The south Austin Petland store is closing, probably within the next week. Petland stores have been in the news repeatedly for selling puppies that were bought from puppy mills.
From the Austin-American Statesman: Austin Petland closing
The South Austin location of the Petland retail chain is closing.
The store has been regularly picketed by protesters who said it sold puppies from puppy mills, where conditions often are inhumane. The national chain has been accused in a federal suit by The Humane Society of the United States of purchasing dogs from puppy mills.
The action comes as the city Animal Advisory Commission was meeting late Wednesday to consider recommending a ban on retail sales of dogs and cats, because they often come from mills.
A Petland employee who answered the phone at the store on 9900 S. Interstate 35 confirmed the store was closing “probably next week,” but wouldn’t elaborate.
One of the Animal Advisory Commission members commented on a news interview I saw this evening that she would liked to have seen Petland work with rescue groups to help find homes for pets in need of homes. That would have been ideal, given the work that’s being done to make Austin a no-kill city. The Petland employee they interviewed though, said their customers wanted purebreds. It’s a shame, really – they could have helped educate people and help save cats and dogs at the same time.
Dogster has a great article on puppy mills. If you’re not sure why puppy mills and buying puppies from pet stores isn’t a good idea, go read it. 10 Reasons Not to Buy From a Pet Store.
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I am at once happy and sad to read this. Happy that the Austin Petland will no longer be selling puppy mill puppies, but sad that they couldn’t have used their power and influence to educate people about puppy mills, and at the same time served as a storefront for rescue groups. What a shame. I guess as a small business owner you have to be willing to change with the times. I guess this owner wasn’t willing to do so. I’m hoping our Shakopee Petland decides to change before it has to close too.
BTW – Dogster does have a great article. Worth the read!
I think it would be a great idea for them to be a storefront for rescues just like Petsmart and Petco.
If anyone wants a purebred – get one from a reputable breeder like I did or check your local (and even out of state) shelters/rescues – there are lots of pure-breds out there.
Stores that sell dogs and cats are not getting them from reputable breeders. A reputable breeder would want to meet you and make sure you and the dog or cat are a match, come with a health warranty and will take the dog or cat back if something were to happen and you couldn’t take care of the dog or cat anymore.
My breeder actually stopped breeding when the economy tanked so none of her German Shepherd pups would end up being bought and then lost in the shelter system.
Purebreds like… Puggles? And Labradoodles? And Morkies? Um, yeah.
I am proud to be one of the Austin Petland Protestors! We started in 3/2008 and our goal was to have Petland change there practice and house rescue animals. Educate the public that 1 in 4 are purebred in shelters.
We never wanted to shut them down but to have them educate and empower there customers on the power of resuce.
I am in El Paso, TX. Our city council will be voting on August 10th to ban pet stores from selling puppies and kittens. Of course, the only pet store in town that sells puppies is Petland. I was informed this morning that the board members of our local humane society are going to go before city council and oppose the ban. YES…they are against the ban. Even though they know Petland sells puppy mill puppies, they can not support a ban that might close down a local business. I need help getting in touch with those responsible for making the ban in Austin successful. We in El Paso are in dire need of some assistance. Thank you.