Who can believe that there is no soul behind those luminous eyes! (Theophile Gautier)

   In the great hierarchy of the animal kingdom, the canine is unrivaled in its compatibility with mankind.  From the dawn of time humans have relied on dogs for hunting, for guidance, and for just plain companionship.  They greet us at the end of our day, they entertain us with their abundantly unique personalities, and they offer respite during times of hardship.  After all they have voluntarily given to us, it is time we give back.  It is time we start the fight to end puppy abuse in Ohio.

   We begin our fight right in our very neck of the woods.  2620 Bethel Rd, Columbus, OH, to be exact.  Though playing with the dogs housed within the Petland on Bethel Road has become an enjoyable pastime for some of the regular visitors, many do not know the horrors that have trailed the puppy they are holding throughout her entire life.

   The abuse begins from the moment the puppy is born.  According to the Humane Society of the United States, (HSUS), it is unfortunate to note that Petland has dishonored their claims of conscientiously obtaining their puppies.  According to an expose conducted by the HSUS, Petland was found to have accepted numerous shipments of puppies from notorious Missouri puppy broker, The Hunte Corporation (http://www.humanesociety.org/ assets/pdfs/pets/puppy_mills/ petland_state_data_ohio.pdf).  The Hunte Corporation has been criticized numerous times for a number of things, ranging from inadequate cage sizing to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ horrific discovery of “trenches of dead canines” on the Hunte Corporation’s, (HC) premises. HC has been cited for clean water and waste violations on top of the atrocious conditions they force the animals under their “care” to live in (http://www.sourcewatch.org/ index.php/Hunte_Corporation ). The Hunte Corpoation is, in every aspect, a puppy mill.  It is one of the vilest industries that this nation has seen, and it has seeped into our community.  The business generated by the Petland on Bethel Road funds not only support for the atrocities found at the Hunte Corporation, but for the industry of puppy mills as a whole. 

    A city such as Columbus, OH, should not tolerate the operation of such a horrific business, and we ask our representatives to help us in the fight to have the Petland on Bethel Road closed for good.  We ask that they spread the word within their communities, and stand up for what is right through encouraging the removal of Petland from the Columbus community.  Thank you for your time and consideration, we hope to hear from you soon.