Petland, Hunte Corp, and Puppy Mills 2007/08/11 20:14

Two days ago we planned to visit Jungle Jim’s for the first time. I was excited at the prospect of scoping out its well-known exotic and unusual atmosphere and merchandise; unfortunately, I visited its Web site: www.junglejims.com, and I discovered by clicking on “Jungle News” that it will also soon be known for its business ties to Petland. Petland is a franchise whose owners purchase most of their dogs from a group called the Hunte Corporation. So what, right? Well, the Hunte Corporation purchases most of its “merchandise” (i.e., puppies) from one of the saddest, most warped institutions still legal in this country: puppy mills. If you know little about the term “puppy mills,” please visit this Web site www.stoppuppymills.org. A warning for those who have even the slightest fondness for dogs–the information is extremely unsettling. I wrote to the owners of Jungle Jim’s asking them to please research the Hunte Corporation more thoroughly before going through will their business dealings. Jungle Jim’s has a lot of influence in its community. If the owners choose to, they could help puppies, dogs, cats, kittens, birds, et al.…not support a system that hurts them. Just to be fair, I visited Petland’s Web site, too. The writers claim that Petland is extremely humane and ethical; they even go so far as to deny any claims by shelter organizations and concerned pet owners: “We know that members of some animal rights groups would have you believe that all pet store puppies are bred and raised in substandard facilities. This is untrue. Petland also disagrees with the agenda of animal rights groups that would deny people the right to own and live with companion pets.” The absurdity of this second statement is laughable and only reveals the length of the writers’ manipulation. The people accusing Petland of cruelty are the same people who work for shelters and who want to give these poor dogs good homes. They are the same people who own and love dogs themselves. They are you and I. We will only perpetuate this disturbing cycle by purchasing a puppy from many existing pet stores, including Petland. We shouldn’t even buy a flea comb there. If we care about animals, let’s shop someplace that doesn’t support puppy mills! I realize most of you already know of all this, but I’m sure that a small percentage of the pet-loving population would like to be made aware. If at all possible, please adopt from a shelter; otherwise, be bold and do some research to ensure that your chosen breeder is a reputable one. For the dogs. Thanks, guys.