FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 25, 2011

MICHIGAN GROUP JOINS NATIONAL
CAMPAIGN TO END PETLAND PUPPY SALES

Concerned Michigan citizens join explosive campaign on
Change.org demanding Petland USA stop selling pets in its stores.

CLARKSTON, MI – A group of Michigan citizens have joined a popular campaign on Change.org calling on Petland to stop selling pets and support pet adoption instead.

Pam Sordyl, founder of the Puppy Mill Awareness Meetup of Southeast Michigan, started a campaign on Change.org demanding that the Petland branch in Novi, MI stop selling puppies purchased from commercial breeding facilities known as "puppy mills" and support pet adoption instead.

Sordyl's local efforts are part of a national campaign on Change.org urging Petland's corporate headquarters to end the sale of pets in its stores across the country. The national campaign was launched in October by Mary Haight, a concerned citizen and pet blogger.

"Consumers are demanding cruelty-free pets," said Sordyl. "Petland Novi has dozens of sick dog complaints from families burdened with enormous vet bills. We want to end mass production of pets and support our local shelters. Close to one hundred Michigan pet supply stores have already taken the pledge not to sell puppies, and we hope Petland Novi will be next."

"This is an opportunity for Petland to be a corporate leader," said Mary Haight, who started the national campaign against Petland on Change.org. "Petland can break with past cruelties, be welcomed in communities, and build a strong base for the future by embracing the adoption model."

News of the online campaign's growing success is likely to increase pressure on Petland, which has long been under fire for its connections to puppy mills. Mary Haight launched the national campaign on Change.org following an announcement from Petland Canada that it planned to end pet sales across its Canadian stores. In just a few weeks, 4,000 people have joined Haight's campaign, and Sordyl's Michigan petition campaign has gathered almost 2,000 signatures.

"What these concerned citizens have accomplished is remarkable," said Change.org Director of Organizing Stephanie Feldstein. "The efforts of Pam's local group are now backed up by thousands of people from across the country. Change.org is about empowering anyone, anywhere to demand action on the issues that matter to them, and it has been incredible to watch these campaigns take off at the local and national level."

Since June, Puppy Mill Awareness Meetup of Southeast Michigan has held more than 30 protests outside the Petland location at Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi. Sordyl says the group plans to continue demonstrating at least through the end of the year.

Live signature totals from Pam Sordyl's Michigan campaign:
http://www.change.org...

Live signature totals from Mary Haight's national campaign:
http://www.change.org...

Journalists interested in contacting Petland's public relations staff should try:

Elizabeth Kunzelman, Director of Communications, Petland
elizabeth.kunzelman@petland.com
(740) 775-2464

Lacey Clever, Public Relations, Petland
lacey.clever@petland.com
(740) 775-2464

Randy Horowitz, Petland Novi, Franchise Owner
rhorowitz@petland.com
(248) 449-7340

Contact information for petition signers in your area can be arranged upon request:

Stephanie Feldstein
Director of Organizing, Change.org
(734) 395-0770

For more information on Puppy Mill Awareness Meetup of Southeast Michigan, please visit:
http://www.meetup.com...
The Puppy Mill Awareness Meetup of Southeast Michigan is working to end the mass production of dogs in commercial kennels ("puppy mills"). Our mission is to educate the public about the cruel cycle of commercial dog breeding and the pet store link.

For more information on Change.org, please visit:
http://www.change.org...
Change.org is the world's fastest-growing platform for social change — growing by more than 400,000 new members a month, and empowering millions of people to start, join, and win campaigns for social change in their community, city and country.


CONTACTS:
Mary Haight, Petition Author, (847) 858-5723
Pam Sordyl, Petition Author, Puppy Mill Awareness Meetup of Southeast Michigan, (734) 828-1400
Stephanie Feldstein, Director of Organizing, Change.org, (734) 395-0770,

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