I Heart Puppies in Corona del Mar Caught Breaking the Law
City Issues Stop Work Order on 'I Heart Puppies' Store in Corona del Mar
A sign on the window of I Heart Puppies says the store will be closed through Thursday in order to install a new fire alarm.
11 CommentsI Heart Puppies in Corona del Mar has been in hot water this month with many animal lovers and on Tuesday was required by the city to temporarily close its doors.
Problems for the pet store began on July 5, just a few days after it opened, when the Companion Animal Protection Society—a national nonprofit, investigative group—launched a probe into the store after receiving numerous complaints from residents. Carole Davis, the organizations's West Coast director, said the investigation has led to information that showed I Heart Puppies did not have proper permits to have a pet store with live animals and resulted in the store's temporary closure.
"I went into the store last week and did an inspection," Davis said. "I noticed there was no sprinkler system or any kind of alarm that would hook up directly to the Fire Department in case of an emergency.
"We alerted building and safety, the Fire Department and City Council in Newport Beach that they were in violation of state law," Davis said.
Councilwoman Nancy Gardner said she was aware of the order being issued by the city due to building safety violations.
"Yes, it is my understanding that as soon as the store owners were notified of the requirement, they proceeded to rectify it," Gardner said.
How it started
The investigation does not claim I Heart Puppies has abused animals, but implies that the problem is they are being supplied by substandard commercial breeders in the Midwest that have repeat and multiple violations from USDA inspections violating the Animal Welfare Act.
Suzanne Bradford, owner of I Heart Puppies, did not return phone calls or emails seeking comment Tuesday, but last week she refuted the claims of the animal group and said she does not support illegal kennels or those with a history of problems meeting USDA requirements. Instead Bradford claims I Heart Puppies gets its animals from Critters and Pets in San Diego.
"We cannot find any USDA license for the broker they say they use. In fact, we can't find them at all," Davis said. "The 36 San Diego area USDA brokers all have R licenses, meaning they broker dogs to be used for research experiments. That's creepy."
According to Davis, the breeder that supplied the Corona del Mar store is the same breeder that was investigated in a two-year national probe. The breeder is not in compliance with the Animal Welfare Act and is part of the reason for an ordinance being drafted in Los Angeles that would ban puppy mill puppies citywide. Additionally, that investigation led to an ordinance being passed in West Hollywood that states that stores can sell only dogs and cats that come from a local municipal shelter system or a legitimate rescue organization.
Davis said she would provide the City Council with a full investigative report
Is losing countless customers really worth supporting puppy mills and the criminals who run them?,
Added yesterday · · COMMENTS (13)
Carole Raphaelle Davis I love the spin they put on it, like it was their idea to close and get more puppies. Meanwhile, they had to take the dogs out of there. If they are getting lots more puppies, like they claim, they aren't allowed to bring them there until the alarm is installed. They should have put in a sprinkler system but that's too expensive for them, I guess.
22 hours ago · · 2 people
Moo Prince GOOD JOB CAROLE .... THAT'S THE WAY TO DO THINGS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION ..........SHARING
22 hours ago · · 3 people
Carol Leifer Mazal, Carole! That's what happens when people stock their store with puppy mill dogs.
22 hours ago · · 1 person
Monica Otero If u need any help, let me know. I live in the area & am disgusted a dog store opened in CDM. How did it pass?
21 hours ago · · 2 people
Carole Sax get ready Zana, I have a huge response from people ready to go. Carole is doing everything the right way, be patient, believe me I'm so ready, have signs will travel.
20 hours ago · · 2 people
Carole Raphaelle Davis I just noticed that! They put the CON in InCONvience.
19 hours ago · · 4 people
Jeanne O'Neil I guess it shouldn't surprise me but it always does that puppy peddlers of the fancy store variety always pretend like everything is on the up and up, even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. I can't decide if they're simply stupid or just plain mean and selfish.
18 hours ago · · 1 person
Catherine Vade Bon Coeur You are great, Carole, and the people that work with you too!
17 hours ago ·
Robin Kohler You mean they still don't need to put in a sprinkler system? An alarm is enough? Living things locked in cages in a locked store still burn to death waiting for the fire dept. Know what, I'm about done hoping these worthless POS women grow hearts and move in a humane direction. Plainly they care only about money and profit over life. IMHO they arent worthy of caring for or sponsoring rescues. F THEM!
17 hours ago · · 1 person
Robin Kohler BTW Carole you are wonderful and yes --->You Freaking Rock<---
17 hours ago · · 1 person
Carole Raphaelle Davis The Fire Safety guy told me he doesn't understand why they don't make it a law to put in sprinklers for live animals. They should. An alarm is all they are required to put in. They are doing the minimum.
17 hours ago · · 2 people
Katie Maneeley Is anyone doing demo outreach here? I have brochures from Best Friends and live in the area so would love to help out.
16 hours ago ·
Robin McLain Smith I live in the area and am ready to show up for a protest. Let me know when!
12 hours ago · · 2 people
once it is concluded, and would work to get a similar ordinance passed in Newport Beach.
posted by Jinky at 12:50 PM
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