Latest news with #PetO
The Advertiser
16-06-2025
- General
- The Advertiser
Oh, for a life where every day is the best day ever
This is a sample of The Echidna newsletter sent out each weekday morning. To sign up for FREE, go to In a world of turmoil, how peaceful you look. Curled up in your spot on the couch as the rain beats down on the tin roof, eyes clamped shut, dreaming of ball games and bones, perhaps the echidna you encountered on your walk the other day. Oh, for a dog's life. During Friday's torrent of bad news - planes crashes, airstrikes, Donald Trump - you slept through it all, warm and dry and happy. You're fed regularly and your happiness is ensured by regular outings and activity, not to mention the occasional pizza crust as a treat. The simple joy you get from the drive to the shops, even though you've done it a hundred times, from the walk you do every morning and afternoon, surely carries a lesson for us humans. Somehow, for you, every day is the best day ever. Whatever it is you're taking that gives you that enthusiasm, I want a double serve. I've wanted it ever since you barrelled into our lives as a hyperactive puppy with needle-sharp teeth and boundless energy. As you've matured, I come to envy your lust for life. Yes, it's the same walk you've done every day for the past four years but you never grow tired of it. You take it all in, from the molecular discoveries you make with your nose to the tiny specks of aircraft you spot with your sharp eyes high above. The game of ball us humans find so repetitive never ceases to delight you. You'll bark until you're hoarse to keep it going. Some might mistakenly think your love of simple pleasures a bit daft, even stupid. But I know you're intelligent. Over the years, I've marvelled at your vocabulary. You quickly learned all the dog words - "sit", "car", "walk" - and picked up on others like "grandpa", "baker", "PetO" (your favourite store) and "Garcon" (your favourite cafe) and "Bindi", "Mack" and "Charlie" (your favourite pooches). But you really stunned me when you cocked your ears to "orecchiette" (the leftover pasta you were fed once and absolutely loved). You're an incredibly handsome chocolate border collie; complete strangers stop you in the street to compliment your looks. But there's not a hint of vanity about you. In fact, I doubt you ever think about how you look. What's important to you is how you live. You can imagine how thrilled I was when I chanced upon a book exploring this very subject. The Happiness of Dogs by Mark Rowlands examines the lessons we can learn from the way dogs embrace life. He's convinced they can teach us what's important about life and how to live it. "Philosophers think hard about these questions and do their best to answer them, with limited success," he writes in his preface. "But dogs answer them effortlessly and decisively." And you're providing a pretty strong clue as I write these words. It's that time of the afternoon again and you're looking at me expecting action. Your expression says, "Don't worry about what's on your screen, let's walk and enjoy life. Who knows? Maybe we'll see that echidna again." It makes me realise that just as much as I've trained you, you've trained me. HAVE YOUR SAY: What can we learn from our dogs? Is there a lesson in a dog's joy with simple things? How important is the companionship of pets? Email us: echidna@ SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend so they can sign up, too. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: - A final call on Woodside's massive gas project has been delayed with the energy giant granted more time to consider federal conditions on cultural heritage and air quality. - The theme music, the poster, the blood-curdling screams of the opening scenes ... as Jaws turns 50, take a dive deep into the making of the original Hollywood blockbuster. - The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has commenced legal action in the Federal Court against well-known caravan manufacturer Jayco for allegedly misleading ads for some of its RV models. THEY SAID IT: "Because of the dog's joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift. It is not the least reason why we should honour as well as love the dog of our own life, and the dog down the street, and all the dogs not yet born." - Mary Oliver YOU SAID IT: Garry fell out of love with Sydney some time ago. Recently returning for a visit, he found the city had become worse. Dale leaps to its defence: "Let me share a few words of defence of the old tart. I have been living in the inner city since the 1960s and am proud of being in protests, supporting the Green bans and stopping the bulldozers knocking down the Rocks, Glebe and Ultimo. Everything you need is conveniently in walking distance or via a variety of public transport. From theatres, hospitals to shopping and community centres it doesn't take long to be there. There are lots of activities from choirs to tai chi groups where everyone is welcoming and supporting, especially in discussions over coffee." Jennifer writes: "I love Sydney, to visit. I love the buzz of the city, the harbour, Opera House, Botanical Gardens, Manly ferry and northern beaches. I prefer the cool nights and dry sun of Canberra's spring, summer and autumn to sweaty Sydney. It's cold here in winter, but beautiful. It's more expensive than Sydney with exorbitant rates and taxes, a limited range of shops, dental and medical services, so train trips to Sydney are enjoyed, especially the restaurants and cafes that stay open late." Phil, however, agrees with Garry: "Left Sydney eight years ago and haven't looked back. None of its attractions were accessible to western Sydney. All of its downside cost a fortune. Stale, dank little outpost pretending to be a world city but stuck in 1950." Wendy writes: "Not having been to Sydney, I can't comment on her, but I am here to defend mutton. Double the flavour, half the price (in the saleyards), and still tender eating, mutton outperforms any lamb I've tried. Given the rising cost of living, we should be promoting mutton and finding it in every butcher shop instead of sending nearly all of it overseas, but unfortunately, the name still has negative connotations for some." This is a sample of The Echidna newsletter sent out each weekday morning. To sign up for FREE, go to In a world of turmoil, how peaceful you look. Curled up in your spot on the couch as the rain beats down on the tin roof, eyes clamped shut, dreaming of ball games and bones, perhaps the echidna you encountered on your walk the other day. Oh, for a dog's life. During Friday's torrent of bad news - planes crashes, airstrikes, Donald Trump - you slept through it all, warm and dry and happy. You're fed regularly and your happiness is ensured by regular outings and activity, not to mention the occasional pizza crust as a treat. The simple joy you get from the drive to the shops, even though you've done it a hundred times, from the walk you do every morning and afternoon, surely carries a lesson for us humans. Somehow, for you, every day is the best day ever. Whatever it is you're taking that gives you that enthusiasm, I want a double serve. I've wanted it ever since you barrelled into our lives as a hyperactive puppy with needle-sharp teeth and boundless energy. As you've matured, I come to envy your lust for life. Yes, it's the same walk you've done every day for the past four years but you never grow tired of it. You take it all in, from the molecular discoveries you make with your nose to the tiny specks of aircraft you spot with your sharp eyes high above. The game of ball us humans find so repetitive never ceases to delight you. You'll bark until you're hoarse to keep it going. Some might mistakenly think your love of simple pleasures a bit daft, even stupid. But I know you're intelligent. Over the years, I've marvelled at your vocabulary. You quickly learned all the dog words - "sit", "car", "walk" - and picked up on others like "grandpa", "baker", "PetO" (your favourite store) and "Garcon" (your favourite cafe) and "Bindi", "Mack" and "Charlie" (your favourite pooches). But you really stunned me when you cocked your ears to "orecchiette" (the leftover pasta you were fed once and absolutely loved). You're an incredibly handsome chocolate border collie; complete strangers stop you in the street to compliment your looks. But there's not a hint of vanity about you. In fact, I doubt you ever think about how you look. What's important to you is how you live. You can imagine how thrilled I was when I chanced upon a book exploring this very subject. The Happiness of Dogs by Mark Rowlands examines the lessons we can learn from the way dogs embrace life. He's convinced they can teach us what's important about life and how to live it. "Philosophers think hard about these questions and do their best to answer them, with limited success," he writes in his preface. "But dogs answer them effortlessly and decisively." And you're providing a pretty strong clue as I write these words. It's that time of the afternoon again and you're looking at me expecting action. Your expression says, "Don't worry about what's on your screen, let's walk and enjoy life. Who knows? Maybe we'll see that echidna again." It makes me realise that just as much as I've trained you, you've trained me. HAVE YOUR SAY: What can we learn from our dogs? Is there a lesson in a dog's joy with simple things? How important is the companionship of pets? Email us: echidna@ SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend so they can sign up, too. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: - A final call on Woodside's massive gas project has been delayed with the energy giant granted more time to consider federal conditions on cultural heritage and air quality. - The theme music, the poster, the blood-curdling screams of the opening scenes ... as Jaws turns 50, take a dive deep into the making of the original Hollywood blockbuster. - The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has commenced legal action in the Federal Court against well-known caravan manufacturer Jayco for allegedly misleading ads for some of its RV models. THEY SAID IT: "Because of the dog's joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift. It is not the least reason why we should honour as well as love the dog of our own life, and the dog down the street, and all the dogs not yet born." - Mary Oliver YOU SAID IT: Garry fell out of love with Sydney some time ago. Recently returning for a visit, he found the city had become worse. Dale leaps to its defence: "Let me share a few words of defence of the old tart. I have been living in the inner city since the 1960s and am proud of being in protests, supporting the Green bans and stopping the bulldozers knocking down the Rocks, Glebe and Ultimo. Everything you need is conveniently in walking distance or via a variety of public transport. From theatres, hospitals to shopping and community centres it doesn't take long to be there. There are lots of activities from choirs to tai chi groups where everyone is welcoming and supporting, especially in discussions over coffee." Jennifer writes: "I love Sydney, to visit. I love the buzz of the city, the harbour, Opera House, Botanical Gardens, Manly ferry and northern beaches. I prefer the cool nights and dry sun of Canberra's spring, summer and autumn to sweaty Sydney. It's cold here in winter, but beautiful. It's more expensive than Sydney with exorbitant rates and taxes, a limited range of shops, dental and medical services, so train trips to Sydney are enjoyed, especially the restaurants and cafes that stay open late." Phil, however, agrees with Garry: "Left Sydney eight years ago and haven't looked back. None of its attractions were accessible to western Sydney. All of its downside cost a fortune. Stale, dank little outpost pretending to be a world city but stuck in 1950." Wendy writes: "Not having been to Sydney, I can't comment on her, but I am here to defend mutton. Double the flavour, half the price (in the saleyards), and still tender eating, mutton outperforms any lamb I've tried. Given the rising cost of living, we should be promoting mutton and finding it in every butcher shop instead of sending nearly all of it overseas, but unfortunately, the name still has negative connotations for some." This is a sample of The Echidna newsletter sent out each weekday morning. To sign up for FREE, go to In a world of turmoil, how peaceful you look. Curled up in your spot on the couch as the rain beats down on the tin roof, eyes clamped shut, dreaming of ball games and bones, perhaps the echidna you encountered on your walk the other day. Oh, for a dog's life. During Friday's torrent of bad news - planes crashes, airstrikes, Donald Trump - you slept through it all, warm and dry and happy. You're fed regularly and your happiness is ensured by regular outings and activity, not to mention the occasional pizza crust as a treat. The simple joy you get from the drive to the shops, even though you've done it a hundred times, from the walk you do every morning and afternoon, surely carries a lesson for us humans. Somehow, for you, every day is the best day ever. Whatever it is you're taking that gives you that enthusiasm, I want a double serve. I've wanted it ever since you barrelled into our lives as a hyperactive puppy with needle-sharp teeth and boundless energy. As you've matured, I come to envy your lust for life. Yes, it's the same walk you've done every day for the past four years but you never grow tired of it. You take it all in, from the molecular discoveries you make with your nose to the tiny specks of aircraft you spot with your sharp eyes high above. The game of ball us humans find so repetitive never ceases to delight you. You'll bark until you're hoarse to keep it going. Some might mistakenly think your love of simple pleasures a bit daft, even stupid. But I know you're intelligent. Over the years, I've marvelled at your vocabulary. You quickly learned all the dog words - "sit", "car", "walk" - and picked up on others like "grandpa", "baker", "PetO" (your favourite store) and "Garcon" (your favourite cafe) and "Bindi", "Mack" and "Charlie" (your favourite pooches). But you really stunned me when you cocked your ears to "orecchiette" (the leftover pasta you were fed once and absolutely loved). You're an incredibly handsome chocolate border collie; complete strangers stop you in the street to compliment your looks. But there's not a hint of vanity about you. In fact, I doubt you ever think about how you look. What's important to you is how you live. You can imagine how thrilled I was when I chanced upon a book exploring this very subject. The Happiness of Dogs by Mark Rowlands examines the lessons we can learn from the way dogs embrace life. He's convinced they can teach us what's important about life and how to live it. "Philosophers think hard about these questions and do their best to answer them, with limited success," he writes in his preface. "But dogs answer them effortlessly and decisively." And you're providing a pretty strong clue as I write these words. It's that time of the afternoon again and you're looking at me expecting action. Your expression says, "Don't worry about what's on your screen, let's walk and enjoy life. Who knows? Maybe we'll see that echidna again." It makes me realise that just as much as I've trained you, you've trained me. HAVE YOUR SAY: What can we learn from our dogs? Is there a lesson in a dog's joy with simple things? How important is the companionship of pets? Email us: echidna@ SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend so they can sign up, too. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: - A final call on Woodside's massive gas project has been delayed with the energy giant granted more time to consider federal conditions on cultural heritage and air quality. - The theme music, the poster, the blood-curdling screams of the opening scenes ... as Jaws turns 50, take a dive deep into the making of the original Hollywood blockbuster. - The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has commenced legal action in the Federal Court against well-known caravan manufacturer Jayco for allegedly misleading ads for some of its RV models. THEY SAID IT: "Because of the dog's joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift. It is not the least reason why we should honour as well as love the dog of our own life, and the dog down the street, and all the dogs not yet born." - Mary Oliver YOU SAID IT: Garry fell out of love with Sydney some time ago. Recently returning for a visit, he found the city had become worse. Dale leaps to its defence: "Let me share a few words of defence of the old tart. I have been living in the inner city since the 1960s and am proud of being in protests, supporting the Green bans and stopping the bulldozers knocking down the Rocks, Glebe and Ultimo. Everything you need is conveniently in walking distance or via a variety of public transport. From theatres, hospitals to shopping and community centres it doesn't take long to be there. There are lots of activities from choirs to tai chi groups where everyone is welcoming and supporting, especially in discussions over coffee." Jennifer writes: "I love Sydney, to visit. I love the buzz of the city, the harbour, Opera House, Botanical Gardens, Manly ferry and northern beaches. I prefer the cool nights and dry sun of Canberra's spring, summer and autumn to sweaty Sydney. It's cold here in winter, but beautiful. It's more expensive than Sydney with exorbitant rates and taxes, a limited range of shops, dental and medical services, so train trips to Sydney are enjoyed, especially the restaurants and cafes that stay open late." Phil, however, agrees with Garry: "Left Sydney eight years ago and haven't looked back. None of its attractions were accessible to western Sydney. All of its downside cost a fortune. Stale, dank little outpost pretending to be a world city but stuck in 1950." Wendy writes: "Not having been to Sydney, I can't comment on her, but I am here to defend mutton. Double the flavour, half the price (in the saleyards), and still tender eating, mutton outperforms any lamb I've tried. Given the rising cost of living, we should be promoting mutton and finding it in every butcher shop instead of sending nearly all of it overseas, but unfortunately, the name still has negative connotations for some." This is a sample of The Echidna newsletter sent out each weekday morning. To sign up for FREE, go to In a world of turmoil, how peaceful you look. Curled up in your spot on the couch as the rain beats down on the tin roof, eyes clamped shut, dreaming of ball games and bones, perhaps the echidna you encountered on your walk the other day. Oh, for a dog's life. During Friday's torrent of bad news - planes crashes, airstrikes, Donald Trump - you slept through it all, warm and dry and happy. You're fed regularly and your happiness is ensured by regular outings and activity, not to mention the occasional pizza crust as a treat. The simple joy you get from the drive to the shops, even though you've done it a hundred times, from the walk you do every morning and afternoon, surely carries a lesson for us humans. Somehow, for you, every day is the best day ever. Whatever it is you're taking that gives you that enthusiasm, I want a double serve. I've wanted it ever since you barrelled into our lives as a hyperactive puppy with needle-sharp teeth and boundless energy. As you've matured, I come to envy your lust for life. Yes, it's the same walk you've done every day for the past four years but you never grow tired of it. You take it all in, from the molecular discoveries you make with your nose to the tiny specks of aircraft you spot with your sharp eyes high above. The game of ball us humans find so repetitive never ceases to delight you. You'll bark until you're hoarse to keep it going. Some might mistakenly think your love of simple pleasures a bit daft, even stupid. But I know you're intelligent. Over the years, I've marvelled at your vocabulary. You quickly learned all the dog words - "sit", "car", "walk" - and picked up on others like "grandpa", "baker", "PetO" (your favourite store) and "Garcon" (your favourite cafe) and "Bindi", "Mack" and "Charlie" (your favourite pooches). But you really stunned me when you cocked your ears to "orecchiette" (the leftover pasta you were fed once and absolutely loved). You're an incredibly handsome chocolate border collie; complete strangers stop you in the street to compliment your looks. But there's not a hint of vanity about you. In fact, I doubt you ever think about how you look. What's important to you is how you live. You can imagine how thrilled I was when I chanced upon a book exploring this very subject. The Happiness of Dogs by Mark Rowlands examines the lessons we can learn from the way dogs embrace life. He's convinced they can teach us what's important about life and how to live it. "Philosophers think hard about these questions and do their best to answer them, with limited success," he writes in his preface. "But dogs answer them effortlessly and decisively." And you're providing a pretty strong clue as I write these words. It's that time of the afternoon again and you're looking at me expecting action. Your expression says, "Don't worry about what's on your screen, let's walk and enjoy life. Who knows? Maybe we'll see that echidna again." It makes me realise that just as much as I've trained you, you've trained me. HAVE YOUR SAY: What can we learn from our dogs? Is there a lesson in a dog's joy with simple things? How important is the companionship of pets? Email us: echidna@ SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend so they can sign up, too. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: - A final call on Woodside's massive gas project has been delayed with the energy giant granted more time to consider federal conditions on cultural heritage and air quality. - The theme music, the poster, the blood-curdling screams of the opening scenes ... as Jaws turns 50, take a dive deep into the making of the original Hollywood blockbuster. - The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has commenced legal action in the Federal Court against well-known caravan manufacturer Jayco for allegedly misleading ads for some of its RV models. THEY SAID IT: "Because of the dog's joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift. It is not the least reason why we should honour as well as love the dog of our own life, and the dog down the street, and all the dogs not yet born." - Mary Oliver YOU SAID IT: Garry fell out of love with Sydney some time ago. Recently returning for a visit, he found the city had become worse. Dale leaps to its defence: "Let me share a few words of defence of the old tart. I have been living in the inner city since the 1960s and am proud of being in protests, supporting the Green bans and stopping the bulldozers knocking down the Rocks, Glebe and Ultimo. Everything you need is conveniently in walking distance or via a variety of public transport. From theatres, hospitals to shopping and community centres it doesn't take long to be there. There are lots of activities from choirs to tai chi groups where everyone is welcoming and supporting, especially in discussions over coffee." Jennifer writes: "I love Sydney, to visit. I love the buzz of the city, the harbour, Opera House, Botanical Gardens, Manly ferry and northern beaches. I prefer the cool nights and dry sun of Canberra's spring, summer and autumn to sweaty Sydney. It's cold here in winter, but beautiful. It's more expensive than Sydney with exorbitant rates and taxes, a limited range of shops, dental and medical services, so train trips to Sydney are enjoyed, especially the restaurants and cafes that stay open late." Phil, however, agrees with Garry: "Left Sydney eight years ago and haven't looked back. None of its attractions were accessible to western Sydney. All of its downside cost a fortune. Stale, dank little outpost pretending to be a world city but stuck in 1950." Wendy writes: "Not having been to Sydney, I can't comment on her, but I am here to defend mutton. Double the flavour, half the price (in the saleyards), and still tender eating, mutton outperforms any lamb I've tried. Given the rising cost of living, we should be promoting mutton and finding it in every butcher shop instead of sending nearly all of it overseas, but unfortunately, the name still has negative connotations for some."
9 News
05-06-2025
- Business
- 9 News
Large pet store chain introduces new ban at stores Australia-wide
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here A major pet retailer has banned the sale of live animals at all of its stores across Australia. PetO, the third largest pet retailer in the country, has rolled out the change to its 58 stores across NSW, the ACT, Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland and Tasmania. A spokesperson told the process started in May and the sales have since been phased out at every store. PetO co-founders Nick Greenhalgh and David Rowe. (Supplied/PetO) The business hopes the move will encourage Australian pet stores to follow its lead and set a new ethical standard. "The transport, storage and sale of live animals in pet shops is ethically problematic and can lend itself to issues relating to animal welfare as well as irresponsible ownership of pets," the spokesperson said. "The decision to stop the sale of live animals will impact PetO in the short term but have long term commercial benefits that will help the business reach its goal of a projected $250 million in annual revenue by 2028." national Australia Consumer Shopping Shoppers Pets CONTACT US
Perth Now
05-06-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Major pet retailer introduces sweeping ban on all stores
The country's third largest pet store is set to introduce sweeping new rules across its stores and has urged other retailers to follow in its footsteps. PetO announced it would ban the sale of live animals across its 58 shops nationwide. Last year, the retailer acquired 41 pet shops and 25 veterinary clinics that were divested from Petstock and Woolworths, propelling it to become the third-largest pet retailer in the country. PetO has pledged to stop selling live animals across its entire store network nationwide. Supplied Credit: Supplied The pet shop will continue its adoption drives across the country. Supplied Credit: Supplied The business, which was founded in 2007, said the sweeping changes were an effort to encourage more responsible pet ownership among Australians. 'The transport, storage and sale of live animals in pet shops is ethically problematic and can lend itself to issues relating to animal welfare as well as irresponsible ownership of pets,' a statement read. PetO said the business would likely take a hit in its revenue in the short term but anticipated the change would boost its annual revenue to a projected $250m by 2028. Despite the ban on selling live animals in its nationwide stores, the pet retailer will continue to operate its in-store adoption events, where the public can come in and adopt dogs and cats from animal shelters. PetO is now urging other major pet shops to follow in its footsteps and halt the sale of live animals in-store. The retailer is urging other pet shops to follow in its footsteps and stop the sale of live animals. Supplied Credit: Supplied According to Animals Australia, while the majority of pet sales are completed online, about 15 per cent of cats and dogs are purchased from pet shops nationwide. There are no blanket rules about selling live animals in pet shops across the country, with states implementing their own rules and regulations. In Victoria, pet shops can only sell live animals from approved sources, including registered shelters, foster carers and pounds. Queensland's pet shop code recommends pet retailers acquire animals, such as cats and dogs, from reputable sources 'who can demonstrate compliance with accepted standards'. However, the Queensland government said compliance to the code was not compulsory. In NSW, pet shops are able to sell live animals and have been instructed to follow the code of conduct to 'protect the welfare of the animals in their care'.
News.com.au
05-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Major retailer introduces sweeping new ban on all stores nationwide
The country's third largest pet store is set to introduce sweeping new rules across its stores and has urged other retailers to follow in its footsteps. PetO announced it would ban the sale of live animals across its 58 shops nationwide. Last year, the retailer acquired 41 pet shops and 25 veterinary clinics that were divested from Petstock and Woolworths, propelling it to become the third-largest pet retailer in the country. The business, which was founded in 2007, said the sweeping changes were an effort to encourage more responsible pet ownership among Australians. 'The transport, storage and sale of live animals in pet shops is ethically problematic and can lend itself to issues relating to animal welfare as well as irresponsible ownership of pets,' a statement read. PetO said the business would likely take a hit in its revenue in the short term but anticipated the change would boost its annual revenue to a projected $250m by 2028. Despite the ban on selling live animals in its nationwide stores, the pet retailer will continue to operate its in-store adoption events, where the public can come in and adopt dogs and cats from animal shelters. PetO is now urging other major pet shops to follow in its footsteps and halt the sale of live animals in-store. According to Animals Australia, while the majority of pet sales are completed online, about 15 per cent of cats and dogs are purchased from pet shops nationwide. There are no blanket rules about selling live animals in pet shops across the country, with states implementing their own rules and regulations. In Victoria, pet shops can only sell live animals from approved sources, including registered shelters, foster carers and pounds. Queensland's pet shop code recommends pet retailers acquire animals, such as cats and dogs, from reputable sources 'who can demonstrate compliance with accepted standards'. However, the Queensland government said compliance to the code was not compulsory. In NSW, pet shops are able to sell live animals and have been instructed to follow the code of conduct to 'protect the welfare of the animals in their care'.
West Australian
05-06-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Major retailer introduces sweeping new ban on all stores nationwide
The country's third largest pet store is set to introduce sweeping new rules across its stores and has urged other retailers to follow in its footsteps. PetO announced it would ban the sale of live animals across its 58 shops nationwide. Last year, the retailer acquired 41 pet shops and 25 veterinary clinics that were divested from Petstock and Woolworths, propelling it to become the third-largest pet retailer in the country. The business, which was founded in 2007, said the sweeping changes were an effort to encourage more responsible pet ownership among Australians.'The transport, storage and sale of live animals in pet shops is ethically problematic and can lend itself to issues relating to animal welfare as well as irresponsible ownership of pets,' a statement read. PetO said the business would likely take a hit in its revenue in the short term but anticipated the change would boost its annual revenue to a projected $250m by 2028. Despite the ban on selling live animals in its nationwide stores, the pet retailer will continue to operate its in-store adoption events, where the public can come in and adopt dogs and cats from animal shelters. PetO is now urging other major pet shops to follow in its footsteps and halt the sale of live animals in-store. According to Animals Australia, while the majority of pet sales are completed online, about 15 per cent of cats and dogs are purchased from pet shops nationwide. There are no blanket rules about selling live animals in pet shops across the country, with states implementing their own rules and regulations. In Victoria, pet shops can only sell live animals from approved sources, including registered shelters, foster carers and pounds. Queensland's pet shop code recommends pet retailers acquire animals, such as cats and dogs, from reputable sources 'who can demonstrate compliance with accepted standards'. However, the Queensland government said compliance to the code was not NSW, pet shops are able to sell live animals and have been instructed to follow the code of conduct to 'protect the welfare of the animals in their care'.
