PET CITY'S SUPPORT OF PUPPY MILLS UNDER PROTEST

TORRANCE, CA - Local grassroots animal rights groups will be spending this Sunday afternoon protesting Pet City in Torrance, outraged over their support of Missouri puppy mills.  Activists will assemble at 2:00 PM in front of Pet City at 18305 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance.

According to reports from The Humane Society of the United States and the USDA as compared to information directly provided by Pet City, the chain of four local pet stores is currently doing business with some of the worst puppy mills in the country.  Conditions at these facilities include exposure to extreme heat and cold, flea and rat infestations, emaciated animals, and dogs with bleeding wounds and missing eyes.

Activists urge Pet City to stop supporting puppy mills, and instead work with local rescues and shelters to set up an adoption program.  Due to budget cuts, Los Angeles shelters could see an additional 11,000 pets euthanized in the coming year, as well as more animals on the streets.  According to the Humane Society, 6-8 million animals enter shelters each year, and half of those are euthanized.

One local activist says, “As a long time resident of Torrance I am disgusted to find out that Pet City sells dogs from puppy mills.  Living in a household full of animal lovers, I have always known the cruel and inhumane treatment that dogs endure inside of commercial breeding facilities. The breeding dog spends her entire life in a tiny wire cage, being denied everything that is natural to her, while her puppies are sold at a cheap price to stores like Pet City.  A store like this has no place in our community, and as a responsible resident I plan to see Pet City either go humane or close down.”

For more information about puppy mills, and to view The Humane Society’s “Dirty Dozen” report, visit: http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/