Los Angeles — A Bel-Air pet boutique that has catered to the likes of Britney Spears and Denise Richards was shut down after the Humane Society accused it of selling dogs from puppy mills.
The city closed Pets of Bel Air for selling pets without a permit, but "this is largely symbolic," said Ed Boks, general manager of L.A. Animal Services, which runs the city's shelters.
"They can buy a permit and reopen," he said.
Puppy mills are operations that mass-breed dogs for sale, often keeping them in bare, wire cages. The practice is not illegal, but many animal welfare groups consider it cruel.
The Humane Society of the United States reviewed the records of 28 breeders in Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma that supplied the pet store, and its undercover investigators determined five were "large-scale breeding facilities - like factories" that house 100 to 300 dogs.
"Our undercover investigators found staffers (at Pets of Bel Air) were knowingly misrepresenting how the dogs were obtained" by telling customers they all came from private breeders, said Wayne Pacelle, the Humane Society's president and chief executive.
The store posted a letter on its Web site Wednesday, saying management was "horrified" by video footage of what appear to be puppy mills. "We would never knowingly buy a dog from a puppy mill; and we are appalled by the possibility that this may have happened," the letter said. "We are investigating all of our sources so that we continue to have the finest and most reputable dogs from the best breeders."
Comments
Julie Jacob 9 years, 10 months ago
Puppy mills are horrible horrible places. The young dogs that come out of the hholes are undersocialized and many times harboring illness and genetic issues. The "breeder dogs" are not any luckier, they get to live their lives in small cages with little interaction.
That holiday animal as a gift will soon be looking for another home. This time of year is NOT the time to get a new family member, and certainly NEVER give animals as presents. If you want to give a present like this, instead get a few of the care items the animal will need with a gift certificate for the other items. And a certificate to assist the receipient in finding just the right pet, AFTER the holiday season is over.
I am a Keeshond rescuer. But I will assist anyone in finding a animal that needs a home or a reputable breeder for any breed or any animal. If you want more information on purebreed rescue, or are searching for that next family member and need assistance email me at jjspigland at sunflower.com with "Rescue Referral Requested" in the subject line.
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