Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why are you demonstrating against Monster Pets?
Because we want to help animals! When members of our group discovered the connection that pet stores have with puppy mills and small animal mills, we made a commitment to let everyone else know too! In addition, some of our advocates work with local animal rescues and shelters and they see first hand how pet store animal sales contribute to the deaths of millions of animals every year.
Monster Pets has been chosen because they are one of the largest Philadelphia area stores that sell animals and they are in a high traffic area where we can get the word out more easily about their cruelty. Most importantly, Monster Pets is an independent store and the co-owners, Brian Fennell and James Zornes, personally decide what will be sold in their store.
2. Have you tried speaking with Monster Pets’ owners?
Yes, we met with Brian Fennell, co-owner of Monster Pets, in early 2007 and we are more than willing to meet with the owners of Monster Pets again. During the discussion, Mr. Fennell said Monster Pets does "it" the best in the business and he prides himself on the fact that he does "it" the right way. Our group does not believe there is a “right way” to profit from animal abuse. Then we addressed the issue of Monster Pets’ contribution to the homeless animal crisis. Before we could finish Mr. Fennell told us that he knows all about the statistics but that we would have to agree to disagree about Monster Pets’ sale of animals. When we asked where Monster Pets’ puppies are purchased Mr. Fennell told us that they buy from Hunte Corporation. You can read more about Hunte here. He went on to talk about how he has to feed his family and how Monster Pets will not stop selling puppies.
If Monster Pets decides to stop selling puppies we would happy to help them adopt out homeless animals. Our group has connections with local shelters and rescues that will not work with a store that sells puppies but that would be eager to work with stores that do not sell puppies.
The following letters were sent to Monster Pets in a further attempt to initiate a dialogue about working together to save lives. To date Monster Pets has not responded to either letter.
December 28, 2007
Mr. Brian Fennell
Mr. James Zornes
Monster Pets
1946 S. Columbus Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19148
VIA FACSIMILE 215-336-9800 and FIRST CLASS MAIL
Dear Mr. Fennell and Mr. Zornes,
Once again, I would like to thank Mr. Fennell for meeting with me in the beginning of this year.
During our meeting, Mr. Fennell stated that Monster Pets buys puppies from Hunte Corporation. Our research indicates that Hunte Corporation purchases puppies from "high-volume breeders" which are also known as puppy mills. However, sources from Monster Pets, such as Susan Hoagland, have claimed that none of Monster Pets' puppies come from puppy mills. If you are purchasing animals from a company that is known to source animals from puppy mills, how can you claim to know where your puppies originate, and that none of them are from puppy mills? In order to address this contradiction, please provide us with the names and addresses of the breeder sources of the puppies sold at Monster Pets.
As you know, since we spoke earlier this year, millions of animals have been killed in U.S. shelters because of lack of homes. Every community in the country kills homeless animals. Knowing this lethal situation, it is reprehensible for any store to sell animals. Therefore, Reach Out for Animal Rights (ROAR) continues to respectfully request that you stop selling puppies. We will continue to peacefully leaflet and urge customers to adopt and not buy until you stop the business of selling intentionally-bred animals. As you well know, our approach of outreach is neither frightening nor intimidating, as hours of videotaped footage proves.
The majority of reputable rescue organizations will not work with stores that sell puppies. If Monster Pets stops the sale of puppies and other animals, ROAR would be happy to assist you in forming positive relationships with animal rescue organizations in the community. We are happy to meet with you to discuss this or any other issue.
I would appreciate your response as soon as possible. Please mail to Reach Out for Animal Rights, P.O. Box 338, Westville, NJ 08093.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Reach Out for Animal Rights
January 31, 2008
Mr. Brian Fennell
Mr. James Zornes
Monster Pets
1946 S. Columbus Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19148
VIA FACSIMILE 215-336-9800 and FIRST CLASS MAIL
Dear Mr. Fennell and Mr. Zornes,
This is to follow up on our letter of December 28, 2007 and our request for the breeder sources of Monster Pets’ puppies.
Monster Pets repeatedly purports to sell healthy puppies from quality breeders. Among other things, Susan Hoagland, self-proclaimed Monster Pets’ representative, has stated, “a healthy happy playful puppy comes from a happy, healthy parent. It's a proven fact and we haven't had a sick, unhappy, unplayful puppy.” However, as Mr. Fennell stated during our meeting early last year, Monster Pets purchases puppies from Hunte Corporation, one of the largest puppy brokers in the nation. Hunte is known to purchase puppies from “high-volume breeders” or puppy mills, many with multiple U.S.D.A. Animal Welfare Act violations. Our reasonable request for breeder records backing up your claims should be eagerly fulfilled if in fact your puppies are from breeders you are proud to support. Please send these records to us at the address below at your earliest convenience.
On a different note, I am deeply concerned about defamatory allegations about my group and me made by Susan Hoagland, spokesperson for Monster Pets. For example, Ms. Hoagland has stated that Reach Out for Animal Rights (ROAR) and I intimidate customers and frighten children. We take great offense to these allegations. Our outreach efforts are peaceful and we stand far from Monster Pets’ doors as to not impede any person’s right to shop at your establishment. ROAR has even begun handing out child friendly pro-adoption activity pages. Our peaceful presence and professional manner are issues that we take very seriously. I am requesting that Monster Pets and anyone writing on your behalf stop all libelous allegations against my group or me.
ROAR’s offer to meet with you to discuss these or other issues still remains.
I would appreciate your response as soon as possible. Please mail to Reach Out for Animal Rights, P.O. Box 338, Westville, NJ 08093.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Reach Out for Animal Rights
3. Why should I believe what you say and not what Monster Pets says?
We do not make money from our campaign to expose the truth about Monster Pets. Monster Pets will probably tell you exactly what you want to hear in order to make a sale. They are making money from selling animals that they treat like merchandise.
4. Monster Pets says they properly care for their animals and their store looks clean. What is your group’s response to this?
Just because Monster Pets appears to be a clean store that properly cares for their animals does not mean that is the truth. Many pet store animals are sick with illnesses not apparent by merely looking at them. The following points are made by petstorecruelty.org: What is often overlooked is that most pet store animals are confined for long periods of time to spaces so small that puppies can't run, kittens can't climb, rabbits can't hop, snakes can't slither, birds can't fly, and fish can't swim more than a few inches. (Some fish are confined to containers so small they can only tread water.) These are natural behaviors that these species must engage in to be healthy and happy. Freedom of movement is a terrible thing to deny to any living creature. These animals do not know they are confined because humans enjoy looking at their beautiful feathers or cute, furry faces. All they know is they want out.
Once you reject the familiar notion that there's nothing wrong with the way pet stores confine animals, common sense dictates that an active animal who is confined to an area only slightly larger than his or her own body all the time or nearly all the time cannot possibly be getting enough space or exercise as is necessary to maintain physical and mental health. Many pet shop animals are taken from their mothers at an early age and are forced to live (and often die) in barren cages with absolutely no toys, no companions, nothing to engage their minds or bodies. Dogs are domesticated animals, meaning that their ability to survive in the wild has been taken away, but they still retain some natural behaviors, without which they are neither happy nor healthy. Puppies still need to run, play with others, learn about the world, and receive loving care from their mothers. Pet store puppies do not have these opportunities.
5. If I boycott stores that sell animals where am I supposed to buy supplies for my companion animals?
Please visit our How You Can Help page. Even if you buy only supplies from pet stores that sell animals you are still supporting animal mills and the killing of animals in shelters. When you shop at Monster Pets or other stores that sell animals you are telling them that it is perfectly fine with you that they continue to sell animals from animal mills as well as take the chance of adoption away from shelter animals. You may have to go a bit out of your way to shop elsewhere, but the animals' lives depend upon your decision.
6. Are Petsmart and Petco good stores to shop?
Petsmart info here. Petco info here. The majority, if not all, of the animals for sale at Petsmart and Petco, although not puppies or kittens, are still purchased from breeding mills. Visit our Links page to view videos of a parrot mill and photos of a rodent mill. While Petsmart and Petco provide shelters and rescues with space to showcase their adoptable dogs and cats, they are still profiting from the sale of helpless animals. We encourage you to shop at stores that do not sell animals - find a list on our How You Can Help page.
7. I really think what you are doing is great! How do I get involved?
Please visit our How You Can Help page and our Events page. Our campaign to help animals is going great; the only thing missing is YOU!