FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WHO: Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) Deborah Howard, Founder and President of CAPS Howard founded CAPS in 1992 and is devoted to the protection of companion animals. She is a frequent guest speaker on the topic and has been featured on Animal Planet, CNN, CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX. CAPS is the only national non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to protecting companion animals from cruelty in pet shops and puppy mills. www.caps-web.org
WHAT: CAPS will kick-off the first in a series of protests against several pet shops in Long Island to draw awareness to the connection between pet shops and puppy mills. Almost all pet shops obtain dogs from puppy mills.
WHEN: Saturday, June 23, 2012 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm ET
WHERE:
The Puppy Experience (Barbara Dennihy will be at this location from 1pm to 3pm for interviews)
487 New York State Route 25, Aquebogue, NY 11931
Yipity Yap
1803 East Jericho Turnpike, Huntington, NY 11743
Peebles Pet Shop
3669 Route 112, Coram, NY 11727
WHY: These pet shops sell dogs from puppy mills – commercial breeding facilities that mass- produce puppies for resale through pet shops and brokers. USDA licensed facilities are puppy mills. All three stores are linked to several breeders with multiple AWA (Animal Welfare Act) violations. They frequently buys from puppy mills from states in the Midwest, particularly Missouri.
Some of the complaints describe in detail instances of gross neglect, inadequate veterinary care, lack of basic cleanliness, and in some instances animal abuse. A long list of customers complain of sickly dogs who had chronic illnesses that were contracted before purchase. It is important for the public to know the risk of buying a puppy mill dog and the cruel system they’ll be sponsoring if they buy a puppy in these places.
The Puppy Experience:
Previously bought from Kathy Bauck (prior to her conviction). Frequently buys puppies from the Hunte Corporation (see video).
Yipity Yap:
They buy from notorious puppy mills in Missouri. Some of these breeders have multiple USDA violations which include inadequate veterinary care and neglect (see video).
Peebles Pet Shop:
They also buy the majority of their pups from Missouri. One of the breeders Kathy and Scott Spencer of Mendon, MO have ten (10) violations, including serious vet care violations (see more information about USDA inspection reports).
HOW: CAPS wants to alert consumers to the problems associated with purchasing puppies from pet shops. At these peaceful protests, CAPS will distribute fact sheets on pet shops and where to adopt in the Long Island area and CAPS brochures. CAPS protestors along with concerned, local residents want local pet stores to convert to a humane business model that dogs from local shelters, especially kill facilities, rather than from puppy mills.
Media Contacts: Founder and President of CAPS: Deborah Howard, caps@caps-web.org
New York CAPS: Barbara Dennihy, cell: 631-338-7303, contact
Public Relations Director: Wilfredo Rodriguez, cell: 787-438-5765, wilfredo@caps-web.org
About CAPS:
Founded by President Deborah Howard in 1992, Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) is the only national nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to protecting companion animals from cruelty in pet shops and puppy mills. CAPS actively addresses the abuse and suffering of pet shop and puppy mill dogs through investigations, education, media relations, legislative involvement, puppy mill dog rescues, consumer assistance and pet industry employee relations.
