Stop the selling of pets in Mt. Pleasant/Isabella County parking lots!
Isabella County has a problem with irresponsible breeders. There are many that think that breeding a dog because it has AKC papers is a good way to make back the initial investment on their dog. That is NOT a reason to breed. Many AKC registered dogs are not breeding quality dogs. Sadly, many of these dogs end up in bad homes or in the shelter, because of an impulse buying mentality.
We are tired of watching these Back Yard Breeders profit from their pets and using other businesses parking lots to sell their puppies or kittens. Many people are selling these animals at as young as 6 weeks old. Often times, they are siting out in the hot sun for as long as 8 hours.
We made this video on Saturday, May 5th, 2007. On this day, there were 4 litters of puppies. 2 litters of Labrador Retrievers, 1 litter of Golden Retrievers, and one litter of what appeared to be Lab/Husky mix pups. It was a windy and cold day. The following day, there were more puppies in this parking lot.
We also took these pictures of the activity on Saturday. There were 4 cars of puppies and nine cars of people walking in between the puppies passing germs on to these defenseless dogs.
Many people do not research the breed of what they are buying when they buy from a parking lot. They just find a cute puppy and take it home...having NO IDEA what that particular breed needs in order to be a good dog. This is why so many dogs end up in shelters, dumped in the woods or pregnant.
WAL-MART used to allow selling of dogs in their parking lot when they were in the Indian Trails strip mall. This is because they were renting the property they were in. Sometimes still, there are cars full of dogs in that empty partking lot. The Mt. Pleasant WAL-MART no longer allows dogs to be sold in it's parking lots. However, the WAL-MART in Alma does, as well as Jay's Sporting Goods in Clare (although this was shut down recently because of PARVO).
We contacted the current owners of the property where this is occurring, Union Shoppes. This land is owned by Encore Development Group, LLC in Grand Rapids, MI. Encore Development has assured us that they are taking every step to ensure that back yard breeders are not selling puppies on their properties. But we need your help! Please let local law officials know that you will not tolerate this at all!
Isabella County Animal Control doesn't regularly police this area because this usually takes place on the weekends when there are no officers on duty. We think it's about time that they start doing something about this.
Please note, Encore Development does NOT advocate the selling of puppies or in no way helps to facilitate the sale of dogs on their property. They would like this to stop as much as we would.
How can you help?
By contacting these people and letting them know that you disapprove of this practice. By not buying these dogs from Back Yard Breeders. By spaying and neutering all of your animals.
Chris Schultz, Interim Director of the Isabella County Animal Control
email: cschultz@isabellacounty.org
1105 S. Isabella Road
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858
Tim J. Dolehanty, County Administrator
email: tdolehanty@isabellacounty.org
200 N. Main Street
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858
State Representative of the 99th District, Bill Caul
email: billcaul@house.mi.gov S1288 House Office Building
PO Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514
WAL-MART
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Bentonville, Arkansas 72716-8611
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