I feel the same way, but perhaps those business owners could see that having a pet shop in the same mall that they were in was not good for business. Many pet stores do really well, without selling dogs. Our local Petsmart had some dogs in cages not too long ago and I was furious, until I found out they were rescues.

Not being argumentative, what if the pet store moved in after the other businesses were already there? I dont like pet stores either but I would have a problem if someone were protesting next to my business. Its just like that Pruitts furniture store in Glendale. Remember when all the illegal aliens were protesting outside and peeing on the walls, etc? Its not only bad for Pruitts, it was bad for any other business close to them.

From what I understand stores often have a call in deciding what other stores are placed in a mall. I understand what you are saying, but I doubt if this behavior is going on weekly. I think it's wonderful that the pom-pom girls even know that there is a problem. So many people don't. I would be really proud if my kids got involved with something like this, although if I were shopping, I probably would be annoyed by it, and if I was a storeowner close by, I would be really irritated, and start cheering with the girls. That would break up the crowd.


Why were the illegal aliens protesting?

This is one of the areas that all the illegals stood on the sidewalk ALL DAY hoping someone would give them a job to do. It got to the point that they were chasing away potential furniture buyers at Pruitts. I wouldnt walk by a crowd of about 50 illegals to shop at a store either. They would block the sidewalk, heckel the customers(wolf whislte, etc) and leave trash, urine and feces in that area. So, Pruitts kept calling the police and things got worse after that. It was an everyday stand-off and "undocumented immegrant" advocates got involved and things just got nasty. It almost ruined Pruitts business.
I dont like protests that target legitimate legal businesses, even if I dont agree with the business itself. Pet stores are still a legal business in this country. They do pay taxes, rent, sell products besides puppies/kittens, and help keep the economy going. I dont agree with their ethics, guarantees and where they get their puppies from.

I guess I don't have a problem with targeting "legal" things because just cause something is legal (or illegal, for that matter) doesn't make it right or wrong.

The only way to bring attention to something is to MAKE people pay attention to it. There can be no change if everyone sits around for fear of upsetting someone.

Slavery was once legal, too.

There are other ways to make people pay attention. Education, printing up flyers, setting up booths at dog/cat events, writing in the newspaper and contacting your senators and tv reporters. There is no need to ruin someone elses business just to prove a point or an agenda.

Call me what you will, but I really don't care about ruining the business of that pet store or any other pet store that sells animals. What they support is a sick sick sick business and I have two dogs that came from that kind of environment. After having to go through what I have with my dogs and watching them suffer the consequences, I don't care what it takes to get those places shut down, but they need to get shut down. Those girls weren't doing any harm... they were protesting against something awful. What they were doing was no different than how these malls sometimes have dance groups or different shows in the mall. A few kids cheer leading against a cause that is important and illegal immigrants peeing on walls and screaming are two completely different things. No I would not have wanted to walk into a store with all of that immigrant stuff going on, but I know as a shopper, a little cheering wouldn't cause me to stop going in any stores. I commend them for having the courage to step up and do something about making the public aware of puppy mills. And whatever happened to freedom of speech?

I agree with you 100% Ashley!

I had a puppy who died from Liver Shunt. He was from a pet store - puppy mill. Maybe I'm just heartless ( :rolleyes: ) but after going through that, I really couldn't care less if a business is hurting for maybe 2 hours on ONE day, whatever it takes to get those horrible places shut down forever.

The *true* way to get attention to something is to get people talking about it...and look what we're doing! Sitting here in the middle of the night (for me :p) talking about it! So, obviously, it's worked.

It is not as if they are standing outside the store with guns threatening anyone who glances in the window. They are standing there doing some cheers about the ABUSE that puppy mill dogs go through.

"Well behaved women seldom make history" ~ Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

Chip was just 7 weeks when we got him... he was sitting in an xpen with an adorable bow in his hair and just got a bath (hmm I wonder why). Adam went to pick him up and Chip scooted backwards and whined really loud... he was petrified. He had NEVER had human interaction before this moment. It took us FOREVER to get him to trust people and he never will trust them 100%. They told us he was eating dry food and he couldn't even chew it. He threw up 5 times the next day after he came home and went into hypoglycemia because he hadn't eaten in probably awhile and almost died. He laid there on the car seat shivering with his tongue limply sticking out of his mouth practically dying on his way to the vet. He was 7 weeks old. I'm not even adding in the fact of his severe allergies and LP. Then there is Smokey... born in a puppy mill and shifted from home to home like a piece of furniture... so scared to be in a crate and to be alone that he had diarrhea every time he was put in a crate or gated by himself. He lost over half of his body weight because of this. He cowers when we go to pet him and I remember the time I went to kiss the top of his head and he shook for 30 minutes and wouldn't even come near me. It has taken him over a year to finally realize that he isn't going to be hurt anymore and to trust again. That is just the tip of the ice berg of what my boys have been through. They are only 2 years old and I'm sure there are going to be a lot more problems down the road.

Last July, the mill that Chip came from, the owner shot every last dog because the kennel inspectors told him to get those dogs to the vet ASAP.

I commend these girls and I would be right there with them.

So I guess you dont mind ruining a business that is next door to the pet store? What if that business was your business or your parents business? I guess you dont care if you can pay your house payment or bills? You do not seem to understand what I am saying. Freedom of speech is fine and dandy as long as you are not trampling all over the freedoms of others.

An hour is not going to cause a store to close down. Those stores are chain stores usually... I'm sure people aren't going to stop shopping at them. Have you thought to that them cheerleading might attract business. I know if I was walking through a mall and heard a commotion, I would walk over to see what was going on, then I may happen to see a store that I needed to go into. I'd watch what was going on, then go in the store... and besides most stores have music, so it would drown out what was going on in the hallways.

Wow, this just says it all for me. :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Ditto!!:animal-pa

Ditto!!:animal-pa

Well, I guess I would just have to call the real police, not the mall cops, and have the pompom girls and boys banned from the mall if this was affecting my business. You dont seem to get my point and are more than willing to trample the rights of others to get an agenda across.

As for the remark about slavery, that doesnt even come close to comparing to pet store issues. A nation will not be almost divided and go into a civil war over pet stores.