Pet Retailers Pull Support of Animal Welfare League

CHICAGO RIDGE, IL -- Two of the nation’s largest pet retailers have suspended their relationships with Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge, after photos showing sick dogs dying among pigeon and rodent feces surfaced last week, that were reportedly taken by insiders at the embattled animal shelter. Petco Foundation and PetSmart Charities both offer in-store adoption programs in their stores by partnering with local animal shelters to display pets to increase their chances of being adopted. Both charities have launched their own internal investigations into Animal Welfare League.

Petco issued a written statement saying they were taking the allegations seriously.

“We’re aware of the allegations against this group, we take them very seriously and can confirm we do not currently have any of their animals housed in our in-store adoption centers. We have a zero tolerance policy for animal neglect or abuse of any kind and have suspended our relationship while we conduct a thorough investigation.”

Employees at the Petco store in Evergreen Park said the store did not have any adoptable cats and said Petco is “no longer associated” with Animal Welfare League.

After an adoptable cat that showed symptoms of being sick on Jan. 28 at a PetSmart store in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, Animal Welfare League was told to remove all of its cats from store’s 7-Day Cat Center. PetSmart is also said to have pulled out of other stores in the south suburbs, including Burbank and Crestwood. According to a source, Animal Welfare was told to take the PetSmart cats back to the shelter or turn them over to another shelter partner in the PetSmart Charities program.

“Through our PetSmart Charities In-store Adoption Program, we work with local animal welfare organizations to help homeless pets get adopted. The Animal Welfare League (AWL) was part of the PetSmart Charities’ In-Store Adoption Program for 19 years. After learning of allegations of animal mistreatment, PetSmart Charities immediately suspended the organization from our adoption program and launched an internal investigation.

“We understand that, after an adoptable cat showed symptoms of being sick, the Animal Welfare League removed all of the cats from the 7 Day Cat Center at the PetSmart Lincoln Park location on Saturday out of an abundance of caution.

“We are currently waiting for the results of the investigation …”

An AWL administrator told animal advocates holding a vigil outside the shelter at 10305 Southwest Highway last Saturday, that PetSmart Charities did not pull its support of Animal Welfare League.

The shelter is on the agenda of the Chicago Ridge Village Board meeting starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6. Those who have gathered at three vigils outside the shelter have stated that they plan to attend and share their stores. Chicago Ridge Village Hall is located at 10455 S. Ridgeland Ave.

Photo: Chicago Ridge police officers converge in front of Animal Welfare League during a peaceful protest. | Patch Editor Lorraine Swanson