Demo Wrap-Up: Saturday @ Pet City Whittier

When:  Saturday, February 12 · 9:00am - 11:00am
Where:  Pet City, 14718 Whittier Blvd., Whittier

Twenty activists gathered at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning to protest Pet City's support of puppy mills.  They arrived when the store opened, and stayed through the store's vaccination clinic, which took place from 10-11 a.m.

Pet City manager George Ng opened the store that day, and store owner Judy Ying later drove down Whittier Boulevard to videotape the protest.

The vaccination clinic attracted many customers and their dogs to the Pet City parking lot.  During the clinic, activists provided flyers for alternate low-cost vaccinations in the area, including clinics conducted by LA Animal Services.  Customers had the opportunity to review the puppy mill literature provided while they waited their turn for the clinic, and while many were reluctant to pack up their animals and leave the store on Saturday, they said they would go elsewhere for vaccines in the future.  Customers were especially interested to find out that other clinics were cheaper than Pet City - a rabies shot, for example, is $12 at Pet City and only $6 at the local shelter.

The reverse of the vaccine flyer promoted a 3-Day Valentine Adoption Event, hosted at PetSmart and featuring animals from SEAACA.  SEAACA also provides the puppies for "adoption" at Pet City, but customers were confused about why Pet City charges $290-$490 for shelter puppies, when the same puppies would be available at SEAACA for only $100.   SEAACA's animals for adoption are also listed on Petfinder.com.

Like other holidays, Valentine's weekend is big for puppy sales.  Activists were pleased to be able to educate the public about puppy mills, and Pet City's customers were happy to find out alternatives for vaccines and animal adoptions, which will save them money - without contributing to the cruel puppy mill industry.