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Pet Profiteers

Hank Investigates: Pet Profiteers

Even the toughest cops had tears in their eyes-- Inside this New Hampshire house, they found dozens of dogs in hideously filthy conditions.

Investigator
"Oh my God."

Cages too small for the dogs to stand, weak, sick… Many imprisoned in the dark. A want ad offered dogs for sale, but undercover investigators found the home was nothing but a dog factory, churning out their puppies for profit.

Hank
"How did it get that bad?"

Elizabeth Fourar-Laidi, Cocheco Valley Humane Society
"The people are just so good at hiding what they're doing."

In Attleboro Mass animal officials also found puppy profiteers, almost a hundred bassets, spaniels and Shar Peis, multiple breeds kept in box stalls, caked with waste neglected underfed and diseased.

Hank
"Do you think more places like that are out there?"

Elizabeth Fourar-Laidi, Cocheco Valley Humane Society
"I think there are a lot more places out there."

In fact, all we had to do was check the local papers! Our investigation found a pattern of deceptive and misleading want ads and our undercover cameras revealed the overcrowded unsanitary conditions behind them… Pitiful animals warehoused in cages and hidden in basements, where customers will never be allowed.

Holly saw this ad -- But when she got to this house, she was not even allowed inside. She says the front yard was swarming with puppies and she bought two, with mange and signs of abuse, because she felt so sorry for them.

Holly
"It makes me sad, it makes me angry."

When we answered the same ad undercover, they let us in and here's what Holly didn't see. Inside -- dozens and dozens of adult dogs room after room, some jumping around loose, some in cages stacked three high. In the back, their puppies, prices starting at $350 each.

Holly
"They just kept breeding for the money of the dog, and the animals are the ones who suffer from it."

Here’s how it happens, you could breed hundreds of puppies in your back yard, take out ads to sell them and no officials would know! Local kennel licensing rules are often ignored, what's more, there's no state registration for breeders.

Hank
"Would anyone inspect this or look at this?"

Kara Holmquist, MSPCA
"No."

Here's the result: This ad, advertises cats $300 and up. But we were only offered a few at a time in what was obviously a "viewing room" and they would not show us where the cats really lived.

Hank
"What do you think about that?"

Kara Holmquist, MSPCA
"I think that is a red flag."

And as we left through a basement window, we saw where the cats had come from. The entire room was converted to cat breeding, floor to ceiling cages, filthy litter boxes, crawling with cats.

The MSPCA says our tapes prove, you just don't know what's behind the want ads.

Hank
"What does that lead you to believe may be out there?"

Kara
"Well, we don't know and that's what’s always scary."

And take a look at these, Akitas for sale, Terriers, Chihuahuas, Boxers -- what you probably wouldn't notice is that 14 different ads all have the same phone number! Here's one that’s in 13 times! Turns out these aren't ads placed by private sellers, they're licensed commercial pet stores, but disguised to look like people's homes and state officials know it.

Hank
"These ads are misleading, what do you think about that?"

Diane Petit, MA Dept. of Agriculture
"I can see why someone would be misled."

Patricia was misled by this ad and bought a puppy from the place thinking it was a private home.

Patricia
"I did not want to deal with any kind of a pet shop."

But when snowball got sick, registry papers proved the pup actually was shipped in from the Midwest, what she thought was a "private home" was actually a pet store.

Patricia
"I think it should be outlawed."

But right now officials, who regulate pet shops, say that as long as they pass their yearly inspection, they can advertise any way they want.

Hank
"When you see ads like this can you make an informed decision."

Diane
"It makes it more difficult."

Bottom line, if you're looking for a new family pet, some want ads may be exactly what you don't want.

 

For more information:

For tips on how to find a pet:

To file a report about animal neglect or cruelty:

In Massachusetts:

In New Hampshire:

Contact your local humane society, police department or the New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to animals or the New Hampshire Division of Animal Industry:

For information on pet shop licensing or to file a complaint:

Also, in Massachusetts the MSPCA and Animal Rescue League can also investigate pet shop complaints:

In MA and NH there have been bills filed in the past regarding breeders and pet shops:

Contact the MSCPA for more info or email Kara Holmquist, Director of Advocacy for the MSPCA at the MSPCA: kholmquist@mspca.org

For information on adopting a dog or cat from a shelter or town animal control facility please see the links below:

Animal Control/Town Shelters:

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Segment Information

Reported by:

Hank Phillippi Ryan

Producer:

Mary Schwager

Contact:

helpmehank@whdh.com

Archived Reports:

All Hank Investigates