Damien, thank you for standing on principle and doing the right thing. Since you've witnessed this practice first hand, I'd recommend that you contact the Ohio Attorney General's office [http://www.ag.state.oh.us/] and state that you'd like to help in any way to have these stores shut down to prevent further cruelty of animals. As a dog owner and animal lover, your service would be much appreciated by those of us that read your comments and were moved and saddened. With your knowledge they may even be able to close the mill's themselves, as well. The very best of luck if you follow up.

In 95 I was a kennel tech at Petland in tri-county. I worked there are a short 3 months. I refused to continue being a part of the horrible cruelty and devious practices that I witnessed and which authorities overlooked or were oblivious to. I saw Petland accept dogs on a weekly basis that arrived crammed 30 or more in a small white van that had usually driven from AR or MO. Most were exhibiting symptoms including cough, nasal discharge, respiratory infections, severe diarrhea and vomiting, dehydration and emaciation. All were covered in urine and stool and vomit. We were rarely allowed to take them to a vet, and even then would only approve $20 oral medications to treat lethal diseases such as parvo and distemper. They forbade us from turning away and refusing delivery of obviously sick and unhealthy puppies. I have seen them accept walk-in litters of mixed breed puppies from the general public, then turn around and mate the donated mutts with akc breed certificates and papers from the puppy mill dogs that had died. Many times I was forced to misrepresent a mixed breed dog as a pure bred akc registered puppy selling for $1,000 and up using falsified and mis-matched paperwork. They pushed this agenda successfully on employees by giving bonuses tied to the sale of the dog and a percentage of the sale price. The kennel room had no ventilation system and scores of sick puppies were incubated in tiny rooms with the few that were healthy. I am confident that many puppies were sold in apparent decent health but became sick within a week or so from sale after being exposed to serious disease and illness while in Petland’s kennel. I have seen the delivery slips showing puppy mill information and logos, and have looked at manifests reflecting shipments of hundreds of dogs in one week to various stores with all the dogs originating from the same supplier. I am overjoyed that some action is finally being taken, and saddened that it took this

About damn time they rat them out! Im so sick of them selling mill puppies and everyone buying them having no clue what they are getting into. Thats a horrible place and I have always refused to give them my service. Im glad word is getting out and people will know not to buy puppies from them anymore as you are only appaulding thier stupidity.

They not only need to stop the sale of these puppies, they need to shut down the puppy mills and rescue the adult dogs, especially the females, that have litter and litter. They never leave their cages either! It's all very heartbreaking. I saw a special on animal planet once about a rescued female dog, who had many litters before they had her spayed. Her back was forever hunched, because she couldn't stand up straight in the cage. I'm glad they're exposing this horrific practice.

This isn't new news. They have done this for years. No pet store should be allowed to sell dogs or cats. Supporting rescue groups at pet stores is one thing but selling is another. Puppies should only be available as rescued or by carefully screened and liscensed breeders with limits on how many litters they can have in a set amount of time. NEVER EVER BUY A PUPPIE FROM A PET STORE YOU ARE ONLY ALLOWING THE CONTINUENCE OF ANIMAL ABUSE.

I bought a puppy from them about 5 years ago - he was VERY sick. After breathing treatments, multiple vet visits and a few sleepless nights, he pulled through. Unfortunately, he has since passed due to a back injury...but he was an awesome pet, very loved and horribly missed. Petland offered to take him back once his illness was discovered, but there was no way I would give him back...we had adopted each other by then. The dog didn't even turn out to be the breed they claimed he was...but that didn't matter to me - I loved him anyway. Paid an awful lot of money - but I don't regret it, because I loved the dog. Still, I would never EVER go back to these people...they clearly don't care as long as they make their money. I'd love a chance to testify against them.

Finally!!!