Houston pet store racks up more than 30 citations for selling commercially-bred animals
Houston pet store being protested
A Houston business owner has racked up more than 30 tickets for violating a city ordinance that prohibits stores from selling pets that come from so-called puppy mills. Protesters gathered outside the store this morning in hopes of putting a stop to it. FOX 26’s Shelby Rose reports more on the issue.
HOUSTON - Gathered on the side of Westheimer Road, a small group of protesters called upon the Houston pet store Petland to stop selling commercially bred animals and comply with a new city ordinance. Their owner has now been cited more than 30 times since February.
"Why are we allowing puppy-selling pet stores to ship in puppies from out-of-state, commercial breeders," questioned Shannon Graham, the Texas team leader for Bailing Out Benji, a non-profit dedicated to ending so-called puppy mill sales.
This ordinance which was passed unanimously by the city council in January 2022 only allows the sale of animals to come from shelters or rescue groups. It's in hopes of stopping the sale of puppies that come from inhumane breeders.
"The quality of life that dogs live in puppy mills experience is horrific, truly," said Becky Best, the Gulf Coast Animal Welfare Alliance director. "A lot of them spend their whole life in cages. Even if they’re USDA approved, the space they have to have is only six inches bigger than the dog."
The ordinance allowed a grace period of one year. That’s since expired, and Petland's owner Luis Marquez has now acquired a total of 34 citations.
But he continues to keep their doors open.
Best said, "It’s so brazen to me that someone is going to operate so unlawfully and just out in the open and continue to just pay fines. I don’t understand how we have laws that we can’t enforce that if you have deep enough pockets you can just ignore the laws."
These protesters are hoping something more will be done and even suggested a seemingly simple solution so Petland doesn’t have to pack up and leave.
"There are tons of puppies that are available through non-profits that would love to work with them as partners. So if they would just follow the ordinance that would be fabulous," said Best.
Graham adds they could just stop altogether, explaining, "Petland could be very successful without selling puppies. The pet industry is booming."
FOX 26 did reach out to Petland to get a statement on the matter to which they did not reply.