Laguna Niguel Pet Stores Say No To Selling Puppies

A Laguna Niguel pet store is one of about 80 that has signed The Human Society of the United States' pledge not to sell puppies.

The HSUS’ Puppy Friendly Pet Stores pledge is not to sell puppies, but instead support local animal adoption programs and provide literature that helps customers learn how to get a puppy from a responsible source.

The local shop,  has been in Laguna Niguel for a number of years, and sells all things pet related, but no live dogs or cats. Its sister location in Monarch Beach at 32880 Pacific Coast Highway, also has signed the HSUS pledge.

Russo's a new pet store coming to Laguna Niguel in Ocean Ranch plaza says it will not sell puppies either.

The HSUS said it applauds pet retailers such as Wild's because their actions prove it is not necessary to support the cruel puppy mill trade to operate a successful pet-related business, it said.

"These stores have set a positive example of corporate responsibility for other businesses to follow," said Jennifer Fearing, California senior state director for The HSUS. "Pet stores that profit from the cruel puppy mill industry need to step up and do the right thing by stopping their puppy sales. The Humane Society of the United States is thrilled to have wonderful local advocates working in our area to increase the public's awareness of puppy mills."

Store owners and managers who sign The HSUS' pledge receive a placard proclaiming, "We love puppies; that's why we don't sell them," to display in the store, as well as materials about adopting a dog or finding a responsible breeder. The HSUS encourages shoppers to purchase pet supplies at stores displaying the puppy-friendly sign.

The majority of the 80 retailers that have signed the pledge are in the Los Angeles area. 

Policy Helps Dogs Across the United States

The majority of pet stores that sell puppies carry dogs from puppy mills, which are mass production facilities that churn out large numbers of puppies under inhumane conditions, says the HSUS.

The breeding dogs at puppy mills spend their entire lives in cramped cages or kennels with little or no personal attention or quality of life. Consumers who purchase puppies from pet stores or over the Internet without seeing a breeder's home firsthand are often unknowingly supporting this cruel puppy mill industry, says the HSUS.

The HSUS reached a milestone for its Puppy Friendly Pet Stores program with the 2,000th pet store signing the pledge since its inception in December. To find out more about the program, go to humanesociety.org/puppystores.

Facts:

• Approximately one-third of the nation's 9,000 independent pet stores sell puppies.
• The HSUS estimates that 2 million to 4 million puppy mill puppies are sold each year in the United States.
• Documented puppy mill conditions include over-breeding, inbreeding, minimal veterinary care, poor food and shelter, crowded cages and lack of socialization.
• Dogs kept for breeding in puppy mills suffer for years in continual confinement. They are bred as often as possible and then destroyed or discarded once they can no longer produce puppies.
• Pet stores and online sellers often use attractive web sites to hide the truth and to dupe consumers into thinking that they are dealing with a small, reputable breeder.
• Reputable breeders never sell puppies over the Internet or through a pet store and will insist on meeting the family who will be purchasing the dog.
• Puppy mills contribute to the pet overpopulation problem, which results in millions of unwanted dogs euthanized at shelters every year.

To learn more about puppy mills, visit humanesociety.org/puppymills.