Companion Animal Protection Society Plans New York City Pet Store Protest


NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - November 23, 2009) -


WHO:     Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS)
         Deborah Howard, Founder and President of CAPS
         Howard founded CAPS in 1992 and is devoted to the protection of
         companion animals. She is a frequent guest speaker on the topic
         and has been featured on Animal Planet, CNN, CBS, NBC, ABC
         and FOX.
         CAPS is the only national non-profit organization dedicated
         exclusively to protecting companion animals from cruelty in pet
         shops and puppy mills.
         www.caps-web.org

WHAT:    CAPS will kick-off the first in a series of protests against Pet
         Fashion on the Upper West Side (the other locations are
         Washington Heights and Yonkers) to draw awareness to the
         connection between pet shops and puppy mills.  Almost all pet
         shops obtain dogs from puppy mills. Informing the public about
         the dangers of purchasing pet shop dogs is more important now
         than ever as people consider purchasing companion animals for
         gifts this holiday season.

WHEN:    Saturday, November 28, 2009 from 1-3 pm ET

WHERE:   565 Columbus Ave., New York, New York 10024
         Between 87th and 88th

WHY:     Pet store Pet Fashion sells dogs from puppy mills -- commercial
         breeding facilities that mass-produce puppies for resale through
         pet shops and brokers.  USDA licensed facilities are puppy mills.

           -- Kathy Bauck, using her husband's name, sold puppies to Pet
              Fashion in August.  Bauck, who was one of the largest dog
              brokers and breeders in the country, was convicted of
              animal cruelty in March 2009 based on evidence from a
              six-week undercover employment investigation by CAPS.  The
              USDA terminated her licensed on September 29 and she is
              appealing the agency's decision.

           -- CAPS completed several very successful protests in the Los
              Angeles area, resulting in pet shops converting to humane
              business models that provide shelter animals for adoption.

           -- Millions of healthy and treatable dogs and cats are killed
              each year in shelters. CAPS urges consumers to adopt
              companion animals from shelter and rescue organizations
              rather than through pet shops, the Internet and breeders.

HOW:     CAPS wants to alert consumers to the problems associated with
         purchasing puppies from pet shops.  At these peaceful protests,
         CAPS will distribute fact sheets on pet shops and where to adopt
         in NYC and CAPS brochures. CAPS protestors along with concerned,
         local residents want Pet Fashion to convert to a humane business
         model that dogs from local shelters, especially kill facilities,
         rather than from puppy mills.

Editorial note: video footage from a CAPS investigation of Kathy Bauck

Please note this footage contains graphic images

About CAPS

Founded by President Deborah Howard in 1992, Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) is the only national nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to protecting companion animals from cruelty in pet shops and puppy mills. CAPS actively addresses the abuse and suffering of pet shop and puppy mill dogs through investigations, education, media relations, legislative involvement, puppy mill dog rescues, consumer assistance and pet industry employee relations.

Contact Information: Media Contacts: Deborah Howard cell: 339-236-0978 caps@caps-web.org Sheila Bohan sbohan@emergepr.com