Humane Society Investigation Links Arlington Heights Pet Store to Puppy Mills

The Humane Society of the United States launched an investigation to track down pet stores that purchase dogs from puppy mills, and an Arlington Heights pet store was one of the businesses to pop up on their radar.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Puppy Mills are large commerical dog breeding operations that place an emphasis on profit over the health and well being of these animals. 

Through a Freedom of Information Act Request, the Humane Society learned more than 2,000 puppies were shipped to Chicago-area pet stores in a six-month period.

A total of 50 stores in the Chicagoland area were identified as those that have purchased dogs from puppy mills, including Happiness is Pets, 15 W. Golf Road.

Click here to see the full puppy mill investigation report from the Humane Society of the United States.

Part of a chain, Happiness is Pets has purchased a puppies from a number of brokers and breeders with several animal welfare violations, the Humane Society reports.

“We’ve had a number of complaints about the chain of stores from people who bought sick puppies,” said Kathleen Summers, Director of Outreach and Research for the Humane Society of the United State’s Puppy Mills Campaign.

According to Summers, puppy mill dogs are often sick and if not, people need to think about what their money is funding. “We want people to know where pet store dogs really come from,” Summers said, “And we want those customers to know what their dollars support.”

Click here to see the video of the Humane Society's undercover investigation.

Puppy sales peak around the holidays and the Humane Society wants to keep people and their money out of pet stores. “People shouldn’t be buying puppies from pet stores at all,” Summers said, “It supports animal cruelty.” 

The Happiness is Pets store in Arlington Heights was not cited or fined. Purchasing dogs from puppy mills is not illegal. 

Editor's Note: Information was provided by the Humane Society of the United States following an uncercover investigation. Purchasing puppies from puppy mills is not illegal.