WHY YOU SHOULD CARE

ADOPTION IS AN OPTION! You may have your heart set on a puppy or a particular breed, but if you buy a puppy online or from a pet store, a 2014 ASPCA Report uncovered that you are “NEARLY 100% LIKELY” supporting the puppy mill industry. The perfect pet is waiting for you at one of the thousands of shelters or rescue groups across the country. An estimated 25 percent of all dogs entering shelters are pure breeds from puppy mills. If you can’t find the right pet at your local shelter visit www.petfinder.com, which allows you to search for a dog of a particular breed, age, temperament, etc.

LET’S EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY! Virginia rescues and shelters take in an estimated 90,000 unwanted dogs per year, according to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and more than 16,600 unwanted dogs were euthanized by Virginia shelters in 2013. Ask MY NEXT PUPPY to consider switching to a humane business model, offering puppies for adoption from nearby shelters or moving to a supplies-only model. Help spread the word that educated Fairfax County dog lovers would prefer to buy supplies from a pet store that does not commodify animals. The Humane Society of the United States provides free resources & training to pet shop owners who make the switch, and maintains a list of “puppy-friendly” pet stores you can access by texting "PUPPY" to 30644.

BUYER BEWARE! Pet shops have great-looking websites to help them sell puppies directly to the public. The Humane Society of the Unites States warns buyers to beware of any site that sells dogs online, especially if, like My Next Puppy, they offer to ship a puppy to you. Sometimes, the breeder will proclaim right on the site that the business is not a puppy mill. Unless you see firsthand where your puppy comes from, trusting the content on a website is risky, since it’s the perfect place for consumer fraud to occur. The Humane Society encourages consumers to acquire puppies only from animal shelters, reliable rescue organizations or from responsible breeders they have carefully screened IN PERSON. Unfortunately, there are more than 10,000 puppy mills in the United States—and almost all of them promote themselves as "responsible" breeders, or promise "home-raised" puppies.

ADOPT DON’T SHOP! Pet stores, like MY NEXT PUPPY sell puppies as though they are merchandise. Puppies are raised with low-cost production methods in which corners are cut to maximize profits, sold to a broker or “middle man,” and delivered to retail stores to be bought by customers. The Humane Society estimates that 172,739 dogs were kept solely for breeding purposes in USDA licensed facilities in 2014, producing 2.11 million puppies sold who originated from puppy mills (USDA licensed and non-USDA licensed). Because it’s sad to see pet store puppies in cages, many people want to “rescue” them by buying them. While the intentions of these people are good, buying dogs helps pet stores stay in business, perpetuating the cycle of thousands more puppies being raised in puppy mills. That’s why we recommend a “do not enter” approach to compassionate people like you. Don’t go into pet stores that sell puppies; don’t buy supplies there; don’t even go in just to look. If you want to help puppies and dogs, walk away from the pet store and head to your local shelter to adopt.

PUPPIES AREN’T PRODUCTS! Many people don't realize that when they buy a dog from a pet store or on the internet, that dog most likely came from a puppy mill. A 2014 ASPCA Report found that buyers purchasing puppies from pet stores, like MY NEW PUPPY, were “NEARLY 100% LIKELY” supporting the puppy mill industry. Federal Animal Welfare standards require only minimal standards of food, water and shelter. For example, it's legal for licensed breeders to own 1,000 or more dogs, keep them in very small cages (only six inches larger than the dog on all sides) for their entire lives and breed them as frequently as possible. Due to the large population of commercial breeding operations in each state requiring inspection, is extremely rare for the USDA to revoke a commercial breeder's license or even fine a puppy mill that has repeated violations. Only the public can stop the cruel cycle of puppy mills, by refusing to buy the puppies that keep these kinds of breeders in business.

NOT IN MY BACKYARD! In 2014 The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) performed an undercover investigation, visiting every Virginia pet store selling puppies at the time and tracing the sources of more than 2,000 puppies shipped into the state during a seven-month period. Despite claims that they only purchase from small, local and/or quality breeders, 12 out of 12 stores were found purchasing from breeders who had been cited for Federal Animal Welfare Act violations, or from massive out-of-state brokers. Like MY NEXT PUPPY, most of the stores refused to divulge breeder information, in violation of Virginia law (VA Code § 3.2-6512). The Humane Society’s findings in Virginia support the ASPCA conclusion that “NEARLY 100%” of pet stores are supplied by puppy mills, regardless of what most pet store staff tell consumers.

LOCAL YOKELS! "We know our breeders are not puppy mills because we only deal with breeders we know." If a pet store manager tells you this, ask to see documentation that shows exactly where their suppliers are located. In most cases, you will find out that the breeders they "know" are in distant states. In most cases, the owner or manager has never visited the breeder's facility or inspected their records. A 2014 Humane Society investigation visiting every Virginia pet store selling puppies at the time, revealed that even when store staff claimed they inspect their breeder’s facilities or hand-pick their puppies, often it is not true. Keep in mind that even facilities with mostly healthy puppies and problem-free inspection reports may be keeping dozens or even hundreds of breeding dogs in cages for their entire lives. These parent dogs live behind bars from birth until death, without ever feeling grass under their feet, enjoying a treat or toy, or having loving human contact or proper veterinary care. They are bred repeatedly until they can no longer reproduce, and then they are destroyed or discarded.

UNDERSTANDING PET SHOP TALL TAILS! Pet store employees generally tell their customers that puppies come from licensed or registered breeders. They are referring to USDA-licensed high-volume commercial breeders, which most people recognize as puppy mills. Most breed club's Code of Ethics state that their breeders refuse to sell their dogs to pet dealers or any other commercial sources of distribution. Truly responsible breeders do not sell their puppies to pet stores, they want to meet their puppy buyers in person, and require purchasers to show a lease or deed, vaccination & registration records for current pets, and do a background check and/or home visit. This ensures that animals do not go to homes with a breed ban against that particular dog, to owners with prior animal neglect charges, or to hoarding situations where the owner has already exceeded the allowed number of animals in their jurisdiction.

NOT SO GUARANTEED! Being USDA inspected does not mean that the breeders MY NEXT PUPPY purchases from are not puppy mills. Lineage or registration of an animal does not guarantee that an individual puppy (or his or her parents) is healthy or free of genetic defects, or that they were raised in a humane and clean environment. In fact, the American Kennel Club (AKC) clearly states on its website that it “Cannot guarantee the quality or health of dogs” in its registry. Puppy mills routinely sell puppies with papers from prestigious sounding kennel clubs. Registration papers do nothing to ensure Unfortunately, most USDA-licensed breeders house dozens or even hundreds of breeding dogs in small wire cages for their entire lives—and sadly, this is legal under current USDA regulations, which require only minimal standards of food, water and shelter. In May 2010, The Office of Inspector General released a scathing report criticizing USDA's history of lax oversight of dog dealers under the Animal Welfare Act.  

SUMMARY OF MY NEXT PUPPY’S ILLEGAL PRACTICES

MY NEXT PUPPY uses out-of-state breeders to circumvent Virginia’s animal welfare laws, which are stricter than many other states. Doing so allows them to purchase puppies from operations that are NOT required to: annually certify suitable health for breeding by a licensed, breed only females older than 18 months, or vet customer’s information as required under Virginia Code § 3.2-6512.

MY NEXT PUPPY has denied written requests for information regarding the breeders providing their stock. The operation claims to be in compliance with all applicable laws, but failed to produce proof that they have not imported puppies younger than 8 weeks of age into the Commonwealth, a violation of Virginia Code § 3.2-6508, which states: No person shall import into the Commonwealth, nor export from the Commonwealth, for the purpose of sale or offering for sale any dog or cat under the age of eight weeks without its dam. Violation of this Section is a Class 1 Misdemeanor.

MY NEXT PUPPY circulated a Grand Opening advertisement promoting the raffling off of a free puppy. A written request for information regarding the breeder providing the raffle puppy was ignored. The operation claims to be in compliance with all applicable laws, but failed to produce proof that the puppy they attempted to raffle was older than 7 weeks of age (or was to be raffled off with it’s mother), a violation of Virginia Code § 3.2-6510 which states: No person shall sell, raffle, give away, or offer for sale as pets or novelties, or offer or give as a prize, premium, or advertising device any living chicks, ducklings, or other fowl under two months old in quantities of less than six or any unweaned mammalian companion animal or any dog or cat under the age of seven weeks without its dam or queen. 

MY NEXT PUPPY has denied written requests for information regarding the breeders providing their stock. The operation claims to be in compliance with all applicable laws, but failed to produce proof that all of their puppies were purchased from licensed USDA breeders, a violation of Virginia Code § 3.2-6511.1, which states: It is unlawful for a pet shop to sell or offer for sale any dog procured from a person who is not a dealer or licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture pursuant to the federal Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. § 2131 et seq.) or regulations adopted thereunder.

MY NEXT PUPPY has denied written requests for information regarding the breeders providing their stock. The operation claims to be in compliance with all applicable laws, but failed to produce proof “PRIOR TO THE TIME OF SALE” the breeders’ names, city, state, and USDA license number, a violation of Virginia Code § 3.2-6512, which states: A pet shop operating in the Commonwealth shall post in a conspicuous place on or near the cage of any dog or cat available for sale the breeder's name, city, state, and USDA license number. A pet shop or a USDA licensed dealer who advertises any dog or cat for sale in the Commonwealth, including by Internet advertisement, shall provide prior to the time of sale the breeder's name, city, state, and USDA license number.

MY NEXT PUPPY claims that all of it’s puppies are sources from USDA registered breeders, but has failed to provide any information regarding it’s own USDA registration, required because they advertise the sale of puppies sign unseen to customers via internet. The Animal Welfare Act requires: Traditional retail pet stores that also sell animals sight unseen must be licensed and inspected. Internet-based businesses and other businesses that sell animals sight unseen must now be licensed and inspected by APHIS to ensure the pets they sell to the public receive minimum standards of care. 

MY NEXT PUPPY has denied written requests for information regarding the breeders providing their stock. The operation claims to be in compliance with all applicable laws, but failed to produce proof documentation of it’s breeders’ and it’s own compliance with Federal Law prohibiting the import of animals under 6 months of age into this Country. They are unable to prove that their puppies’ lineage is American, rather than supporting the Russian & Ukraine import business.

What can you do about it? Stricter pet shop regulations imposed by Virginia Senate Bill 1001 will go into effect on July 15, 2015.  The Bill will prohibit MY NEXT PUPPY from the sale or advertisement of their puppies in certain places, stating: It is unlawful for any person to sell, exchange, trade, barter, lease, or display for a commercial purpose any dog or cat on or in any roadside, public right-of-way, parkway, median, park, or recreation area; flea market or other outdoor market; or commercial parking lot, regardless of whether such act is authorized by the landowner. This means any attempts to post advertisement on the roadside will be illegal, and any public displays of their puppies or participation in community events will be banned.

Looking Toward the Future: Pursuant to Virginia Code § 3.2-6543 we can make Fairfax, VA an example of humane best practice and encourage our local government to pass legislation prohibiting the operation of pet stores like MY  NEXT PUPPY in our County. Governing body of any locality may adopt certain ordinances. Looking toward the future, the stricter pet shop regulations imposed by Virginia Senate Bill 1001 will go into effect on July 15, 2015.  The Bill would require MY NEXT PUPPY to: Sell or offer for sale a dog procured ONLY from a humane society or public animal shelter as those terms are defined in Section 3.2-6500 OR from a person who has not received from the USDA pursuant to enforcement of the federal Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. Section 2131 et seq.) or regulations adopted thereunder: (i) a citation for a direct violation or citations for 3 or more indirect violations for at least 2 years prior to the procurement of the dog, or (ii) two consecutive citations for no access to the facility prior to the procurement of the dog. MY NEXT PUPPY has stated that it will provide breeder contact information upon purchase. Educated consumer’s can use this information to inspect the breeder’s operation for themselves, and if denied access to file a complaint (2 of which will prohibit that breeder further sales to pet shops).

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

Why have you refused requests to supply breeder contact information prior to your grand opening event, so that customers can research your breeders to corroborate your claims that you do not purchase stock from puppy mills for themselves?

Do you plan to comply with requirements going into effect July 1, 2015 prohibiting advertising (including displaying your puppies) on roadsides, public right-of-ways, parkways, medians, or commercial parking lots?

Have you completed the breeder background checks you will be required to share with customers by July1st, 2015 under the new regulations?

Do you plan to comply with the new legislation's mandate that pet stores begin purchasing their stock solely from a humane society or private or public animal shelter?

What measures will you take to ensure the breeder’s you use do not have any USDA violations?

Do you purchase dogs of more than one breed from the same breeder? If so, how many breeds of dogs do each of your breeders specialize in?

You have stated you are a former breeder yourself.  What was your USDA registration #? Were your puppies registered with AKC?

How old are the puppies sold in your store?  What is the youngest age you pick puppies up from breeders? Why do you refuse to provide customers with date of birth information?

Are your puppies AKC registered? If so, do you plan to sell any breeds whose breed club specifically prohibits the sale of that breed in pet stores?

Do you personally drive to pick up your puppies from places like Ohio, Pennsylvania with notoriously few regulations, so that you can in good faith attest to the conditions of the operation?

Do you physically inspect both parents for signs of genetic defects & request to view parents' vet records, so that you may in good faith attest to your puppies health and the quality of the breeding program?

Do you plan to comply with Virginia law requiring "Puppy Stores" to post the breeder name and address on the kennels, so that customers can research the breeder's USDA inspection history?

What sort of customer screening do you perform prior to selling your puppies?

How will you ensure that puppies are not being sold to owners whose housing prohibits them from pet ownership? 

How will you ensure that puppies are not being sold to owners with prior abuse and neglect charges?

How will you ensure that puppies are not being sold into hoarding situations, or to owners who already own more than the allowed number of dogs in their jurisdictions?

Do you personally transport the dogs you sell cross-country to their owners? If not, which transport company do you use?

By what means do you verify your breeder’s and your own compliance with Federal Law that prohibits the import of animals under 6 months of age into this Country, to assure that your puppies lineage is American, rather than supporting the Russian & Ukraine import business?

What will you do with puppies returned to your store or to the local Shelter?

What did you choose location mere miles away from another puppy store, which the community has vocally opposed?

With the increasing rise in humane education levels and current popularity of rescue pets, what market research convinced you a puppy store would be profitable?

Of all possible revenue streams, what made you choose to focus on selling puppies?

What educational or professional background qualifies you to make determination regarding the quality of your breeders?

Do you or your staff perform any medical care, such as vaccinations yourself?

How much larger than the dog do you believe a cage should be, to be considered humane?

Are you planning to provide any compensation to your neighboring businesses, for the impact that ongoing protests of your store will have on their revenue?