OPINION:
For nearly 60 years, Petland has helped families find healthy, well-socialized puppies from responsible, professional breeders. Our mission has always been clear: to connect people with pets through education, transparency and the highest standards of animal care.
A recent Washington Times opinion piece by freelance rent-a-spokesperson Erin Maguire makes a series of false and misleading claims about our company. (“Petland’s inhumane puppy practices thrive because bureaucrats stopped doing their jobs,” Oct. 21, 2025) Ms. Maguire recycles old talking points straight from animal rights fundraising groups such as PETA and Humane World for Animals (formerly the Humane Society of the U.S.). These activist organizations are well known for using scare tactics to push anti-pet-ownership laws that close small family businesses and make it harder for Americans to safely bring pets into their homes.
Notably, Ms. Maguire never indicates that she has visited a single Petland breeder to make her assessment. Her piece substitutes activist propaganda for facts.
Let’s be clear: Petland collaborates with responsible local hobby breeders and federally licensed breeders who adhere to state and federal regulations. With the exception of hobby breeders, any breeder working with Petland must be licensed and inspected by the United States Department of Agriculture and is required to maintain a record of zero direct USDA citations within the past two years. Additionally, Petland representatives conduct regular breeder visits, attend multiple state breeder conferences and sponsor an annual breeder education symposium.
We agree that dogs should never live in cramped or unsanitary conditions, and we work every day to ensure they never do. The breeders who supply Petland provide clean, climate-controlled, spacious kennels with outdoor access, human interaction and socialization.
Every Petland puppy receives thorough veterinary care and health checks before and after arriving in our stores, where this exceptional care continues. Each puppy goes home with full breeder documentation, veterinary records, a microchip and Petland’s New Puppy Health Warranty, backed by ongoing customer support.
False attacks are deeply unfair to our dedicated animal care teams and responsible breeders who take pride in their work.
Petland does not fear oversight; we invite it. Petland has publicly supported stronger federal regulations, and we regularly collaborate with lawmakers, veterinarians, universities and animal welfare experts nationwide to improve standards for animal housing, veterinary care and socialization.
Activist groups such as Humane World for Animals have spent years trying to legislate pet stores out of existence to end puppy mills. Their puppy mill campaign has generated hundreds of millions of dollars in donations from late-night TV ads, yet according to its IRS records, less than 1% of its revenue goes to shelters for the direct care of pets. Humane World’s campaign to restrict access to pets in the U.S. has driven American families to unregulated, unsafe sources. For example, when California passed its pet sale ban, it was a disaster.
Regulated pet stores were put out of business, and still today, residents continue to be subjected to online pet sale scams.
A Los Angeles Times investigation found the California law resulted in “a network of resellers — including ex-cons and schemers — replac[ing] pet stores as middlemen.” Meanwhile, “pet owners were left heartbroken or facing thousands of dollars in veterinary bills when their new puppies got sick or died.”
Ms. Maguire’s commentary advances failed California-style politics and a radical animal rights agenda that is clearly not in the best interest of animal welfare, small business or American families.
For six decades, Petland has stood for integrity, compassion and care, and we’ll continue to do so for pets, for people and for the truth.
• Elizabeth Kunzelman is vice president of legislative and public affairs for Petland Inc.
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