A bit off the norm for a minute.

Will any and all the people who see this copy and paste onto any social networking sites you use. This company needs to be taught that America will not tolerate unethical business practices and word play to convince people it does not support cruelty to animals. So please, copy and paste to all your social sites the report below. thank you.

http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/puppy_mills/timelines/petland_investigation.html


The above link is general information on how petland has been proven to be supporters and customers of puppy mills.


Here's is information specifically on the NC Petland in Charlotte.


http://www.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/pets/puppy_mills/petland_state_data_north_carolina.pdf


No matter how you look at it, this company supports legal cruelty to puppies and breeder dogs. They tell you that they only buy from USDA approved breeders...ok, lets look at the USDA regulations:


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100525/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_puppy_mills_no_enforcement


hmm...doesn't seem like the USDA is very tough on these large kennel breeders, or puppy mills...


One regulation is that the dogs must have 6 inches of space to move around in. Meaning, that if a dog puts its butt on one side of the cage, kennel, or whatever, they must have 6 inches between their nose and the other side of the cage. The USDA does NOT require these kennels to take the dogs out of the cages, EVER. So, no exercise for these dogs until the lucky ones are able to find a home. And NONE what so ever required for the breeder dogs.


Now, go to the local, Charlotte, NC Pet land and tell them that they need to stop selling Puppies and they will laugh at you. Puppies are big ticket items for them. They sell them for up to $3-$4 THOUSAND dollars a puppy. They excuse this obviously huge mark up by saying they provide vet visit discounts, shots, etc.. Really Pet land? You think the public is THAT stupid? Lets take a look at average cost of a puppy from a breeder.


Lets say you want a French Bulldog, a relatively popular little dog. Here's a breeder in NC: http://www.puppyfind.com/french+bulldog.php


As you can see, one sells for $900.00 the other $1300.00

Pet land sells this same type of puppy mill bred puppy for over $3000.00 and you KNOW they pay less then the $900 price tag.


Now, lets see how much it costs for the shots that Petland provides (Up to 12 weeks old).


http://www.fetchdog.com/learn-connect/dog-resource-library/life-stages/The-Cost-of-a-Puppy/D/300600/P/1:5:55:54/I/AR000010697


The above link to Fetchdog.com says that the cost of the shots petland provides varies from $100 - $500, with and average of $200. Lets try to give them a chance and add together the $1300 puppy with the high end Shots of $500, you get $1800. hmmm. Still doesn't add up to Petland's asking price of $3000. In fact, Petland's price is almost double what it would cost you to pay for the shots yourself when you buy a puppy from a small breeder. How big of a profit margin does this company need?


Oh, you say they have to pay their employees? Well, they do have to, but the truth of it is, most of their staff works on commission or get paid minimum wage. Not Both, one or the other, which ever is higher. Now, how long do you think this very greedy company that is willing to support puppy mills would keep an employee that doesn't sell enough puppies or pet supplies to breach the mark and get paid commission instead of minimum wage? A month? Two months? Who knows? All I know, is if you go in their store today, and then a month from now, you'll see a lot of different faces. Here's an interesting fact. The NC Petland has been through THREE managers in the last year alone. Now, if they are so willing to trade managers out like baseball cards, it shows how willing they are to get rid of staff they see as inadequate.


They tell their customers that the animals care is their primary concern...Really Petland? Is it? Or is it the money you make from buying puppies for cheap from puppy mills that breed their female dogs twice a year? Or the money you earn from keeping a revolving door for your always temporary staff? Or the money you get from charging your customers $1200 extra on the price of a puppy for an average cost of $200 shots which anyone with common sense would know that you most likely work with select vets to get a discount on that cost too?


So, Petland is not only evil because they support large kennel, or puppy mill breeders who basically torture their breeder dogs, but they are evil because they are too focused on profit, instead of what they claim to be focused on, the health and care of the animals.


So, why am I posting this? Well, to get the word out on this company that is a stain upon the landscape of NC for one. And two, in hopes that you, the reader, will continue to spread the word and if the people of NC, specifically Charlotte have the level of compassion or pride that I would imagine it does, we can drive this company from our state, never to return. And if you are worried about the people that work there losing their jobs, don't be; like I said, they are destined for that revolving door anyway. Any regular customer of theirs, like I used to be, can tell you that they go threw staff like dogs go through chew toys.

The Empty Chair

This is dedicated to Josh Sickels, who just lost his mother too soon... Your friends, those who knew you well, and those, like me, who didn't have the fortune or good sense to get to know you well enough, express our saddness and sympathies over your loss.


The Empty Chair

Glancing, where she;
use to sit. Relaxed...content.
She only wanted love, to give it
and to receive it. In the end....

In the end she found it.
In the end, she knew...
she was loved. She was mother;
and.

And in all but signature;
wife...
She was care giver, she
was mother. So I glance.

I glance where she use...
to sit. I still see her...,
there, in her vacated seat. In
my grief, over her empty chair.

Have Faith, Know Nothing.

Fulfilling life's prophecy,
sympathetic hearts are needed.
Nay, not sympathetic;
but empathetic. You must
know how to feel the pain and joy of others.

Be like the lion, survive by one
another.
Eat the flesh of prey, make not prey of
each other. Man, to woman, to child;
care must be given and received by all.

Build joy in your hearts;
upon a foundation of love.
Call no man creature, thing;
or nothing but brother. It is by
unionized effort that thriving thrives.

Use matured minds to refrain;
from judgment.
Own your deeds, undone needs,
and unspoken thoughts. It is the child
that casts his faults on others.