Launched in June and running through Sept. 15, “The Pet Store Challenge” campaign asks consumers to interview owners or managers of local pet stores—based on a questionnaire available at www.stoppuppymills.com—and to return completed questionnaires to HSUS.

HSUS says the campaign will give pet stores the opportunity to be “open and honest about how and from where they get their puppies.”

HSUS asks consumers to be honest and non-confrontational about gathering the information, and be courteous to retailers by visiting during off-peak hours.

However, if a store owner or manager refuses to be interviewed, HSUS encourages consumers to record as much information as they can based on their observations during the visit.

“Our goal is to stop puppy mills, the leading supplier of ‘inventory’ to pet stores,” said Stephanie Shain, director of outreach for companion animals for HSUS. “Pet stores often deny that they get their dogs from mills. We want to give them a chance to ‘come clean’ and prove it. By enlisting animal-loving consumers to help implement the challenge, we are giving people a chance to save animals, and hopefully put puppy mills out of business.”

Shain added, “We are also very excited to give this opportunity to pet stores. We want them to prove that they do not support puppy mills. The truth will be priceless.”

HSUS claims that most puppies sold in pet stores come from puppy mills. However, most pet stores say that they do not support puppy mills, and that the dogs they sell come from reputable breeders.

For more information about the campaign, visit www.stoppuppymills.org. [August 2006 PET AGE]