WHO: Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS), www.caps-web.org, is the only national non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to protecting companion animals from cruelty in pet shops and puppy mills. WHAT: CAPS is protesting Pet Fashion Boutique on the Upper West Side (the other locations are Yonkers, Washington Heights and West Nyack). During the protest, Animal Haven Shelter, www.animalhavenshelter.org, will be holding an adoption event inside the Pet Stop, www.petstopnyc.com, 564 Columbus Ave. Animal Haven is also bringing a mobile adoption van. WHEN: Saturday, December 19, 2009 from 1-3 pm EST WHERE: Pet Fashion Boutique, 565 Columbus Ave., New York, New York 10024 Between 87th and 88th WHY: Pet Fashion Boutique 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 Boutique 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. USDA issued a Decision and Order on December 2 that terminates Bauck's license. The actual termination takes place within 60 days of service. In the meantime, Bauck will continue to sell to pet shops in NYC, New Jersey and on Long Island. -- 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 distributes fact sheets on pet shops and where to adopt in NYC and CAPS brochures. CAPS protestors along with concerned local residents want Pet Fashion Boutique to convert to a humane business model that provides dogs from local shelters, especially kill facilities, rather than from puppy mills.Editorial note: video footage from a CAPS investigation (http://www.caps-web.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=169&Itemid=207&report_id=161) 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 Mara Stefan Emerge PR cell: 781-771-6911 mstefan@emergepr.com