NYC's Pet Store Pups Are Still Mostly From Puppy Mills

Photo via ChrisGoldNYC's flickr

It's no secret that New York City's pet stores are often stocked with dogs that come from puppy mills, but now the HSUS is further uncovering the problem in their ongoing battle against stores that use the cruel suppliers. Following their report, put out just in time for puppy-buying season, NBC NY went undercover on their own, armed with the Humane Society of the United States' list of over 100 pet stores in New York believed to be procuring pups from the cruel mills.

While some stores may get their dogs from USDA-licensed, USDA-inspected or AKC-inspected breeders, NBC points out that all commercial breeders are USDA licensed and inspected, and the real weak point may be in government oversight of the USDA. An HSUS investigator discussed the mills, saying, “We have the proof. We have the evidence. We have the shipping documents. We have photographs and video of a lot of these places." However, some shops seem to believe they aren't getting their dogs from mills, like Raising Rover and Baby on the Upper East Side, who was adement about not using mills when confronted about it by NBC. A quick check of some paperwork told a different story, however.

Jonathan Lovvorn, senior VP of the HSUS, released this statement regarding the mill problem: "These high-priced pet stores claim to sell dogs from small private breeders, but are actually pushing dogs from huge Midwest puppy mills with some of the worst federal Animal Welfare Act violations imaginable. Consumers are being duped into buying puppies born to breeding dogs who spend their entire lives trapped in tiny wire cages, churning out litter after litter. The breeders themselves treat these animals as livestock. Even worse, in my opinion."

Check out the HSUS for more disturbing facts, and their video below:

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on November 10, 2011 2:50 PM

Comments [rss]

LeslieRoberts

Thank you so much for this story! I have my own history with one of the stores you featured, Raising Rover and Baby. When you get a minute please take a look at my most recent blog post, which summarizes the story of the sick dog I was promised was locally bred, but in fact came from a puppy mill in Missouri. http://www.zoeystory.com/from-...

Anne Hogan

Thank you so much for sharing this story. At the HSUS, we urge people who want to get a puppy to consider adopting from a shelter or rescue group first. If deciding to buy from a breeder, potential buyers should always visit the breeder in person to see that the dogs are treated humanely and ensure that the puppies and their parents are living in spacious, clean areas. For more information, you can visit humanesociety.org/puppy. To read the full investigative report, you can visit http://www.humanesociety.org/a...

Violette Noire

PLEASE HELP US!

SO MANY HEALTHY DOGS AND CATS ARE BEING KILLED
EVERYDAY

ADOPTERS / FOSTERS DESPERATELY
NEEDED!!!

BE PART OF THE SOLUTION!

Cats on Death Row:

http://www.facebook.com/PetsOn...

Urgent Death Row Dogs:

www.urgentdeathrowdogs.org

Urgent PART2 on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/Urgent...

Email us at admin(AT)urgentdeathrowdogs.org

Mat50

this is covered prior to every holiday season for at least 40 years that I know of. And still people feign ignorance. A serious survey once revealed that people for their own weird reasons, would rather buy from a store front than a serious, reputable breeder who might ask THEM too many questions for which they had no good answers.

Elderta2

Did anyone see the story in City Room about the Animal Care and Control volunteer who was fired for taking photographs of the shelter animals? Apparently, it's against rules for volunteers to take photos of the animals. The ACC would rather have those concentration camp photos that they use to try and get their animals adopted. According to the story, this woman was taking good photos of the animals and actually getting them adopted.
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes....

nunyadamn

She put a lot of time into taking the photos. Would take the dogs outside and get happy photos of them rather than the pathetic, frightened ones the ACC posts. It was really sad they let her go. The ACC sucks and has been known to put dogs down immediately and then an owner shows up and it is too late.

Elderta2

I seriously don't understand the ACC's reasoning. It's completely ridiculous.

heresyourcopy

i'm so glad they're pulling back the curtain on this issue. the next step is making people realize that even licensed breeders are pretty foul, not to mention almost completely unnecessary when you consider how many dogs there are waiting in shelters. every bred dog means another dog ends up in the dumpster (and a lot of those pedigreed dogs end up in those shelters too).

nicemarmot

As far as I am aware there is no such thing as a reputable breeder who sells through pet stores. All pet store puppies are either from puppymills or backyard breeders. Reputable breeders actually want to know where their dogs are going.

That being said, it's still better to do a rescue or a shelter. I've had my rescue dog for three years now and she is the best.

Milyorkee

I figured I would put this here since people who click on this link might be able to help. This adorable dog was left on this "cat-lady's" doorstep. Usually she rescues cats and this is her first dog and she doesn't know what to do with him. His name is Lucky and he's about 2 years old, very sweet, and is in good health. You can find the "cat-lady" and Lucky at Union Square just about every day. Please give this super sweet pooch a good home. To get info on Lucky call Patricia at 646-571-5721.

Dead Himmler

I will seriously consider it. I just lost a dog due to a bad stair fall.

Milyorkee

To get info on Lucky call Patricia at 646-571-5721.

ogie

i only buy free range puppies. or as they are known by their street name Mutts.

ennuipoet

Because instant gratification sells like a motherfucker. For the young, stupid and well monied the three thousand dollar puppy in the window is the ultimate impulse buy. That three thousand will turn into ten thousand more keeping it alive through the pneumonia it contracted at the puppy store, then another three thousand to repair the body defects during the spay/neuter and then after three or four years of relative health the genetic disorders will kick in and then the REAL money starts! Go the shelter, get a mutt, save a life, save a shitload of money.

chuzzlewit

omg that photo -
http://mimg.ugo.com/200812/154...

Elderta2

Haha! Exactly!

wobblesmith

adopt/rescue a dog, people.

unretrofiedforu

SURE! When you guys start accepting refurbished phones instead of crying for new ones every time you go to the genius bar.

I think we are all beyond the point of denial; the truth the matter is we treat everything like inanimate, measurable objects. Nobody wants a 'used' dog, they want a brand new one.

ness800

I would love to rescue dogs, rescue groups make it a hassle. I tried to adopt a dog once, they wanted references, they wanted to interview my landlord and visit my home to make sure it was suitable. I went out and bought a dog for the same price as the adoption fees except without the stupid rules.

splicernyc

And this is what happens when you have a political culture that says regulations are "bad" and that the government should stay out of everything that makes money for someone. It doesn't surprise me that these pupply mills are in the Midwest who have weak laws regarding the ownership and treatment of animals.