Petland has announced that they will be phasing out the sale of puppies and kittens in their Canadian stores, much to the approval of groups dedicated to protecting animals’ rights. The Calgary Herald reports Jennifer Kaiser, co-founder of a puppy advocate group called Actions Speak Louder Calgary, calling Petland’s move a “great step forward” and one that “will definitely help bring more attention to rescue pets and pet overpopulation.”

Petland reports that the company will still be facilitating adoption through their own Adopt-a-Pet program and the Petland Pets for Life Foundation, which both work to find good homes for rescued and homeless animals.

“Our decision to end these sales was a tough one and was based on business fundamentals,” said Robert Brissette, CEO of Petland. In a media release, Brissette said more people are using online services to purchase animals, leading to a drop in sales at pet stores.

Some hope Petland’s announcement will mean more people will turn to buying animals from shelters.

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