Puppy Mill Mom

Westminster Dog Show is a Sham

2012-02-17T06:07:00.000-08:00

While Winners Celebrate, Dogs Are Dying by the Millions

By Carole Raphaelle Davis

Not everyone jumped for joy on Valentine’s Day whenMalachy, the Pekingese, was named Best in Show at the Westminster Dog Show.Real dog lovers raged. Why? Because a Peke won a beauty contest andconsequently tens of thousands of Pekes will suffer a horrible fate. Because itmeans rough years ahead for Pekinese breeding dogs who are abused in puppymills and backyard breeding operations. Because thousands of Pekinese will bedumped at the pound when the novelty wears off. The Westminster Dog Show andits parent, the American Kennel Club, the most established of the breedregistries, has blood on its hands.

I wasn’t always this angry about dog shows. As a teenagerI was a total dog geek. I would run every year to Madison Square Garden, thedog lover’s Mecca, to buy the three-day, all-access pass to The Westminster DogShow. Since then, during twenty plus years in the animal protection movement, Ihave learned the truth. The Westminster Dog Show is a sham. Behind the flashinglights and the trophies are the American Kennel Club’s dirty little secrets:

1. Annually, the AKC, a “non-profit” animal enterprise,profits over 40 million tax-exempt dollars promoting the business of dealingdogs; many of them inbred with genetic malformations that are painful for the dogsand expensive for the owners. See the BBC’s special, Pedigree Dogs Exposed:

2. They routinely register puppies from inhumane dogfactories (puppy mills).

3. AKC reps are a constant presence at dog auctions,making deals not to promote the wellbeing of dogs, but to ensure registrationfees from unscrupulous breeders. At these auctions, commercial breeders buy andsell breeding dogs, their“product,” for as low as a dollar. The “product,” which should be a family petin a loving home is instead sold to live out her sad life reproducing in acage.

4. The AKC denies and covers up its responsibility forcontributing to the millions of dogs housed in our nation’s shelter system at our expense until they aretragically killed.

5. The AKC spends millions of dollars fighting animalprotection legislation in every state in order to continue to profit from thedog dealing business.

And here are the dots it took me twenty years to connect:The Best-In-Show trophy awarded every year at the Westminster Dog Show fuelsintense desire for purebred dogs. It promulgates the purebred fetish—theelitist idea that some dogs are better than others because of absurd criterialike the length of their hocks, the shortness of their snout, the texture oftheir fur or the protrusion of their eyeballs. Many of the genetic traits that garner prizes at dog showsare congenital malformations that cause suffering to dogs and can eventuallykill them. And by the way, none of those standards are the qualities that makeus love our dogs and that make our dogs love us.

This year, because of the Westminster Dog Show, millionsof people will covet the latest fashion accessory, a Pekinese dog, andcommercial breeders will happily cash in on the bonanza. Pet stores will orderthem by the truck-load from brokers, who will buy them in bulk from commercialbreeders. The word on the puppy pipe line will be: “Churn out those Pekinesepuppies, they’re selling like hotcakes!”

You can order your Peke on-line at nextdaypets.com. Allyou need is a credit card and your Peke will come in the mail in twenty-fourhours, just like a pair of shoes—if he survives the trip; many don’t. And whenPeke fashion passes its peak, you can unload your used Peke at any shelter,where unless a socially conscious person shows up to adopts him, he will bekilled.

While dogs are bought on a whim by selfish people whowant what they want when they want it, over five million companion animals arekilled in our nation’s shelter system for lack of adopters. It’s a nationalscandal that we are paying over $2.5 billion a year to house and kill theseinnocent animals. Twenty-five percent of those dogs are purebred dogs.

The Westminster Dog Show is a televised convention topromote the multi-billion dollar business of dealing purebred dogs. Behind thescenes is a sinister web of handshakes and deal-making with the long term planof fighting any legislative measures the animal protection movement attempts topass. Any talk of regulation that hinders the bottom line of commercialbreeders in order to alleviate the suffering of breeding dogs is met withfierce opposition and deep pockets.

The commercial breeders and the clubs that enable them,like the AKC, are stubborn intheir insistence that animal rights activists back off . The breeders sticktogether, lobby Washington and take out ads in national newspapers to portraythe animal protection activists as “fringe,” “extremist,” “anti-business” and “fanatics.”

The animal protection movement is not going to back off.We will continue to expose the truth about the dog dealing industry and theshows that promote them. The Westminster Dog Show and the American Kennel Clubneed to come clean about their shameless disregard for the welfare of dogs.Instead, they congratulate themselves with trophies while we go broke cleaningup their mess, rescuing broken dogs, nursing them back to health, soothingtheir fear and finding them loving homes.

While the Westminster Dog Show winners celebrate, we cryover our dead—the millions and millions of dead dogs, our supposed bestfriends.

Carole Raphaelle Davis is the author of "The Diary of Jinky, Dog of a Hollywood Wife" and the West Coast Director of The Companion Animal Protection Society

Carole Raphaelle Davis on Truth or Tails Show. Puppy mills

2011-10-11T06:56:00.001-07:00

Listen to internet radio with Truth Or Tails on Blog Talk Radio

Glendale, California Passes Ban on Dog and Cat Sales

2011-08-17T08:49:00.000-07:00

8/16/11 10:22 PM

For Immediate Release

WHO: CAPS, The Companion Animal Protection Society (www.CAPS-web.org)

West Coast Director, Carole Davis 310-990-5758

WHAT: Glendale, California City Council passes ban on sale of dogs and cats in pet stores.

The City Council of Glendale, California, has unanimously passed a ban on the sale of cats and dogs in pet stores. In June, 2011, CAPS filed an investigation report with Glendale’s City Attorney Scott Howard. The report included evidence of violations that were occurring in Glendale’s Pets R Us, which obtains its puppies from The Hunte Corporation in Goodman, MO.. CAPS conducted an undercover investigation at Hunte, the largest dog brokering facility in the country. CAPS investigated over 50 puppy mills, mostly USDA licensed, that were selling puppies to Hunte. Approximately 50 percent of these mills had serious enough violations to warrant an investigation report to the USDA. The CAPS investigation of The Hunte Corporation revealed inhumane and substandard breeding facilities with multiple and repeat violations of the Animal Welfare Act. The dogs (and in some instances, cats) are not given even the USDA minimum standards of care. Some of the Hunte breeders have had their licenses cancelled. In the CAPS undercover footage provided to the city of Glendale, a Hunte commercial breeder was videotaped talking about shooting his dogs when they are no longer of use to him.

“The information provided to our office by CAPS representatives was fact based and assisted us with the preparation of a report and ordinance. Their efforts to address the problems associated with substandard breeding facilities is to be applauded and their assistance to our office is greatly appreciated.” --Scott H. Howard, City Attorney

“We congratulate the Glendale City Council and especially City Attorney Scott Howard, for their progressive leadership,” said CAPS West Coast Director, Carole Davis. “This ordinance will break the puppy mill cycle by cancelling long-standing contracts with brokers and commercial breeders that are routinely violating the Animal Welfare Act. Consequently, local companion animals in the shelter system will benefit. People don’t want a pet born in an inhumane breeding factory and this ordinance saves lives and protects consumers on a local level.”

Media Contact: Carole Davis, West Coast Director, CAPS tel: 310-990-5758

Founded by President Deborah Howard in 1992, the Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) is the only national nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to protecting companion animals from cruelty in pet shops, puppy mills and pet factories.

OC Activists Inform Neighbors of I Heart Puppies of Impending Protests

2011-07-30T15:58:00.000-07:00

Why we are Boycotting I Heart Puppies

CAPS undercover investigation of a USDA licensed “I Heart Puppies” supplier. This Cocker Spaniel mother is confined 24/7 and has no bedding or shelter from the elements.

This message is for neighbors of ‘I Heart Puppies’ and for businesses in the vicinity of the pet store.

We are a group of concerned citizens in CDM, NB and Orange County who will be engaged in a sustained campaign to protest I Heart Puppies and to educate consumers and neighbors about the cruelty of the pet industry. We wish to bring public awareness to the issue of pet factories, puppy mills and to the pet overpopulation crisis that is affecting our overburdened shelters.

I Heart Puppies has been investigated by The Companion Animal Protection Society, a national, non-profit organization that investigates animal cruelty in the pet industry. For more information about this organization and its findings, please visit their website at www.caps-web.org.

Investigations into the puppy mills that supply I Heart Puppies have revealed that the store is in business with inhumane, substandard breeding operations in the Midwest where dogs are confined for life in wire cages in freezing temperatures with no bedding, no shelter from cold, extreme heat, rain, wind or snow. These dogs are injured, sick and distressed. The USDA is also investigating. Though their suppliers are USDA licensed, it has been found that I Heart Puppies has been doing business with a breeder who tied up a Golden Retriever and shot her in the head. Several breeding operations they are still in business with are egregious violators of the Animal Welfare Act—Federal law.

Brooke Bradford, the owner of I Heart Puppies, has issued a statement that is misleading. She continues to do business with puppy mills and we have evidence of that. She does not “hand-pick” her breeders as she claims. She buys from a broker who is also being investigated. We do not want to put her out of business. We would like her to convert to a humane business model and become successful like so many other pet supply/rescue only stores throughout California.

California kills ½ million companion animals in the shelter system every year. We feel that selling dogs from puppy mills is highly unethical given that there are so many OC dogs and cats who are literally dying for homes. Please understand that because these desperate animals cannot speak for themselves, we will be speaking for them. They deserve to be heard.

Activists who care deeply about these facts will be demonstrating in your neighborhood. We want you to know that this will not bring unwanted attention to you or your business. In fact, we will be promoting your businesses and shopping on this block. Please understand that as soon as I Heart Puppies agrees to convert to a humane business model, the campaign will cease. Until then, we plan to demonstrate exposing the truth about this store. Some of our campaigns have lasted 3 weeks with a successful humane store conversion. Other campaigns have lasted 6 months. We have a 100% success rate.

We hear their cries, we are their voice.

State Department Tells Americans to Evacuate Egypt...Without Their Pets

2011-02-04T15:41:00.000-08:00

State Department Refuses to Allow Pets in Emergency Evacuation in Cairo

News Type: Event — Fri Feb 4, 2011 10:51 AM PST

world-news, animals, egypt, pets, emergency, evacuation, cairo

By Jinky, Dog of a Hollywood Wife

Crowd awaiting evacuation at Cairo's International Airport. No pets allowed on U.S. chartered evac flights.

Los Angeles--Carole Raphaelle Davis

The Sate Department has confirmed on its toll-free emergency consular services number that U.S. citizens being evacuated on U.S. chartered emergency flights out of Egypt will not be allowed to bring pets. Pets will not be permitted on evacuation flights.

The Companion Animal Protection Society is looking into a possible violation of the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006 which includes household pets in any U.S. evacuation during a disaster. The law mandates that evacuation plans must take into account the needs of individuals with household pets and service animals prior to, during, and following a major disaster or emergency.

The statute was passed after thousands of pet guardians refused to evacuate without their animals in New Orleans during the Hurricane Katrina disaster. The "no pet" policy was decried by the entire animal welfare community, which rushed to deliver aid to abandoned animals during the emergency.

Today, there are no U.S. chartered flights leaving Cairo and U.S. citizens are on standby for flights which might depart on Saturday. According to the State Department, there are seats available today on commercial flights leaving Cairo for the United States. Current customs regulations, however, require that animals flying in cargo or in cabin must have a valid international health certificate completed within ten days of arrival in the U.S..

According to Joyce Tischler, Animal Legal Defense Fund founder and general council, “The tragedy of Americans in the midst of disaster being forced to choose between leaving their beloved animals and remaining in harm’s way spurred significant legislation in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, designed to ensure that families can evacuate without leaving behind their four-legged members. Americans consider their pets members of their family; they should not have to choose between fleeing the current violence in Egypt and abandoning their animals .”

There are no current provisions for animals belonging to U.S citizens in Egypt at the time of this reporting.

For further information you may e-mail the State Department Egypt Emergency contact at: EgyptEmergencyUSC@state.gov or telephone at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (outside the United States and Canada).

Pet City Besieged by Animal rights Group for Selling Puppy Mill Dogs

2011-01-25T17:25:00.000-08:00

Open letter to Pet City from a concerned dog lover:

Hello,

I am the West Coast Director of the Companion Animal Protection Society. We are a national, non-profit organization that specializes in pet factory investigations. A colleague of ours, Lisa Goetz, brought your chain of stores to our attention recently with regards to your selling animals from inhumane breeding factories. I went in myself to take a look around and in order to corroborate what Ms. Goetz alerted us to.

What we discovered is disturbing. Some of the dogs are sick. Many of the dogs are showing signs of extreme stress, demonstrating behaviors that coincide with neglect, lack of exercise and social enrichment. Many of the dogs were close to six months old, indicating that they had been confined for so long that their development is abnormal. The enclosures are far too small for their size. We also determined that these animals are from inhumane breeding factories.

Furthermore, I witnessed one of your employees put a puppy in a garbage can while he was cleaning a cage. The dog was handled roughly by the employee who did not understand that it is detrimental to put a dog in the garbage. A dog is not garbage.

I am sending you one of my articles on the subject of pet stores converting to the humane business model. I hope you enjoy reading it; it explains, in depth, the new trend in pet stores across the nation.

Here is the link to the article in American Dog Magazine, the most widely read dog lifestyle magazine in America:

http://www.theamericandogmag.com/politics/inside-the-rescue-revolution

Just so you know, we are the organization that brought forth the anti-puppy mill legislation in West Hollywood. It is now against the law to sell factory -bred dogs and cats there. Hermosa Beach also passed such a law. So did Lake Tahoe. We are in meetings with the LA City Council to ban it city-wide and will go with these ordinances to every county. It is just a matter of time before your current practice of selling dogs from inhumane breeding factories is outlawed.

We urge you to convert to the humane business model before you further ruin your reputation in our community. There is a better way and we are all willing to work with you, to promote you, once you make the change.

Please note that the public does not want puppy mill dogs born out of cruelty and that the average person understands that dogs deserve better than to live out a sad life in a cage breeding until death. In order to thrive in this difficult economy, one needs to be the best.

Right now, you are falling short financially, and more importantly, you are falling short morally. Make that change and we will help you.

--
Carole Raphaelle Davis
West Coast Director, Companion Animal Protection Society
www.caps-web.org
www.rivierarescue.blogspot.com
www.hollywooddog.blogspot.com
www.HollywoodJinky.com

"If you save just one life, it is as if you saved the entire world."

For more information on the Pet City Boycott, please visit: http://boycottpetcity.blogspot.com/

See Article published in American Dog Magazine below and click on their logo to subscribe today.

Inside the 'Rescue Revolution'

Victory for Dogs as Pet Stores Go Humane

By Carole Raphaelle Davis

Sadly, millions of dogs are suffering in shelters and puppy mills. This year, a record number of dogs are being dumped and euthanized at shelters because of the current economic crisis. Commercial breeders and pet stores are also feeling the pinch. "People just aren’'t buying puppies right now,” says pet store manager Justin Vanert.

Growing numbers of commercial dog breeders in the Midwest are selling their homes for a pittance - advertising them as "turnkey investments," which often include kennels with hundreds of breeding dogs "free with the property." As bleak as it all sounds, this recession just might have a silver lining for the dogs who are wasting away in puppy mills and shelters. Perhaps this economic downturn might be a dog's chance to get out alive.

The dog trade is showing signs of weakness. Successful business is all about supply and demand and right now the demand side is shrinking as buyers of puppy mill dogs snap their wallets shut. But the reasons aren’t just the economy - it's a combination of decreased spending, public awareness of inhumane breeding practices, legislation that limits and criminalizes dog factory cruelty and effective campaigns led by animal rights activists.

 This spring, a group of Los Angeles activists celebrated yet another victory. After five weeks of protests, the owner of Elaine’s Pet Depot signed an agreement to hand over all of her puppy mill dogs to Good Dog Animal Rescue for adoption. The agreement with the lynchpin store of a national chain of pet stores included a statement that reflected the store’s commitment to working with rescue organizations. The store agreed to hold adoptions and end its sale of puppy mill dogs. Reliable sources from within the franchise claimed that the entire Pet Depot chain was considering conversion to a humane business model within a few months. If the large chain stops buying from brokers and mass volume breeders, the strategy to cripple the puppy mill industry by hitting them where it hurts, in the wallet, is working.

 The “go humane or go out of business” campaign has been able to gain momentum by combining its ability to exploit the current economic downtown and its skilled use of visual evidence from undercover investigations. The stores that were protested saw as much as 70 percent of their weekend business deterred by activists brandishing signs depicting graphic photos of dogs suffering in mills. An increasing number of stores in the heart of Los Angeles have been closed down or converted - more than a dozen so far in a little over a year.

 As I write this, Pets of Wilshire, a store that was targeted, but hadn’t yet been picketed, just announced to me that they will no longer be selling puppy mill dogs and will be holding adoptions of shelter dogs. Asked if the protest movement had anything to do with the turnaround, manager Justin Vanert said, “Everybody’s worried about the puppy mill deal. We didn’t want any bad publicity, so we made the decision before it ever came here.”

 The fact that the pet store protests and the conversions to a humane business model have been concentrated in L.A. is an important element of the national strategy, say architects of the movement. National welfare organizations are watching Los Angeles because although New York is the largest market for puppy mill dogs, Los Angeles is the most important. The celebrity culture here in L.A. dictates international consumer trends. What's hot here is copied everywhere. In L.A., blingbling is passe. The ultra-hip are solar-powered and driving their hybrid pound dogs to vegan cafés in hybrid cars. Shelter dogs are the latest in recycled chic for the socially conscious.

 Known for being too conservative by some militants in the animal rights world, The Humane Society of the United States is getting more “street cred” now that it has embraced the formula for protesting pet stores. After their investigation revealed that the giant Petland chain sells puppies from inhumane dog factories, HSUS launched a protest campaign that propelled its more active members from their armchairs and onto the streets. This direct action tactic is great news to grassroots activists in Los ngeles. For the combatants, it's like waging a guerrilla war against a powerful enemy and suddenly, you get a backup surge of a million soldiers. "The rallies are going very well," says Stephanie Shain, Senior Director of HSUS’s puppy mill campaign. "We've been so moved by the incredible response from people. We remind people of how horrid life is for dogs who live in puppy mills for years on end."

 Jennifer Fearing, chief economist for the HSUS, has been watching the L.A. movement develop. “What you all are doing is an essential component of a national effort to rid the market of puppy mills,” she said. “We have to pull on both the supply and the demand levers ... Everything from passing legislation to improving standards of care to foreclosing retail channels. PetSmart and PETCO have already shown that this business model works. They are lucrative.”

 Some pet boutiques in L.A. closed down rather than negotiate with animal welfare advocates they viewed as extremists. The stores didn’t want to have "rescue crazies" take over their businesses and to split puny adoption fees after years of benefiting from the high profit margins from puppy mill dogs (dogs were typically bought by retailers for less than $300 and sold for up to $3,500). To make matters even more complicated for the stores, rescue organizations want all dogs to be spayed or neutered before they leave the store and some insist on "home checks" to make sure the pet will be going to a responsible home.

Leaders of the movement are trying hard to convince pet store owners that the idea of humane conversion is a better choice than a ‘For Lease’ sign in their window. “People can’t afford a $3,000 dog right now, so adopting one for $300 not only makes sense financially, but they can feel good about themselves for saving a life,” says Elle Wittelsbach, Director of Strangest Angels Rescue. “Plus, they come back to buy the supplies for the life of that dog. These stores are giving back to the community.”

The business model that seems to be emerging is a fullservice operation, which includes trainers, groomers, day care and a large selection of supplies. These services ferment a community atmosphere and a milieu of hope. Full of rescued dogs, the stores become a site of burgeoning camaraderie between former adversaries. The thinking among converts is, if your ship was sinking anyway, you may as well look like a good guy by saving some shelter dogs and cats.

 Humane stores provide a convenient alternative to shelters for those who want a fun shopping experience and are intimidated by a trip to the pound. "Inviting puppy store owners to become part of the solution is a creative, practical and people smart strategy,” said Dawn Armstrong, executive director of the Lake Tahoe Humane Society. “‘Out of the cage’ thinking is the beginning of the end of puppy mills. The public is ready.”

 Recently, I assisted a rescue of 62 abused Miniature Pinschers from a puppy mill in Riverside, Calif. It was gratifying to see these dogs recovering after only a few weeks of rehab in foster care, ready to be adopted out of stores we once protested.

 Bill Smith, president of Mainline Rescue in Pennsylvania, is waging a war against puppy mills. Thanks to his appearances on Oprah, forty million people, mostly middle-aged women, are educated about the horrors of puppy mills. When I told him of the Min Pins we rescued who are now in the converted stores, he told me, “These places have been selling puppy mill dogs for ages and now it’s ending with the adoption of the mothers themselves. It’s ironic. These people have benefited off these dogs for years and you basically forced them into a redemption process. For years they’ve been abusing the mothers and now they have to find them homes, accepting an adoption fee.”

 Lewis Turner, owner of the Petcare Company in Hermosa Beach, Calif., was dissatisfied doing business with America’s largest brokers of puppy mill dogs, Lambriar and Hunte. He told me that four out of 10 dogs that were trucked in were ill.

 “They had green liquid coming from their eyes or nose,” he said. “They’d have to be sent back because they were sick.” After six months researching how to make a humane store profitable, Turner is putting together a business plan to share with other retailers around the country.

 “What’s in it for a retailer? They get the recognition from the community,” Turner said. “Customers are going to feel more comfortable supporting a store that rescues. It’s the same mentality as going green. It’s win-win for the retailer, the shelters, for the rescues and for the orphans. No one loses.” Asked why he went humane, he said, “It was the right thing to do.”

 Bark N' Bitches, a retail pet boutique in the Fairfax district of L.A., has never sold live animals and is thriving despite the shrinking economy. “My business has never been better,” says Shannon von Roemer, the owner. “This business is recessionproof because people aren’t spending on luxury cars but they are spending on a feel-good item for their furry best friend.”

 Roemer claims she has rescued over eight hundred dogs in three years. “Retail and rescue works very well for me,” says Roemer. Whether or not this business model is actually recession-proof, the success of Bark N’ Bitches is something to bark about.

 Carole Raphaelle Davis is an animal welfare advocate and author of The Diary of Jinky, Dog of a Hollywood Wife. Visit her Web site at: www.hollywoodjinky.com.  

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43 dead dogs in freezer in Elkmont Alabama

2010-04-08T11:14:00.001-07:00

43 dead dogs in freezer in Elkmont Alabama

2010-04-08T11:12:00.000-07:00

43 Dead Dogs found in Freezer in Alabama, Carole Raphaelle Davis on CNN describes puppy mill

2010-04-08T11:10:00.000-07:00

43 dead dogs were found in Nannie Johnson's freezers in Elkmont, Alabama. Carole Davis, west coast director of the Companion Animal Protection Society discusses this story of a horrific breeding operation, or puppy mill with HLN's Jane Velez-Mitchell.

Los Angeles Times "We're taking the anti-puppy mill legislation to the entire city."

2010-02-23T14:35:00.000-08:00

The West Hollywood City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve new legislation that prohibits most sales of puppies and kittens in pet stores within city limits.

Under the ban, which takes effect later this year, pet stores will be permitted to offer animals from local shelters rather than those purchased from for-profit breeders. That business model has been implemented in recent years by several L.A.-area pet stores, including Melrose Avenue shop Orange Bone.

Despite the fact that no West Hollywood pet stores currently sell puppies or kittens, the move is seen as a major victory by activists who see it as an early step in the fight to end the problem of puppy mills. "This definitely calls for champagne," Carole Raphaelle Davis, West Coast director of the Companion Animal Protection Society, told our colleague Kate Linthicum before Tuesday's vote. "We're definitely taking this fight to Los Angeles. We want all of the stores citywide to go humane."

The famously liberal-minded West Hollywood has been at the forefront of the animal protection movement for years. In 2002, it amended its city code to refer to animals like dogs and cats as "companions" rather than "pets." (For the record, the word "owner" was also replaced with "guardian.") In 2003, it officially prohibited the declawing of cats, becoming the first city in the U.S. to implement such a ban. Several other California cities followed suit in 2009.

"People outside of the city roll their eyes and tell us we're silly," Councilman Jeffrey Prang, who sponsored the new law, told Linthicum, referring to such legislation. "You only have to look at the amount of abuse that takes place in order to see that these efforts are not silly."

The Companion Animal Protection Society brought evidence to the City Council last year that suggested an area pet store was selling puppies obtained from Russia and from a puppy mill in Minnesota. After repeated protests by the organization, the store stopped selling the puppies, Davis told the Associated Press. But the incident apparently brought the puppy-mill issue to the forefront of the council's consciousness, culminating in Tuesday's vote.

South Lake Tahoe approved a similar ban on pet-store puppy and kitten sales in 2009.

Los Angeles Times on Puppy Mill Sales Ban-Trend Growing Nationwide

2010-02-23T14:30:00.000-08:00

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West Hollywood City Council votes to ban most puppy, kitten sales in pet stores

February 19, 2010 | 8:02 pm

The West Hollywood City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve new legislation that prohibits most sales of puppies and kittens in pet stores within city limits.

Under the ban, which takes effect later this year, pet stores will be permitted to offer animals from local shelters rather than those purchased from for-profit breeders. That business model has been implemented in recent years by several L.A.-area pet stores, including Melrose Avenue shop Orange Bone.

Despite the fact that no West Hollywood pet stores currently sell puppies or kittens, the move is seen as a major victory by activists who see it as an early step in the fight to end the problem of puppy mills. "This definitely calls for champagne," Carole Raphaelle Davis, West Coast director of the Companion Animal Protection Society, told our colleague Kate Linthicum before Tuesday's vote. "We're definitely taking this fight to Los Angeles. We want all of the stores citywide to go humane."

The famously liberal-minded West Hollywood has been at the forefront of the animal protection movement for years. In 2002, it amended its city code to refer to animals like dogs and cats as "companions" rather than "pets." (For the record, the word "owner" was also replaced with "guardian.") In 2003, it officially prohibited the declawing of cats, becoming the first city in the U.S. to implement such a ban. Several other California cities followed suit in 2009.

"People outside of the city roll their eyes and tell us we're silly," Councilman Jeffrey Prang, who sponsored the new law, told Linthicum, referring to such legislation. "You only have to look at the amount of abuse that takes place in order to see that these efforts are not silly."

The Companion Animal Protection Society brought evidence to the City Council last year that suggested an area pet store was selling puppies obtained from Russia and from a puppy mill in Minnesota. After repeated protests by the organization, the store stopped selling the puppies, Davis told the Associated Press. But the incident apparently brought the puppy-mill issue to the forefront of the council's consciousness, culminating in Tuesday's vote.

South Lake Tahoe approved a similar ban on pet-store puppy and kitten sales in 2009.

Do you support West Hollywood's ban on most puppy and kitten sales in pet stores?

Yes -- it's a small step toward stopping puppy mills 78% (7,231 votes)

No -- determining what stores are allowed to sell is government gone overboard 22% (2,017 votes)

Don't know <1% (6 votes)

Total Votes: 9,254

Return To Poll PollDaddy.com

-- Lindsay Barnett

Animal news on the go: Follow Unleashed on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo: West Hollywood resident Dan Goshin poses with his adopted dog Roger. Credit: Stefano Paltera / For The Times

More in: Animal Rights, Cats, Dogs, Law & Government, Puppy Mills

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From the L.A. Times

From other L.A. sources

WeHo to Ban Sale of Dogs and Cat from Pet Stores|ktla.com
W. Hollywood To Consider Ban Pet Store Cats, Dogs|cbs2.com

Around the Web

West Hollywood Moves To Ban Dog, Cat Sales|huffingtonpost.com

Comments (42)

I agree with the West Hollywood City Council's wise and compassionate decision to ban the sale of puppy mill and pet factory dogs and cats in our city. The ordinace succeeds on many levels. This is an animal protection measure as well as a consumer protection measure that makes sense when you look at the facts.

It encourages consumers to adopt an animal instead of buying one from an inhumane breeding factory, relieving our municipal shelter system, which is overburdened. We are experiencing a catastrophic recession in our state, with job losses, home forclosures and extreme financial hardship, resulting in a higher intake of homeless animals. Adoption is a way for people to help the community, save a life and acquire a desirable companion animal at the same time.

It encourages retailers to convert to a humane business model here in West Hollywood and throughout the city by example. We are killing too many adoptable animals in our shelter system and 20% of dogs in the shelters here are purebred dogs.

It is not unfairly punitive to retailers at all. We have evidence that the $ in the pet store biz comes from a 15 year relationship with a customer--a customer who comes back for SUPPLIES for the life of the animal. There are many examples in our city that demonstrate that fact, retailers making it through a difficult economy without being involved in the despicable pet factory biz.

This ordinance does NOT touch legitimate and responsible breeders at all, leaving people a choice to seek out a responsible hobby breeder should they decide to not rescue an animal. Fact: legitimate breeders NEVER sell to pet stores and they NEVER sell on-line, shipping animals over state lines. I repeat, this ordinance does not affect responsible breeders who raise their animals with kindness. This ordinance cuts off the abusive commercial operations that keep animals in wire cages for their entire lives. Responsible breeders want to meet you and open their doors to you. They do not hide behind phony websites or keep their animal facility hidden from view, like puppy millers and pet factory owners.

This ordinance sends a strong message to abusive pet factory operators and unscrupulous dog dealers in OTHER states who are flooding our market with sick, injured, malformed dogs whose parents are living in canine supermax prisons.

A fact that pet stores do not want you to know is this: USDA licensed commercial breeding facilities ARE puppy mills. Many USDA licensed breeders breed for the pharmaceutical industry, breeding dogs who will be used for experimentation in laboratories. Dogs are part of agri-business. It is a large industry, requiring factory conditions in order to profit. Dogs are treated very much like animals raised for food. If you stepped into a dog breeding factory, like we do, you'd never forget the cruelty you witnessed.

S. Lake Tahoe is right. West Hollywood is right. This is just the beginning. The public wants a cruelty-free pet, not one born in a puppy mill or a pet factory that is filthy and inhumane. There is a very good reason so many cities have contacted us for help in assisting them create an ordinance for their city that achieves the same goals---Protection for animals and protection for consumers.

This is smart, fiscally responsible, socially responsible and bottom line, the right thing to do.

Carole Davis, w. coast director, Comapnion Animal Protection Society
www.caps-web.org

Posted by: carole rapahelle davis | February 20, 2010 at 11:24 AM

I am very happy with West Hollywood's decision to ban the sale of dogs and cats in stores. It is unethical to sell animals while at the same time the city shelters have to euthanize thousands of dogs and cats - at the cost of the taxpayer. Adopting from a shelter or a rescue group is the way to go. I'd like to urge people to be responsible citizens and spay and neuter their pets - please don't contribute to the sad and avoidable overflow in our shelters.

Posted by: Celestine | February 20, 2010 at 01:37 PM

I applaud the West Hollywood City Council for unanimously voting for compassion (over cruelty) in the decision to ban the sale of most puppies and kittens in West Hollywood. I hope the rest of Los Angeles will follow suit and that the state of California can then serve as a model for the rest of the country to follow. Bravo Carole Raphael Davis and CAPs for leading the charge against those who perpetuate the grim horrors of puppy and kitty mills.

Posted by: Rory | February 20, 2010 at 05:02 PM

It's about time we stopped treating living beings like they are inanimate objects to be bought and sold. This is a step in the right direction.

Posted by: kelley | February 20, 2010 at 05:05 PM

This is so crazy, I imagine I am living in the Gulag Archipelago and not in a modern city in the so called or one-time UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
OH! the horror of breeding for profit!
As if breeding a litter of dogs or cats is a form of whoring below actual prostitution!
Next it will be illegal to charge for sex? or...perhaps it is, I can no longer remember.
Frankly, I am tired of the immorality of having to pay for food, medical care, shelter, income tax, real estate tax, a car, clothing and a phone. I should be given all the pets I want for free, and a vet should not charge to care for them, and their food should also be free.

This sort of law is a symptom of a culture in decline, a culture gone bonkers.
They pay surrogate mothers don't they?

Posted by: hermine stover | February 20, 2010 at 06:58 PM

hell yes . they should be banned everywhere. when is everyone going to get it.. these animals live in horrific conditions and suffer everyday.. just so pet stores can make a buck..and where do a lot of these dogs end up.. shelters..

Posted by: kerry christy | February 20, 2010 at 08:15 PM

This will truly be a huge victory for our voiceless choiceless,blameless and helpless !!!! I have had personal experiance in seeing the horrors of what the parents of all these cute little puppies,go through.an absolute life of torture,pain,hopelessness,until finally thank-god,their death.it is sickening if you have ever had 1st hand experience in seeing this ...Please dont skip this opportunity to do "the right thing" for our precious animal companions..thank-you for your kindness and compassion.Debbie Trejo

Posted by: debbie trejo | February 20, 2010 at 08:59 PM

The overpopulation in the country is dramatic. The suffering of the puppies that are peddled for profit is an embarrassment of mankind. This is the last form of legal slavery in the United States of America. We should be ashamed that this practice goes on. The petstores buy puppies for $50.00 and sell them for $1,000.00 and up.
Consumer Beware...if you acutally think these puppies are worth the money you are paying you are mistaken. I know where they buy them and I know how much they pay...I have seen the ordering process. I have seen the filthy trucks they come...no water or food for days...the ones that die are sent back and news ones delivered like defective sweaters. Amazing that human beings could be this cruel for the almighty dollar.
When you buy a puppy you are supporting theives and abusers in the puppy mills. Most people that make a living off of live animals are not the most upstanding people either...if they were they could not peddle flesh...unfortunately people do not do the right thing unless laws are made...some people need to be told something is wrong and we will not permit you to do it...some people are not moral and they need to be told YOU CANNOT ABUSE animals for profit...to bad huh? You would think that they would have the heart and common sense not to but this world is not perfect and I did not create it.
So I am for this law.
Everything good happens in West Hollywood...they are pioneers and the leaders in changing this world for the good.
Kris Kelly

Posted by: Kristine Kelly | February 20, 2010 at 10:40 PM

This law was passed without a single letter of opposition, and a record number of support letters. Here in West Hollywood, we get it. If a puppy is in a pet store, it is from a puppy mill. If you buy that dog, you will suffer the indignation of paying too much for a dog that will have tough behavioral problems to overcome, be difficult to impossible, and have health issues that will likely bankrupt you. We passed this law to protect consumers and animals. That's my kind of two-fer!

Posted by: Ed Buck | February 21, 2010 at 12:14 AM

"No -- determining what stores are allowed to sell is government gone overboard 31% (141 votes)"

Are you kidding? Since when does the government NOT determine what stores are allowed to sell? Seen any 24-hour liquor stores lately? How about, oh, medical marijuana outlets? Guns? Unsafe cribs? Please. Stupid question.

West Hollywood is a community where the politicians actually are responsive to the citizens and it's a safe bet that the majority of W H'wood residents support this action.

A modicum of research into the subject will uncover countless atrocities created by breeders who are always in search of something that will distinguish them and their product from the competition. Meanwhile thousands upon thousands of cats and dogs languish and mostly die in L.A. shelters and many of these are purebreds. I have both a Scottish Fold and a Sphynx that were doomed to death, not to mention my "mutts." Every single day there is at least one very elderly animal dumped in a shelter in Los Angeles because her owners simply cannot be bothered anymore.

Don't breed or buy while so many die! Bravo, West Hollywood!

Posted by: Susan S | February 21, 2010 at 12:20 AM

Please don't let pet stores sell puppies. Any legitimate breeder would never allow their dogs to be sold this way. The puppies in stores come from puppy mills which are horrific breeding facilities. If you are not familiar with how these breeding facilities work, please google "puppy mills" and educate yourself. If you saw how these places operate, you would never want to purchace a puppy and support that type of establishment. They are truly inhumane and disgusting.

Posted by: Ms. Galen | February 21, 2010 at 08:20 AM

Wow, that poll sure looks like it's slanted toward NO. It is really asking two different questions with a loaded NO vote. Asserting that "determining what stores are allowed to sell is government gone overboard" is really misleading! Determining what stores can sell is indeed a normal function of government. You can't sell munitions, you can't sell liquor to minors, and so on. And now you can't sell puppies that were bred in inhumane conditions. Seems look a good thing. You don't need to be an animal lover to appreciate this.

Posted by: Leon Wagner | February 21, 2010 at 11:25 AM

Are you going to post comments, please? Everyone we know is writing them.

Posted by: carole rapahelle davis | February 21, 2010 at 01:11 PM

Did you know that LA's dogs are making the news here in the Pacific Northwest? Several shelters have been taking in the dogs from Southern California that would otherwise be killed. I hope that the pet owners in Southern California are at least as aware of this problem as those of us who see these sad dogs in our local shelters are...Recent article:http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/02/dogs_saved_from_death_in_calif.html

Posted by: Laura | February 21, 2010 at 01:52 PM

PASS THE LEGISLATION THAT PROHIBITS THE SALE OF CATS AND DOGS IN PET STORES. THIS LEGISLATION IS WAY OVERDUE. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR DOING THIS FOR THE ANIMALS.

Posted by: JANE HUNZIKER | February 21, 2010 at 02:52 PM

Please pass legislation that prohibits the sale of cats and dogs in the West Hollywood pet stores. This legislation is long overdue. Thank you in advance for doing this for the animals. Jane

Posted by: JANE HUNZIKER | February 21, 2010 at 02:55 PM

Please pass legislation that prohibits the sale of cats and dogs in the West Hollywood pet stores. This legislation is long overdue. Thank you in advance for doing this for the animals. Jane

Posted by: JANE HUNZIKER | February 21, 2010 at 02:55 PM

Putting a moratorium on breeding for at least one year, would most certainly cut down all the poor wonderful animals that are killed each year. By the way, it wouldn't hurt to do that to people as well.

Posted by: Sandy Friedman | February 21, 2010 at 03:07 PM

Finally! I hope more cities ban the selling of dogs and cats! Until people spend time volunteering at animal shelters, they'll remain cluess as to how many are killed daily due to people buying on impulse and people who don't bother to get their pets fixed.

Posted by: Shari Stark | February 21, 2010 at 07:20 PM

isn't this restraint of trade???
Do we really want a government that will determine what we can do? Thought the idea of a government was to protect us from outside invasions - and to do OUR bidding. We're paying THEM!!!

Posted by: Animal Lover | February 21, 2010 at 07:56 PM

How come shelters are immune? Aren't THEY selling? AND - - just WHERE do you think they're getting all their pups???

Posted by: Animal Lover | February 21, 2010 at 07:58 PM

Bravo to West Hollywood for standing up for all the adopatable dogs and cats who are senselessly killed in shelters, while greedy puppymills grind out litter after litter of pups who's mom's are little more than breeding machines. They live hideous, cruel and inhumane lives confined in cages, in filth and feces, never knowing a loving touch, running on the grass, playing with a toy, until they are no longer able to produce...and then it's finally all over. It's time that the public became more aware of the millions of healthy, loving shelter animals who don't stand a chance, simply because an owner gotten over the novelty of having a pet and can no longer be bothered. Adopt a pet and never buy from breeders or pet stores, unless they are rescued animals.

Posted by: Zizi | February 21, 2010 at 08:13 PM

I'm sure the City of West Hollywood had the best of intentions but this law only makes things MUCH worse. If pet lovers can't buy their pets locally they will be at the mercy of smugglers bringing sick and underage puppies into the area. The Federal Government estimates that 10,000 puppies a year are smuggled into Southern California through San Ysidro alone. Cutting legal supplies doesn't cut demand but leads to crime. Prohibition didn't work and only led to organized crime that continues to operate today. Puppy-prohibition won't stop people from wanting pets. But it will harm countless animals as they are smuggled in from even worse sources than the ones the City is trying to combat.

Posted by: George Eigenhauser | February 22, 2010 at 09:48 AM

As much as I am against pet shops selling cats and dogs, this was a free country developed on free enterprise and this ban is a relinquishment of a freedom that I cannot support. There are other ways to stop something you don't like. You don't legislate morality and doing it through the government helps build "Nanny Government" but obviously this is the type of people that live in Hollywood (my birthplace). Maybe this mentality is why we see so many people in Hollywood running around with dogs in purses, they have forgotten that these are animals and belong on the four legs God gave them. This is a sad day in America.

Posted by: california voter | February 22, 2010 at 09:53 AM

Ban Puppy Mills and stop the sales of puppies and kittens in store fronts that are really from massive breeding farms.

We must legislate this for all of Los Angeles. West Hollywood is leading by example and I applaud them for there common sense and humanity in the fight to animal cruelty. Puppy Mills are evil and greedy, treating dogs like livestock and only caring about profit at an animals exspense. Thank god something if finally being done but there is much more to do.

Posted by: Linda Maglia | February 22, 2010 at 10:03 AM

All pet stores should be banned from selling domesticated animals - that would sock it to the vile puppy mills and kitten mills that traffic in animal misery while protecting responsible breeders. Meanwhile, all domesticated animals should have to be neutered by law or owners pay a $500 fine. Provide low-cost neutering and reimburse the owner teh $500 when the animal is neutered.

Posted by: Hilary Philp | February 22, 2010 at 11:41 AM

"Government gone overboard" doesn't apply to the abuse of living beings. Puppy mills are already in violation of the Animal Welfare Act and state animal codes. Please, let's be human for a change, instead of spouting off rhetoric like unfeeling, uncaring androids. It's not socialism and it's not communism. It's human decency. It's a simple way to end the suffering of animals in the name of human greed.

Posted by: Melissa Maroff | February 22, 2010 at 02:07 PM

All this is doing is going after all animal owners, yes animal owners. You want to stop puppy mills then go after the USDA who is responsible for cleaning the puppy mills up. Leave the responsible owners alone.

I have a choice and I can either buy from a pet shop or not. Use your choices. Theses activits intend to take all your rights of ownership away

Posted by: Horsein | February 22, 2010 at 02:08 PM

Lergislation does not stop puppy factory farms - which is what they are. Information to the public is what will stop them. It is not the provence of government to tell a merchant what he may or may not sell. Remove the demand and the problem goes away.

Posted by: little john | February 22, 2010 at 02:52 PM

Hi Everyone, I felt this poll could be a little too simplistic of an rendition of what is really going on here...

It may behoove us to remember that in many instances (this one in particular), legislation is something inspired by citizens. This recent WeHo CC ban was not something that some crazy government official conjured up in a backroom in attempts to curtail freedom.

This ban was started by individuals - just like you and me, and was debated in front of the city council by individuals and their organizations. The fact that our democratic process calls for the official form of this ban to be a city council ordinance can't obscure that fact. I won't let it erase the real involvement by everyday people who felt called to get together with their city council (also real people) and make positive change in our world.

It is exactly because of the intelligent and intentional use of government intervention (again spawned by real people and made into law by real people) that our children no longer work in sweatshops, why we have things like minimum wages, weekends and civil rights such as the ability to vote regardless of race or gender.

I for one refuse to act like government is something outside of my influence. It is our government, it doesn't belong to some obscure 'they'. It's only when we become complacent and refuse to acknowledge our roles in this system that we start to notice our freedoms dwindle away.

This ban is a huge step forward. I applaud everyone who worked on it and feel confident that even those who were a little skeptical at first will soon benefit from knowing that these cats and dogs (just like their very own, which they presumably care for deeply) are being treated with decency and respect. I can't imagine allowing someone to do to my animals the things these puppy mills were doing. Can you?

Posted by: Proud Citizen | February 22, 2010 at 04:23 PM

I am not a fan of "big government" passing unnecessary, silly laws, or "forced morality". To the previous poster who compared this to selling sex, I would ask you if you are also OK with a company that began breeding children to sell into the sex trade. There is simply no comparison, right? Same thing here. Although prostitution is illegal most places, it can be considered a "victimless crime" in that both participants are willing and able to decide to participate. Laws are necessary to protect those who cannot protect themselves. The same way that our government (and, hopefully our morality if we possess it) would not allow us to breed children to sell into the sex trade, we are also not allowed to hurt others who cannot protect themselves... the elderly, disabled, mentally ill, etc. Animals fall into this category. Domestic animals were bred and selected over thousands of years by humans to be dependent on us. If you dump your pet into the woods and drive away, chances are Fifi or Fido won't last too long unless another human intervenes and takes him/her in. Since animals are so completely dependent on us for every aspect of their survival, they rely on us to protect them. And since there are so many heartless predators in our society who are willing to wreak any atrocity they can dream up in order to turn a buck, we must have laws to protect animals too. This law was not passed to inflict injury on businesses or potential pet owners, but to protect animals and encourage responsible behavior. That's all. Kudos, West Hollywood.

Posted by: Shannon | February 22, 2010 at 06:25 PM

BRAVO WEST HOLLYWOOD, now come on the rest of the country do the right thing and go HUMANE, treat all living beings with compassion, empty out the shelter cages and stop the killing. If you don't buy them they won't supply them, if you don't need them, they won't breed them and finally ADOPT, DON'T SHOP. RESCUE ONLY, HAVE A HEART!

Posted by: carole sax | February 22, 2010 at 07:35 PM

I'm think I'm in love with "Proud Citizen." That person, whoever he or she is, gives me hope that we can all come together to make our city, our state and our country more just for all.

Posted by: carole rapahelle davis | February 22, 2010 at 08:13 PM

This is a very positive step. Ask those who bought puppies or kittens (or other animals) in pet stores, thinking they came from reputable breeders and then were hit with huge vet bills to treat illness or defects from poor breeding conditions in the new pet they already love as a family member. They will understand this!
As for this being a new thing - legislating what stores can and cannot sell - hogwash! We already do that, in all sorts of cases! We regulate foods for sale, we don't let stores sell unsafe products (at least we try not to) we don't allow bookstores to sell pornography. Just to name a few things off the top of my head.
Reputable breeders do not sell in pet stores.... and if they did, most people who buy from petstores would not buy them, as they would be too expensive for the impulse buyer (who doesn't realize that the cute baby animal they are getting for a "bargain price" is likely to cost them a bundle when it gets sick or needs new hips, or turns out to have a heart condition).
This legislation does not only protect the animals - it is also protection for the unwary buyer.

Posted by: melanie schweitzer | February 22, 2010 at 08:46 PM

I have voted "no" as have others and find (as they have) that voting no increases the "yes" count by 2. If there is any value to online polls, they should be accurate and not "rigged" to misrepresent public opinion.

Posted by: Nancy Princeton | February 22, 2010 at 10:22 PM

Gee Nancy, can't you just accept that the overwhelming majority of Americans understand that puppy mills are evil, and support West Hollywood's move. I guess if I had no moral, legal or ethical argument to make, I'd complain about the poll calculations too.

Posted by: Ed Buck | February 22, 2010 at 10:42 PM

Horsein said: "All this is doing is going after all animal owners, yes animal owners. You want to stop puppy mills then go after the USDA who is responsible for cleaning the puppy mills up. Leave the responsible owners alone. I have a choice and I can either buy from a pet shop or not. Use your choices. Theses activits intend to take all your rights of ownership away"

Horsein, no one is "going after animal owners." You are delusional and your statement is preposterous and paranoid. This notion of yours needs to be shouted down. It's simply untrue.

As far as "going after the USDA" to stop puppy mills: that was yet another idiotic statement of yours that defies logic. The USDA licenses commercial breeding operations; they are not in the business of "cleaning them up," as you state. Mills get inspected only every couple of years. They get cited for violations and breeding operations with very serious violations, like freezing temperatures, open wounds, broken bones and worse, are allowed to continue to operate and to continue selling to pet stores. The minimum standards of care to protect animals from abuse under the the Animal Welfare Act were resisted and obstructed by the commercial breeding business. Read about it. If you can read, that is.

Here's the one correct thing you wrote: that you have a choice to buy from a pet shop. Yes you do. You have a right to contribute to animal cruelty and pet overpopulation for now. But the animals suffering in inhumane breeding factories have no choice but to endure the suffering that is afflicted upon them.

No one in their right mind thinks puppy mill sales ought to be legal except for the stonehearted people who profit from them. You're out of touch with the mainstream. America wants a cruelty-free pet and the forward-thinking pet stores are all converting to the humane business model voluntarily now.

Open your eyes, open your heart. Haven't you heard? There is a Rescue Revolution going on!

Posted by: Carole Raphaelle Davis--Companion Animal Protection Society | February 23, 2010 at 12:24 AM

Again, the misguided animal lovers have spoken! Do not sell puppies at pet stores because they all come from puppy mills! Where are the facts? How many of you animal lovers have ever seen a puppy mill? How many have ever seen ANY animal breeding operation, whether a farm with cattle or poultry or a facility raising puppies? Reality is not Better Homes and Gardens. It is smelly, dirty, and sometimes unpleasant. Lacking a background in animal management will affect one's perceptions, as well as constant exposure to years of propaganda from the animal rights contingent. Oh, don't forget, their idea is that there should be NO PET ANIMALS. Get it. None. Not even at the shelters.
FYI: www.exposeanimalrights.com
No dogs, no cats, no birds, no snakes, no horses, NONE. And, they have also stated that they are going to achieve this goal INCREMENTALLY. Well, by stopping people from acquiring pets from stores, that helps achieve the goal.
Why are animals at the shelters? Some are old, some are sick, and some have serious behavior problems. So you want people to ADOPT them? The excess truly adoptable dogs and cats can very easily be sent to the North East where there is such a need for adoptable pets that these folks are IMPORTING dogs from other countries. Street dogs. Dogs with diseases such as rabies and screwworm. Dogs imported without going thru quarantine and thus provide a serious threat to native wildlife, our domestic animals AND to the public! Now, if there is a need to import dogs in some parts of the US, doesn't it make sense that the excess dogs in the LA area can be transported to those areas? Instead, you want to deny people their right to go to a pet store and purchase a dog. You imagine this is the compassionate solution to puppy mills. Consider that the animal rights folks have managed to present EVERY animal breeding facility as a MILL. Propaganda works. Your responses to this proposal is a good example of the effectiveness of an ongoing campaign against animal breeding, where even the highest level of animal and facility management is still being declared a MILL. Being compassionate about animals and their care is wonderful, but laws should be based on facts and science, not just emotions. Where are the facts that all pet stores acquire their puppies from puppy mills?

Posted by: Laurella Desborough | February 23, 2010 at 05:01 AM

How UTTERLY stupid - people send money to these organizations hand over fist, allow them to spread fear, lies and disgust as if it were solid gold, and then seek to control not only the behavior, but the hearts of others because they get a little uncomfortable with a few bad apples that need psychiatric help.

Typical.

HSUS has a multi-billion dollar budget and yet runs NOT ONE SINGLE shelter in the entire country. They spend their money duping innocent people who love animals into misplacing their common sense and doing stupid things like this instead.

What little good they do in the investigations and informing the public of treatment of animals at slaughter houses and CAFOs is far offset by the lies they perpetrate against individuals.

Sort of like PETA with their refridgerated "rescue" trucks.

Keep this crap in California, please -

Posted by: Sue | February 23, 2010 at 07:17 AM

Ban the commercial sale and breeding for sale of these precious animals. IT is inhumane to "deal" them like objects - they are living creatures. And, many other "unwanted" cats and dogs are euthanized while the more "attractive" ones are bred and purchased. It is cruel and uncivilized!

Posted by: Ellen Galeski | February 23, 2010 at 08:07 AM

California Voter wrote this drivel: "this was a free country developed on free enterprise and this ban is a relinquishment of a freedom that I cannot support. There are other ways to stop something you don't like."

This country wasn't "developed on free enterprise" at all, you nitwit. People died fighting a revolution to create this country. They fought to the death against injustice. And what freedom of yours is being relinquished by this ordinance? Name one. This ordinance protects YOU from being defrauded by unscrupulous retailers.

And please do teach us how to 'stop something you don't like." I'd be curious to know how you know more than all the brave and smart people before you who led the suffragist movement, the civil rights movement, the Gay rights movement and yes, the American revolution. Get your GED will you? Geeez!

Posted by: Carole Raphaelle Davis--Companion Animal Protection Society | February 23, 2010 at 08:57 AM

its about time !! when we will understand that pets are not toys !! people voting no should go to the animals shelters once in a while !!
thank you west hollywood.. hope we'll be able to do the same for fur , and ban fur coming from china ( mostly dog and cat fur )

Posted by: alex d. | February 23, 2010 at 10:17 AM

Barkworks Sells Dying Dog. Over $2000 for a Dead Puppy Mill Dog

2010-02-12T11:58:00.000-08:00

Watch Barkworks Puppy Mill Scandal on CNN.com

WeHo Bans Dog and Cat Sales at Retail Pet Stores

2010-02-07T19:28:00.000-08:00

From Beverly Press

BY IAN LOVETT

WeHo Bans Dog and Cat

Sales at Retail Pet Stores

Move is Designed to Cut Supply From Puppy Mills

See on line version here

In 2003, the City of West Hollywood became the first municipality in the country to ban cat declawing, a high-profile move that prompted a lawsuit from the California Veterinary Medical Association, a subsequent state law preventing other cities from passing similar bans, and a number of other municipalities including

Los Angeles — racing to follow West Hollywood’s lead before the new state law took effect at the start

of this year.

This week, West Hollywood positioned itself at the forefront of another animal rights campaign, when the city council unanimously passed an ordinance to ban the sale of dogs and cats at pet stores. The ordinance, which was drafted in concert with several animal rights groups, is designed to “eliminate the demand” for animals bred in so- called “puppy mills” and “kitten factories”, where young cats and dogs endure harsh conditions. West Hollywood now becomes the sec- ond California city to ban the sale of dogs and cats at pet stores, after South Lake Tahoe.

Elite Animals is one of only a few pet stores in the city, and dogs and cats

are no longer sold there, making the ban largely symbolic.

If approved from the consent calendar at the next city council meeting, the ban will take effect on March 17. Animal rescue shelters will still be allowed to sell dogs and cats, as will retailers who breed their animals on site. Existing pet stores, meanwhile, will be allowed to continue selling dogs and cats until September 17.

“West Hollywood has been very involved in establishing progressive policies related to animal welfare for years,” said CityCouncilmember Jeffrey Prang, who sponsored the legislation.

“Puppy mills are inherently unhealthy and cruel, and there’s really no credible way for the government to regulate the welfare of animals coming from puppy mills. There’s also no way for pet stores to ensure the sources of their pets are certifiably humane without huge cost and effort. Reputable breeders will not even sell to pet stores. Therefore, selling dogs and cats in pet stores is a roll of the dice.”

Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, spoke at the West Hollywood City Council meeting in support of the ban. “I think that any problem as widespread as puppy mills needs to be addressed from a variety of directions,” Pacelle said. “We are working very hard with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to strengthen oversight of puppy mills. But what you’ve seen here in West Hollywood is a big move to address the problem of pet stores providing sales opportunities for

puppy mills, and cut it off at the Council first became aware of the issue of pet stores selling dogs raised in puppy mills last year, when the Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) came to the city council with evidence linking Elite Animals, a local pet store, with a puppy mill in Minnesota.

Carole Davis, west coast director of CAPS, said her organization invited Elite Animals to come to the meeting with the city council. “When we showed them (the owners of Elite Animals) the evidence, they looked genuinely shocked,” Davis said. “We didn’t want to protest until we were sure they knew what they were doing. But after they (the owners) saw the evidence, they didn’t budge, and wouldn’t convert to a humane business model.” Companion Animals Protection Society protested outside Elite Animals on Santa Monica Boulevard for more than five months, one of the organization’s longest protests, Davis said. Elite

Animals did not return multiple calls for comment.

“This isn’t just an animal rights issue, it’s also a consumer protection issue,” Davis said. “So one of the things we do when we’re protesting is we educate consumers at the door. We talk to them outside the store and make sure they know where these puppies are coming from.” Eventually Elite Animals, the only pet store in West Hollywood to sell dogs and cats, stopped selling animals, which makes the ban on selling cats and dogs in the city a largely symbolic gesture. “I think that any problem as widespread as puppy mills needs to be addressed from a variety of directions,” Pacelle said. “We are working very hard with the U.S.

Department of Agriculture to strengthen oversight of puppy mills. But what you’ve seen here in West Hollywood is a big move to address the problem of pet stores providing sales opportunities for puppy mills, and cut it off at the local level.”

In addition to helping combat puppy mills, Pacelle also said that the ban on dog sales at pet stores could help solve the problem of animal overpopulation in a country where 3.7 million dogs are euthanized annually, by reducing the flow of animals into the market and encouraging people to adopt pets from shelters.

At Poinsettia Park on Tuesday afternoon, all the dog owners present had already adopted their animals from rescue shelters. Malika Chatterji got her three-year-old dog from a Dogs Without Borders shelter. “There are so many dogs in need of adoption,” Chatterji said. “I wanted to give a home to at least one of them.” Still, Prang hopes the measure can serve as a model for other communities, as the ban on cat declawing did.

“In local government, when it comes to developing policies, someone has to be first,” Prang said. “The ban on cat declawing undoubtedly had a huge impact, and lots of other cities jumped on board and adopted similar ordinances. West Hollywood feels strongly about animal welfare issues, and we’ve been first on a

number of other issues as well. Leaders in the animal welfare community continue to bring us ideas, and we’ll continue to support those that make sense. Clearly we’re not done, there’s still more work to do.”

Not all West Hollywood residents appreciate the city’s ban on the sale of cats and dogs in pet stores. Andrew Gilden, a local dog owner, said the ban goes a step too far. “Although I understand the inter-

ests in fighting puppy mills and encouraging shelter adoptions, there are some wonderful and unique aspects of being a purebred dog owner,” Gilden said. “Many pet stores only have puppies from caring, responsible breeders, and it seems excessive to implement a flat-out ban. West Hollywood certainly isn’t prohibiting artificial insemination and surrogacy just because there are thousands of orphans in need of loving parents.”

Debra Skelton Riffs on Puppy Mills

2010-02-05T17:12:00.000-08:00

Puppy Mill Dogs Will No Longer Be sold in West Hollywood

2010-02-05T13:08:00.000-08:00

West Hollywood Passes Historic Ordinance for Puppy Mill Dogs and Cats

2010-02-05T07:54:00.000-08:00

The city of West Hollywood delivered a strong message to abusive pet factory operators

by voting to ban the sale of dogs and cats in W. Hollywood with exemptions for animals

from the municipal shelter system or from rescue organizations.

Watch the historic vote here:

Blast from Bel Air on Puppy Mills

2010-02-04T14:16:00.000-08:00

http://www.cbs2.com/video/?id=68865@kcbs.dayport.com

West Hollywood Passes Historic Animal Protection Ordinance

2010-02-03T10:13:00.001-08:00

West Hollywood passed an ordinance that prohibits the sale of cats and dogs (with exemptions) in pet stores. See NBC News Story:

View more news videos at: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/video.

This just in: West Hollywood may ban the sale of dogs and cats

2010-01-28T16:58:00.000-08:00

West Hollywood Considering Banning Sale of Dogs and Cats in Pet Shops

Thursday, January 28, 2010 – By WeHo News Staff, West Hollywood

West Hollywood, California (January 28, 2010) - This just in: West Hollywood may ban the sale of dogs and cats next week.

A proposed West Hollywood ordinance may slow the sale of puppy mill animals. WeHo News.

City Council member Jeffrey Prang made the first announcement yesterday, a brief mention in the prospective City Council agenda for Feb. 1; Carole Davis of Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) confirmed for WeHo News late on Thursday that the item would be on the agenda.

Ms. Davis said, “CAPS assisted the Animal Legal Defense Fund and the City of West Hollywood in drafting the ordinance, as well as providing evidence,” sufficient to cause City Council to act.

Resident Ed Buck, Director of Social Compassion in Legislation and a Golden Retriever rescue volunteer, said of the proposed bill, “could be the beginning of the end of puppy mills and it's happening in West Hollywood, one of the most progressive cities on animal welfare issues."

The ordinance stems from an investigation of a West Hollywood pet store, Elite Animals near Hancock and Santa Monica Boulevard, which uncovered evidence they allegedly sold puppy mill dogs.

|| CLICK FOR MORE || CLICK FOR MORE || CLICK FOR MORE || CLICK FOR MORE || CLICK ||

WeHo News.

Additionally, the retailer was also allegedly breaking federal law by importing animals for resale.

Elite Animals has since stopped its offending business practices, but Ms. Davis and other concerned citizens wanted to make a statement about animal rights using West Hollywood’s considerable megaphone.

West Hollywood’s pioneering bill banning cat de-clawing caught on like wildfire, especially last year as cities’ ability to ban the practice hit a deadline of banning it by 2010 or allowing it forevermore.

Ms. Davis said, "West Hollywood's City Council has shown great leadership, wise judgment and compassion,” in taking that action and, “by considering an ordinance banning the sale of cats and dogs in our city's pet stores [may]… save countless shelter animals' lives locally and will send a strong message to abusive commercial breeders all over the nation."

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West Hollywood Proposes Ban on Sale of Cats and Dogs, Rescue Community Cheers

2010-01-28T13:08:00.000-08:00

Jan 29, 2010 11:00 ET

CAPS Announces West Hollywood City Council Considering Ordinance Banning Sale of Dogs and Cats in Pet Shops

Watch CAPS undercover investigation of West Hollywood pet shop:

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - January 29, 2010) -

Who: Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS), www.caps-web.org, is the only national non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to protecting companion animals from cruelty in pet shops and puppy mills.

What: Following a CAPS undercover investigation of West Hollywood pet stores and a five and a half month protest of West Hollywood pet store Elite Animals, W. Hollywood City Council will be considering an ordinance that will prohibit the sale of dogs and cats in pet shops, with an exemption for the adoptions of shelter and rescue animals.

When: 6:30pm, on Monday Feb.1st

Where: 647 N. San Vicente in West Hollywood, CA, 90069

CAPS investigated Elite Animals and discovered that the store was selling puppy mill dogs and defrauding customers. CAPS obtained undercover footage of employees of the store telling CAPS investigators that their dogs were from "good, private breeders." Elite Animals was also selling dogs from commercial breeding operations in Russia, outside the jurisdiction of the Animal Welfare Act. The W. Hollywood pet store was in violation of a federal law prohibiting the import of dogs under the age of six months for resale (Farm Bill of 2008).

CAPS investigators also obtained graphic footage of abused dogs from Elite Animals' suppliers, Gerry and Angie Wensmann, who operate a substandard breeding facility in Minnesota. The puppy mill supplying Elite Animals in WEHO and other retailers around the nation has multiple violations reported by inspectors for the USDA. The dogs are exposed to the elements, caged in harsh and filthy conditions, are injured, sick, and show signs of severe psychological distress.

CAPS assisted the Animal Legal Defense Fund and the City of West Hollywood in drafting the ordinance as well as providing evidence.

"West Hollywood's City Council has shown great leadership, wise judgment and compassion by considering an ordinance banning the sale of cats and dogs in our city's pet stores. During this historic recession afflicting our state, we must relieve our overburdened shelters by promoting adoption as the only ethical choice when bringing a companion animal into our hearts and homes. This ordinance, if it passes, will save countless shelter animals' lives locally and will send a strong message to abusive commercial breeders all over the nation." --Carole Davis, W. Coast Director, CAPS

"This could be the beginning of the end of puppy mills and it's happening in W. Hollywood, one of the most progressive cities on animal welfare issues." --Ed Buck, Social Compassion in Legislation Director and West Hollywood resident

About CAPS : Founded by President Deborah Howard in 1992, Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) is the only national nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to protecting companion animals from cruelty in pet shops and puppy mills. CAPS actively addresses the abuse and suffering of pet shop and puppy mill dogs through investigations, education, media relations, legislative involvement, puppy mill dog rescues, consumer assistance and pet industry employee relations.

CAPS undercover investigation of West Hollywood Pet Store:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flDK74ZkURk

CAPS protest at Elite Protest of Elite Animals in West Hollywood:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BpleOas2go

KTLA news story on West Hollywood anti puppy mill protest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVzYK0jglGw

West Hollywood children protesting puppy mills:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IuyzCWHfo4

Media Contacts:
Carole Raphaelle Davis
West Coast Director of CAPS
310-990-5758
Email Contact

Deborah Howard
President, Founder of CAPS
781-210-0938
Email Contact

Companion Animal Protection Society Announces West hollywood City Council Considering Ban on Sale of Cats and Dogs

2010-01-28T08:35:00.000-08:00

CAPS Announces West Hollywood City Council Considering Ordinance Banning Sale of Dogs and Cats in Pet Shops

Watch CAPS investigation of West hollywood Pet Shop Elite Animals

Who: Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS), www.caps-web.org,
is the only national non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to protecting companion animals from cruelty in pet shops and puppy mills.

What: Following a CAPS undercover investigation of West Hollywood pet stores and a five and a half month protest of West Hollywood pet store Elite Animals, W. Hollywood City Council will be considering an ordinance that will prohibit the sale of dogs and cats in pet shops, with an exemption for the adoptions of shelter and rescue animals.

When: 6:30pm, on Monday Feb.1st

Where: 647 N. San Vicente in West Hollywood, CA, 90069

CAPS investigated Elite Animals and discovered that the store was selling puppy mill dogs and defrauding customers. CAPS obtained undercover footage of employees of the store telling CAPS investigators that their dogs were from “good, private breeders.” Elite Animals was also selling dogs from commercial breeding operations in Russia, outside the jurisdiction of the Animal Welfare Act. The W. Hollywood pet store was in violation of a federal law prohibiting the import of dogs under the age of six months for resale (Farm Bill of 2008).

CAPS investigators also obtained graphic footage of abused dogs from Elite Animals’ suppliers, Gerry and Angie Wensmann, who operate a substandard breeding facility in Minnesota. The puppy mill supplying Elite Animals in WEHO and other retailers around the nation has multiple violations reported by inspectors for the USDA. The dogs are exposed to the elements, caged in harsh and filthy conditions, are injured, sick, and show signs of severe psychological distress.

CAPS assisted the Animal Legal Defense Fund and the City of West Hollywood in drafting the ordinance as well as providing evidence.

“West Hollywood’s City Council has shown great leadership, wise judgment and compassion by considering an ordinance banning the sale of cats and dogs in our city’s pet stores. During this historic recession afflicting our state, we must relieve our overburdened shelters by promoting adoption as the only ethical choice when bringing a companion animal into our hearts and homes. This ordinance, if it passes, will save countless shelter animals’ lives locally and will send a strong message to abusive commercial breeders all over the nation.” ---Carole Davis, W. Coast Director, CAPS

“This could be the beginning of the end of puppy mills and it’s happening in W. Hollywood, one of the most progressive cities on animal welfare issues.” ---Ed Buck, Social Compassion in Legislation Director and West Hollywood resident

Media Contacts: Carole Raphaelle Davis, West Coast Director of CAPS,
310-990- 5758 hollywoodjinky@gmail.com
Deborah Howard, President, Founder of CAPS: 781-210-0938, caps@caps-web.org
About CAPS : Founded by President Deborah Howard in 1992, Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) is the only national nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to protecting companion animals from cruelty in pet shops and puppy mills. CAPS actively addresses the abuse and suffering of pet shop and puppy mill dogs through investigations, education, media relations, legislative involvement, puppy mill dog rescues, consumer assistance and pet industry employee relations.
CAPS undercover investigation of West Hollywood Pet Store: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flDK74ZkURk

CAPS protest at Elite Protest of Elite Animals in West Hollywood:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BpleOas2go

KTLA news story on West Hollywood anti puppy mill protest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVzYK0jglGw

West Hollywood children protesting puppy mills:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IuyzCWHfo4

Barkworks Pet Store that Sells Puppy Mill dogs Gets F Business Rating

2009-12-29T17:13:00.000-08:00


BBB Reliability Report for
Barkworks

Rating Explanation

Company Rating F

Company Rating F
Our opinion of what this rating means:
We strongly question the company’s reliability for reasons such as that they have failed to respond to complaints, their advertising is grossly misleading, they are not in compliance with the law’s licensing or registration requirements, their complaints contain especially serious allegations, or the company’s industry is known for its fraudulent business practices.

Barkworks Westside Pavilion Sells Dying Dog. Dog Died on Christmas Eve

2009-12-24T13:00:00.000-08:00

There will be no Christmas joy for a nine-week old dog, a mixed Yorkie dog who died this morning at a Malibu veterinary hospital after clinging to life since last Thursday. Barkworks, a pet store in Los Angeles, sold the fatally ill dog last Thursday to a woman who claimed she bought the dog in order to bring it to a hospital because she believed the dog was dying. Barkworks has been investigated by The Companion Animal Protection Society, which organized staged a silent vigil for puppy mill dogs in front of the store on Saturday, December 19th.

CAPS, a national organization that investigates puppy mills, has an ongoing investigation of Barkworks. Evidence from the United States Department of Agriculture reveals that the Midwest commercial breeders supplying the store in the Westside Pavilion are violating the Animal Welfare Act. The USDA inspection reports are shocking, bringing to light the fact that breeding dogs are living in wire cages, exposed to the elements, covered in feces and some of them are even housed in chicken cages, outside in below freezing temperatures with no bedding.

Barkworks Pet Store sells puppies from puppy mills with USDA violations

2009-12-17T13:34:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Companion Animal Protection Society Plans Landmark Anti Puppy Mill Awareness Drive.

WHO: Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS), www.caps-web.org

CAPS is the only national non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to investigating and protecting companion animals from cruelty in pet shops and puppy mills.

WHAT: CAPS is conducting a pro-adoption/anti puppy mill awareness boycott of Barkworks, a pet store chain that sells dogs from large, commercial breeding facilities, puppy mills, in the Midwest. This is a landmark demonstration for the California animal protection movement because pet stores that sell puppy mill dogs inside shopping malls, have, until now, been immune to the increasing public outcry over the puppy mill issue. Protests have been obstructed by the Mall, which has placed unreasonable limits on constitutionally protected free speech, claiming that the mall is private property. This peaceful demonstration will open the doors of every mall in the state of California to animal welfare activists who will bravely uphold CA Supreme Court Law.

Local activists will be gathering in front of Barkworks in silence to grieve for the millions of companion animals who died this year in our nation’s shelters because there are not enough homes for them. Animal welfare activists are asking shoppers to be mindful that over 60% of pets are bought during the weeks leading to Christmas and that the true spirit of Christmas is in giving—as in giving a homeless pet a loving home. During this severe economic downturn, we are asking people to help our community by adopting a companion animal from our local shelters.

WHEN: Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 2:30 PM

WHERE: BARKWORKS 10800 West Pico BLVD #391 in the West Side Pavilion

WHY: Barkworks sells dogs from puppy mills - commercial breeding facilities that mass-produce puppies for resale through pet shops and brokers. USDA licensed facilities are puppy mills.  

“Saturday is a history-making day for the animal protection movement. Pet stores are routinely defrauding customers by telling them, like Barkworks has told our under-cover operatives, that the dogs sold in the store are “family raised in homes” and “only bred a few times.” The public is becoming increasingly aware of the cruelty of the pet industry and consumers are outraged that puppy mills are still legal. The parents of the dogs sold in these stores are kept 24/7 in cages, raised like livestock and bred like machine parts until they die. The public wants action and the stores selling the offspring of this cruel business, after Saturday, will no longer be able to hide inside the malls. This is the beginning of the end for them. Consumers want a cruelty-free pet, just like they want cruelty-free products and greener cars.” --- Carole Raphaelle Davis, West coast Director of CAPS, author of “The Diary of Jinky, Dog of a Hollywood Wife and investigative reporter for American dog Magazine

Santa Monica Declared a Puppy Mill Free Zone by Companion Animal Protection Society

2009-11-11T14:27:00.000-08:00

COMPANION ANIMAL PROTECTION SOCIETY PROTESTS RESPONSIBLE FOR AQUARIUM & PET CENTER DECISION TO GO HUMANE

Animal Advocates Alliance Negotiated Pet Store Decision

LOS ANGELES--November 11, 2009--The Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) and Animal Advocates Alliance (AAA) are proud to announce that Aquarium & Pet Center in Santa Monica, California, is converting to a humane business model. The pet store, which has been in business for over 20 years, has decided to no longer sell dogs from inhumane commercial breeding facilities, also known as puppy mills. The Aquarium & Pet Center, owned by Mr. Scott Lee, will now work with rescue organizations to promote adoptable animals from the Los Angeles municipal shelter system.

The Aquarium & Pet Center had been the target of an ongoing investigation linking the store to the Hunte Corporation, a notorious puppy mill broker in the Midwest. In addition to dogs supplied from inhumane breeding factories in the Midwest, some of the pups sold in the store were found to be from an overcrowded and substandard commercial breeding operation just outside of Los Angeles. This is the fourth store in Los Angeles to succumb to investigations and protests by The Companion Animal Protection Society in the past four months. The other stores no longer selling puppy mill dogs include Elaine’s Pet Depot, Elite Animals and Pets of Wilshire.

“We congratulate Mr. Lee, his family and his staff on their wise and compassionate decision to become a humane pet store,” said Carole Raphaelle Davis, West Coast Director of The Companion Animal Protection Society. “Consumer taste is evolving and retailers need to pay attention in this economy. Shoppers want a greener car, cage free eggs and non-polluting household products. They don't want a puppy mill pet. They want a pet that is cruelty-free. Mr. Lee's decision is an enormous victory for the animal protection movement and in the longer term, for dogs and cats suffering in inhumane breeding operations around the nation. The decision also has far reaching benefits for pets in the Los Angeles shelter system, as they will now have an additional place to be seen and adopted in up-scale Santa Monica. Now, instead of selling intact animals from factories, the store will be a happy place to shop and adopt, breaking the cycle of misery in the puppy and kitty pipe line from factory to shelter to euthanasia. We encourage consumers to shop at Aquarium & Pet Center now that they have gone humane.”

Mr. Lee is proud of his achievement. “As I get closer to retirement,” said Mr. Lee, “I would like to make the right choice to help homeless pets and educate and support the community in the process. This is a proud decision for me and my family.”

Phillip Gharabegian, of the Animal Advocates Alliance was also instrumental in negotiating the agreement. “Animal Advocates Alliance is pleased that Mr. Lee has committed to a humane business model,” said Mr. Gharabegian. “They have chosen to set a positive example for other retail pet stores. Mr. Lee has now become a part of the solution rather than supporting irresponsible breeders who profit from the dreadful suffering of animals.”

As a result of the agreement, the protests of the store will be called off. The dogs that are currently in the store will be put up for adoption at a celebration event at noon, on Saturday, November 14^th.

CAPS had organized three weekend protests in front of the store. On October 10^th, the protest was interrupted by violence, when dozens of animal rights activists were shot at by an unknown assailant with a high powered air rifle, spraying them with two millimeter brass slugs. Two of the protesters were slightly injured. The police investigation into the shooting is ongoing and there is a $5000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the shooter.

Groups who participated in the protests and humane conversion:

Two Hands Four Paws, Stray Cat Alliance, Social Compassion in Legislation, In Defense of Animals, Strangest Angels Rescue, Kris Kelly Foundation, Much Love Animal Rescue, HSUS, Animal Advocates Alliance, and others. If you participated in the event and are not mentioned here, please leave a comment and you will be added immediately.

Footage of protest:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcOxLBv2HEQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vZeYrlBLv0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cplTokQb-Bc

KTLA news story:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46El_8jhOjo

About CAPS

Founded by President Deborah Howard in 1992, Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) is the only national nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to protecting companion animals from cruelty in pet shops and puppy mills. CAPS actively addresses the abuse and suffering of pet shop and puppy mill dogs through investigations, education, media relations, legislative involvement, puppy mill dog rescues, consumer assistance and pet industry employee relations.

Animal Advocates Alliance is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the humane treatment of animals through legal advocacy, effecting social change through community education initiatives and supporting animal rescue organizations.

# # #

Aquarium & Pet Center Signs Agreement to Convert to Humane Business Model

2009-10-30T16:50:00.001-07:00

Aquarium & Pet Center has made a commitment to enter into an agreement with The Animal Advocates Alliance and the Companion Animal Protection Society to convert to a humane business model. The details must still be worked out but Scott Lee, the owner of the pet store, has agreed to only work with rescues.

Mr. Lee's wise and compassionate decision is an enormous victory for the animal protection movement and in the longer term, for dogs and cats suffering in inhumane breeding operations around the nation. The decision also has far reaching benefits for pets in our the Los Angeles shelter system as they will now have an additional place to be seen and adopted in up-scale Santa Monica.

As a result of the agreement, the protest scheduled for Saturday, October 31st, is being called off. There will be no protest and instead, preparations for a joyous news conference that includes Mr. Lee and members of CAPS, Animal Advocates Alliance, HSUS, Stray Cat Alliance, The Kris Kelly Foundation, Strangest Angels Rescue, In Defense of Animals, Southern California Golden Retriever Rescue, Much Love animal Rescue, Social Compassion in Legislation and Animal Acres.

The dogs who are currently in the store will be put up for adoption.

We thank and congratulate Mr. Lee and his family and we owe gratitude to the dozens of activists who made this humane transition possible. Now, instead of selling intact animals from factories, the store will be a happy place to shop and adopt, breaking the cycle of misery in the puppy and kitty pipe line from factory to shelter to euthanasia.

The activists who persevered during this campaign deserve the highest praise for standing up for voiceless animals who suffer endlessly in wire cages far away.

This victory is for them. Bravo to all of you and stay tuned for celebration details coming soon.

Carole Davis

Shooter targets animal rights protesters at Aquarium & Pet Center in Santa Monica

2009-10-26T12:32:00.001-07:00

Carole Raphaelle Davis of CAPS after the shooting at Aquarium & Pet Center

Animal Welfare Protesters Shot at Santa Monica Pet Shop
News Type: Event — Wed Oct 21, 2009 7:26 PM PDT

Anti-puppy mill protesters were shot at with an air rifle at Aquarium & Pet Center in Santa Monica on Saturday, October 10th. The Santa Monica Police are treating this case as an assault with a deadly weapon, a felony.
"BB guns can be extremely dangerous and can kill if the bullets hit a vital area of the body" said Santa Monica Police Sergent Lewis.

There is a $5000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the shooter.
Approximately thirty-five activists were holding a peaceful anti-puppy mill demonstration when violence erupted. Three animal welfare advocates were hit, including West Hollywood community organizer Ed Buck and animal welfare advocate Elizabeth Johanson. There were minor injuries. Police arrived on the scene within minutes and retrieved several two millimeter brass bullets on the sidewalk where the protesters were shot.

This group of activists, who are members of several large animal welfare organizations, have been protesting stores in Los Angeles for two years. The Aquarium & Pet Center is supplied by commercial breeding facilities in the Midwest and also uses a local breeder in Southern California that houses its dogs in substandard conditions.
Dogs in commercial breeding operations are sometimes called puppy mills, or puppy farms. Though they are often licensed by the USDA, they are considered inhumane by the animal protection movement. The minimum standards of care for USDA licensed facilities typically allow only enough room for a dog to stand up and turn around. The dogs are kept in cages for their entire breeding lives and are often exposed to the elements. Most dogs suffering in commercial breeding operations do not get veterinary care or socialization. They are often sick, injured, diseased and have malformations.

The violence at Aquarium & Pet Center occurred during a highly charged atmosphere in the state of California. Last week, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed The Responsible Breeder Act (AB 241), a bill designed to limit the number of dogs in commercial breeding facilities to fifty. The pet breeding industry lobbied against it, claiming that a limit on an arbitrary number of dogs did not address animal cruelty issues.

Animal protection advocates were disappointed in the Governor's veto, claiming that limiting the number of dogs in inhumane breeding factories would limit the number of dogs abused. The bill would have also allowed for inspections and better transparency for commercial breeders who typically mistreat their "breeding stock" and routinely under-report the number of dogs they are using. Many breeders sell directly to the public using Websites and under-report their earnings to the Internal Revenue Service.

After the shooting at Aquarium & Pet Center, an employee of the store was seen laughing at the animal welfare activists.
On Monday, a volunteer in Pennsylvania called the store, posing as a buyer and asked the owner what he planned to do about the protesters, to which he replied, "I'll shoot them all."

The verbal threat was immediately reported to the police, who have added this information to the investigation. Mr. Lee, the owner of Aquarium & Pet Center, was visited by police detectives on Thursday. He denied making the threats. He also denied having anything to do with the shooting.

Activists Ed Buck, Elizabeth Johanson and Catherine Eure

"We will not be intimidated by violence nor by threats of further violence," said Carole Sax, volunteer coordinator for the Companion Animal Protection Society. "We will stand firm for these animals who have no voice but ours. This despicable behavior will only strengthen our resolve to end puppy mills period, " Ms. Sax continued.

"When the animal abusers realize that they have lost the debate, they turn to their guns," said activist Ed buck, who was hit in the groin with a brass slug. "There is nothing more powerful than people standing in the face of danger to speak the truth. Bullets will never silence the truth."

"Any danger we face is obscene as we are participating in an anti slavery movement," said Elizabeth Johanson, one of the activists shot on Saturday. "The torment that these thousands of animals withstand in these concentration camp settings is very real and is life long. I'm out there because I would not want to live like that."

"This is un-American, " said Carole Raphaelle Davis, the West Coast Director of the Companion Animal Protection Society. "We were boycotting a known puppy mill dealer and they decided to use violence against us for speaking the truth. We have a right to speak out against the cruel practices of the pet trade industry. It's called the first amendment. The public, which is routinely defrauded by pet stores, deserves to know what's really going on so that they can make better choices when bringing a companion animal into their lives. When consumers learn the ugly truth behind the pretty storefront, they run the other way."

"Furthermore," said Ms. Davis, "we ask that consumers give the $1000 or more that they would have spent on buying an animal in a pet store and give that money to a family in need. We are experiencing the worst economic crisis of our time and there are families who need to put food on the table. Give the money to the truly needy instead and save an animal's life at your local shelter. There are five million pets killed in our nation's shelter system every year because there are not enough homes for them. This costs taxpayers $2 billion per year to house and euthanize all these unwanted animals. It makes sense, fiscally and morally, to adopt from a shelter. And for breed snobs, 25% of the dogs in the shelter system are purebred, adoptable dogs. "

Since the shooting, an anti-animal welfare email circulated on a breeder meet-up Internet group. The e-mail states that the animal welfare advocates protesting Aqaurium & Pet Center might have staged the shooting in order to gain publicity. There is no evidence to support that and the investigation is on-going.

Part of the e-mail is posted below:

"They whine like little babies about BBs being shot at them. I think it's funny. Shooting BBs at them isn't an attack. It's a little bit dangerous and someone can lose an eye, but it's ridicule. The tiniest little thing gets thrown their way and they need clean pants.I've been over the reasons before why we're being beaten by a bunch of pants-wetters."

"I hope the police find the shooters so they can speak for themselves on their motivation," said Judie Mancuso, President of Social compassion in Legislation. "In a nutshell, I think the pet trade is fearful of the animal welfare community as we expose the way they treat their animals and the underground economy that goes along with the underground breeding. Once exposed the general public is on our side."

The protesters are planning to return this weekend to educate shoppers about puppy mills.

Boycott Aquarium & Pet Center! They sell misery and cruelty

2009-10-25T20:33:00.001-07:00

Animal Welfare Protesters Shot by BB guns at Aquarium and Pet Center in Santa Monica

2009-10-24T23:13:00.000-07:00

Open letter from Activist Carole Sax about the importance of protesting pet stores

2009-10-22T12:11:00.000-07:00

OPEN LETTER TO RESCUE PEOPLE

I get over 200 e-mails a day from various rescue people with dogs & cats who need rescue. All you people that network these dogs & cats, JOIN US to protest these puppy stores! You have to know it's the only way to educate & inform the public where these puppies come from and about the pet-overpopulation problem we have in this country.

The shelters, as you know, are killing animals by the hundreds daily. So bring your adoptables to the protest, bring literature because when we have a huge crowd, people listen & look. The store owners get nervous, which is a good thing. Let them know they are committing fraud to the consumers when they say they hand pick their breeders. It's a lie and they know it. None of them have ever even been to see the breeders they use and when they say we use local breeders, WHAT A LAUGH!

California is getting to be the worse puppy mill state in the country and the local mills aren't even inspected.

Send out an alert to your e-mail lists and let's make these stores go humane. It works with numbers and a committment of only 2 hours a week is not much to ask for the voiceless. Encourage people to adopt, not buy, and maybe, in our lifetime, we can see an end to these countless e-mails and the killing of beautiful adoptable pets.

We will be at Aquarium & Pet Center, 826 Wilshire Blvd. 8th & Wilshire SANTA MONICA, bring friends, dogs, kids, flyers, we have signs or make your own, let's make some noise.

Thanks

Carole Sax

Animal Welfare Groups Protest Aquarium & Pet Center in Santa Monica for selling puppy mill dogs

2009-10-16T18:55:00.000-07:00

Anti-puppy mill protesters were shot at with an air rifle at Aquarium & Pet Center in Santa Monica on Saturday, October 10th. The Santa Monica Police are treating this case as an assualt with a deadly weapon, a felony. BB guns can be extremely dangerous and can kill if the bullets hit a vital area of the body.

There is a $5000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the shooter.

See full story in WEHO NEWS here.

Approximately thirty-five activists were holding a peaceful anti-puppy mill demonstration when violence erupted. Three animal welfare advocates were hit, including West Hollywood community organizer Ed Buck. There were minor injuries. Police arrived on the scene within minutes and retrieved several two millimeter brass bullets on the sidewalk where the protesters were shot.

This group of activists, who are members of several large animal welfare organizations, have been protesting stores in Los Angeles for two years. The Aquarium & Pet Center is supplied by commercial breeding facilities in the Midwest and also uses a local breeder in Southern California that houses its dogs in substandard conditions.

Dogs in commercial breeding operations are sometimes called puppy mills, or puppy farms. Though they are often licensed by the USDA, they are considered inhumane by the animal protection movement. The minimum standards of care for USDA licensed facilities typically allow only enough room for a dog to stand up and turn around. The dogs are kept in cages for their entire breeding lives and are often exposed to the elements. Most dogs suffering in commercial breeding operations do not get veterinary care or socialization. They are often sick, injured, diseased and have malformations.

After the shooting, an employee of the store was seen laughing at the animal welfare activists.

On Monday, a volunteer in Pennsylvania called the store, posing as a buyer and asked the owner what he planned to do about the protesters, to which he replied, "I'll shoot them all."

The verbal threat was immediately reported to the police, who have added this information to the investigation. Mr. Lee, the owner of Aquarium & Pet Center, was visited by police detectives on Thursday. He denied making the threats. He also denied having anything to do with the shooting.

"This is un-American, " said Carole Raphaelle Davis, the West Coast Director of the Companion Animal Protection Society. "We were boycotting a known puppy mill dealer and they decided to use violence against us for speaking the truth. We have a right to speak out against the cruel practices of the pet trade industry. It's called the first amendment. The public, which is routinely defrauded by pet stores, deserves to know what's really going on so that they can make better choices when bringing a companion animal into their lives. It is very un-American to resort to violence against an idea. We live in a democracy and if consumers knew the ugly truth behind the pretty storefront, they would run the other way."

"Furthermore," said Ms. Davis, "we ask that consumers give the $1000 or more that they would have spent on buying an animal in a pet store and give that money to a family in need. We are experiencing the worst economic crisis of our time and there are families who need to put food on the table. Give the money to the truly needy instead and save an animal's life at your local shelter. This is a new era of social responsibility and this is not a time to buy into cruelty. This is a time to roll up our sleeves to help the community by relieving our municipal shelters. There are five million pets killed in our nation's shelter system every year because there are not enough homes for them. This costs taxpayers $2 billion per year to house and euthanize all these unwanted animals. It makes sense, fiscally and morally, to adopt from a shelter. And for breed snobs, 25% of the dogs in the shelter system are purebred, adoptable dogs. "

Since the shooting, an anti-animal welfare email circulated on a breeder meet-up Internet group. The e-mail states that the animal welfare advocates protesting Aqaurium & Pet Center might have staged the shooting in order to gain publicity. There is no evidence to support that and the investigation is on-going.

The email is copied below:

"I hope that no one on our side "deplores" this episode. Sympathy is wasted on people who hate humanity so badly that their basis for their "animal welfare" and "animal protection" ideas is entirely in their hatred of humanity. They pass around pamphlets instructing people how to firebomb cars, and one of their trainers in the art of firebombing cars, houses, and laboratories works high in the HSUS. Then they whine like little babies about BBs being shot at them. I think it's funny. Shooting BBs at them isn't an attack. It's a little bit dangerous and someone can lose an eye, but it's ridicule. The tiniest little thing gets thrown their way and they need clean pants.I've been over the reasons before why we're being beaten by a bunch of pants-wetters. Most of us help them by being sympathetic to what they pretend is their cause, as if they have good hearts. Ask Edyth London or Brian Cass or anyone else who has suffered at their hands. We have to have a philosophy to stand on to be able to take away their toys. We should be able to take the whole mess away from these pansies. People have before. From now on let's call the Green party what it is. It is the "Screw Humanity Because We Hate Ourselves and Everyone Else" party."

"I hope the police find the shooters so they can speak for themselves on their motivation," said Judie Mancuso, President of Social compassion in Legislation. "In a nutshell, I think the pet trade is fearful of the animal welfare community as we expose the way they treat their animals and the underground economy that goes along with the underground breeding. Once exposed the general public is on our side."

See the immediate aftermath of the shooting incident below:

See full story in Santa Monica Daily Press here

See KTLA's coverage of the story below:

Elite Animals Resorts to Sorcery to Repel Animal Rights Activists

2009-07-12T13:46:00.000-07:00

Elite Animals, a pet store in West Hollywood, California, has endured nine consecutive weeks of protests by animal welfare activists. Neither side is budging but Elite Animals is showing signs of battle weariness.

The Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS ) conducted an investigation of Elite Animals' breeders which revealed footage and still photos of breeding dogs suffering in inhumane conditions. The dogs in the mill that supply Elite Animals are exposed to the elements, living in rusted wire cages and many of them are sick and injured. CAPS also has evidence of USDA inspection reports of repeated violations by several of Elite's suppliers in the Midwest.

In addition to selling dogs from puppy mills, Elite Animals also sells puppies under the age of six months from Russia. Importing puppies under the age of six months old for resale from overseas is a violation of the federal Farm Bill passed in 2008.

Animal advocates hope the protests will push the store to convert to a humane business model and that Elite Animals will begin to work with reputable rescue organizations, making their profits from supplies and services, not from selling animals raised in factory-like conditions. Elite Animals' owners did make a visit to the Amanda Foundation in Beverly Hills several weeks ago but no formal agreement with that rescue organization or any other has been announced.

Because the siege by protesters has deterred so many potential customers, two puppies, a Moscow Terrier and a Maltese have not found buyers and are outgrowing their cages inside the store. Activists are concerned that this long period of confinement in small glass enclosures with no socialization is detrimental to a dog's well being. To our knowledge, these dogs have never been taken out for a walk. Representatives from several local rescue organizations have offered to take the dogs and find them adoptive homes but they have been rebuffed.

These two dogs are considered "easy placements" by rescue organizations. Loving and stable homes could be found within days if Elite Animals would agree to transfer ownership to a rescue organization. An ownership surrender document accompanied by an agreement to cease and desist from acquiring animals from commercial breeders would also move the negotiations forward and, most likely, would halt the protesting of the store.

Last week, Elite Animals closed for five consecutive days with the two dogs inside the store, alarming animal welfare advocates. The City of West Hollywood and animal services intervened, calling the owners and imposing an emergency inspection. The dogs had food and water and the store was not cited for violations at that time.

There is nothing illegal about the store leaving a dog in a cage for 24 hours a day, as long as he has food and water. Animal welfare advocates believe that though this treatment is not illegal, it is inhumane.

On July 11, week nine of the protest siege, a bizarre and culturally intriguing scene unfolded.

Outside, animal rights protesters chanted, "Elite! Elite! The meanest on the street!" Inside, the owners of the store, who are middle-aged Russian women, were visibly unsettled. They seemed highly agitated. One of them brought a heavy, crystal ball, the size of a bowling ball, from the back of the store and perched it ceremoniously on an ornate gold pedestal at their front desk.

Her face hidden behind long black hair, she placed a ghoulish-looking figurine next to the crystal ball. It looked like a scene from the movie "Rosemary's Baby." The figurine she was posing in front of the crystal ball looked demonic, with a long, black cloak--it looked like a child's evil action figure or a cult object used for black magic. Then, oddly, the woman with the long dark hair walked briskly to the back of the store and returned with a fistful of loose, ten-inch long black bird feathers. She then hovered over the crystal ball, muttering--possibly some kind of incantation, while she waved the black feathers back and forth over the satanic figurine.

"They're actually putting a spell on us!" yelled one of the activists. "Quick! Spit three times!" said activist Kimmy-Sue, laughing. "I'm half gypsy," said Elizabeth, another protester.

This group of activists is highly experienced, having converted or shut down a large number of puppy mill fronts in the last two years. They have endured a barrage of insults and and have stood their ground against physical intimidation and harassment from store owners in the past. Sorcery is an unfamiliar form of bullying by dog dealers.

If Elite's magical spells are effective, maybe they can teach us how to wave those magic black feathers over our local shelters so that an actual miracle can occur--a loving home for every homeless pet dying at the pound.

For animal activists, questions remain unanswered.

1. When will the store realize it has no alternative but to go humane?

2. When will they release the dogs suffering in their cages to a rescue organization?

3. When will they admit the truth that they have been lying to consumers about the fact that they are supplied by puppy mills?

4. Where did they get those large black feathers? Did the birds just GIVE them the feathers?

Given where their dogs come from, the worst mills in the Midwest, it's doubtful they acquired their special incantation feathers humanely.

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