IDA's Letter to Petland's CEO
June 23, 2000
Greg Hudson, CEO
Petland Corporate Offices
250 Riverside Street
P.O. Box 1606
Chillicothe, Ohio 45601
Dear Mr. Hudson,
I am a former Senior Investigator for USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service reaching almost 19 years of service before accepting a position with In Defense of Animals (IDA). For over 15 years now I have witnessed unbelievable suffering and misery in puppy mills while working for USDA as well as in my present position as Director of Investigations for IDA. I have worked under cover in Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota investigating the pet production and distribution industry. These mills supply puppies and kittens to Petland as well as other pet stores across the country and abroad.
While on the puppy mill trail I have established a link with the pet production and distribution industry to various Petland stores. I have documented frequent shipments by numerous Midwestern brokers to Petland stores across the country. As you must realize most brokers acquire puppies and kittens from USDA licensed breeders. I am confident that your customers would be shocked at the conditions in which these mill animals exist breeding litter after litter till they are "spent up". These mill operators view the puppies and kittens, shipped for vast distances in every direction, as commodities. Any references to love for animals in their care are an affront to logic, considering the deplorable living conditions and inadequate heath care.
The literature on your web page indicates that "…Petland stores will work with local animal shelters to place homeless animals in desirable homes…" I randomly contacted Petland stores across the country looking for an animal to adopt. In every instance I was told that pets were sold and adoptions were not an option. An employee at the Cincinnati Ridge store didn’t even know if there was a pound or shelter in the area. I resent the pretense that you work with shelters while millions of adoptable animals are euthanized yearly. While mountains of dead bodies leave shelters in communities in which your stores operate, others suffer senseless misery in mills cranking out litter after litter for Petland stores.
I urge you to work as vigorously finding desirable homes for forgotten and homeless animals as you have to establish ties to the puppy mill industry. Unless and until you sever ties with the mills and the commercial production and distribution network of dealers that support them, I will lead a relentless boycott of your stores. The evidence is in and groundwork completed for a well-orchestrated campaign to enlighten the consuming public. I challenge and admonish you to take the path of greatest compassion for the animals and service to the communities in which you operate. I assure you that communities support and embrace businesses that demonstrate social responsibility and accountability.
My call for a boycott of Petland is not intended to inflict financial harm to your company but simply a means of ending misery and suffering I have seen in mills firsthand. I am willing to meet with you or your representatives to discuss the issues and hopefully avert any adverse impact our boycott will likely cause. Thousands of animals will die in pounds, shelters, and mills each day that you delay in reaching a decision that I view as a "no brainer." At this point I will assume that your love and respect for animals is as genuine as your dedication to customer service. Your business acumen is apparently well honed and I shall anxiously await your reply. I have every confidence that you will sever ties to an industry driven by greed rather than love for animals.
Sincerely,
Marshall G. Smith
Director of Investigations
(573) 636-9291
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