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AdminPermalink Reply by LM Fowler - Admin on February 13, 2009 at 11:33am

The Pet Store Revolution
By Helen Storey

‘The Puppy Store’ AKA ‘The Orange Bone’, the distinctive logo that draws attention to the Pet Store on Melrose Avenue, just may have started a revolution. Imagine a stylish Pet Boutique. The kind of Pet store that sells Puppies for upward of three thousand dollars. Puppies that come straight from the Puppy mill industry. You have heard all the horror stories. Now imagine that same store filled with Puppies and young Dogs that have been rescued from area shelters.The dream has become a reality. After many peaceful protests, a new day has finally dawned in Los Angeles. By going humane, Clark Du Val, owner of ‘The Puppy Store’ on Melrose, is creating a template that could pave the way for all puppy mill selling pet stores to follow. Without the lucrative sales of high priced pooches, Clark is hoping that selling high end merchandise to customers adopting a dog, will be enough to keep his business going.

“We are not making any profit from the dogs that are available for adoption, which means we have to make up for it in other ways,” Clark said. The dogs that await adoption are not free, the price ranges from $300-500, which barely covers the cost of Pull fee’s and Vet services. All of the dogs have been vaccinated and fixed. They do not go to the store until it is clear they are healthy. They range in age from 2 Months to 2 Years. Twenty-six dogs have been adopted in the last two weeks ! They can be returned for whatever reason. If the puppies and dogs are not adopted quickly they are also shown at mobile adoptions in Malibu every weekend. So far only one dog has been returned, a Pekinese, initially thought to be younger than 2. When the Vet suggested she may be older than was thought, she was returned.
There will no doubt be some voices that question the lack of applications and home checks, but for a City that has long awaited change of this kind, and for all of the dogs that are red-listed at shelters, it is worth supporting an idea that could revolutionize the way Pet Stores operate. The potential for a model solution exists, a way forward. Not just as a viable alternative to stemming the flow of puppy mill dogs, but as a real solution to saving the lives of shelter animals.
It is certainly a concept that is being embraced by the public, who are drawn into the store by the live cam video displays hanging in the front window. People who, on the most part, would never set foot in a shelter, are at ease in this environment. And lets face it, who doesn’t want to see Puppies at play! There is a look of surprise when the realization sets in and people recognize that not all the Puppies are Pure Breeds, and that some of them are not even Puppies, but full grown dogs like the beautiful Pekinese who is 2 years old, and was rescued from a Puppy Mill. Most of the dogs come from City and County shelters, both of whom are working in tandem with Last Chance For Animals to make sure this dream venture succeeds.
No one is more responsible for making this happen than Wuffington Wag contributor, Kim Sill of LCA. Kim has been investigating, protesting and reporting on the problems of the Puppy Mill Industry for a long time, and has always been of the belief that if Pet Stores would go humane, and stop selling animals for huge profits, there would be a way for them to stay in business, while doing animals in need a great service. ” Just as our protests have always been peaceful, it was never our intention to put stores out of business.” Kim said, while walking some of the dogs, “We are working hard to make this concept work, so that other Pet Stores will be inspired to follow the great example set by Clark.”
It is a work in progress and both Kim and Clark agree, there is still room for improvement. The store will be building more playpens so the dogs can take turns to romp around. Clark has had to cut back on staff due to loss of revenue and although they are doing a great job caring for the dogs, volunteers would be a great asset to assist with keeping the dogs well socialized and exercised. No one is working harder than Kim Sill right now. She spends her days running from shelter to vet to store. Please contact her ( kimsill123@gmail.com ) if you are interested in supporting her efforts to encourage area Pet stores to go humane, or support the efforts of LCA by making a donation ( www.banpuppymills.com) It is so important that this works. “The Puppy Store - where Rescues Rule!!,” as Kim has renamed it
‘The Puppy Store’ AKA ‘The Orange Bone’, the distinctive logo that draws attention to the store on Melrose Avenue, deserves the support of the community. In addition to Pet basics and luxury items, the store will soon be carrying food and treats, including ‘3 Dog Bakery’, and other home made goodies, to help pay the rent. Please stop by and say hello to Clark and thank him for taking this risk and helping save shelter pups, and lend all the support you can if you live in the area. The Store is located at 7574 Melrose Avenue ( cross St. Curson ) MON-SAT 11-8pm and SUN 11-5pm. Contact Clark at Info@orangebone.com or visit the website http://www.orangebone.com/.


http://wuffingtonwag.com/articles/feature/the-pet-store-revolution/

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