Protest Draws Dozens To Puppy Store In Brick

BRICK, NJ — More than 50 protesters stood on the sidewalk along Route 70 in front of the strip mall housing Breeders Association of America to press their message: don't buy puppies from a store.

Holding signs saying "A pet store puppy is a puppy mill puppy" and "Don't buy the lies say no to pet store puppies" the protesters stood along the sidewalk, waving at passing cars and trucks that honked in solidarity.

The protesters also held signs saying "Justice for Cooper," the puppy that died in late March eight days after 20-year-old Brittany Reeves and her mother, Anne, purchased the puppy at Breeders Association of America. It was the Reeveses' fight to get Cooper's body back after the puppy died that brought attention to the store, which has been the subject of complaints over most of its existence.

The store, which opened in 2007, is the only retail pet store that sells puppies in the township. A 2012 ordinance passed by the township council banned the retail sale of dogs and cats within the town after persistent controversies with another pet store.

The ordinance bans businesses from selling, delivering, offering for sale, bartering or auctioning cats or dogs. It also included a clause allowing current businesses that operate legally to remain in business — and that allowed Breeders Association of America to continue to operate.

On Tuesday, the council is scheduled to hold a second reading of an amendment to that ordinance to remove a nonconforming use clause that permits Breeders Association to sell puppies from breeders. The removal of the clause would limit all retail sales of animals within the township to "seized, rescued or donated animals."

The change would force Breeders Association to change its business model, township officials have said.

Breeders Association has been under quarantine by the Ocean County Health Department since April 4 in the wake of Cooper's positive post-mortem parvo test. The quarantine ends Friday, April 28; the store's business license is up for its annual renewal in June. The store was permitted to remain open to sell merchandise — leashes, food, cages, and such — during the quarantine, but the store has been closed.

On Saturday, as the protesters waved their signs and encouraging passing traffic to honk, lights were on inside the store, but no employees were visible. A drizzling rain began to fall, and protesters pulled out umbrellas and ponchos to stay dry.

Protesting in the rain wasn't a big deal, they said; "the parents of these puppies suffer far worse," one man said.

The Township Council meeting begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the municipal building on Chambersbridge Road.

Photos by Karen Wall