Paw Time Puppies & Rescue
6434 Calumet Ave.
Hammond, IN 46324
(219) 888-0776
Date and time of CAPS investigation: 3-1-25; 1240
Approximate number of dogs observed at time of investigation: 22 puppies
Puppies in the store were kept in barren wire cages. There were a total of 16 cages in the store, each about two feet long and tall and 1.5 feet wide, with wire floorings. Under the floorings were newspaper-covered trays. Each cage had one to two puppies and a water bottle attached to a wall but had no toys or blankets of any kind.
Owner agitated by questions about breeders
I spoke to a man who identified himself as the owner, Leo (Hispanic male, about 40 years old, 5’8”, 185 lbs., with a bald head, a thin chin-strap beard, no moustache, and tattoos covering his arms) about the puppies. I asked where the puppies came from, and told him I wanted to make sure they weren’t from puppy mills. He said he uses “good, stand-up breeders” but didn’t elaborate on the conditions the breeders keep dogs in after I asked him twice.
Owner kicked me out of the store for asking about breeders
Leo then told me to make an appointment to see puppies, and I told him again that I just wanted to ask about his breeders before I commit to seeing a puppy. As I began to explain my concern about puppy mills, he became visibly agitated, interrupted me to say that he was too busy to talk to me, and opened the front door of the store. He stood there as I walked out and told me to make an appointment. Tatro added that he would only answer questions about puppies if I was certain I wanted to buy one.
Background
Leo Tatro is the owner of Paw Time. CAPS originally learned about Tatro in 2015 after receiving complaints about Cane Corso World, a business he owned in Itasca, IL. CAPS’ Illinois director went to check out the business and witnessed Tatro kicking a Cane Corso dog inside the store, which she reported to authorities. He later owned pet shops in Illinois, including Noah’s Puppies in Lombard. During a CAPS protest of this store in January 2021, Tatro intimidated CAPS’ Illinois Outreach Coordinator. In addition, a security guard with a gun was standing at the entrance, and Tatro videotaped the CAPS protest by getting right in front of the protesters.
Noah’s Puppies, now closed, has many negative reviews on Yelp. The store was obtaining puppies from Missouri mills investigated by CAPS: Samuel and Polly Borntrager and Chrissie Yoder
Tatro’s wife, Agne, had a USDA license at the Paw Time address. We believe they were selling puppies online. The 9/15/21 inspection report had eight violations, including one direct violation for no water in cages. When the inspectors stated that the puppies needed water, Tatro started yelling, insulted the inspectors, and dumped water from a dog bowl on the floor among other aggressive actions.
