Publication/Event date: 2010-01-07
Publication name: reprinted from CourthouseNews.com
URL for more info: http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/01/14/23663.htm

Summary:

Online Seller was Investigated by CAPS for using Fraud to Sell Sick Puppies

The Office of the New York Attorney General filed a complaint in the Supreme Court of Nassau County on January 7, 2010 against Robin Schulder, an online puppy seller investigated by the Companion Animal Protection Society after CAPS received numerous consumer complaints. Schulder used fraudulent means to sell sick, deformed and dying puppies and refused to comply with the New York puppy lemon law. She shipped sick puppies as far away as California using connecting flights that took as long as 12 hours. She often wrote harassing, threatening emails to consumers who sought reimbursement for veterinary care or a refund. In an email to CAPS, she wrote disparaging comments about one of the CAPS complainants, even offering a donation to CAPS and claiming she belonged to a number of animal protection organizations and ran a nonprofit rescue organization. She told CAPS that she only bred a couple breeds of dogs that one couldn't obtain through rescues. Schulder who lives on a small lot in Queens, bred few if any dogs and obtained most of her puppies from other sources.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/01/14/23663.htm

Cuomo Busts Puppy Salesmen By BARBARA LEONARD

MINEOLA (CN) - Queens-based pet dealers use bait-and-switch tactics to sell unfit dogs, and violate charities law by "purport(ing) to engage in animal rescue activities," New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo says. Cuomo says the husband and wife's two businesses, Imported Quality Guard Dogs and the Animal Rescue Unit, "engage in deceptive business practices and false advertising" and violate "the Pet Lemon Law."

Defendants Robin Schulder and her husband, Perry Reich, falsely claim to be dog breeders, make "numerous misrepresentations" about their animals, and falsify health records of the dogs, Cuomo says. He adds that Schulder practices as a veterinarian without a license, and makes improper use of the title "veterinarian technician." Cuomo says his office has received 13 complaints against the couple and their companies. Consumers also have complained to the New York Better Business Bureau, the agriculture department and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The couple operates more than a dozen Web sites that lure consumers with empty promises, such as "all our babies are born in our home," according to the complaint.

The sites list puppies with pictures, names, weight, sex, age, price and availability, but Schulder delivers a "markedly different" dog, according to the complaint.

Despite their claims, Cuomo says, the couple resells dogs they bought from third parties.

"Numerous customers purchased animals that suffered from illnesses ranging from parvo, coccidian, mange, acute respiratory infection, pneumonia and life-threatening hypoglycemia," according to the complaint.

Some consumers pay up to $3,000 in veterinary bills "trying to nurse the animals back to health," but one dog died and two had to be euthanized because of severe medical issues, according to the attorney general.

Cuomo says the couple delivers dogs with visible defects, including deformed limbs and blindness, as well as signs of illness such as coughing, sneezing, bloody stool or vomiting.

When consumers demand reimbursement for veterinary care or try to return a puppy, Cuomo says, Schulder becomes verbally abusive, "lashing out at them with vicious obscenities, and blaming them for their dogs' illnesses or death."

Cuomo says that Schulder once answered the door holding a large kitchen knife, and when a veterinarian diagnosed a puppy with congenital blindness, Schulder insisted that the consumer had dropped the puppy on its head.

Cuomo adds that one of their Web sites claims: "'Some of our puppies are imported from our family-owned kennel in Europe.' This is an outright lie. Respondents do not have a family-owned kennel in Europe."

They claim their "No-Kill Animal Shelter" has rescued dogs throughout New York's five boroughs and has "over 2,000 supporters and donators," but Cuomo says they "have been unable, however, to produce any records whatsoever identifying any dogs they have rescued, and admit that their 'animal rescue charity,' the Animal Rescue Unit Inc., is inactive."

Cuomo seeks an injunction, accounting, restitution and civil penalties.

West Hollywood to Ban Sale of Dogs & Cats in Pet Stores

Publication date: 2010-02-04

Publication: About.com:Animal Rights

URL for more info: http://animalrights.about.com/b/2010/02/04/west-hollywood-to-ban-sale-of-dogs-cats-in-pet-stores.htm

Excerpt from the article:

On Monday evening, West Hollywood, CA came much closer to being the second city in the US to ban the sale of cats and dogs in pet shops when the city council unanimously approved a proposed ordinance. The first was South Lake Tahoe, CA, in 2009.

List of related articles:

West Hollywood Bans Sale of Pets in Stores!

Publication: Petside.com

Publication date: 2010-02-04

URL: http://www.petside.com/petsideblog/2010/02/west-hollywood-bans-sale-of-pe.php

West Hollywood Puppy Mill Animal Retail Sale Ban Passes

Publication: wehonews.com

Publication date: 2010-02-03

URL: http://wehonews.com/z/wehonews/archive/page.php?articleID=4421

Watch West Hollywood City Council Ban Retail Dog, Cats Sales

Publication: Animal Law Coalition

Publication date: 2010-02-01

URL: http://www.animallawcoalition.com/companion-animal-breeding/article/1175

City of West Hollywood Passes Ordinance Banning the Sale of Dogs and Cats in Pet Shops

Publication date: 2010-02-02
Publication name: NBC Los Angeles

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/station/as-seen-on/West_Hollywood_Takes_Step_Toward_Banning_Pet_Sales_Los_Angeles.html

Publication/Event date: 2010-02-01
Publication name: CBS2.com

Following a CAPS undercover investigation into West Hollywood pet stores and a five and a half month protest of Elite Animals, West Hollywood City Council passed an ordinance that prohibits the sale of dogs and cats in pet shops, with an exemption for the adoptions of shelter and rescue animals.
//cbs2.com/video/?id= This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. " data-mce-href="http://cbs2.com/video/?id= This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ">
//cbs2.com/video/?id= This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. " data-mce-href="http://cbs2.com/video/?id= This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ">http://cbs2.com/video/?id=126272@kcbs.dayport.com
 
Publication date: 2010-02-02
Publication name: NBC Los Angeles

CAPS West Coast Director Carole Raphaelle Davis spoke at the City Council meeting and was interviewed by media.
View her interviews with KCBS and KNBC.  The story has been covered by media across the country and even made national headlines, appearing on the news ticker for the “Today” show.

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local-beat/Pet-Store-Ban-83273652.html

Interview with Carole Davis, West Coast Director of CAPS

How CAPS Banned the Sale of Cats and Dogs in Pet Stores in West Hollywood

By Doris Lin, About.com Guide
Publication/Event date: 2010-02-10
Publication name:About.com
URL for more info: Interview with Carole Davis
Excerpt:

On February 1, 2010, the West Hollywood City Council unanimously approved a proposed ordinance banning the sale of cats and dogs in pet stores . The proposed ordinance is expected to become law.

http://animalrights.about.com/od/companionanimalspets/a/CaroleDavisInt.htm

Cute Puppy From Barkworks Dies in Seven Days

Publication/Event date: 2010-02-11
Publication name: www.ireport.com
URL for more info: http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-408029
Summary:

On 12/19, the Companion Animal Protection Society held a peaceful protest at Westside Pavilion Mall in Los Angeles. Located inside the mall is one of seven Barkworks stores. Barkworks obtains puppies from puppy mills.

See the full report at: http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-408029

West Hollywood Officially Passes Ordinance Banning Sale of Dogs and Cats in Pet Shops

Following a CAPS undercover investigation into West Hollywood pet stores and a five and a half month protest of Elite Animals, West Hollywood City Council officially passed an ordinance last night that prohibits the sale of dogs and cats in pet shops, with an exemption for the adoptions of shelter and rescue animals.

Los Angeles Times -  http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-weho-pet-stores17-2010feb17,0,7786261.story

The New York Times -  http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/02/16/us/AP-US-Outlawing-Pet-Sales.html?_r=1

ABC Los Angeles (5 pm news) -  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFJhUewZ0PQ

CAPS and Others Convince VFW to Cancel Puppy Expo

Event in Chicago Area Would have Featured Puppy Mill Dogs

Date: 2010-02-12
Publication name: CAPS
Summary:

The Chicago Tribune and The Daily Herald newspapers, which cover suburban Chicago, had ads for a "puppy expo" at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) lodge in Villa Park.  Puppy mill owners -- A USDA licensed “B” dealer from Okahoma and a state licensed Missouri breeder -- were planning to transport their puppies to sell them at the expo on Saturday, February 13.  This lodge held two puppy expos last year featuring the same breeders.  
 

The Companion Animal Protection Society, The Puppy Mill Project, shelters and rescues across Illinois, Missouri and Iowa, and many more concerned citizens bombarded the VFW with phone calls and emails about how they were appalled that our Veterans would allow puppy mill dogs to be sold.
 
CAPS Chicago Campaign Coordinator Ida McCarthy educated VFW Commander in Charge Dennis Geiseman about puppy mills and inquired about interstate health certificates.  Geiseman discovered the breeders did not have an Illinois license, which is necessary to sell more than five breeds of dogs. So, he refunded their money and cancelled the event. He stated "The VFW wants no part of puppy mills, ever...."  The Villa Park lodge will no longer hold puppy expos.

Celebrity Restaurant Closes Doors After Serving Whale Meat

Publication/Event date: 2010-03-20
Publication name: KTLA.com
URL for more info: http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-santa-monica-whale-meat,0,7465749.story
Summary:  A sushi restaurant known for its celebrity clientele will be closing its doors in apology for illegally serving whale meat.  CAPS help organize the protests at The Hump.

Companion Animal Protection Society, the Ocean Preservation and Sea Shepherd Societies Organized Protest Against The Hump in Santa Monica

Publication/Event date: 2010-03-13
Publication name: Santa Monica Daily Press
URL for more info: www.smdp.com/Articles-c-2010-03-13-69237.113116_Hump_issues_apology_for_serving_whale.html
Summary: Restaurant  Served Banned Whale Meet, Faces Huge Fines and Sentences

Also see: http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/video?id=7328457
ABC Los Angeles story on protest of The Hump restaurant in Santa Monica.

CAPS West Coast Director Carole Raphaelle Davis appeared on CNN's "Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell" to discuss a horrible hoarding case in Alabama.

Publication/Event date: 2010-04-08
Publication name: CNN
URL for more info: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT7QeQh1EuE
Summary: Woman Charged with Animal Cruelty When Cops Discover Dogs in Freezer