Groups To Protest New Petland Store In NW OKC

Several animal advocacy groups say they'll be protesting the opening of a new Petland store in Northwest Oklahoma City over the weekend.

The grand opening of the Petland in OKC is at 10 a.m. Saturday. Multiple groups including the Oklahoma Humane Society and the Oklahoma Alliance for Animals will be there in protest.

Critics accuse Petland stores of buying dogs from puppy mills and backyard breeders, then marking up the price of the animals to make a profit.

They say many of the dogs sold don't have the veterinary care they need to stop the spread of diseases.

Protest groups point to several investigations from the Human Society of the United States, which they say uncovered sick animals in states like Michigan, Florida and Texas.

"The stores claim these animals come from license breeders. But it is important to note that a license breeder is not necessarily a reputable breeder. That's what we want people to know, it's kind of buyer beware kind of situation," said Erin Shackleford from the Oklahoma Alliance for Animals.

Petland Stores dispute these claims, saying they regularly work with the USDA and only purchase animals from approved breeders. They say that accounts for less than 20% of breeders across the country.