Petland Questions Integrity of U.S. Humane Society
The Gazette Staff
November 22, 2008
The Humane Society of the United States, during a news conference Thursday in Washington D.C., said an eight-month investigation of Petland Inc. stores it conducted revealed the company supports puppy mill breeding facilities but tells customers the dogs come only from good breeders. Petland's initial response was the company does not support substandard breeding facilities and provides each store with guidelines on humane care of animals.
Both the initial accusations and the company response were reported in a story done Thursday by the Associated Press.
Friday, Petland went on the offensive against the Humane Society of the United States.
"Reports such as those posted on the HSUS Web site surface every year around the holiday season in conjunction with their annual fundraising efforts," said a company statement released Friday. "Unfortunately, we were not interviewed or consulted, nor were we a part of any of the editing process. This is sensationalism at its best.
"HSUS has a history of publicizing false information in an effort to raise money. They do not operate a single pet shelter or pet adoption facility anywhere in the U.S. To the contrary, over the last 10 years, Petland has adopted out more than 270,000 homeless puppies and kittens nationwide."
Elizabeth Kunzelman, director of marketing and communications for Petland Inc., told the Gazette Friday evening the company is strongly opposed to puppy mills.
"We don't support them, we never have supported them," she said. "We want to do anything we can to shut those down."
Kunzelman said if there ever was any documented type of an issue of any kind involving the chain's animals, it would be quickly addressed. But Petland franchisees, she said, are put through rigorous training sessions that emphasize humane treatment guidelines exceeding federal standards.
"Our No. 1 concern is the puppies," she said. "We're in this business because we love animals."
Kunzelman said Petland has contacted HSUS requesting details and specific instances in its report, but said there has been no response.
"It's very difficult to comment on the allegations when there's no specifics available," she said, adding that if HSUS had any proof of what it is alleging, proper protocol would have dictated that proof be turned over to the USDA rather than hinted at in a press conference.
The Petland corporate response goes even further, saying HSUS is "a wealthy animal-rights lobbying organization (the largest and richest) that agitates for the same goals as PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and other radical groups." The company also claims a member of the HSUS senior management team is a "former spokesman for the Animal Liberation Front, a criminal group designated as 'terrorists' by the FBI" and that several other claims HSUS has made over the years are false.
HSUS started the dispute earlier this week when it said investigators visited 21 Petland stores and 35 breeders and brokers who allegedly sold puppies to Petland stores. The investigators, the group claims, also reviewed interstate import records of an additional 322 breeders, federal government reports and more than 17,000 puppies linked to Petland stores. As part of its report posted to its Web site, it includes the transcript of an interview with a woman claiming to be a former employee of an Illinois Petland.
Kunzelman said the only public response to the allegations that has come in to corporate offices so far has been a few e-mails from a form set up on the HSUS Web site.
Customers who frequent Petland stores, she said, know what the store chain is all about and have seen the care given to the animals.
