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Humane Society issues new allegations against Petland

A 9-week old female Boston terrier licks her glass cage at Petland on Dixie Hwy in Fairfield. Despite a dwindling economy, some people are still investing in pets.

Samantha Grier A 9-week old female Boston terrier licks her glass cage at Petland on Dixie Hwy in Fairfield. Despite a dwindling economy, some people are still investing in pets.

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By Thomas Gnau, Staff Writer Updated 2:02 AM Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Local Petland stores are being implicated in a new round of allegations by the Humane Society of the United States against the store chain.

The society says it has evidence that 15,000 puppies were shipped from “massive commercial puppy brokers” — sometimes called “puppy mills” — to more than 95 percent of Petland stores “in the past few months,” the organization said Monday, June 29.

Regarding a Petland store at 4468 Indian Ripple Road in Beavercreek, the society alleges that the store “received shipments from a massive Missouri puppy broker, the Hunte Corp., in 2009.”

The society also contends that a Petland store at 3444 York Commons Blvd., Butler Twp., received puppies from Hunte as well as shipments from “out-of-state” sellers who have been cited for Animal Welfare Act violations.”

Additionally, the society says a Petland store at 1212 E. Ash St. in Piqua received puppies from Hunte.

Humane Society spokeswoman Loraine Miscavage said the society has investigated Petland twice, most recently through “transport documents” and U.S. Deputy of Agriculture records.

Kathleen Summers, another society spokeswoman, said transport documents are required to be filed by pet sellers to show that animals being shipped have been vaccinated. “Through open public records laws, we were able to get copies of thousands of these documents,” Summers said.

In March, the society filed a class-action lawsuit against Chillicothe-based Petland Inc. and Hunte. Two months later, both companies asked a federal judge to toss out the suit.

In papers filed in federal court last month, Hunte said it is committed to the welfare of animals it sells and seeks to provide “the absolute best care possible to every single puppy.”

In March, a Petland vice president said his company provides its puppies “strict veterinary care and supervision.” The company said each puppy it sells is examined by a licensed veterinarian before it arrives at stores, getting another exam before sold puppies go home with new owners. Also, the chain said it encourages new owners to have pets examined again within a week after purchase.

A message was left with a Petland spokeswoman Monday. Another message was left with Hunte President Steve Rook.

A Beavercreek Petland store manager referred questions to Petland.

A manager at the Butler Twp. store, Ethan Eyler, said his store gets puppies from Hunte, but he said Hunte adheres to high standards in animal husbandry. “They are one of the biggest leaders in setting the high standards,” Eyler said.

Ryan Hamel, manager of the Piqua Petland, said his store gets its puppies from “licensed USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) breeders.”

“I’m very proud of the relationship we have with them,” Hamel said of Hunte.

A message seeking comment was left with a Petland store in Fairfield, which the society also identified as receiving Hunte puppies.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2390 or tgnau@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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