Undercover Investigation Exposes Puppy Mill Links at Novi Petland Store

Novi, Michigan – An undercover investigation by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has revealed that a Petland store in Novi, Michigan, is routinely supplied by puppy mills, including those featured in the HSUS’s annual ‘Horrible Hundred’ report.

Disturbing Scenes and Puppy Neglect

The investigation, conducted over the summer and early fall of this year, documented numerous disturbing scenes, including a delivery worker openly discussing the transport of ‘yipping dogs’ from Illinois. Undercover footage captured sick puppies with wounds, hacking coughs, nasal discharge, and bloody stools, as well as puppies exhibiting congenital defects like abnormal masses and skull deformities.

Puppies Returned to Puppy Mills

Alarmingly, some of these sick and injured puppies were sent back to the puppy mills where they were born, rather than receiving veterinary care or being placed in suitable homes. Investigators also documented unsafe high-cage conditions, with puppies occasionally falling and hitting the floor.

Links to Out-of-State Mills

Researchers analyzed paperwork from the Novi Petland store and 12 other Michigan puppy-selling stores, uncovering links to out-of-state puppy mills – ten of which had previously appeared on the HSUS’s ‘Horrible Hundred’ list. These mills are often characterized by cramped conditions, overbreeding, and a lack of veterinary care, leading to widespread animal suffering.

Petland’s Nationwide Operations

Petland, the largest puppy-selling pet store chain in the U.S., has been the subject of investigation by the HSUS since 2018, with the Novi store being one of ten locations examined. The HSUS argues that puppy mills are a root cause of animal suffering, with parent dogs enduring constant breeding and often being abandoned or killed when they can no longer reproduce.