The Online Newspaper of Lakewood High School

Lakewood Times

Lakewood Times

Lakewood Times

    Pick of the Litter

    Pick of the Litter

    Southpark Mall in Strongsville, Ohio is home to the pet store, Pick of the Litter. This store is known by many for their treatment of the animals they sell. Many people have protested the conditions, but no action can be taken because in Ohio they are considered legal.

    If you were to walk into Pick of the Litter you would see puppies kept in alarming conditions. These young dogs are kept in glass tanks, often shared with one or more other puppies. They have trouble standing straight up, but that isn’t commonly an issue due to the lethargy they show.

    As a dog owner myself, I know that puppies are very active and energetic. However, whenever I have gone into the store, they always are laying down, sleeping no matter the time of day. Many believe that the owners of the store drug the dogs to keep them subdued. Rescue Advocate Gia Campola claims “a former employee told me the dogs were given Benadryl.”

    When it comes to the kittens sold at Pick of the Litter, their conditions are equally concerning. They are kept in groups of three or more in cages meant for rabbits. Many kittens are also kept in a tank that wraps around the checkout counter. On the bright side, they appear to be much more active than the dogs. However, they should have more room to roam around.

    Many petitions have been created protesting the pet shop, however none have gone anywhere. This sad fact is because these horrible conditions violate no laws. Campola spoke out saying, “Unfortunately, the USDA governs breeding regulations and the conditions in this pet store are acceptable under the law. It all boils down to the fact that the laws are so poorly lacking in Ohio.”

    Advocates for the rights of animals are bringing their case against Pick of the Litter to the Strongsville City Hall on the first of October. While treating animals like this may be legal, it is not ethical. It is time to call for reform of Ohio animal regulations.

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