PET STORES

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, July/August 1997:

Responding to criticism of the Vetsmart neutering brochure distributed at
in-house clinics in the PetsMart stores, which seems to promote rather than discourage
breeding, PetsMart Charities director Lynn Stullberg DVM, has pledged to “work
together with individuals in the animal welfare community to revise the brochure” and
encourage Vetsmart to accept the revisions. “Vetsmart is always willing to support the
mission of PetsMart Charities,” Stullberg added. “For example, they are supplying at
cost the vaccinations for an animal control facility in San Diego so they may participate
in PetsMart’s Luv-A-Pet Adoption Program. Another example is a program which
Vetsmart has founded in association with the University of Minnesota College of
Veterinary Medicine, in which veterinary students take a course in animal welfare,
work at a local humane society, and neuter dogs and cats for the society at no charge to
the organization. This program will start this month.”

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge on June 25 signed a “puppy lemon law”
sought by the Pennsylvania Legislative Action Network and state senator S t e w a r t
Greenleaf since 1988, entitling buyers of puppies with contagious diseases to a refund
or payment of veterinary bills up to the cost of the animal. Pennsyvlania is the 15th state
to adopt such a law, but the first among the major puppy mill states. Pennsylvania ranks
seventh in the U.S. in puppy breeding, behind Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska,
Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
Cynthia M. Miller, formerly owner of Cindy’s Prrfect Pets in Tucson, on
June 16 filed suit against Pima County Animal Control for allegedly seizing her property
without a warrant in November 1995 and April 1996 raids which led to her conviction
on nine counts of animal neglect. Miller was fined $3,800 and given five years on
probation, during which time she may not own animals.
Tammy Lemley, 38, of Harper’s Ferry, Virginia, on May 19 sued Petland
franchise owner Harry McCordof Martinsburg for alleged unjust dismissal, claiming she
was fired on January 2 for anonymously telling the Petland head office that McCord was
selling sick puippies. A Petland spokesperson said McCord had been cleared of the
charge, and that Lemley was actually fired for not following proper fiscal procedures.