Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.

Dismiss

New Article about Sears Pet Store Closing

85 views

Skip to first unread message

Susan Feingold

unread,

Jan 31, 1997, 3:00:00 AM1/31/97

The Raleigh News Observer has an article about the Sears Pet Store
closing. Great work everyone!!!!
-Susan Feingold
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www3.nando.net/newsroom/nao/tri/013197/tri01_14812.html

Sears store ends sale of puppies, kittens

By SUSAN KAUFFMAN, Staff Writer

RALEIGH -- In the face of a national protest from dog breeders,
pet owners and animal welfare activists, the Sears store in Crabtree
Valley mall has stopped selling puppies and kittens.

The store was the only one among the national chain's 820 stores
that sold pets, Jeff McDonald, manager of the Raleigh Sears store,
said Thursday. McDonald said all the puppies at the store were
moved Monday night to other stores owned by Roger Oakes, the owner of
Pet-Go-Round stores, who leases the space at Sears. There were
no kittens on the premises.

"After hearing from some of our Raleigh customers that they
preferred to purchase their pets from other sources, Mr. Oakes
and the Sears Raleigh store have decided to no longer sell dogs
and cats," McDonald said in a prepared statement.

The store also sells other small animals, including hedgehogs and
guinea pigs, and plans to continue to do so, at least for now,
McDonald said.

The Raleigh store became the focus of a national campaign when
people who participate in chat groups about dogs on the Internet
learned that the store was selling pets and began a grass-roots
boycott. Hundreds of letters and e-mail messages poured into the
store.

Though the vast majority of protesters had never visited the store,
many charged that all dogs sold in pet stores are provided by
irresponsible breeders who are more interested in making money
than in promoting the best genetic animals or following up to see
that their dogs went to good homes.

Leslie Isom, spokeswoman for the Humane Society of the United
States, said she had not gotten official word about the change.

If true, Isom said,"we're thrilled that Sears made the responsible
and humane decision by stopping the sale of cats and dogs."

But she still wants the store to stop selling all small animals.

Lucy Vance, executive director of the Wake County Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said Thursday she was glad
to hear about Sears' decision.

"My first reaction is 'Wow,' " Vance said. "I'm absolutely delighted.
Obviously, a lot of people care and are aware of the issues now.
Anytime you can put a dent in the overpopulation is wonderful."

The Humane Society argues that the Sears store encouraged
impulse buying and was contributing to the animal overpopulation
crisis.

McDonald said he had tried to work out a compromise with the
protesters but added that he felt the store, because it offered the
Sears money-back guarantee and regular veterinary checks,
offered more to the customer than would someone who advertises
puppies in the newspaper.

National organizers said the store was a target because of the
Sears name. Vance, who contends with a range of problems
involving animal abuse and overpopulation of cats and dogs, said
she had not singled out the store for local protest because it was
clean and the animals were well-kept.

But Vance praised Sears for joining the growing number of pet
stores that refuse to sell kittens and puppies. The practice, she
said, encourages people to buy on impulse, without recognizing that
acquiring a pet should be viewed as a 15-year commitment.

Unlike animal shelters, pet stores do not require that pet owners
spay or neuter their animals.

"If you can stop one cat or one dog from reproducing, it helps stop
the chain reaction," said Vance, who sees more than 12,000
animals arrive at her shelter annually.

McDonald said calls from local customers prompted the decision
to stop selling the cats and dogs, though the store had earlier
monitored several hundred national complaints.

"The pet store concept has never been a strategic concept for
Sears, but was initiated as a response to local market demand in
Raleigh nine years ago," he said.

"Sears is committed to local customers," McDonald said. "Because
customer preferences have apparently changed, we will turn our
focus in Raleigh to other products that customers want in the pet
category."

The Sears Pet Store will increase its stock of pet supplies and
devote a new section of the store to wild bird supplies, McDonald
said.

The LoneWolf

unread,

Jan 31, 1997, 3:00:00 AM1/31/97

Yes! Yes! Yes! Also, a lot of people on the Bulletin Board Services -
AcmePet, DogWorld, CyberPet, etc. have e-mailed and contacted Sears.
Congratulations everybody!

Randy 'n Monica Barger

unread,

Jan 31, 1997, 3:00:00 AM1/31/97

Now THIS is what news groups are all about!!! GREAT JOB! I am
encouraged that so many people really do care about this issue!
How impressive that a little ol' thing like the internet could have
such an impact :) yippee

Monica
____________________________________________________________________________

__________R_O_A_N_O_A_K___A_U_S_T_R_A_L_I_A_N___S_H_E_P_H_E_R_D_S___________

The Carrolls

unread,

Feb 1, 1997, 3:00:00 AM2/1/97

Congratulations everyone! We've finally gotten something real to happen!
There's more notes through the article, FYI.

Susan Feingold <fein...@mindspring.com> wrote in article
<5ct16o$n...@camel4.mindspring.com>...

>
> The Raleigh News Observer has an article about the Sears Pet Store
> closing. Great work everyone!!!!
> -Susan Feingold
>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------
>
>
> http://www3.nando.net/newsroom/nao/tri/013197/tri01_14812.html
>
>
> Sears store ends sale of puppies, kittens
>
> By SUSAN KAUFFMAN, Staff Writer
>
> RALEIGH -- In the face of a national protest from dog breeders,
> pet owners and animal welfare activists, the Sears store in Crabtree
> Valley mall has stopped selling puppies and kittens.

YAY!

> The store was the only one among the national chain's 820 stores
> that sold pets, Jeff McDonald, manager of the Raleigh Sears store,
> said Thursday. McDonald said all the puppies at the store were
> moved Monday night to other stores owned by Roger Oakes, the owner of
> Pet-Go-Round stores, who leases the space at Sears. There were
> no kittens on the premises.

Darn. Oh well, at least a place we actually liked before all this has
stopped.

> "After hearing from some of our Raleigh customers that they
> preferred to purchase their pets from other sources, Mr. Oakes
> and the Sears Raleigh store have decided to no longer sell dogs
> and cats," McDonald said in a prepared statement.

Good.

> The store also sells other small animals, including hedgehogs and
> guinea pigs, and plans to continue to do so, at least for now,
> McDonald said.

At least those kinda pets only live through about 5 years and serious
temperamental problems can't cause excess grief to owner. They're a lot
easier to lock up and aren't anywhere near as loud when they are.

> The Raleigh store became the focus of a national campaign when
> people who participate in chat groups about dogs on the Internet
> learned that the store was selling pets and began a grass-roots
> boycott. Hundreds of letters and e-mail messages poured into the
> store.

Chat groups. Love their lack of internet lingo. What's a grass-roots
boycott?

> Though the vast majority of protesters had never visited the store,
> many charged that all dogs sold in pet stores are provided by
> irresponsible breeders who are more interested in making money
> than in promoting the best genetic animals or following up to see
> that their dogs went to good homes.

True.

> Leslie Isom, spokeswoman for the Humane Society of the United
> States, said she had not gotten official word about the change.
>
> If true, Isom said,"we're thrilled that Sears made the responsible
> and humane decision by stopping the sale of cats and dogs."
>
> But she still wants the store to stop selling all small animals.
>
> Lucy Vance, executive director of the Wake County Society for
> the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said Thursday she was glad
> to hear about Sears' decision.
>
> "My first reaction is 'Wow,' " Vance said. "I'm absolutely delighted.
> Obviously, a lot of people care and are aware of the issues now.
> Anytime you can put a dent in the overpopulation is wonderful."
>
> The Humane Society argues that the Sears store encouraged
> impulse buying and was contributing to the animal overpopulation
> crisis.

They did!

> McDonald said he had tried to work out a compromise with the
> protesters but added that he felt the store, because it offered the
> Sears money-back guarantee and regular veterinary checks,
> offered more to the customer than would someone who advertises
> puppies in the newspaper.

I heard somewhere that you didn't get money back. You got store credit.
But that may have been another store, but I really think it was Sears.
What good is a regular vet check when your dog's got HD worse than your vet
has ever seen before as well as PRA or another eye disease, on top of a
screwy temperament? Not much Sears can do about that!

> National organizers said the store was a target because of the
> Sears name. Vance, who contends with a range of problems
> involving animal abuse and overpopulation of cats and dogs, said
> she had not singled out the store for local protest because it was
> clean and the animals were well-kept.

Rather get rid of puppy mills period than one of millions of pet stores
selling puppies, however, this is a VERY important step.

> But Vance praised Sears for joining the growing number of pet
> stores that refuse to sell kittens and puppies. The practice, she
> said, encourages people to buy on impulse, without recognizing that
> acquiring a pet should be viewed as a 15-year commitment.

Yes. Very much so.

> Unlike animal shelters, pet stores do not require that pet owners
> spay or neuter their animals.

Correct, for the most part.

> "If you can stop one cat or one dog from reproducing, it helps stop
> the chain reaction," said Vance, who sees more than 12,000
> animals arrive at her shelter annually.
>
> McDonald said calls from local customers prompted the decision
> to stop selling the cats and dogs, though the store had earlier
> monitored several hundred national complaints.

Yeah, right! It was the coverage around the world Sears was getting!

> "The pet store concept has never been a strategic concept for
> Sears, but was initiated as a response to local market demand in
> Raleigh nine years ago," he said.

Local market demand. Sears? I don't think so!

> "Sears is committed to local customers," McDonald said. "Because
> customer preferences have apparently changed, we will turn our
> focus in Raleigh to other products that customers want in the pet
> category."

DUH!

> The Sears Pet Store will increase its stock of pet supplies and
> devote a new section of the store to wild bird supplies, McDonald
> said.

Good idea.

Great article! Thanks, Sears for finally shutting down the puppy/kitten
part of the store. Now if you can just get some educated staff...

0 new messages