leave, tell him that you have the right to be there (if that is what the ACLU has told you). Be polite regardless of what he says to you but stand your ground.

9. If the police come and tell you to leave, explain calmly that you have the right to be there. If they still tell you to leave, then we recommend you leave. The next day you can go to the court and ask for an injunction against the police to prevent them from making you leave the next time.

10. If you let us know about the protest, we will send you information and we will post it on this webpage. If you send photos, we will post them too.

Good luck!

Thank you for posting the correct way to stage a protest. I am happy to say there is only one store that sells puppies in my area, it sells only puppies. They are housed in a warehouse with a cement floor, there are no toys or food sold there. Just puppies. They come from "local breeders". They are caged in wire kennels sometimes 5 and 6 pups to a kennel. It is a very sad store. Thankfully the vets in my area are well versed in this store.
I do not know anyone in my area as I have a horse farm and rarely get off of it to meet dog people. I have many horse friends dispersed through out my state and cannot see them being able to get away to stage a formal protest any more than I can. This is not an excuse it is a fact of life, I simply do not have the time or resources to do this type of thing.
That is the beauty of the internet, you can tell people what you have learned of bad breeders, puppy mills and brokers. Hopefully you will not meet many objections and if you do you can only pray that people will be able to see the truth and do their own research on buying a nice pet puppy. It is a daunting task in some places as nobody really wants to hear it. Why I will never figure out.
If you go to different forums and do your research I think you will find that there are plenty of ways to weed out the questionable places to buy a dog.
I am in awe of the people that defend the practices of brokering and puppy mills and pet stores, for the life of me I cannot figure out why. I am also always shocked at the number of people that simply don't say a word although I know they have an opinion on it,I guess they just do not want to upset the more popular and vocal members of the forums. It is sad to me that these particular issues are politically influenced.
Good luck to all of you who are looking to buy a puppy and I hope you do your research on it and do not just take the word of a complete stranger on a forum somewhere. It is up to you to make sure the pet you choose will be one that you want to spend the next 15 years with. By all means ask the pertinent questions of a breeder, temperment, size, coat quality but do expect a good breeder to ask you as many or more questions on the home you will be providing for a puppy that they have spent years breeding.

I think its a good idea to stop puppy mills, I got Maya maltese from a pet store and wasnt completely aware of the operations that occur and was more concerned in the fact that I did feel like I was rescuing a cute and sad looking maltese. Thank goodness Pat (yorkierose) opened my eyes to the perils of buying from a pet store when I could have bought from a good breeder like her for the same price or less, she made me realize that there is no justification when I kept making excuses. Its also scary the health effects that can come from a puppy mill dog, so far I have been lucky with maya. I didnt get a chance to read this but I agree we need to stop puppy mills.

I am 100 % with you . I too the good habit to never buy from a store where they have pets .

pet shops
 

I would be interested in how many shops allow buyer to look at the papers before the purchase..most will not...and most are no longer AKC pups..APR and CKC are just aboutall you find now..some exceptions, but few.

A groomer told me the reason they did not allow buyers to see the papers is the fear of them contacting the breeder and find out too much info...like the price the pup cost from the breeder...if the store charges 1800, the breeder ahs sold for no more then 300 usually...that is high dollar..many breeds are bought for no more the $50..Cockers to mention one breed.

Well..we know how I feel about Pet Stores - I usually don't get into what I saw years ago I will now -

I was in a Pet Store - a puppy went into convulsions - they took that poor baby and practically threw it into a cage in the back - without helping it - ....I was young but never forgot the fact that they did nothing to help it - it was more important to get it out of site from the customers then take it to a vet or give it medical attention - to this day I can see the suffering and that employee shrugging her shoulders and saying "Oh Well"...

Then as I had my first dog in my life - Tessa my cocker - we learned she was actually from a mill - What my husband thought was a big breeder was actually a small puppy mill with 200 plus cockers all in cages - again - I knew no better and did have the creeps in her place of business but since he had bought ALL his cockers from her - I went along with it - Tessa has such bad teeth we have to hand feed her -

As I learned more and more I know that Mills sell to Pet Stores - It's not being a fanatic or a lunatic or even unreasonable to want that practice stopped - Mills = abuse.

Pet stores are the BIGGEST Purchaser of Mill Animals and if the Pet Store didn't sell any pets - the mills would not mass breed the way they do - It just makes sense...Stop buying what they sell and they will stop producing mass quantities - Everyone can help and speaking up here is just a first step ...

This has nothing to do with PETA or orginazations that want to save animals - it's just a fact that Pet Stores buy Mill puppies.-

Defending Pet Stores is contradicting how much we want to help animals escape life in a mill - I was dissapointed that hardly anyone here voices an opinion on this dilema ...but go look at a puppymill site JUST ONCE...then ask yourself - "Where do these poor puppies end up" ?

I'll answer - Pet Stores and and Brokers !

There are always mom and pop stores that may care....but the reality is - where else are they going to find an endless supply of puppies but in a mill ?

Sorry this is long - I really apologize - it's just a very important subject and not enough is being done about it in this country

Please inform me of the name of the pet store and the address and I will see what I can do.

That person was me and I agree that HATE is the appropriate word in the case of any animal abuser!!!

I am a little hesitant to do so Kim as I am not sure if it will come back to bite me in the butt. I believe there has been quite a bit of controversy on using names here. i will however pm you the info.

I want to add that the INTERNET and forums like this are one of the BEST ways to put the word out about mills -

Many people don't know anything about mills and pet stores....sites like this are the fastest and most visible way to reach people you wouldn't normally see - I learned about Mills from the net - and now I tell anyone who wants to know where Pet Stores get their animals -

If someone sees it posted here (or other sites) that it's ok to shop a Pet Store - and they don't hear about the the dark side - how will they ever find out ?

What I'm saying is... if you don't LIKE knowing animals are imprisoned, abused and sold in mass quantities - tell your friends about Mills and Pet Stores - you'll be doing a small but important thing to help these animals

I agree. I think the biggest thing is to educate people about puppy mills & pet stores. SO many people have no idea that this is even going on. I work with 2 people who bought puppies in the last 2 years from pet stores. When I explained about puppy mills & how the dogs were mistreated & overbred, they had NO idea. They love their dogs, but agreed that they had not done any research and just saw the cute puppy in the petstore window and decided to bring it home. I tell everyone I know! Even if it is someone that is not really interested in dogs - it may stop them 5 years down the line when their son or daughter begs them for a puppy at the petstore...

I agree completly Villette however I am not about to be embroiled in a slander suit warranted or not. If I dont have time to stage a protest I have even less time to sit in a courtroom all day. So my future posts will not publicly record the name of anyone or any business that I have not personally done business with.
I have been fortunate enough to have bought Rio from a good breeder and Mignon from one whom I think has an impeccable reputation. I will be happy with the decisions I have made and try to help steer others away from bad breeders, mills, brokers and pet stores.That is all I can do at this time.

I agree with what you are saying to the point that I have phsically gone into pet stores that sold puppies with a friend and stood next to the people looking to buy puppies..my friend would acted interested in the puppies and I would tell her in a LOUD voice why she shouldn't get a puppy there and how they come from mills..end up sickly and how could she explain that to her daughter who would get so attached and half the time it is cheaper to go through a reputable breeder at which you can get a healthy pup......you never realize how many nosy people there are out there...lol, but many ask me to elaborate on what I know and I often direct them to look up puppy mills on the internet..I feel that we have to do it this way because otherwise people (heartless..or maybe skeptical)..just kind of blow you off as a fanatic and don't really listen..ALSO I don't buy from any pet store that sells puppies (food, toys, NOTHING)...I will not keep them in business...I buy from Petsmart that supports animal ADOPTION...and thats about it...I drive the extra 25 minutes to go there versus the pet store 2 mins. away

WAY TO GO !! you are really doing more than you know ....

Before I was on the net I was CLUELESS... and in turn found out my friends, family and kids were too - they were shocked to know the information I shared with them....

Jessica ...Good for you too - that's why I posted earlier about NOT defending any pet store - most people just don't know - and until someone tells them - they will continue to not know

I just saw a show on Animal Planet called Animal Cops Miami, and the episode was called "Little shop of Horrors" The cops were investigating a pet store that had a dead puppy in its window I almost cried when I saw it was a yorkie! The cop went into the store to investigate and there were tons of babies with no water, no food, discharge from eyes and nose, puppies that had distemper and parvo - and no health certificates on file. The cops were serious about this situation and actually closed the store down until the owner took all of the dogs needing care to the vet. It's a shame that this is happening and law enforcement should really put their feet down when it comes to puppy stores. I wish PETA would do one of their national PR campaigns about this to get the word out.

You are so smart. I feel the same way! It is important not to make negative comments about people or business entities unless you know from first hand experience that what you are saying is true and is indisputable. If you turn out to be wrong, you have defamed someone.

It is okay, however, to express an opinion because in doing so you are not saying that it is the truth, but rather, merely your opinion based upon your personal knowledge of the situation.

luzangela428: I like what you are doing to educate people as well. If you read the original post on this thread there is a website where you can download flyers to pass out to anyone you happen to meet wherever you happent obe too. If you are in a pet store or in the mall or wherever. Those would be a great resourse for you! You are to be commended for your efforts!

I saw that show - The Pet Store left ALL their animals without food AND water and it was the weekend !

do you remember how many times they went back after giving that totally inhumane man chances to clean up his act ? After - he STILL tried to sell those puppies by getting around the system and having "Not for Sale" on their cages - for the cops benefit -

You just KNOW when the cops weren't there - a customer is bound to ask "Is this puppy really not for sale? " - and Cha-Ching - Another PET Store Sick Puppy Sale ! No cops to see it happen - cash sale - who's to know ? and the unsuspecting customer just bought a puppy needing medical attention -

Information on Pet Stores & Puppy Mills from www.friendsofanimals.org
 

I was just on www.friendsofanimals.org looking up spay/neuter info and I found this. Thought you all would be interesting in reading.

Puppy Mills, Pet Shops, and the AKC Basic Facts

Where do pet stores get their puppies?
Virtually all of the puppies sold in pet stores come from puppy mills.

What are puppy mills?
Crude, outdoor breeding farms that mass-produce puppies for sale to pet stores and regularly supply dogs to laboratories and animal brokers.

What’s the difference between a breeder and a puppy mill?
The mass production of puppies. A breeder that sells to research, animal brokers and pet shops, and breeds more than three females is a puppy mill. A USDA breeding license is required and the USDA is supposed to inspect kennels to be sure that they adhere to minimum standards of the Animal Welfare Act. When violations are cited, kennel operators are rarely fined or shut down.

Where are puppy mills located?
Puppy mills are nationwide. Many, however, are concentrated in the agricultural states, such as Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. In Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the Amish are mass-producing puppies.

What kind of people run puppy mills?
In rural areas, where puppy mills are a cottage industry, puppies are farmed as 'livestock. They are viewed as a cash-crop.

How do they treat the pups and their mothers?
Because the animals are a means of income, expenses are kept down. The focus is on profit, with their welfare given little or no consideration. Puppy mills typically confine large numbers of dogs in rows of crudely constructed, over-crowded pens. The floors are constructed of wiring to allow feces and urine to drop to the ground below. This causes discomfort to the animals’ paws. Considered nothing more than breeding stock, mother dogs are forced to have litters at an early age, and kept continually pregnant. Mother dogs are killed when they’re no longer able to produce a profitable litter size.

When are puppies taken from their mothers?
Puppies are typically removed at seven weeks of age. They are then sold to brokers who pack them in crates for transport and sale to pet shops. Ten or more puppies are often crammed into a single cage. Transportation conditions are often abysmal ó lacking adequate food, water, or ventilation.

What effect does this trip have on the puppies?
Not all survive. Of those that do, many will be infected by contagious viruses, respiratory ailments, parasites, and other conditionsó caused by neglect and stress.

Are these animals healthy?
The puppies are born in unhealthy conditions, live with their mothers in filth and are transported similarly. The are often infested and weakened with parasites and viruses. To save money, they go untreated by veterinarians. Unsanitary conditions and lack of veterinary care can lead to rampant disease. Parents are typically not in good health, and have genetic problems. Generally, they also have behavioral and temperament problems ó the products of inbreeding. They are not properly socialized because they lack positive contact with humans.

Do pet shops harm animals?
Pet shop owners try to keep veterinary bills and other animal care expenses down to maximize profits. Puppies rarely get the attention they need to become well-adjusted. Since they are not properly socialized, they are often returned, or dropped at a shelter when problems are detected.

Are pet shops in the business for money?
Yes. Animals can suffer while dealers and pet shops make profits. It is not unusual, for example, for a dog sold to a pet shop for $100 to be re-sold to a customer for $1,000 ó $5,000. And by their very existence, puppy mills doom other animals. The marketing of approximately 1 million puppy mill animals each year prevents many people from adopting animals from pounds and shelters. It also undercuts the spay/neuter efforts of animal advocacy organizations.

Why shouldn’t we buy puppies in pet stores?
Pet shop employees routinely deny that they purchase from mills, or brokers that trade in puppy mill animals. They claim that they purchase puppies from 'reputable breeders and that the AKC papers prove it. As long as pet store customers purchase puppies, puppy mills will have a market. If you purchase a puppy, another animal will take it’s place. The mothers of the pups will continue to suffer.

Does the AKC inspect the breeders?
The AKC does not inspect kennels, nor does it vouch for the health or well-being of a puppy.

Are AKC - registered dogs guaranteed?
No. AKC registered simply means the puppy had two parents of the same breed. The AKC registers dogs and gives them 'papers which help to sell them in pet shops or at breeders’ kennels.

Does the AKC make money from puppy mills?
Yes, lots. Puppy mills comprise 80% of the AKC’s business. It registered 917,247 puppies in 2003 at the cost of approximately $25.00 per puppy.

Doesn’t the USDA protect these animals?
Wholesale dog breeding and the shipment of live animals are regulated by the USDA under the 1970 Animal Welfare Act. The Act requires breeders to be licensed, inspected, and regulated to ensure the very minimum standards of housing, care, and medical treatment.

The law, however is poorly enforced. The USDA has few agents to inspect approximately 5,000 puppy mills nationwide. When they discover infractions, the breeder routinely receives 'a slap on the wrist. Nothing in the welfare legislation does anything to change people’s minds about the idea that puppies are disposable merchandise.

Do state laws protect dogs and consumers?
States generally have an anti-animal cruelty laws to supposedly protect animals from overt physical abuse and neglect. Since under the law animals are viewed as the property of the owner, cruelty is often difficult to prove.

Consumers are protected to some degree by 'pet lemon laws, in some states. The law requires pet stores to refund money for unhealthy animals, pay for medical costs or offer another animal; it depends upon the state. This does not alleviate the grief, however, of a family experiencing the loss of a much loved puppy or kitten.

Where can I find a purebred dog?
More than 25% of the dogs at shelters are purebred dogs. Also, contact breed groups who specialize in adoptions for adult dogs of a specific breed.

Do puppy mills produce kittens, Too?
Yes. Sometimes the same breeder who produces puppies for pet shops also supplies purebred kittens.

What You Can Do To Help:
Adopt a dog or cat from a shelter.

Do not purchase dogs or cats from pet shops. There is no reason to breed dogs and cats while millions are killed in shelters. Without pet shop sales, the market for puppy mills will disappear. Support a legislative effort to shut down the puppy mill trade in your state. Ask your legislators to support a bill to prohibit the selling of puppies and kittens in pet ships. Educate the public by writing letters to local newspapers, distributing compiles of this fact sheet outside pet stores in your area, and contacting local TV and radio shows about the issue.

Friends of Animals

Great post Jenette ...this is so sad !

Are these animals healthy?
The puppies are born in unhealthy conditions, live with their mothers in filth and are transported similarly. The are often infested and weakened with parasites and viruses. To save money, they go untreated by veterinarians. Unsanitary conditions and lack of veterinary care can lead to rampant disease. Parents are typically not in good health, and have genetic problems. Generally, they also have behavioral and temperament problems ó the products of inbreeding. They are not properly socialized because they lack positive contact with humans.

Do pet shops harm animals?
Pet shop owners try to keep veterinary bills and other animal care expenses down to maximize profits. Puppies rarely get the attention they need to become well-adjusted. Since they are not properly socialized, they are often returned, or dropped at a shelter when problems are detected.

I feel compelled to tell everyone interested in buying a puppy to stay far away from pet shops and brokers. The thread on fur changes did take a sharp turned into a discussion on mills. When someone defends pet shops/mills or brokers I feel that I can not stay silent about it. I feel that people need to speak up and discourage people from buying these puppies. The only way it will stop is for people to stop buying them. I too was disappointed that more people didn't speak up against mills. Most everyone agrees that this is not the best source in which to obtain a pup. There are two very important things everyone can do to put a stop to it #1. Tell everyone the true horror of how these animals suffer & encourage people to not buy from them and #2. Don't buy them. Pet shops are not going to be honest in what they tell you. Many pet shop employees may not know where the pups are coming from. Anyone can register an AKC litter but it doesn't guarantee squat if the breeder is not reputable. There are tons of mixed breed puppies out there with AKC papers. We all know that the 2 biggest pet supply store chains (Petsmart and Petco) stay far away from selling puppies for this very reason of PUPPY MILLS. I must say that I have never seen anyone defend or encourage people to buy from a pet shop, it almost leaves me speechless. Please, if you feel strongly about it don't remain silent. Voice your opinion!

For anyone whom has bought a pet shop puppy ...please do not feel badly. It's not my intent to criticize anyone whom has purchased one of these special little dogs. They deserve to be in a loving home just as much as any dog. Some people actually buy them knowing full well that they may have come from a mill. They do so with the intent on rescuing the poor little darlings. I understand their reasoning..I myself have been tempted. But next time around..in the future...please try to resist them (as hard as this may be). But for now, love the ones you have with all your heart.

The reason I haven't posted was because I agree and you guys have already put it perfectly but if it will help I'll add my 2 cents.

I don't think anyone should buy from any pet stores that sell animals. Period!
It is already an uphill battle trying to get people to understand where the puppies are coming from, how much the parents suffer and why rescuing that adorable puppy from the cage is only helping to continue the cycle of abuse. I think it only clouds the issue telling people some pet stores are fine. Too many people won't do the research or look deep enough to learn the truth. Also, how many people will walk in and walk out with a puppy they just couldn't leave behind even if they think it might be from a puppy mill. You hear that all the time.
We need to declare war against puppy mills and if the few good breeders who sell in pet stores are the casualties, then so be it. I would feel bad for them but it is nothing compared to how I feel for the true victims.
Plus, I don't understand why anyone who just has a few breeding dogs needs a store to sell puppies. Sell them from your home - where the puppies are most comfortable.
Everyone I know now knows about puppymills and not to shop in pet stores. I helped my sister find a good breeder and a friend with a rescue. I'm proud to say they knew better because of me.

I don't see how it would be possible to own a pet store and not sell mill dogs. Because no GOOD reputable breeders will sell to a pet store. They want to screen the people that are taking their puppies. Correct?
I thought this my interest you.

http://www.prisonersofgreed.org/pet-store-lawsuits.html

You're absolutely right - no caring breeder would do that - and that link you posted (Prisoner of Greed) is a great link for information - I saw it included the Wizard of Claws who has websites selling puppies that totally fool people - she is bad news

Anyone with questions on Mills and PET Stores can click on the links in this site and you will be sick after seeing the lives these poor animals live.

Hmm I was hoping someone would see them. Yeah they all come off real nice. NOT!

[QUOTE=Itspuppyluv]
I think it only clouds the issue telling people some pet stores are fine. Too many people won't do the research or look deep enough to learn the truth.


Erin you are exactly right, that is the problem. but if everyone repeats the same thing over and over then maybe we can save someone the heartbreak of a sick or dying puppy.Not to mention the supply and demand.
It feels sometimes like you are beating a dead horse(sorry for the analogy)but if only 3 people read the posts and one decides against going to the pet store that is one less pup sold and lining the pocket of an unscrupulous breeder and pet store owner.Baby steps maybe, but in the right direction.

I started this tread to give members here a preplanned way to stage a protest in their area. After Recons Momma's story and some of the others we've heard recently about someof the major chains like Petland, I thought it might be beneficial, especially step number 1 which tells you how to coose the store and #2 that gives you brochures to use to hand out to people to educate them!!

Please let us kow if you organize a protest in your area or if you do something similar to what ReconsMomma did.