Pet Store To The Stars Using "Puppy Mills"

Investigation Finds Pets Sold At Store Not Pampered, But Instead Mass-Produced

(CBS)  The Humane Society of the United States has just finished a three month investigation of a top Los Angeles pet store that caters to celebrities like Paris Hilton.

The findings are shocking and prove that the "puppy mill" industry is alive and well.

The Pets of Bel Air pet store in California boasts a high profile clientele and one would assume their dogs were born in the lap of luxury. But actually, many of them were warehoused and raised in horrid conditions.

"These are large scale commercial puppies, where the puppies are treated like commodities and essentially it's a large scale agricultural operation," Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States told Early Showveterinary correspondent Dr. Debbye Turner

In puppy mills, animals are mass-bred and kept in horrible, inhumane conditions and careless breeding produces dogs that suffer from chronic illness.

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Photos: Hollywood Pet Party

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The Humane Society of the United States undercover investigation found Pets of Bel Air obtains their animals from 28 puppy mills throughout the Midwest, but a manager told a humane society investigator that the puppies did not come from puppy mills.

"There is fraud and misrepresentation of what's occurring," Pacelle said.

In a statement sent to The ShowBuzz, Pets Of Bel Air vehemently denied the allegations.

"We do not condone puppy mills; we would never knowingly buy a dog from a puppy mill; and we are appalled by the possibility that this may have happened," Pets of Bel Air said. "We are investigating all of our sources so that we continue to nurture the finest and most reputable dogs from the best breeders, a practice that we've held central to our business since we opened nine years ago."

The Humane Society's investigation prompted an inspection by Los Angeles Animal Services, which closed the shop Tuesday after discovering the store was operating without a permit. The store can reopen, however, by paying a $130 fine, according to CBS News affiliate KCAL9.

"The permit fee went inadvertently unpaid due to a clerical error," Pets Of Bel Air said. "Upon completion of an inspection by Animal Services, which is scheduled for Thursday, Pets of Bel Air will reopen."

Puppy mills are big business: two to four million puppies from 10,000 puppy mills are sold annually, which adds up to a heartbreaking bottom line for any animal lover.

In July, the Humane Society expressed concern after Britney Spears reportedly purchased a puppy at Pets Of Bel Air in a 30 minute visit to the store.

"The Humane Society of the United States is extremely concerned not only that the pop star purchased a dog from a pet store, but also that she apparently took very little time to make such a major decision," read a release by The Humane Society sent to The ShowBuzz at the time.

"Know that if you buy a dog from a pet store you are contributing to the most horrific kind of animal abuse," Humane Society volunteer Jana Kohl said.

[element51]

I live in an area of the country where puppy mills are very commonplace. I have seen the conditions that these poor dogs live in and for the most part it is appalling. However, I also know that there are places out the where the animals are well treated. The problem is how do you find the good ones? We have four dogs. Our little peke was purchased from a breeder. When we took her to the vet, directly from the breeder, we were told that if we had not done that she would have died within one week. We were able to nurse her back to health and she is fine. We actually kidnapped our little terrier out of a back yard because he was being beaten with a belt. We took him to the vet and got him stitched up and now he is OK. I picked up our lab/bloodhound mix from a ditch by the side of the road where he had been dumped. We also picked up our giant american pit where she had been dumped. The point of telling you all this is that we can all make a difference, even if it''s only a small one. Our dogs are family now and will always be treated with the love and respect that they deserve. As for the terrible things that are going on with puppy mills there isn''t much that can be done. Support your local Humane Society and when you see a dog that is being mistreated do what you have to do to stop it. And remember what Bob Barker always said at the end of each of his shows.

[ssm9451]

The throught of puppy mills makes me sick. We got our little dog from the Humane Society. She is so sweet, a lil'' French Bulldog.

[dfisher440]

Our own government allows these puppy mills to exist in the first place. USDA regulations themselves promote a mass-production mindset rather than quality. For example, USDA regulations only require six inches of headroom over an animals head in its cage, which only needs to be cleaned of urine and feces once per day. Worse yet, many puppy mills do not even meet the USDA''s minimal standards. The USDA rarely, if ever, takes enforcement action against violators. There is, therefore, little incentive for puppy mills to comply with USDA regulations. Recently a puppy mill operation was approved in Morrison County, Minnesota despite heavy opposition. We need to go after the source and contact our state and federal legislators to change our laws and put a halt to future puppy mills and permit renewals along with stiff fines and prison time for "backwoods" operations. If you don''t know who your legislators are, they can easily be found using any internet search. Thank you for taking action!

[roseshackle]

As a breeder of Champion show dogs, I resent the insinuation that ALL breeders only breed for MONEY! This is entirely erroneous. I breed only for the betterment of the breed. If you are a serious breeder, you will lose money every year--I know I do. With the genetic testing, vet bills, premium dog food and assorted other "extras"--there''s no way to make a profit. If I occasionally sell a dog as a pet, it is on a spay/neuter contract; and believe me it''s harder to adopt one of my dogs than a human child. Also, if that person EVER decides that they don''t want that puppy, I want it back (and that''s in my contract!) No breeder that I know would ever allow a dog of theirs to go to a puppy mill knowingly. To lump us together with them, makes me feel literally ill. My dogs sleep in the same room with me, watch tv in my living room, and basically "own" my house.

As far as supporting PETA and HSUS, no way!!! Local shelters don''t get a penny from them, and neither organization owns even ONE shelter. IF they ever do decide to open a shelter, it''ll be a miracle. You''d be better supporting your local shelter or a breed rescue group if you are sincere about helping--or better yet--get your hands dirty and volunteer at a shelter.

[cynthiainfl]

I have a particularly vivid memory of one heartless woman who drove miserable puppies through an icy rainstorm for her rural home. The poor creatures were in the open bed of her pickup with no protection from the elements except a tarpaulin. She actually commented with no concern for her miserable passengers, "I could hear those puppies crying in the back of the truck the whole trip."

My precious rescued babies traveled in new crates, wearing new collars especially selected to compliment their coloring, swathed in fleece blankets with absorbent pads beneath, comforted with new plush toys. They had a food supply for unanticipated delays and a water bottle attached to the door of the crate so they could sip throughout the trip and avoid dehydration. I also fastened a water dish beneath the spigot of the water bottle to ensure that drips would not wet their bedding. The puppy millers sent their frightened victims (who generally had no socialization until they were pulled from the cage where they had lived since their birth) in old crates lined with newspapers.

[cynthiainfl]

I have personal knowledge of the character of the operators of puppy mills. For years I rescued dogs and puppies from dismal conditions and placed them on flights to loving and approved families (inevitably, after a lengthy and costly period to restore their health). My family provided most of the funding for the veterinary treatment at considerable personal cost.

I encountered many puppy mill operators at the airport as I sent my rescued babies to their new homes. Anyone who has bought a puppy at a pet store would be appalled at the people who raised the poor creature. Almost all of them can be characterized as callous, vulgar, overweight, and unkempt.

They were very friendly until they realized I was a rescuer and not a fellow puppy miller. Then they became hostile because every rescued fur baby is a lost sale for them. My very large and protective husband was forced to accompany me on these predawn trips to the airport because several of the "millers" and I nearly came to blows.

[jordanm64]

I know there are puppies mills out there and a lot of them need to be shut down for how they treat the dogs and how dirty they are. BUT there are some "people of raise dogs," "not puppy mills" that do not deserve what is happening because of the humane society.

[psporg]

If you think puppy mills are a myth or over dramatization, visit PetshopPuppies.org. If you have purchased a puppy from a pet store, fill out a free puppy report request. YOU DESERVE TO KNOW THE TRUTH

[jordanm64]

I am sorry but you are wrong. Puppy mills are not notorious for producing overbred and diseased animals. I am not saying there aren''t problems, but any animal or human giving birth there is a risk of complications. I have three house dogs myself and i treat them like humans. I am not saying dogs should be treated bad or anything. I am simply saying that the humane society and PETA is not telling the truth when saying all breeders are bad because it is not the truth. Everyone sees the media and believes its true, which it is not. Plus, dogs coming off the street are more likely to have illnesses and problems since they have most likely have had bad owners who do not care about their pet. Shouldn''t the humane society be bashing those people and not the breeders? Plus you say they have small cages just for a little while. Well what if the dog stays there for a long time? Then the dog is getting punished in a tiny cage. That is NOT right either. It is the "puppy mills" or backyard breeders who make everyone look bad. Also, in most states puppies come with a one year guarantee or a puppy lemon law. This goes to prove that the puppies are not just dogs thrown in pet stores. Also, i agree with you if you go to a breeder or anyone that they should be allowed to look at the place and parents and anything else they want. My home town breeder has all of that. So what is the problem then?

[TennMom1]

Yeah, Jordan64, I have been to a Humane Society shelter. Their cages are smaller but, they house dogs for very short periods of time while attempting to place them for adoption. The H.S. also spays and neuters all the animals which are fortunate enough to find themselves at a no-kill shelter, instead of at a city or county run animal control facility, where a death sentence is likely if a home is not found.

That a puppy mill can spend millions on bigger cages is of little comfort to an animal lover like myself. While puppies born in a "mill" will be shipped off for profit, the parents of those puppies will continue to lead a miserable existence. Not to mention the fact that puppy mills are notorious for producing overbred and diseased animals.

If one desires a pedigreed pet, there are many reputable breeders to be found. Be advised that a caring breeder will allow you access to their facility, allow you to see your puppy''s parents, and will have up-to-date veterinary records. If pedigree is unimportant, one should visit their local Humane Society, or check with local animal control. Those facilities may not look as nice, but one should consider that they operate on very tight budgets, with most of the money spent on healthcare for the pets in question.