IDA's Letter to Petland's CEO
March 1, 2001
Greg Hudson, CEO
Petland Corporate Offices
250 Riverside Street
P.O. Box 1606
Chillicothe, Ohio 45601
Dear Mr. Hudson,
This is a follow up to the letter I sent to you on July 3, 2000 in which I implored you to sever ties with the commercial pet production industry responsible for the proliferation of "puppy mills." Petland and other pet stores clearly share responsibility for the proliferation of "mills" which mass-produce puppies, kittens and other animals. As you may recall, I offered to meet with you or your designated representative to discuss our concerns for breeding animals held captive their entire lives till they are no longer economically viable. I regret your apparent unwillingness to consider the concerns outlined in my previous letter and I am writing again in the hopes of opening a dialog between us.
Since In Defense of Animals launched the national boycott of Petland, individuals and organizations with diverse interests have joined this important campaign and share our determination. You will notice a significant impact resulting from the distribution of our educational material disseminated near Petland locations across the country. Potential customers will be informed of the miserable conditions that breeding animals are forced to endure solely for corporate profits. They will also learn that Petland has no concern or compassion for the millions of healthy adoptable animals who will die for lack of loving homes.
Promotional material for Petland contains statements and assertions regarding the origin of puppies that are grossly misleading. Petlands’s reliance on puppy mills to supply its stores is easily verifiable through health certificates available through "Freedom of Information" statutes. These undeniably establish Petland's reliance on this cruel industry to supply its stores.
The recent abandonment of starving and neglected animals at the Charleston, WV Petland captured local and national attention especially in light of the previous history of the store owner/operator. I urge you as CEO of Petland to utilize every means available to your corporation to revoke the franchise agreement with this establishment. IDA is determined to uncover any other potential Petland sites of animal negligence and abuse. To that end we are offering a reward of up to $2500 to any Petland employee who reports a Petland owner, manager or supervisor for acts of cruelty or neglect that result in an arrest.
Although I am disappointed by your failure to respond, I assure you that I am not deterred. Since the announcement of IDA’ boycott of Petland, I continue to receive disturbing accounts from former Petland customers and employees. The callous disregard for living creatures exhibited by some Petland franchisees strengthens my resolve to effect change on behalf of animals who your company views as mere commodities. In addition to the suffering of these animals, too many families have experienced tremendous emotional trauma after bonding with an animal companion who was stricken with debilitating or life threatening conditions typically associated with "mill" animals. Time and again I read accounts of franchisees offering to exchange a beloved animal companion for another as if the living animal were a piece of damaged furniture. IDA is insistent that Petland uphold social and moral responsibility for the suffering of animals sold at its stores and act to stop it. At this point the majority of Petland stores are oblivious to this concept.
In closing I wish to reiterate my willingness to meet with you or your designated representative to discuss our concerns in greater depth and to urge Petland to offer adoptable animals instead of selling "mill" animals. I assure you that your customers would applaud the compassion and regard for animals demonstrated by such a change in company policy, especially in light of mounting negative sentiment against puppy mills.
Sincerely,
Marshall G. Smith
Director of Investigations
Marshall's July 3, 2000 letter to Petland CEO Greg Hudson |
