By Alicia Graef From Care2

US: Investigation puts Petland back in the spotlight for cruelty to puppies

Petland is back in the spotlight yet again thanks to an undercover investigation that has exposed its troubling treatment of puppies, and highlights some of the many problems with buying dogs from pet stores.

With 80 locations, Petland is  the largest chain that peddles puppies in the U.S., and it’s certainly had a problematic history when it comes to selling dogs. It’s had hundreds of complaints made by customers, was linked to an outbreak of drug-resistant Campylobacter last year by the Centers for Disease Control, and has faced multiple lawsuits for selling sick puppies and misleading consumers.

Credit: HSUS

Now, an undercover investigation conducted by The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) at two Petland locations –  one in Kennesaw, Georgia, near Atlanta, and one in Las Vegas, Nevada – is shining a light on problems that continue behind the scenes.

Credit: HSUS

According to the HSUS, both locations shared issues including sick puppies being kept out of sight, overcrowding and denying puppies – some of who were at stores for months – adequate exercise, all while continuing to bring in more puppies to sell.

Credit: HSUS

In Kennesaw, an investigator found that puppies dying was a regular occurrence, and one was discovered in a plastic bag in the freezer, while veterinary exams were less than thorough and staff were providing treatments in the store.

Credit: HSUS

Some puppies who weren’t eating were given something from a questionable bottle simply labeled “The Cure,” while the investigator also found that puppies at this location were sourced from a breeder in Indiana that was linked to the Campylobacter outbreak.

Credit: HSUS

In Las Vegas, things weren’t much better. A little Maltese puppy who had a defect described as a “hole in his throat” was being kept alone in the back while an employee told the investigator they were waiting for him to just die. Even when the investigator asked if she could buy him, she was refused and the puppy was sent back to the dealer for a refund – even after a humane officer was called to intervene.

Credit: HSUS

Sadly, those are just a few of the many problems that were uncovered during this investigation, but they’re not uncommon and they’ll continue across the country at Petland locations and other stores if they continue to source puppies from large-scale breeders, otherwise known as puppy mills, because there’s a demand for them.

Credit: HSUS

Hopefully this investigation will help encourage more people to stop supporting pet stores by buying animals from them, especially as Christmas approaches.

“As the holiday season reaches fever pitch, the Humane Society of the United States urges consumers never to buy a puppy from a pet store because many are unhealthy and most of them come from inhumane dealers known as puppy mills,” said John Goodwin, senior director of Stop Puppy Mills Campaign for the HSUS. “Responsible breeders don’t sell to pet stores, because they want to meet the families who are taking home their puppies. This investigation once again shows the poor conditions of many of these animals at pet stores who are sold to innocent consumers looking to bring home a new family member.”

Photo credit: The Humane Society of thr United States

For more on this story go to: https://www.care2.com/causes/investigation-puts-petland-back-in-the-spotlight-for-cruelty-to-puppies.html