A Puppy Mill Vendor in Virginia Beach??!!
Published on 2008/3/27
For current information on the "Adopt Don't Shop" initiative, visit Adopt Don't Shop.
The Virginia Beach SPCA recently found out about a business that is going to open that is associated with Animal Jungle and will be located near their store at 4402 Holland Road that will begin selling puppies.
Every year approximately 2,000 dogs are euthanized by the Virginia Beach SPCA and the Animal Control Bureau. In most cases, there was nothing wrong with these dogs except they were adult and there were not enough homes for them. At least half of all dogs sold in pet stores end up at some time or another in a shelter or pound. Sick and poorly bred puppies are turned into our shelter because the “warranty period is up” and the pet store won’t take them back. Even if they did, the store would just euthanize and then sell more.
Until recently, pet stores and breeders have faced no consequences for this cruel business, but we hope to change that. Unlike other merchandise sold, puppies live 12-15 years and the retailer who sells them has no concern for what happens to the animals once they receive their payment. The financial impact on communities of this business is equal to that of other polluters.
The Virginia Beach SPCA successfully worked with other animal welfare advocates across the state this year to pass a state-wide puppy mill bill to regulate the breeding and sale of animals in Virginia because of the recent terrible cases of cruelty and neglect. Any statement by a retailer that they are buying “locally bred” puppies is suspect. There is case after case of deception about this. Frankly, locally bred puppies are often no better cared for than those in puppy mills.
We are going to share our concerns regarding the entry of Animal Jungle and others into this terrible business as widely as we can and identify all parties involved. Records of registration and animal health will be strengthened by this new legislation and we will apprise the public of these new requirements.
The Virginia Beach SPCA has dealt with dozens of iguanas sold by Animal Jungle for a few dollars, which when they were fully grown, were no longer welcome in the home. Likewise, prairie dogs, sugar gliders and other animals sold by Animal Jungle end up in the care of the Virginia Beach SPCA which has to raise the private funds to care for them. Virginia Beach does not need another one of these businesses pouring yet more animals into the community to be dealt with by either a charity like us or the taxpayers which fund Animal Control.
What an outrage after all our work on the puppy mill bill (HB 538) and this is happening right in our backyard!!! Please tell all your friends and family to spread the word! Please do not buy pets from these establishments. Not only do you risk receiving an unhealthy pet, but it just allows people who are breeding with no regard to the welfare of the animals to continue to do so. PLUS, we already deal with an overpopulation of pets who have no homes due to inappropriate selling/handling of animals from breeders and pet stores.
Please feel free to share this with other animal lovers and if you have any ideas on what can be done to show our disappointment that this activity is happening right here in Virginia Beach, let us know. And if you take any kind of action, let us know that too!
Visit these links to see more about puppy mills and pet stores.
http://www.stoppuppymills.org/
http://www.dogsaver.org/brookline/PAGES/SERIOUS/PuppyMills.htm
http://www.pijac.org/files/public/PUPPIES.pdf
http://www.pijac.org/files/public/Dog_Update_-_E.pdf
Here is a copy of a letter we received:
We are a group of concerned citizens who would like to elicit your help in investigating a business that will soon be opening in Virginia Beach. This new business currently being built is called “Puppyville” and is located at 4402 Holland Road in Virginia Beach. This business is owned by Bob Hames, who is also the owner of the neighboring pet store Animal Jungle. Recently, Mr. Hames signed a 12 year lease with the Katsias Company to ship in and sell 60 to 80 puppies at a time. On numerous occasions over the past few months, we have attempted to contact both Mr. Katsias and Mr. Hames to discuss and educate them on the negative effects this type of business will have on our city. Both men have denied our invitations, and, in fact, Mr. Hames and his current Animal Jungle employees have strongly denied any connection with Puppyville. On our most recent phone call to Animal Jungle on March 17, 2008 a female employee denied that Mr. Hames is opening the puppy store, and she admitted that she was “told not to say anything.” Mr. Hames has convinced Mr. Katsias that the 60 puppies he will sell come from responsible breeders in family raised homes. Unfortunately though, reputable and responsible breeders absolutely do not sell to puppy stores who make money off mass producing various breeds. We need your help to expose the actual “breeders” from which these puppies are being bought, and the horrific conditions the puppies’ parents endure while being used over and over for breeding. We want to uncover the reason behind Mr. Hames’ lies and inform the public on the truths behind this type of business.
In Virginia Beach we currently have a major issue with pet overpopulation, in which we euthanize thousands of homeless pets each year. Virginia has one of the highest rates of euthanasia and overpopulation in the United States, and was the focus of nationwide media when the Humane Society rescued over 1,000 dogs from a Virginia puppy mill in November, 2007. Reports show that in 2003 the state of Virginia euthanized at least 133,800 homeless pets. Local puppy stores only help to increase these numbers by importing large numbers of puppies as a commodity for income. Some of these puppies will grow up to be abandoned by their owners only to end up in our local animal shelters. This large influx of puppies will put a strain on our local shelter and the taxpayer’s dollar which supports our local animal control.
We are in the process of planning peaceful protests and large scale adoption events to encourage local citizens to adopt the many homeless animals who are being disposed of daily while waiting for a new home.
Below we have included all of the contact information you may need to begin your investigation. Thank you so much for your help with this serious issue. We greatly appreciate any assistance you may provide.
Sincerely,
Concerned Citizens
Websites with information on local puppy mills
Virginia Beach SPCA
757-427-0070
(Currently promoting regulating puppy mills – please see their website for puppy mill regulation information)
http://vbspca.com/modules/vbspcainfo/item.php?itemid=19
Humane Society of the United States
(Reported on a rescue of 1,000 dogs from a Virginia Puppy Mill in Hillsville, VA)
Virginia BeachAnimal Control
757-385-4444
(Animal Related Statistics)
The Virginia Beach SPCA recently found out about a business that is going to open that is associated with Animal Jungle and will be located near their store at 4402 Holland Road that will begin selling puppies.
Every year approximately 2,000 dogs are euthanized by the Virginia Beach SPCA and the Animal Control Bureau. In most cases, there was nothing wrong with these dogs except they were adult and there were not enough homes for them. At least half of all dogs sold in pet stores end up at some time or another in a shelter or pound. Sick and poorly bred puppies are turned into our shelter because the “warranty period is up” and the pet store won’t take them back. Even if they did, the store would just euthanize and then sell more.
Until recently, pet stores and breeders have faced no consequences for this cruel business, but we hope to change that. Unlike other merchandise sold, puppies live 12-15 years and the retailer who sells them has no concern for what happens to the animals once they receive their payment. The financial impact on communities of this business is equal to that of other polluters.
The Virginia Beach SPCA successfully worked with other animal welfare advocates across the state this year to pass a state-wide puppy mill bill to regulate the breeding and sale of animals in Virginia because of the recent terrible cases of cruelty and neglect. Any statement by a retailer that they are buying “locally bred” puppies is suspect. There is case after case of deception about this. Frankly, locally bred puppies are often no better cared for than those in puppy mills.
We are going to share our concerns regarding the entry of Animal Jungle and others into this terrible business as widely as we can and identify all parties involved. Records of registration and animal health will be strengthened by this new legislation and we will apprise the public of these new requirements.
The Virginia Beach SPCA has dealt with dozens of iguanas sold by Animal Jungle for a few dollars, which when they were fully grown, were no longer welcome in the home. Likewise, prairie dogs, sugar gliders and other animals sold by Animal Jungle end up in the care of the Virginia Beach SPCA which has to raise the private funds to care for them. Virginia Beach does not need another one of these businesses pouring yet more animals into the community to be dealt with by either a charity like us or the taxpayers which fund Animal Control.
What an outrage after all our work on the puppy mill bill (HB 538) and this is happening right in our backyard!!! Please tell all your friends and family to spread the word! Please do not buy pets from these establishments. Not only do you risk receiving an unhealthy pet, but it just allows people who are breeding with no regard to the welfare of the animals to continue to do so. PLUS, we already deal with an overpopulation of pets who have no homes due to inappropriate selling/handling of animals from breeders and pet stores.
Please feel free to share this with other animal lovers and if you have any ideas on what can be done to show our disappointment that this activity is happening right here in Virginia Beach, let us know. And if you take any kind of action, let us know that too!
Visit these links to see more about puppy mills and pet stores.
http://www.stoppuppymills.org/
http://www.dogsaver.org/brookline/PAGES/SERIOUS/PuppyMills.htm
http://www.pijac.org/files/public/PUPPIES.pdf
http://www.pijac.org/files/public/Dog_Update_-_E.pdf
Here is a copy of a letter we received:
We are a group of concerned citizens who would like to elicit your help in investigating a business that will soon be opening in Virginia Beach. This new business currently being built is called “Puppyville” and is located at 4402 Holland Road in Virginia Beach. This business is owned by Bob Hames, who is also the owner of the neighboring pet store Animal Jungle. Recently, Mr. Hames signed a 12 year lease with the Katsias Company to ship in and sell 60 to 80 puppies at a time. On numerous occasions over the past few months, we have attempted to contact both Mr. Katsias and Mr. Hames to discuss and educate them on the negative effects this type of business will have on our city. Both men have denied our invitations, and, in fact, Mr. Hames and his current Animal Jungle employees have strongly denied any connection with Puppyville. On our most recent phone call to Animal Jungle on March 17, 2008 a female employee denied that Mr. Hames is opening the puppy store, and she admitted that she was “told not to say anything.” Mr. Hames has convinced Mr. Katsias that the 60 puppies he will sell come from responsible breeders in family raised homes. Unfortunately though, reputable and responsible breeders absolutely do not sell to puppy stores who make money off mass producing various breeds. We need your help to expose the actual “breeders” from which these puppies are being bought, and the horrific conditions the puppies’ parents endure while being used over and over for breeding. We want to uncover the reason behind Mr. Hames’ lies and inform the public on the truths behind this type of business.
In Virginia Beach we currently have a major issue with pet overpopulation, in which we euthanize thousands of homeless pets each year. Virginia has one of the highest rates of euthanasia and overpopulation in the United States, and was the focus of nationwide media when the Humane Society rescued over 1,000 dogs from a Virginia puppy mill in November, 2007. Reports show that in 2003 the state of Virginia euthanized at least 133,800 homeless pets. Local puppy stores only help to increase these numbers by importing large numbers of puppies as a commodity for income. Some of these puppies will grow up to be abandoned by their owners only to end up in our local animal shelters. This large influx of puppies will put a strain on our local shelter and the taxpayer’s dollar which supports our local animal control.
We are in the process of planning peaceful protests and large scale adoption events to encourage local citizens to adopt the many homeless animals who are being disposed of daily while waiting for a new home.
Below we have included all of the contact information you may need to begin your investigation. Thank you so much for your help with this serious issue. We greatly appreciate any assistance you may provide.
Sincerely,
Concerned Citizens
Websites with information on local puppy mills
Virginia Beach SPCA
757-427-0070
(Currently promoting regulating puppy mills – please see their website for puppy mill regulation information)
http://vbspca.com/modules/vbspcainfo/item.php?itemid=19
Humane Society of the United States
(Reported on a rescue of 1,000 dogs from a Virginia Puppy Mill in Hillsville, VA)
Virginia BeachAnimal Control
757-385-4444
(Animal Related Statistics)
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