Puppy Sales End with Store Closer (Eastpointe, Mi)

On Friday, July 29, 2011 Paws-N-Claws posted their closer signs. Grand Closing 8/12 – 8/14.

Selling puppies does not save a business; it only brings on bad news.

Our Paws-N-Claws campaign started as one of several Holiday Round-A-Bouts, but turned into a 6-month boycott with strong local support. We held 36 protests from November 2010 - May 2011. From blizzards to gale force winds- we were out there! With multiple fume blowing snow blowers and lawn mowers - we were out there! Fowl smells, intimidation photos and frivolous police calls could not stop us.

I want to give a virtual pat the back to those who kept coming out with fierce determination and passion: Olivia, Pam W, Paula, Janet, Sharon, Akshay, Shannon, Christine, Cathy and many others who joined when they could.

Here are some of my personal campaign highlights:

• We collected over 1,000 petition signatures to "End puppy sales in Eastpointe".



• We held a “Puppy Mill Mothers Not Forgotten in Macomb” Vigil.



• Paws-N-Claws started getting 30-day health certificates after we called him out on the Michigan Law.



• Change.org covered our “Have A Heart” Valentines Day events with an educational article “Don't Look for Love at the Pet Store”.



• The Macomb Daily covered our campaign on the front page “Eastpointe store denies puppy mill allegations” calling them out on “filling a niche market”.

More favorite photos.

Pet Store Owner Serves Jail Time

Does everyone remember the Laura Springborn case from last spring? One of the headlines read “ Gregory Woman Charged With Animal Cruelty Turns Herself In”. Springborn opened Pet Paradise Plus store stocked with puppies in Stockbridge, Mi in 2010. It was soon surrounded by protesters and eventually raided by the Ingham County ACO in May 2010. An investigation led them to her home in Gregory (Livingston County). In her home, they found over twenty small breed dogs in unsanitary conditions. She soon faced felony charges.

Unsanitary conditions should have been written as “shockingly” unsanitary. I thought you all might want to see just went on behind the pet store’s displays.

Springborn was no stranger to local Animal Control. There were many complaints filed regarding her dogs housed in Gregory going back to 2006.

1.13 dogs, Newf, St. Bernards, Great Pyren. And St. B puppies. No shade, skinny, not good living conditions.
2. No dog licenses.
3. Running at large, attacking neighbors dog.
4.Animal abuse: Shade, food and water?
5. Abuse. Too many dogs. Over 10. Breeding dogs, not caring for them. Hearing horrible yelps and crying from home.

On April 9, 2010, Animal Control removed a total of 24 dogs/puppies from her property. Inside the home they observed several dogs, garbage, and fecal matter covering the entire floor of every room in the home. There was smeared fecal matter throughout the home, some spots were several inches thick. The ammonia smell was overwhelming causing eyes to burn. No food or water was observed. What food was available was mixed with urine and stool. Springborn was informed for the sake of the dogs they could not stay and they would be removed immediately. Some dogs were locked in the back room which they came back later for. When they returned for them, the floors had been scraped from some fecal matter. When they opened the locked doors to the bedrooms, the dogs began running out into the living room and kitchen scavenging for food.

While the Livingston County ACO was rescuing the breeding dogs from Springborns home, the Ingham County ACO was finishing up their lengthy report involving her pet store. They had numerous complaints over poor conditions of the facility and gravely ill puppies. Fourteen dogs were removed from the pet store, two had parvo and later died.

There was a Health Certificate for a female St. Bernard in July of 2009 from Dr. John Hermann. This mobile vet seems to work with all the shady pet stores. The address for Pet Paradise on the certificate showed 15525 Racho Road, Taylor Mi with a Jackson phone number (517-795-4126). This is the Gibraltar Trade Center address in Taylor. It appears she moved from the Trade Center to Gregory.

At the Springborn home:
None of the dogs were licensed.
There was not a sufficient amount of food available to the dogs.
There was not adequate water provided
The interior of the home was caked with fecal matter and urine some areas contained several inches of accumulated stool.
There were at least five space heaters on the floor in various rooms and the dogs were running into them. One had appeared to be burned on its rear quarters.
Laura claimed two days ago she had bought two 8 week old Chihuahua puppies from Ohio. She could not find the health certificate required by law.
Laura could not provide any proof of vet care for any of the 24 dogs in her home.
Many of the dogs were coated with fecal matter.
Many dogs had visible lesions and inflamed eyes.
Some of the dogs observed being bred repeatedly.
There were large amounts of mouse excrement observed in all r ooms.
Many of the windows had been covered in spray paint.
There were feces covered clothing and sheets scattered throughout the home.

The Livingston County prosecutor ensured that Springborn would not be allowed to have animals during her two year probation. The Ingham County prosecutor was able to get some jail time, community service and much needed counseling. She was sentence to 6 months probation on 7/26/11.

To view all photos, click here.

PET PARADISE PLUS.
111 W. MAIN ST.
STOCKBRIDGE, MI SPRINGBORN

Livingston County Case Number: 10-19044
Ingham County Case Number: 11-00063SM

Holding out for Buster (Short Film)

Puppy Mill Awareness was thrilled to be apart the PAHFest this year! Many of our Petland Campaign team members participated as extras in "Holding out for Buster" a short film highlighting our Petland protest!

In the film, a little girl is pining over her long-lost dog, and her comedic mother tries to make her child happy (in her own way). They become more educated while going down the path to add a new dog to their family and end up with a surprise.

We are shown proudly holding signs at Twelve Oaks Mall. The film also includes Kevin Hatman from the Michigan Humane Society, Susanne Dooley-Hash from Horse Haven and Ed Sereky from the Dearborn Animal Shelter – all with important messages about animals in need.

Buster and the white pitbull puppy were both adopted by Barb Baker at Horses Haven. The puppy was blind and found discarded in a garbage can.

Please share this with friends and family.

Photos & Video from Closing Ceremonies
Print Screen Photos from the Film
Petland Protest Photos & Video during filming

Livonia Rescue taking a stand against puppy stores

Guardian Angle Animal Rescue (GAAR), home-based in Livonia, is committed to participating in peaceful demonstrations at the Twelve Oaks Mall – home to Petland. Sandra Mezza, the rescues founder and president, has been rounding up nearly 20 volunteers each month including many youths who are learning to stand up for a cause for the first time. They make their own signs and wave on passer-bys.
This week, Sandra’s volunteers stood in as extras at a large demonstration filmed as part of a PAH-Fest documentary. Suzette Dexter, another local dog advocate won a contest to create a short documentary about animal welfare. She choose puppy mills as one of several issues to be addressed in the 6-minute film.
Both Puppy Mill Awareness and GAAR will be attending the film screening this Sunday hoping the documentary makes it to the big screen!
Learn more about PAH-Fest
Learn More about Guardian Angel Animal Rescue:

Puncturing the Puppy Mill Pipeline

The Humane Society of the United States published another article "Puncturing the Puppy Mill Pipeline" that highlights many of our projects here in Michigan.

They also mentioned us in their Annual Report.

I hope the stories inspire groups in other states to hit the streets too.

End Puppy Sales in Eastpointe Michigan (Paws-N-Claws)

Puppy Mill Awareness Meetup’s petition has reached over a thousand signatures after being launched in May. Our petition urges Paws-N-Claws pet store to stop selling puppies and start supporting adoptions instead.

End Puppy Sales in Eastpointe Michigan (Petition)

Petitioning the puppy-selling store is part of our local boycott that included 6-months of staged protests outside of Paws-N-Claws. We are asking the public to learn the facts about this store’s breeders and avoid contributing to the cruel pet trade.

After weekly protests, the store continues to sell puppies. Paws-N-Claws has worked with large breeders and brokers in states such as Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas. Seven of the ten USDA licensed breeders that have supplied Paws-N-Claws have citations listed on their USDA inspection reports, ranging from sanitation problems to inadequate vet care.

• puppies were observed with the feet or parts of the legs extending below the floor surface.
• broken and protruding wire ends sticking out
• have a buildup of dirt, grime and caked on feces
• do not have wind/ rain breaks
• did not have adequate shelter for the animals
• two boxers with only one shelter large enough for one animal
• cages do not have adequate space
• transported in commerce a total of 11 puppies that were not 8 weeks old
• need to have the mats, long hair, removed or combed out around the mouth, anal area and areas that hang down and drag the wire flooring.
• housing needs the wall kept clean
• need to add additional bedding to the terrier pen
• need to have the grease and grime removed

Inspection reports can be found online (Inspections)

Clarke’s Hillside Kennel, located in Yates Center Kansas, has a history of violations going back to 2004. In 2010, the kennel was cited for not observing the dogs on a daily basis to assess their health. Some dogs had mats that could cause sores and discomfort. There were citations also related to sanitation and housing for 50 dogs - “Need to clean the inside of the shelter housing and also the indoor housing buildings to better insure that the dogs can remain healthy and disease free.“

Not all the puppies come from small local breeders as Paws N Claws would have the public believe -- USDA inventory reports show that these are large commercial operations with hundreds of dogs. Puppy mills typically have large kennel inventories, many different breeds and produce wholesale for profit (USDA Licensed) where profits come over the welfare of the animals.

While purchasing from puppy mills is not illegal it is highly unethical. The pet store may not be breaking laws, but they have worked with breeders that are.

Those seeking to add a puppy to their family are asked to adopt from a shelter.

What you should know about Petland, Novi

There is only one Petland store remaining in Michigan, located at Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi. Petland is the nation’s largest puppy retailer who has been exposed locally by Channel 7, the Humane Society of the United States and Animal Planet. Now Michigan dog advocates from the Puppy Mill Awareness Meetup have been calling on the store to stop supporting puppy mills and start supporting rescue.

Join us every Saturday from 12-3 for peaceful demonstrations starting June 4th, 2011. See our calendar for details.

Protests at Twelve Oaks Mall began after Channel 7 exposed this store in October 2009 for selling a sick puppy. Heather Catallo, an Investigative Reporter, completed a second investigation in November 2009 after another sick dog allegation was discovered.

The store is selling sick dogs because they come from large commercial breeders and brokers. One regular supplier, Opal Featherston (Whiting KS), has inventory records listing 773 adult dogs!. This is considered a mega mill.

Just looking at Petland’s 2009-2010 breeder list, this store is not choosy. Puppies are shipped from a wide range of Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota, and Ohio breeders and brokers.

Abe Miller, House of Pets (Fresno OH) was the store’s primary 2010 supplier who delivered 68% of the puppies which equals approximately 57 per month. The United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) records show that this kennel housed 133 adult dogs and 110 puppies in June of 2008, which indicates it is a commercial breeding operation. With approximately 16 different breeds, the House of Pets provides the wide variety of dogs demanded by pet stores. Inspection reports show this broker was not only working with unlicensed breeders, but that it was also cited for non-compliances to the Animal Welfare Act in the regulated areas of housing, primary enclosures, cleaning, veterinary care, records, compatible grouping, feeding and identification.

The pressure has been on all the Petland stores across the county to stop supporting. Beginning in March 2009, Bora Kim from Channel 4, covered the Class Action Lawsuit with ties to the Peltand Westland store. Animal Planet exposed the chain in May of 2010 after the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) completed a 8-month investigation. In addition, the courts are allowing a racketeering lawsuit to proceed against Petland.

Petition
Support the efforts of Puppy Mill Awareness by telling Petland Novi to stop selling puppies.