It’s been a little while since I’ve pontificated on The Tragedy at the Mall. Well, I have a couple of updates for you about issues related to this monstrosity in our midst.
You may have read in the news about the Wisconsin Humane Society buying out and shutting down a well-known puppy mill to rescue its animals. That puppy mill was responsible for supplying many of the animals sold at TTATM, as proven by the Champaign County Humane Society. My original post on this topic even drew the attention of someone claiming to work there, and it was his propaganda that prompted me to close comments on a post for the first time in lbotp history.
And in other news, a lbotp reader let me know that her efforts helped stop a vendor from selling its products at TTATM. After overhearing a friend talking about purchasing a Planet Dog product there, this reader notified the company about the true nature of its Champaign outlet — well aware of its pro-rescue/adoption stance — and the company subsequently responded by blocking sales to TTATM.
The bad news is that TTATM still exists, and will find other vendors and other puppy mills willing to deal. But for now, we can revel in the small victories and keep hoping that with vigilance and education, someday this insanity will come to an end.
16 responses so far ↓
Jenna Z // July 21, 2008 at 3:46 pm |
Wow, that’s awesome to hear about Planet Dog pulling their products! I will definitely be shopping their website!
wayward // July 21, 2008 at 6:08 pm |
That is good to hear about Dog Planet. FWIW, I bought a puppy in September 2007 from a reputable breeder. There were some major differences.
I asked for the name of one of the breeders that sold puppies to TTATM, and the salesclerk gave me the name “Christy Nippe.” I did some Googling and found this at http://www.ecihen.net/memberbusinesses.htm
“Little Nippers – We breed Yorkies, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Shih Tzus, Papillons and Chinese Cresteds. We offer a health guarantee, shots, AKC registered, breed information pack and food. My daughter and I also show some of our dogs at AKC events. Contact Christy Nippe …”
That’s five breeds, and reputable breeders usually have one or sometimes two. But there’s more. Here’s an ad for some puppies:
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yorkies-sale-wanted/11987-illinois-yorkies.html
From the ad: “Price: Females $700 and Male $600″
Hmmm… the females are priced higher than the males. Females can have puppies, but reputable breeders often use limited registration, spay-neuter contracts, and co-ownership to curb irresponsible breeding. So they’d have little reason to charge more for a bitch puppy.
There’s something else in the ad that’s subtle but telling:
“Parents are our family pets. Parents are Female is 7lbs. and Male is 8lbs.”
If you pull up the AKC breed standard (http://www.akc.org/breeds/yorkshire_terrier/index.cfm) for the Yorkshire Terrier, there’s a Weight requirement that says, ”
Must not exceed seven pounds.” But as the ad says, the parents are “family pets.” Serious breeders look for the best stud for a litter instead of one that lives nearby.
Another big red flag is her willingness to sell puppies to TTATM. Good breeders want to know exactly where their dogs are going. For example, my own contract prohibits me from selling or giving my dog away without the owners permission, and requires me to return the dog if I’m unable to keep her. That means I’m not allowed to relinquish her to the Humane Society. So it’s telling that so many puppies from TTATM have ended up there.
Kris // July 21, 2008 at 7:50 pm |
Thanks for the updates.
Daisy // July 22, 2008 at 6:56 am |
WCIA ran this story last night. You can watch the video of the three of the Lucky Puppy stories by going to http://www.illinoishomepage.net and search on Lucky Puppy.
From the first story on November 20, 2007: “‘We actually sought Wallace out and went and did a home visit with him. And we were very impressed with his puppies,’ says Lucky Puppy owner, Kari Pryor.”
Also from that report: “The humane society is concerned about the warranty people get at Lucky Puppy as well. The old warranty says a customer can return the puppy within 48 hours. It also wouldn’t allow anyone to buy until they thought about it for 24 hours. That language is missing from the new warranty. Pryor says she wasn’t aware of the change, and plans to add the language back to the warranty on Tuesday. ”
The second story on December 2, 2007 was about the Humane Society receiving two more puppies from pet stores.
Last night’s story (July 21, 2008): ” WCIA3 spoke with the “Lucky Puppy” owner, she said she only bought that one puppy from havens. I asked her if she feels duped by the breeder now that he’s closing his business. She said, ‘No comment.’”
What a coincidence that she only bought one puppy from Wallace and that’s the one that was relinquished to the Humane Society.
I wish WCIA had followed up on the warranty as well. On November 20 report quotes Pryor as saying that she was going to add the puppy return policy back to the warranty. I visited “Lucky Puppy” a couple of months ago and there was a very prominent sign on the counter stating that there were NO RETURNS allowed on puppies.
One other point to consider is that the Wisconsin Humane Society bought the puppy mill from Wallace. This may make people think that buying a puppy from a pet store is saving them. The difference is that the Wisconsin Humane Society paid “pennies on the dollar” for the operation. I don’t think they have released the dollar amount paid, but the impression is that it was far below market value. And by buying the operation, they put Haven out of business. If you buy a puppy in a pet store, you are not rescuing him/her. You’re paying the puppy millers to stay in business and perpetuating the suffering of the breeding dogs at the puppy mills.
I hope WCIA continues with this story. The question of the warranty should be investigated. Also, it would only take one person who bought at puppy at TTATM which came from Wallace Havens (Puppy Haven) to come forward with the paperwork to prove that Pryor was not telling the truth – again.
lbotp // July 22, 2008 at 9:19 am |
It wouldn’t be the first time WCIA has run a story after seeing the dots connected on lbotp
.
Havens said he wanted to “retire” and that’s why he sold the operation. Whatever. As of six months ago he or someone in his operation was trolling lbotp asking how to set up a blog.
luckymya$$ // July 22, 2008 at 12:05 pm |
I love the idea of depriving TTATM of wholesalers. Could that strategy be applied to all brands currently carried by the store?
lbotp // July 23, 2008 at 9:33 am |
a$$ — Yes, I think that would be a good strategy. We need a spy to go in there (I won’t step within 15 feet of the place) and get some names. If anyone is willing, I’ll write a letter that we can send out to wholesalers …
Golden // July 23, 2008 at 9:41 am |
Royal Canin is the first that comes to mind. I’ll slip out there this week and pay another visit. But Royal Canin is the pet food that is sold to puppy buyers and is available for sale inside the store.
vj // July 23, 2008 at 1:58 pm |
We wandered by TTATM yesterday and noticed a sign in the window encouranging people to check the humane society for puppies before considering buying from a store- I wish I had read it more thouroughly now that I see your post- it seemed a clear attempt and cleaning up it’s puppy mill image. But I walked on by quickly since I strongly disagree with their very existance! I know they sell Red Dingo products http://www.reddingo.net/
Golden // July 23, 2008 at 2:49 pm |
Quite disingenuous of them to display a sign the day after the story ran here and on WCIA.
Milwaukee Brad // July 23, 2008 at 5:09 pm |
My wife, the vet tells me some really sad stories related to dogs bought from pets stores with preventable disease (parvo!!), unprepared owners, & neglected pets.
Her clinic offers a free check up to new pet owners and it is not uncommon for her to see a puppy and then not see it again until it is near death several years later with no vaccinations or preventative care in between.
These same people tend to complain regarding the cost of care when they just bought a dog for hundreds or thousands of dollars on credit.
I am proud to say that all my animals came from either the humane society or rescues. Actually, I think people seemed more concerned with our parenting skills at the Champaign County Humane Society than at the hopital when we had the twins.
Keep up the good work. Apparently, you can’t take the newsroom out of the girl.
Fred // July 24, 2008 at 12:17 pm |
I contacted Red Dingo and CCed someone at the Humane Society of the United States.
(I am the one that contacted lbotp about Planet Dog)
Lori // July 24, 2008 at 2:11 pm |
Yes, please – more UnLucky Puppy vendors! I’m happy to help writing letters. Very clever of someone to think of this method of “attack.”
melissa // July 25, 2008 at 8:39 am |
I’ll embark (funny, bark is in that word) on a fact-finding mission this weekend and produce a list of products in the store (unless someone is going there sooner and would like to do so).
Katherine // July 25, 2008 at 9:46 pm |
I don’t go to the mall often but when I’m there I must admit I feel a certain satisfaction. While walking by I tend to (rather loudly) discuss the reality of stores like that. The prospective customers tend to scatter when they are publicly implicated in animal abuse.
melissa // August 12, 2008 at 10:12 am |
Here’s some more if anyone wants to write some letters:
Zack and Zoey
PetEdge (East Side Collection and Casual Canine)
RuffRuffandMeow