Petland Independence, Missouri is a retail pet industry leader in animal care. Petland Independence, Missouri has advanced by developing state-of-the-art standards for its retail pet store. We are part of a larger movement in the animal care world advocating for higher standards of care.
Learn more about some of Petland Independence, Missouri’s Breeders Through Our Petland Docuseries
EPISODE 1: Where do Petland Puppies come from?
EPISODE 2: A day in the life of a Petland breeder.
Episode 3: Life At Petland
Please check back periodically for more episodes.
Why choose Petland Independence, Missouri?
We are a responsible choice!
- Petland is a responsible choice to buy a puppy. Not only do we comply with all local, state, and federal regulations including the USDA’s Animal Welfare Act, but we also go above and beyond such requirements.
- We provide a happy, healthy environment for our pets before they go home. Petland uses spacious kennels maintained according to standards set by licensed professional veterinarians.
- All of our puppies are examined by a veterinarian.
- All of our puppy health records are available upon request.
- All of our puppies are current on vaccinations & de-worming protocols.
- Our puppies are sold with a current health certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine).
- Customers will receive spay/neuter certificate for their new puppy.
- All of our puppies are microchipped.
- All of our puppies purchased come with a lifetime Amber-alert recovery system.
- All customers have the option to enroll in the Puppy-For-A-Lifetime Program.
- All of our puppies go home with a training kennel and training supplies.
- We provide puppy vitamins, treats, & supplements for all puppies purchased.
- AKC or AKC Canine Program registration is included for puppy purchases
Petland leads the industry in care and compassion
Petland is the industry leader in the area of animal care. We provide ongoing staff training programs, in-store animal husbandry systems and community service programs aimed at placing homeless pets and curbing pet overpopulation in the community. The health and well-being of our pets comes first for all of us at Petland.
At the corporate level, Petland is actively involved with other pet industry leaders and helps create and enforce standards for everyone in the pet care business. We also work to make sure our pets are cared for by licensed pet professionals who pay careful attention to their welfare and veterinary needs. The number one reason an individual becomes a Petland store owner is his or her love of pets, and that’s a fact we continue to be proud of.
We help create and enforce standards for everyone in the pet business.
How do most Americans get their dogs?
It may surprise you that as few as 4% of dogs are brought home from a pet store ,while as many as 37% of dogs are adopted from shelters or rescues and 34% from breeders. The majority of puppies purchased from pet shops become members of the family for life, with very few dogs purchased from pet stores ending up in shelters.
What happens to puppies who don’t get adopted or end up without a home?
Many pet stores like Petland have policies in place to ensure that all puppies find a home. Petland recognizes that its customers have the best of intentions, planning to exceed their pets’ basic needs with love and proper care for a lifetime.
Occasionally, however, circumstances arise making it difficult for pet owners to keep their lifetime promises to Petland pets. In these cases, Petland Pet Counselors encourage customers to let Petland help find a new home for their pets. Assistance at Petland may include posting flyers in the store and at associated veterinary clinics, making pet placement calls and informing Petland Pet Counselors, who in turn will spread the word to friends and family.
Petland’s goal is to see that no Petland pets end up homeless or burden an animal shelter. Petland also has a Pets-for-a-Lifetime! policy is intended to ensure no Petland pets end up homeless or in an animal shelter.
Some people want to ban pet stores because they believe these myths:
- Pet stores are responsible for pet overpopulation
- For every puppy sold, a shelter dog dies
- Pet stores buy from puppy mills
- Pet stores sell sick dogs
- There are plenty of purebreds in shelters
- Pet bans keep puppy mill dogs out of communities
These are simply myths. The facts speak for themselves. Please learn more and read “Myths vs. Facts” from our Petland Cares site.
Pet shelters are experiencing puppy shortages
Why is this happening? According to the New York Times, the spay/neuter initiative has been effective resulting in more than 85% of dogs being spayed or neutered. This means there are far less accidental litters that used to fill local shelters.
While people still believe there is a massive pet overpopulation problem, according to the NAIA, there are only 15 states that are currently experiencing any pet overpopulation. 35 states are not. What does this mean?
It means dogs are being transported from states with overpopulation problems. Dogs are being imported from Korea, Puerto Rico and other countries. And, unfortunately, it has led to some rescues buying puppies from breeders.
Please read the following articles on this matter below:
- Does America Have Enough Dogs for the People That Want One? Source, Washington Post
- Canine Shelter Population Study. Source, MSU College of Veterinary Medicine Research
Many “rescues” are buying puppies from the same breeders they despise. They then “adopt” these puppies to customers for big profits.
Rescue groups, historically speaking, are run by committed, caring people, clubs, or experts who want these abandoned or unwanted pets to have a home. However, with effective spay/neuter initiatives and increased demand for puppies, there has been an emergence of rescues who are buying puppies from breeders or importing them from countries without standardized vaccination protocols. It has, unfortunately, become a big business. This is also known as retail rescue. Since the dogs sold are from rescues, there are no warranties, health records, sourcing of where the dogs came from or regulations protecting the customers like one gets from a regulated pet store.
Please read the following article on this massive problem:
- Dog rescuers, flush with donations, buy animals from the breeders they scorn. Source, Washington Post
- When “puppy mill rescue” blurs the line between saving and selling dogs. Source, Huffpost
Over 1 million dogs a year are being imported from unregulated foreign countries/sources.
Because of the influx of dogs coming from other countries, the United States has seen reemergences of canine viruses, including rabies. These dogs are also being sold as “rescues” with no health records, warranties, or sourcing of where the dog came from.
The Federal Government (USDA) has released a report in Summer 2019 stating that over 1 million dogs were imported from foreign countries last year alone.
Please read the following articles on problems with importing dogs from unregulated sources:
The U.S. has become a dumping ground for foreign “puppy mill” and “rescue dogs.” Here’s is what needs to change. Source, Fox News
- Where does that rescue dog come from? Source, Inside Sources
- Perspective From the Field: Illegal Puppy Imports Uncovered at JFK Airport. Source, CDC
- Dog imported from Egypt by Kansas Shelter infected with Rabies. Source, KSHB News
Local and State legislators are voting to keep regulated pet stores in business while raising animal care and welfare standards to help get rid of the “bad actors” and puppy mills.
Below are just a handful of examples.
Frisco, TX:
Click here to read the news release.
Colorado:
Click here to read the news release.
Naples, FL:
“If bad breeders are the problem, then we need to do something about bad breeders.” (Commissioner Andy Solis)
Click here to read the news release.
Manatee County, FL:
Click here to read the news release.
Arizona:
“Shutting down the good guys will do nothing to stop the bad actors. Rather, it will open the doors for more puppy sales from unregulated sources, where abuse and inhumane conditions are more likely. This bill ensures that puppies being sold in pet shops are coming from responsible breeders, and includes strict penalties for store owners who do not comply.” (AZ Governor Douglas A. Ducey)
Click here to see SB 1248
Click here to see the Governor’s public letter.
Ohio:
Click here to view SB 331.
Animal Rights Organizations
There will always be people that don’t believe animals should be pets and they will continue to fight to shut down pet stores. They don’t believe in zoos, aquariums or even service animals. We respect their right to their opinions.
However, we believe in the strength and joy of the human-animal bond. We see it every day when a family finds their perfect pet. We see it in veterans, in children and in people who need a little extra support. We see the companionship, loyalty and friendship a pet brings. And we believe every customer should have a responsible choice when it comes to finding their perfect pet.
For more education, please visit the following website:
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