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Pet store chain puts halt to selling cats and dogs

Jack’s Pets advises customers to use local agencies for adoptions.

Jack's Pets employee Brandi Christy pets a cat that apparently was left somewhere outside the store Thursday by an unknown person. The animal is free to a good home at Jack's Pets on South Smithville Road in Dayton, store officials said. Jack's Pets no longer sells cats and dogs. Customers looking for cats or dogs will be advised to use local agencies for adoptions.

Staff photo by Teesha McClam Jack's Pets employee Brandi Christy pets a cat that apparently was left somewhere outside the store Thursday by an unknown person. The animal is free to a good home at Jack's Pets on South Smithville Road in Dayton, store officials said. Jack's Pets no longer sells cats and dogs. Customers looking for cats or dogs will be advised to use local agencies for adoptions.

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By Katie Wedell, Staff Writer Updated 1:42 AM Friday, October 21, 2011

BEAVERCREEK — Jack’s Pets, which owns and operates 27 stores throughout Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, announced Thursday they have stopped selling puppies and will instead start working with shelters and rescue organizations to offer in-store pet adoptions.

The move, which is endorsed by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, follows the adoption trend of national chain stores, Super-Petz and PetsMart.

Animal rights activists began putting major pressure on pet stores after a 2008 investigation by the Humane Society of the United States tracked 17,000 puppies bred in substandard puppy mills to 21 Petland stores across the country.

Puppy mills are characterized as large-scale commercial dog breeding operations that mass-produce puppies for sale. Dogs that come from such facilities can exhibit health and behavioral problems.

Through their “No Pet Store Puppies” campaign, the ASPCA has urged consumers to boycott all products from stores that sell puppies.

“The risk is simply too high that you’re supporting a puppy mill,” said Cori Menkin, senior director of the ASPCA campaign.

The Beavercreek-based Jack’s Pets, formerly Jack’s Aquarium & Pets, has always maintained that their puppies came from trusted local breeders, and Menkin confirmed that they were never a specific target of the ASPCA’s campaign.

“There are some stores, like Jack’s, that were trying to source responsibly. But our position is that responsible breeders don’t sell to pet stores,” she said.

Paul Kamm, Jack’s vice president of sales and operations, said the company is working to position itself for future growth, remodelling all their stores and focusing more on products, such as pet food.

“The reality is that there are still a lot of puppies in shelters that need homes,” he said.

“We want to continue to provide our customers with lovable companions while helping to save dogs’ lives, and we hope other stores will follow suit,” said Scott Brenner, president of Jack’s Pets.

Petland, which has corporate offices in Chillicothe, has not responded to ASPCA requests to stop selling puppies in their 140 stores. Petland officials could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Menkin said the puppy mill problem is growing in Ohio. Sweeping regulations in neighboring Pennsylvania, and the fact that Ohio still allows dog auctions, have made this state appealing to breeders.

The Ohio Legislature has rejected puppy mill legislation in the past. Senate Bill 130, which would establish minimum standards of care and implement inspections of all licensed breeders is currently in the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Kamm said Jack’s has not solidified any partnership plans with local shelters, but intends to work with the ASPCA to find reputable shelters and start offering pet adoptions in 2012.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2124 or kwedell@coxohio.com.

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