Petland named in lawsuit by the Humane Society
The pet store chain Petland, Inc. is the defendant in a lawsuit filed against the company by the Humane Society of the United States on Monday, March 16, 2009 in the US District Court in Phoenix, AZ. Other pet owners who say they purchased sick puppies from Petland are also parties in the suit. The lawsuit seeks class action status and challenges the companies’ conduct under the federal racketeering statute and under consumer protection laws of 20 states.
The lawsuit alleges that Petland intentionally misled thousands of customers who purchased puppies at their stores. According to the lawsuit Petland led their customers into believing the puppies purchased came from the finest breeders in the country. According to the Humane Society many of the puppies sold by the store were bred in puppy mills in filthy conditions with inadequate care or socialization.
The plaintiffs are seeking changes in how the puppies are bread, to stop what they call unfair and deceptive sales practices, and financial damages to help cover the veterinary costs associated with the purchased puppies.
An executive of Petland stated these were false accusations, and the store in fact only offers “healthy, happy and well-socialized pets” for sale to their customers.