Petland scoffs at lawsuit accusing them of wrongs against puppies

March 20, 7:19 PMSF Dogs ExaminerShelley Frost

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Stephanie Booth with Leroy (AP Photo Felicia Fonseca)

Petland continues to defend its business model without defending its business model.  Even after facing a class action lawsuit filed this week by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the Ohio based company released a statement that defended its veterinary practice without one mention of the "breeders" who are the suppliers of their puppies.

The lawsuit "...seeks to end the deceptive practices of Petland relating to the marketing and sale of puppy mill puppies across the nation, and recover monies for the thousands of consumers who were victimized by this unscrupulous conduct."

In 2007, Stephanie Booth of Flagstaff, Arizona purchased a bloodhound puppy from a Petland store.  Within months, the puppy was dead from a cancer diagnosis.  She and her mother looked into the origins of the puppy, and discovered a puppy mill dealing with legal problems.  Booth says, "I just want people to become aware of the situation with puppy mills and what the dogs go through."  Booth is a plaintiff in the suit against Petland.

Petland counters the accusations in the lawsuit without mentioning the origins of their puppies.  Instead, a Petland press release dated March 18, has a statement by Joe Watson, vice president of Petland:  "Our puppies receive strict veterinary care and supervision.  First, each Petland puppy is examined by a licensed veterinarian and provided with a health certificate prior to arriving at our stores..."

Yes, the lawsuit does address the multiple behavioral and medical problems encountered by consumers, but the central issue is that Petland is selling dogs bred in horrific conditions from puppy mills, breeding factories where dogs are kept in substandard conditions which assures a higher profit margin.

Ohio veterinarian Matthew Heller recently commented on this issue saying, "Breeders use puppy mills to save money and maximize profits, spending little money on food, shelter and veterinary care.  They should be abolished."

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