Local Pet Store Issue: Puppies for Sale

In June of this year, the Lucky Puppy Boutique and Barkery opened at Market Place Mall in Champaign, Illinois. In addition to some specialty dog merchandise, the store sells puppies of a variety of breeds and breed-mixes.

It has been more than 15 years since a retail store has sold puppies in Champaign-Urbana, and citizens and animal welfare groups alike are voicing their concerns about the practice of selling puppies at a retail store.

Links to learn more about the issue:
Champaign County Humane Society - www.cuhumane.org
CATsNAP - www.catsnap.org
"They're Selling Puppies at the Mall - What's Wrong With That?" - commentary by Mary Tiefenbrunn, founding board member of the CARE Center

Link to a report by WCIA TV (www.illinoishomepage.net):
Lucky Puppy Concerns - November 19, 2007 video

Links to articles published in The News-Gazette (www.news-gazette.com):
"Puppy sales draw objections" - June 23, 2007

Links to editorials published in The News-Gazette:
"Warm, fuzzy puppies generate hot, contentious debate" - July 8, 2007

Links to letters to the editor published in The News-Gazette:
"Dog show great way to find a suitable pet" - August 24, 2007
"Breeding dogs can endure tough lives" - August 7, 2007
"Exercise great care when selecting pet" - August 7, 2007
"Same crusaders after Chief and pet store?" - July 31, 2007
"Shelters are best source for dogs" - July 29, 2007
"Pet store seems like a nice place to visit" - July 23, 2007
"If you want a dog, go to rescue or shelter" - July 18, 2007
"Be careful buying pure-bred puppies" - July 16, 2007
"Please adopt healthy, unwanted dogs, cats" - July 15, 2007
"Please don't buy dogs from stores" - July 10, 2007
"Don't buy a dog on an emotional whim" - July 3, 2007
"Don't blame only pet store operators" - July 3, 2007
"Why not check facts before condemning?" - June 30, 2007
"Quote of pet shop owner offended many" - June 28, 2007
"Better ways to have dogs screened" - June 26, 2007
"Resist urge to buy puppies from a store" - June 26, 2007
"Best breeders don't sell dogs to stores" - June 19, 2007
"Beware when buying 'designer' dogs" - June 16, 2007