Latest news with #Petland
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Memorial Day brings foot traffic to Topeka mall
TOPEKA (KSNT) – While rain hindered some outdoor activity plans this Memorial Day, people were able to spend it in other ways. Businesses at West Ridge Mall saw many customers walk the halls and come into their storefront. 'Today is very busy. People are packing in,' Petland employee Josh Hughes said. 'And again, I think you're right, I think it's the weather. But I also think it's just the energy today. People are off, so they're coming in and that's the way it's been going.' While not everybody can take the day off, one shift lead at Cafe Barnabas says that he enjoys being able to serve people and make their day a little better during the holiday. 'Memorial Day and holidays are always a busy time for us to serve the community,' Noah Cox said. 'It warms my heart to see people wanting to come in and spend time with us. Families enjoying what the mall has to offer.' Both Hughes and Cox tell 27 News that this Memorial Day was one of the busier days they've seen at the mall in a while. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Controversial Oklahoma bill would block cities from banning pet stores
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Animal welfare advocates are raising concern about a bill at the Oklahoma State Capitol. House Bill 1421 would only allow the state government to make rules about banning pet stores like Petland, not the local government. 'We do not want these type of operations in our state, let alone our communities. And we certainly don't want out-of-state corporate puppy mills telling us how to regulate our local municipalities,' said Katie Hawk, co-founder of Good Dogma. It's personal for Hawk; she helped get an ordinance passed in 2021 banning the retail sale of dogs and cats in Midwest City that come from breeders. This bill would undo that. 'Our local rescues are full, our local shelters are full. We do not have the capacity to manage more pets in our community, let alone sick pets from Petland,' said Hawk. We reached out to Petland, but didn't hear back. The Pet Advocacy Network has hired an instate lobbyist to support the passage of House Bill 1482. 'Local governments can still regulate, inspect and set high standards, just not erase these businesses entirely,' said Ashley Brinkman, government affairs director for Pet Advocacy Network. State lawmakers start approving items for new $12.5 billion budget They believe bans like Midwest City's don't work, bringing up a similar state-level ban in California. 'To this day, not one puppy mill has been shut down. Their shelters are just as overcrowded and overpopulated,' said Brinkman. Brinkman says there has also been a rise in puppy scams. Another reason behind this push is for consumer choice. 'Local pet sale bans in this way eliminate the only trusted brick and mortar sources that many families have for finding a pet,' said Brinkman. While others say there are plenty of pets at the shelter. 'There are designer breeds, there are mutts, there's a little bit of everything at the shelters and they all have just as much of a big loving heart and goofy soul as the ones that are at these designer puppy mills,' said Hawk. Hawk says there is also a public health risk. 'Sick animals have brought home contagious infections that have been contracted by their new owners who were then hospitalized,' said Hawk Representative Josh West (R-Tulsa) co authored this bill with Senator Grant Green (R-Wellston). We reached out to both and they declined to comment. Those against the bill encourage you to reach out to them and share your concerns. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Big week for small city: Nelsonville sues former councilman; voters reject city plan
NELSONVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) — Nelsonville continues on its regularly scheduled path toward abolishing its charter after a city-led ballot issue failed last week, and now the city is involved in a new lawsuit with a familiar face. Last November, Nelsonville voters approved a citizen-led ballot initiative to abolish its city charter, the first city in Ohio to do so. Nelsonville City Council placed an adjusted amendment on the May ballot to grant the city more authority in facilitating the transition between governments. However, the measure failed on Tuesday, with 54% of residents in opposition. Voter turnout was low, with the measure failing 235-201. Without the measure, Nelsonville officials said they worried they might not be able to set salaries or establish wards for the new government. However, some residents felt the motion intruded on voters' will, as it would have repealed and replaced the initial citizen initiative. Here's how every public university in Ohio is preparing for Senate Bill 1 Greg Smith, former councilmember and co-organizer behind the issue to abolish the city charter, sued the city over council's May ballot initiative but withdrew the case when he thought the measure would fail. This week, Nelsonville sued Smith for alleged fraud, flipping the script on a man who has sued the city several times. 'Nelsonville and Mr. Smith, you might say, have come a long way from where they began,' the complaint reads. 'Much of that story has already been told. But, now, finally, it's time to bring the story to a final close. To do that, Nelsonville has been left with no other choice than to seek judicial relief for the fraud Mr. Smith has perpetrated – and continues to perpetuate – against Nelsonville.' Nelsonville is suing Smith and the 25 anonymous others on 10 causes and is demanding monetary relief: Fraud Fraudulent inducement Constructive fraud Breach of contract Specific performance Restitution Anticipatory breach of contract Civil conspiracy Declaratory judgement Injunctive relief Nelsonville and Smith settled a previous court case in December 2023, agreeing to pay Smith $137,500 for several written promises. Under the settlement agreement, Smith was not able to sue about the same issue, waived his right to run for council again and agreed not to ask for any backpay. Ohio family contracted stomach bug from puppy bought from Petland, lawsuit claims According to court documents, Smith emailed the city auditor on April 9, writing he had discovered he was unpaid for his work on council from December 2023 to February 2024. Nelsonville said it had no choice but litigation after Smith's 'demands.' However, Smith denied he violated the settlement, according to court records. 'You use the word demanded,' Smith wrote. 'I have not demanded anything, I asked public officials from my city to explain why a pay correction should not be made or cannot be legally made.' Now, the city alleges the $600 would qualify as backpay, the latest request in what governing officials have dubbed a long conspiracy of fraud. Nelsonville alleges Smith and 25 anonymous co-conspirators have plotted to manufacture different situations to sue the government and stir up political unrest to get money from the city. The 25 other alleged participants are only identified as John and Jane Does, but the city said it reserved the right to name them as litigation continues or as more information comes to light. The complaint also alleges Smith conspired with fellow former council member Rita Nguyen to disrupt the April 14 council meeting. With or without co-conspirators, Nguyen did protest the meeting and was arrested and charged for the disruption. Watch the protest and arrest in the video player above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ohio family contracted stomach bug from puppy bought from Petland, lawsuit claims
GROVE CITY, Ohio (WCMH) – A Grove City family has filed a lawsuit against Petland, claiming a puppy they bought from the Chillicothe-based retailer transmitted an ailment to them. The lawsuit, filed by Brian Guerin and Cara Gozzard on April 29 in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, states the couple bought a female mini Bernadoodle puppy from Petland's Grove City location in January 2023. Columbus woman shares experience as extra for 'Superman' filmed in Ohio The dog, who the family named Nellie, began to have diarrhea within 24 hours of bringing her home, the lawsuit claims. The couple originally thought this may be due to the stress of a new environment. However, the lawsuit claims that within days, the couple's 5-year-old daughter came down with a stomach bug. Within a week of their daughter falling ill, their 5-year-old son began experiencing the same symptoms, including 'severe abdominal pain.' A short time later, Guerin also contracted the ailment. The couple took Nellie to the veterinarian, where she tested positive for Campylobacter, a bacterium that can cause diarrhea, stomach pain, vomiting and a fever. Guerin and his two children then also tested positive for the bacteria, which can spread between humans and animals. Guerin contacted Petland to inform them of the diagnosis, to which the company suggested the family could have acquired the bacteria through another source like raw meat, the filing states. The lawsuit claims both parents had to take time off work to care for their sick children, resulting in lost income. Guerin missed out on a work bonus amounting to thousands of dollars due to his inability to travel, and Gozzard, who is paid hourly, missed nearly a full month of work. Roosters on Olentangy River Road near OSU expects to reopen in the fall Additionally, the filing states Guerin has experienced long-term complications of Campylobacter, including stomach pain that impacts his daily life. The lawsuit argues the store knowingly sold the family an animal that was not healthy and violated the terms of a contract they signed with the retailer, which assured them the animal was kept in a clean and safe environment. The legal action is asking for damages of at least $25,000. The lawsuit was filed by the Ohio-based law firm Holland & Muirden, with assistance from Humane World for Animals, an animal welfare nonprofit. Nellie is now a 'happy' and 'healthy' dog, according to the organization. 'Taking weeks-old puppies away from their mothers and sticking them in a crowded store window is a recipe for spreading disease,' said Mark Finneran, state director of Humane World for Animals. 'The Guerin's case is a reminder that the puppy mill-to-pet store pipeline harms all of us, humans and animals alike.' Petland communications director Maria Smith said the company's attorneys are still reviewing the lawsuit. She claimed the retailer maintains 'stringent health protocols' for the puppies in its care, including an exam by a veterinarian before being offered for sale. 'In the event a puppy shows any signs of illness, it is not available for in-store visits or sale until the pet has undergone its full course of treatment, is no longer symptomatic, and has been re-checked by the store veterinarian and cleared for sale,' Smith said. 'In this particular situation, Petland does not know the facts surrounding how the family contracted Campylobacter and we cannot comment further at this time.' Trial for truck driver in I-70 that killed six will resume Thursday The April filing is not the first time the pet store chain has been at the center of a legal battle. Several other lawsuits were brought against the company in 2024, accusing it of selling sick animals to customers. In response to the previous lawsuits, Petland's CEO Joe Watson said Humane World for Animals is a 'radical animal rights group' that is 'burdening Ohio's busy legal system' to generate publicity. Campylobacter has also previously been connected to Petland. In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigated an outbreak of Campylobacter infection, stating many affected people 'had contact with puppies or were employees at pet stores, including Petland.' Most people recover from Campylobacter infections within a week; however, in rare cases, it can be fatal among young children, the elderly or those with weakened immune systems, according to the World Health Organization. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Animal rights advocates want to ban retail sales of puppies, kittens in Texas. Here's why.
Legislation banning the sale of puppies and kittens at most retail establishments in Texas has sparked a debate between animal rights advocates and some pet store operators. The twin pieces of legislation, House Bill 3458 by North Texas Republican state Rep. Jared Patterson and Senate Bill 1652 by South Texas Democratic Sen. Judith Zaffirini, are competing for attention with scores of other measures awaiting action before the 2025 legislative session ends in five weeks. But both lawmakers say their legislation would curb animal abuse by making it more difficult for so-called puppy mill and kitten mill breeders to operate in the state. "Puppy mills generally are known to promote profit over animal welfare," Zaffirini told the Senate Business and Commerce Committee on Thursday. "With many of these pets suffering from health problems, this can lead consumers with unexpected high veterinary costs and untold lost income." The panel took no action on her bill. But last week, the House Workforce and Economic Development Committee voted 10-1 to send Patterson's bill to the full chamber for consideration. "This has been a consistent priority of mine since I came into the Legislature, and I'm happy to fight for pet owners out there and for these pets," Patterson, R-Frisco, told the committee when he laid out the bill in April. "The goal of this legislation is simple: to restrict predatory pet store businesses from sourcing dogs and cats from inhumane out-of-state puppy mills." Much of the testimony during both committee hearings centered on retail chain Petland, which offers young animals for sale. One witness, Carlene Rios, said she purchased a puppy she calls Major at a Petland in March only to discover within a few days that the animal was sick, resulting in $5,000 in veterinary care costs. The store's general manager, Jake Patel of Frisco, told the committee he was unfamiliar with Rios' situation, but he said his store is committed to "full transparency" in all its transactions. He promised to look into complaints. Katie Fine, who represents an organization called Best Friends Animal Society, said the larger issue is where stores in the Petland chain obtain their dogs and cats. "The only breeders willing to sell to pet stores are those unscrupulous breeders who reject their own ethical standards," Fine told the panel. "This legislation is needed to stop these unscrupulous breeders, puppy millers, from taking advantage of our constituents. "This is not just an animal welfare issue, it's an issue of public health." Several large cities, including Austin, San Antonio and Houston, have ordinances governing the sale of puppies and kittens within their boundaries. Two years ago, legislation that would have imposed pet store regulations across the state stalled. Instead, a measure that curtailed local governmental entities from enacting a wide range of regulatory ordinances — including those aimed at pet stores — was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott. The law did not strike down pet store ordinances already on the books, but it prevents other local subdivisions from imposing similar measures. According to statistics from the Humane World of Animals — formerly the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International — 31 states and more than 500 local political subdivisions have enacted laws to regulate pet stores. Meanwhile, federal legislation called the Puppy Protection Act of 2025 is awaiting action in Congress. Similar legislation was filed in 2023 but didn't become law. Backers of the legislation by Patterson and Zaffirini say statewide action is needed because instead of opening stores in the major cities, retailers that want to sell puppies and kittens are simply moving to suburbs and exurbs. Elizabeth Kunzelman, Petland's vice president of legislative and public affairs, said stores in the chain have implemented numerous safeguards to protect both pets and their purchasers. And, she added, the ordinances in Texas cities have had minimal effect on addressing overcrowded animal shelters. "We have been down this road a couple times before," Kunzelman said. "But what I want to say is banning the sale of pets in pet stores does not do what supporters claim." "We buy them from USDA-licensed breeders that have had no indirect or no direct violations for the previous two years of inspections, and we are committed to fully sourcing from Canine Care Certified, which is the gold standard of breeding programs," she said. Petland has agreed to less far-reaching legislation in past legislative sessions that never made it to the finish line, but Kunzelman said the present proposals go too far. "We are not afraid of regulation," she said. "We want to do the right thing, and we want to give families a choice." Shelby Bobosky, executive director of the Texas Humane Legislation Network, told the American-Statesman that the bills awaiting further action are not seeking to shut down pet stores. 'It ensures collaboration with animal care facilities or rescues to showcase dogs and cats foradoption, instead of for profit," she said. Zaffirini said the legislation will provide a much-needed statewide uniform standard. "After the Legislature preempted local ordinances banning these sales, it became even more important to establish consistent protections that safeguard animal welfare and help families avoid unknowingly purchasing sick or mistreated pets," she said. If enacted, the legislation "will ensure all Texans are safeguarded from unethical sales practices — regardless of where they live." This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas legislation would ban retail sales of puppies and kittens
