Companion Animal Protection Society Plans Peaceful Holiday Protest of Pet Fashion Boutique on Upper West Side

Pet Shop Chain Has Four Locations in or Near NYC


NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - December 18, 2009) -


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