The Humane Society of the United States is ringing in the new year with a well-aimed bonk to the bread-and-butter of the puppy mill business: pet stores.
In the last six months, the HSUS has conducted three in-depth undercover investigations into the main arteries of the puppy mill industry — puppy mill auctions, puppy mill compliance with state and federal laws, and the role of pet stores in the puppy mill biz.
Just what is the role of pet stores in the puppy mill biz?
They are the heart, they are the lungs, they are the easiest, most lucrative avenue to you, the dog-loving consumer.
And you — your dollars — are the blood, the oxygen, the water, the food — the essential components to keeping the whole despicable machine alive.
By now you've probably heard of Pets of Bel Air. It's an upscale pet store to the stars that has recently been accused by the HSUS of misleading customers, misrepresenting "merchandise" and pushing puppy mill puppies as "babies from private breeders." That's right, "babies." The store even displays the dogs in baby cribs. After all, presentation is everything.
But HSUS undercover investigators visited five of the suppliers Pets of Bel Air insisted were private breeders — suppliers with precious names like Kozy Kennels and Puppy Palace — only to find mass-breeding facilities in possession of hundreds of dogs, most with complaints filed against them for everything from cramped quarters to unsanitary conditions. One even had an inspector note that the stench of ammonia was so bad it burned her nose and eyes.
Feel free to visit the Pets of Bel Air Web site at www.petsofbelair.com. Or, for an entirely different perspective, visit www.hsus.org/pets. Click Pets and Pet Related News. Then, for a real shocker, watch the undercover video clip for the segment titled "Cruelty Caught in Hollywood Glare." It'll make you think twice about buying animals from pet stores.
According to HSUS President and CEO Wayne Pacelle, "No consumer is immune to the lies and deceit. It doesn't matter who you are or where you shop. This investigation shows that a high price and prestigious address are no assurance of a dog from a reputable breeder."
Some of the things you'll see and hear the manager and employees of Pets of Bel Air tell the undercover HSUS investigator:
"Never say the dog is sick. Ever, ever, ever, ever."
"Never say sick, parvo, distemper. Never. I usually say sniffles. It sounds cuter."
Speaking of sniffles, since HSUS went public with the results of their investigation into Pets of Bel Air — which holds itself up as the gold standard of pet stores — former customers have come forward to HSUS with stories of their experience with the Los Angeles-based "gold standard":
In 2005, Jennifer (last name withheld) bought Elvis, an English bulldog, from Pets of Bel Air. According to her story, found on hsus.org in the segment of Pets and Pet Related News titled "Holiday Heartbreak": "Store personnel assured her that his cold was just 'the sniffles' and that the 6-month-old puppy had never been owned before.
"But Jennifer later found out that Elvis had indeed been purchased before. In fact, she found out by accident that he had been returned and had spent two weeks at the veterinary clinic used by the store, suffering from pneumonia.
"Elvis has been plagued by serious health problems ever since, including ear and eye infections, chronic digestion problems and allergies so severe that he nearly died of anaphylactic shock on two occasions."
Elvis and Jennifer's story is only one.
And what of this veterinary clinic used by the store?
In most cases, a health certificate from a pet store means nothing more than a superficial exam was given to your pet by a vet who signs off on the facts that the dog is breathing and no limbs are broken. When I clicked to find out more about Pets of Bel Air's vet, no information was available. Can't say that I blame them.
Most pet stores will offer some flimsy version of a health warranty — designed to instill a false sense of security in the consumer. Usually vague and short-lived (i.e. Pets of Bel Air's 14-day limited viral warranty), these warranties are safe enough for pet stores to provide since they know most people bond with their pets quickly and won't have the heart to return a sick dog to the people who weren't taking very good care of him to begin with.
Am I against pet stores that sell puppies? Yes, I am. And I catch heat from some self-proclaimed responsible pet-store owner every time I write about this stuff. But the truth is: Pet stores and puppy mills are intrinsically linked. No animal lover would ever set foot on a puppy mill for the purpose of buying a dog. They're heartbreaking places. And the bottom line is: Puppy mills would sell no puppies — much less millions of them — were it not for pet stores and the people who buy their puppies from them.
Adopting from an animal shelter — where you'll find wonderful dogs of all breeds, mixed and pure — is a great way to help shut down the puppy mill business. And keep in mind, reputable breeders don't sell puppies over the Internet or through a pet store. They'll want to meet the buyer in person, and the buyer should want to meet them, too.
Woof!
Dog trainer Matthew "Uncle Matty" Margolis is co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and host of the PBS series "WOOF! It's a Dog's Life!" Send your questions to dearuncle.gazette@unclematty.com or by mail to Uncle Matty at P.O. Box 3300, Diamond Springs, CA 95619. © Creators Syndicate Inc.