Comments on: Petland Sued As Nation’s Largest Retail Supporter of Puppy Mills

By: rebekah

rebekah — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 01:54:19 +0000

My fiance and I purchased a husky from petland 2 months ago, with the knowledge that it probably came from a puppy mill (Petland told us he came from a breeder and their puppies are hand picked by the managers). He has serious behavior issues and psychological problems. Petland told us he was cryptorchid, meaning his testicles hadn't dropped. We didn't know much about dogs from Petland when we bought him, and hadn't even planned on purchasing a dog until we saw him crammed in his too small cage, and yellowed from his own urine (He had been in the cage for 3 months). Well, to make a long story short, we bought him out of sympathy after Petland jacked up his price another $100 from what they told us on the phone. It has been an extremely stressful and challenging 2 months and intense training and help from an animal behaviorist still has not helped much. He refuses to stop going potty in his crate regardless of being taken out constantly, and today we took him to the vet to get neutered when during his procedure, his vet called with a complication…He had NO testicles! No testicles had ever formed! The vet couldn't believe it and had never seen anything like it. We will NEVER buy another dog from Petland, after researching puppy mills, and our dog's papers say he came from Missouri which is known as THE puppy mill state. I have many questions for Petland, but I have already answered them myself. It would be great to have Petland stand up and have to answer for the dirty things they have done. If anyone defends Petland, they are either ignorant, or just as guilty and probably animal abusers themselves. There is no excuse for the irresponsible actions of that company. They support puppy mills 100%, creating physically and mentally unhealthy animals, causing pet owners rediculous veterinary bills and expenses, and flooding the country with excessive unhealthy pets, causing euthanizing of healthy, abandoned animals all of America. It's time for our government to wake up and realize that this company is costing our country, and shelters everywhere, milliions of dollars. We love our husky, he is our first dog together, and we will continue to fight for him. We rescued an identical female husky yesterday from a high kill shelter. She was scheduled to be put down this week, and she was so similar looking to our Petland husky that we had to save her. She is around the same age as he is, and is a normal, healthy dog that had come from a small home breeder. The difference is absolutely NIGHT AND DAY. Please if you are reading this, spread the word, and go adopt a gorgeous shelter dog. The one we rescued is already housebroken, trained, and VERY obedient. Her fee was $30! If you buy a dog from Petland, be warned, it may be the worst decision you ever make.

By: Mary Haight

Mary Haight — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 19:59:19 +0000

I just found that “Dog Town”, a special re Best Friends Utah Sanctuary and their work with the Michael Vick dogs is airing tonight, Dec 28 at 8pm Central Time on the National Geographic channel. See http://news.bestfriends.org/index.cfm?page=news&mode=entry&entry=65D0ECCF-19B9-B9D5-9DA9F977BAB05E9D. Also the Wisconsin Puppy Mill Project is doing work with the psychology of these dogs, likening their psychological condition to that of PTSD in humans. You can find them here: http://www.nowisconsinpuppymills.com/mill-survivors.html

By: Mary Haight

Mary Haight — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 18:45:50 +0000

Thanks Jeff. I haven’t met a trainer who specializes in puppy mill dog psychology, but since trust is the beginning of everything with dogs I understand where years and years of neglect and abuse could make that beginning seem impossible. Long ago I had taken from a vet an abandoned Afghan who was very distrusting and at the ready to defend himself. Even with consistency and kindness in all things, it was always a toss up as to whether he would allow you to stroke him. All that could be done was provide for him until he died. It sounds like you work with dogs. What’s been your experience with the puppy mill dogs, if you care to share? And thanks for visiting!

By: Jeff Todd

Jeff Todd — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 16:12:30 +0000

Wonderful article Mary and wonderful news about Petland, the proof, and litigation pursuing Petland. Do you know someone that deals with the pet psychology concerning puppy mill dogs? I have found that I can break dogs into three categories: abused Dogs, puppy mill Dogs, and normal dogs. Abused and normal dogs are the easiest to rehabilitate, train, and integrate into families. Puppy mill dogs though have a really distorted psychology I just can’t seem to reach into to help them. Thanks again for the good news. JNT

By: Mary Haight

Mary Haight — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 23:19:18 +0000

Thanks for commenting and I understand the frustration. There will always be instances of abuse or an injustice that stands out when law is being applied, and we just have to keep shining a light on them. There are over reactions by people passionate about protecting animals, just as in every other area of concern. Yet that does not mean the law is bad, just imperfectly applied.

By: skippy

skippy — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 21:50:15 +0000

According to HSUS every one is a puppy mill. A AKC judge with 2 dogs, no pups no dirt no filth was shut down. I hope you like communism because thats where the Animal rights movement is taking you. You wont be able to own any property, no house, no land, no car, no food. You will be told where to live and where to work.