FACTS RELATIVE TO PENDING CLEVELAND PLAINDEALER ARTICLE – March 16, 2024

FACTS RELATIVE TO PENDING CLEVELAND PLAINDEALER ARTICLE – March 16, 2024

Who is Petland?

Petland is a reputable, ethical Ohio-based business that has been matching pets and people for 57 years.

Petland makes pets available to provide families a choice when it comes to finding the puppy that is the right breed for them and has the right temperament for their home life.

Petland matches the right pet with the right customer, meeting the needs of both.

Petland operates transparently, adhering to all state and federal laws and regulations relative to its business.

Petland has an A+ rating with the Central Ohio Better Business Bureau and is a 2023 BBB Torch Award for Ethics winner.

Why have so many filed complaints about Petland with the Ohio Attorney General?

According to Cleveland Plain Dealer Statehouse Reporter Jake Zuckerman, his March 16, 2024, story will include information related to “36 consumer complaints” that have been filed with the Ohio AG Office in the past five years.

Based on Ohio AG Office data, it receives 25,000 consumer complaints each year, so over the course of five years, the Ohio AG’s Office has received 125,000 consumer complaints.

The 36 Ohio AG complaints alleged against Petland over the five years means Petland represents just 0.03% of all 125,000 complaints filed with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office in that period.

Petland estimates since 2019, it has found homes for 51,000 puppies. The 36 alleged complaints to the AG’s Office in that time frame represent 0.07% of all puppies sold in those five years.

Petland has requested the reporter put these complaints in context by showing where Petland as an organization stands among all businesses for whom complaints have been filed with Ohio AG’S Office since 2019.

In the rare instance where a consumer decides to file a complaint with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Petland continues working to resolve these issues.

Of the Ohio AG complaints filed against Petland since 2019 all have been closed. The breakdown of the complaints is as follows: 12 were related to a pet health issue, and 10 were financing complaints. The remaining dealt with pedigree, warranty, pet/owner not a good fit and 5 non dog/puppy issues.

Does Petland sell sick puppies?

As stated in the first line of Petland’s Puppy Health Warranty, “puppies, like babies, can get sick.” This is why every Petland store has a consulting state-licensed veterinarian who examines every puppy upon arrival and monitors their health daily with the support of our trained animal care technicians.

Petland provides a comprehensive health warranty for those rare times when a customer may have a health-related claim for their new pet.

Petland has a statistically small number of health-related claims, proving its commitment to responsible sourcing and our extremely high standards of care.

Petland is grateful to its customers, and we do whatever we can to ensure a pleasant experience with their new pet.

Does Petland charge 130% interest to buy a puppy?

No. Citing a 2018 case, The Cleveland Plain Dealer published a customer’s allegation that the third-party loan she took out to buy her puppy carried a 130% interest rate. Without seeing the actual six-year-old agreement, it is difficult to address this claim of a three-figure interest rate.

In 2021, Petland conducted a thorough review of its consumer credit programs, working to balance the consumer’s right to make their own financial decisions and to enjoy the companionship of pets.

Petland’s current consumer credit policy does not allow an annual percentage rate to exceed 39.99%; and prohibits any consumer credit product that is in violation of its state usury laws/consumer credit laws.

Why is this “news?”

It is always disappointing to see a reputable news publication, such as The Cleveland Plain Dealer, fall for the unscrupulous tactics of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

By carrying HSUS’s agenda into the realm of “news,” readers are often provided with a biased story that serves only to misinform, damage the reputation of an ethical business, while helping HSUS generate more funds to feed their fundraising machine.

Most HSUS donations come to them in monthly checks written or automatic bank drafts from kind-hearted people, many retired or on fixed incomes who think they are helping animals.

Facts show that HSUS provides oversight of ZERO animal shelters or humane societies in America.

HSUS’s own IRS (Form 990, 2022) data shows that $65.5 million was spent on fundraising related costs, and less than 1% of all funds raised ever make it to humane shelters in the U.S.

HSUS and local activists continue to misrepresent Petland and spread false information to push their agenda.

What are Petland customers saying?

Petland has tens of thousands of guests who have and share positive, endearing, and joyful experiences with their puppy beginning the moment they meet in one of our locations.

Many of our puppy families come back to us for their second puppy, and in some cases their third or fourth dog.

To learn more about Petland’s commitment to ethical care and treatment of all pets, visit petlandcares.com.