Maybe the future of the puppy business isn’t as bright as it used to be?
April 14th, 2010 by admin
Last Saturday, Mary & Albert Zentz, commercial dog breeders in the small city of Hurdland, in northern Missouri, auctioned off their business of 25 years. At auction was a trailer used to transport dogs, dozens of wire cages and wooden pens, and 133 dogs between the ages of 6 months and 10 years. Many of the dogs at auction were pregnant, including a five-year-old Yorkshire Terrier named Phebe. According to the auction catalog, “She is missing part of her back leg, her mom chewed it when she was born.” Also up for sale was ten-year-old Marylou, whose most notable feature was, “She has had several litters of 4 & 5 pups.”
On the website of the auction house, Judy Norford, owner of the Puppy Palace pet stores in Hollywood and Boynton Beach, praised the Zentz Kennel as one of her “cherished breeders.”
In recent years, numerous complaints have been filed against Puppy Palace, accusing the store of selling puppies with serious diseases, genetic disorders and other health problems. In 2006, Puppy Palace settled a lawsuit filed by several customers who purchased puppies from Puppy Palace, only to discover the puppies were sick with bronchitis and pneumonia. Several puppies died shortly after purchase. The Better Business Bureau has given Puppy Palace an “F” rating.
Unfortunately, there are many puppy mills in Missouri and elsewhere in the country ready to fill Puppy Palace’s orders for puppies.
Speak up! Coincidentally, on Saturday there was a peaceful demonstration outside Puppy Palace in Hollywood (5909 Hollywood Blvd.). Your help is needed to raise awareness about puppy mills and to encourage shoppers to adopt from local shelters instead of buying a dog. Contact ARFF for details of future demonstrations at Puppy Palace and other pet stores in Florida.
PUPPY PALACE HAS AN A+ FROM THE BBB. DO YOUR RESEARCH.