MARANA, Ariz. (KVOA) — For the first time we are hearing from the owner of Petland Tucson after animal activists protested in front of the company’s new pet store in Marana.
Petland used to have a location in the Tucson area 15 years ago. The owner wants to set the record straight that they do not get their dogs from puppy mills, which in definition is a commercial farming operation in which purebred dogs are raised in large numbers and often in poor conditions.
And as News 4 Tucson’s Jafet Serrato shows us – the store’s return is not sitting well with some people.
There’s a new pet store in Marana near River and Orange Grove roads called Petland.
Unlike most openings this one was met with opposition.
That push back came in the form of protests from animal activists.
“We respect everyone’s right to free speech,” said Ken Kirkpatrick, owner of Petland Tucson.
“We get our dogs from the best sources possible. They come from USDA licensed breeders. Those breeders are inspected at least two times a year. We will not purchase any of our puppies or animals from any USDA breeder that has any kind of a violation in the last two years,” Kirkpatrick explained.
Animal activist Gary Vella and member of an animal activist group called SPEAK is countering Kirkpatrick’s words.
“Maybe they haven’t gotten a violation in the last year. USDA license is still a puppy mill,” Vella said.
Kirkpatrick says the puppies in this store come from Indiana.
“I have personally visited where these dogs actually come from. They go as far as actually having heated floors during the winter time. The facilities are extremely clean,” Kirkpatrick added.
“Some situations are better than others, but it doesn’t take away that it’s mass breeding,” Vella explained.
Animal activists say Tucson animal shelters are overcrowded – that’s why they say they want the store to leave town.
“We don’t think it’s great for backyard breeders to be breeding dogs, those are the dogs that actually fill the shelters. Those are the dogs that get sold in the back of pickup trucks, that’s not what we do,” Kirkpatrick said.
“Of course there are local situations that contribute to the overflowing, they’re bringing dogs in left and right it just doesn’t make sense,” Vella said.
Petland has about 100 locations in the United States of America.
The owner of Petland Tucson says the company is trying to get all of their breeders in a program called canine care certified.
He says it’s a program by Purdue University that is the highest level of professional breeding that any breeder can obtain.
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