UWS Protests Puppy Mill Pups at Store

Some residents of the Upper West Side are outraged that a new business called Pet Fashion, mostly selling overpriced leashes and whatnot, is selling dogs from a puppy mill. The store, on Columbus Avenue between West 87th and 88th streets, often puts attention-getting pups on display in the front window, but West Side Spirit reports that "these dogs come from puppy mills, and the store is not welcome in the neighborhood."

While puppy mills are legal, they're frowned upon for their unsafe conditions and disregard for the well-being of the animals. As such, "Pet Fashion’s critics delivered 540 petition signatures to shop owners to pressure the store to stop selling puppies." They're also staging a protest on November 28th.

The store's manager claims that "they’re not puppy mill puppies. They’re from breeders registered with the [United States Department of Agriculture] and the Kennel Club.” However, when asked for proof of this, he declined to show any. Meanwhile, another branch of Pet Fashion on West 182nd Street allegedly offered one woman a discount on a puppy if she paid cash to avoid sales tax — something Council Member Gale Brewer asked the state and city departments of taxation to look in to.

Patrick Kwan at the Humane Society of the US told us, "Pet stores that profit from the cruel puppy mill industry need to step up and do the right thing by stopping their puppy sales. Shelters and rescues are brimming with all types of dogs in need of homes. No responsible breeder would ever sell puppies through a pet store. We hope Pet Fashion will stop supporting puppy mills." More information from the HSUS can be found here, and here is their disturbing video looking at the puppy mill industry.

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By Jen Carlson in News on November 6, 2009 12:53 PM

Comments [rss]

leon

NEVER buy an animal from a pet store ... always rescue from the shelter, pound, or animal rescue. do not support puppy mills/breeders. shelters are overflowing with animals. every day they're putting animals to sleep who could be given a home. have a conscience.

NannyState

If the shelters run out of pets, at least there's plenty of puppy mills to resupply them.

just saying

Hundreds of adoptable pets are available through this website:

www.petfinder.com

carbomb

weenies!

xina

i just adopted an adorable little muffin from the aspca in nyc. they do have small cute apartment friendly dogs. it's heartbreaking that people would buy a pet when they could save a life. assholes

hunter.blatherer

Size of a dog does not directly correspond to the size of the space s/he needs. Often large dogs are more comfortable in more confined spaces and small dogs need more space to run around in. Temperment counts more than size.

imadick

having pets is cruel! no one should be allowed to OWN any living thing11!

Damnit

Right...We'll just let the gold fish, and Puppies kittens and frogs fend for themselves...

felixthecat2

breeding them as commodities is wrong. They are living beings that people shouldn't buy but adopt as companions and additions to their family. Not as a commodity as these stupid people with their toy dogs. The skank Paris Hilton is a prime example.