Pet Store Chain Stops Selling Puppies – Partners with SPCA

P.J’s Makes An Announcement

PJ’s Pets and Pets Unlimited have announced that they will no longer sell puppies in any of their stores. As of September 1^st, their focus will be to support pet adoption services in an effort to find homes for thousands of pets in local SPCA’s, Humane Societies, rescue groups and shelters across the country.

Turns Focus On To Adoption

To create awareness, the companies are launching the “Every Pet Deserves A Home Program”. The mission of the program is to help increase the visibility of pet adoption agencies within local communities by offering them space within their stores to educate people about participating organizations and the pets they have available for adoption.

“More than two million pet lovers visit our stores every year. We recognized that we can provide a significantly positive effect on local pet communities by working with adoption agencies to help them find homes for their pets,” said John Jules, President and CEO. “We chose to stop selling puppies and turn our focus on the new adoption program. This decision allows us to create the welcoming space within our stores needed for adoption agencies and customers to connect.”

Dedicated Area In Store For Adoption

Each store will have a dedicated area for adoption organizations to hand out brochures/pamphlets, handle adoption applications, and show photos of adoptable pets. Stores that can accommodate it will have kennel space reserved for shelter pets. The company is reaching out to a long list of groups that it hopes will take advantage of and benefit from this program.

Store Applauded For Doing The Right Thing

“We applaud what PJ’s Pets and Pets Unlimited are doing in giving up puppy sales to help organizations like ours find homes for more pets,” said Kristin Williams, Executive Director of the Nova Scotia SPCA. “Far too many animals are without a home, but this program will help to alleviate the burden and add vital capacity to our network of Branches. Collaboration is critical to resolving welfare issues and saving more lives and this is a remarkable example of what can be achieved by working together”.

Pets Unlimited had stopped selling puppies in all of its stores earlier this year, while PJ’s Pets will wind down sales by September 1st. Between now and October 1^st, PJ’s will be working with their private kennels to help find adoptive homes for their breeding dogs and any remaining puppies. The companies are making every effort to minimize job losses in the transition.