WHAT IS A PUPPY MILL?
Oklahoma is #4 in the nation for puppy mills. Puppy mills are mass, inhumane commercial breeding operations that churn out puppies for profits. The breeding dogs are kept in small cages oftentimes in their own filth, and the puppies are usually sold through pet stores, internet sales, classified ads and flea markets.
STOP PUPPY MILL PROFITEERS
WHY ARE WE PROTESTING?
Pet stores, like the one located in Tulsa and OKC, are notorious for allegedly selling sick and dying puppies sourced from puppy mills. The stores are located at 10908 E. 71st St., Tulsa and 13820 N. Pennsylvania Ave, Unit #8, OKC.
This controversial pet retailer has a long history of lawsuits, complaints, and shocking investigations. Exhaustive undercover investigations have revealed sickening conditions at these stores: clearly ill puppies, overcrowded cages, veterinary “exams” lasting 15 seconds, even dead puppies being stored in freezers.
The retail sale of these animal victims also brings the risk of zoonotic disease transmission. From 2016 to 2018, a multi-state outbreak of human Campylobacter infections was linked to sick puppies in these stores. Pet stores also overuse and abuse broad-spectrum antibiotics in animals, greatly increasing the chances of new, drug-resistant strains of disease. The CDC found that 95% of pet store puppies had been given antibiotics.
Oklahoma and Tulsa face a pet overpopulation crisis. More than 18,000 dogs and cats are euthanized in over-stuffed shelters every year. This company claims their dogs come from “licensed breeders,” but encourage you to remember or research the 84 puppy mill survivors Oklahoma Alliance for Animals and Tulsa SPCA rescued from Sequoyah County in July 2020. That breeder was licensed by the state, yet, they were charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty, and the dogs rescued were in some of the worst states of neglect we have seen. A licensed breeder does NOT equal a reputable breeder.
The bottom line is that this store purchases puppies for bottom dollar from unscrupulous puppy mill and backyard breeders, so they can mark up the cost and make a large profit. No reputable breeder would sell a healthy, well-bred dog for bottom dollar to a pet store.
WHAT DO WE WANT?
We protest to raise awareness about the plight of puppy mill dogs across the country and the people who profit from their misery. We are asking the puppy mill outlets in Tulsa and OKC to change their business model and quit selling commercially-bred animals. Support rescues and shelters by hosting adoption events instead.
We also want Oklahoma cities to pass humane ordinances that ban the retail sales of commercially-bred dogs and cats.
DO YOUR RESEARCH
There are numerous reports detailing this puppy mill outlet's transgressions.
- Lawsuit over puppy that would cost $26,000 after interest exposes Petland's deceptive sales and lending practices
- Husky puppy dies 10 days after family pays $5,000 for dog and supplies at Petland Largo
- Petland, Inc. Sick puppies, heartbroken families
- HSUS undercover investigation reveals more sick, dead puppies at Petland stores
- Multidrug resistant Campylobacter Jejuni outbreak linked to puppy exposure
- Petland Florida: Where do they get their puppies?
- Shocking multi-store Petland investigation
- Petland: How sick is that puppy in the window?
- Owners complain local Petland store sold them sick puppies
- Petland has long history of complaints over sick, dying puppies
- Cobb County family sues Petland after allegedly being sold sick dog
- Puppies may be behind outbreak that's sickened people in 13 states, officials say
- Oklahoma called breeding ground for "puppy mills"