Petland to close as city moves on ban

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The large chain retail store Petland is closing this Sunday after being under fire for more than two years from protestors who accused the large chain store of selling pets from puppy and kitten mills, a city official said Tuesday.

Store owners have denied the accusations, saying they only get their animals from USDA-approved breeders. They told KXAN on Wednesday that they decided to close the store mainly because they thought the city had passed a ban on retail sails of dogs and cats. The city hasn't passed it yet, but it's widely considered to be inevitable, which the owner said would kill his store.

"It's very unfair," said owner Ben Guerra. "A lot of people are saying that the protestoers have won. I don't think anyone's winning, especially when 20 people are being left without a job."

Protestors said they weren't trying to close the place down, but were hoping Petland would just halt that aspect of their business - or turn away from sales to other options.

"We're not jumping for joy that theyr'e going out of business," said protester Sharon Yancy. "We would have preferred a humane option."

All the pets are gone from the store and have been transferred to other Petland stores, none of which are in Austin.

The move comes as the advisory commission considers a citywide ban on retail kitten and puppy sales because those stores often get the animals from out-of-state mills - which are notorious for subjecting animals to inhumane conditions, said David Lundstedt, vice chairman of the city's Animal Advisory Commission.

The board meets tonight to discuss that ordinance. Once the commission decides to pass it, the ordinance would need the approval of the entire city council.

Two years ago, just before Petland opened, the city banned the mass sale of "intact" puppies and kittens - those that had not been spayed or neutered - and said Petland was a specific target of that ordinance.

Petland, which has stores all over the world, is being sued by the Humane Society , which said it has investigated where the chain has purchased its pets.

Protestors have been demonstrating in front of Petland every Saturday for the past two years against puppy sales at its stores.

While one protestor said it is a bittersweet victory for them, the protestors never wanted or meant for the entire pet store to go out of business, saying they just wanted the store to change its rules for how it handled its pet sales.

Protestors will be at Petland Saturday, making it the last protest the day just before it shuts its doors.