Petland
 | |
| Pet Store | |
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Headquarters | Chillicothe, Ohio |
Key people | Ed Kunzelman, Founder and Chairman |
| Subsidiaries | Aquarium Adventure |
| Website | www.petland.com |
Petland is a privately owned operator and franchisor of pet stores based in Chillicothe, Ohio.[1] Ed Kunzelman founded the company in 1967. Petland currently operates 131 stores in the United States, and at least 63 in foreign markets including South Africa, Canada, Japan, China, Mexico, Brazil and El Salvador.[2][3]
History
Petland was started in 1967 when Ed Kunzelman opened up his first store in Chillicothe, Ohio. The company originally owned and operated pet stores in Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky. In the early 1980s, Petland began expanding its presence in Canada and entered foreign markets.[3]
By 2008, Petland had become a $50 million company with about 230 stores. Petland sells products and services worth about $300,000,000 in the United States, South Africa, Canada, Japan, and Mexico. The 2008 financial crisis and subsequent public relations issues have drastically affected Petland. Petland currently operates 84 domestic locations, down from over 140 stores just a few years ago. [4] The company currently sells birds, fish, small animals, puppies, and kittens.
Aquarium Adventure
Aquarium Adventure is a wholly owned subsidiary of Petland. Ed Kunzelman was founded it in 1995, after working with Bill Wymard, a Petland franchisee and marine biologist, on developing a concept for an "aquatics only" store. They both saw that there was demand for a non-Petland branded aquatics-only pet store in major metro markets[5]
Charitable programs
Pets in the Classroom
Petland participates in the Pets in the Classroom program of the Pet Care Trust. This program was established to give teachers additional resources to acquire and care for classroom animals. Teachers can get grants for new animals, pet environments, food, and other supplies. This program started in 2010. As of July 2014, 40,111 grants had been issued.[6]
Adopt-a-Pet
Under the Adopt-a-Pet program started in 1998, Petland staff work with animal shelters, animal rescue groups, and individual activists to place homeless animals including puppies, dogs, kittens, cats, and various small animals in homes. Many Petland locations use their storefronts to display these animals. This program also raises money for animal welfare organizations. This program has homed hundreds of thousands of pets. These pets receive basic veterinary care and vaccinations before being placed. In some cases, adoptive families are charged a small fee for de-sexing. Generally, intact pets are sent home with a certificate good for a free spay or neuter at a local veterinary clinic. Some Petland stores micro-chip all participating animals.[7]
Animal welfare
Petland claims they do not source from "puppy mills." and obtain puppies from USDA-licensed and inspected breeders with clean records, hobby breeders with three or fewer breeding females, and animal rescue organizations.[8] Many Petland locations only offer dogs from animal welfare organizations.[9] Despite these claims, many have critizised Petland for their treatment of pets, sparking outrage and upset.
References
- ↑ Petland Information
- ↑ Petland Corporate History
- 1 2 Kent, Matthew (30 November 2013). "City panel assists with efforts". Chillicothe Gazette. Ohio.
- ↑ "Supporting the human animal bond". Retail Digital. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
- ↑ About Aquarium Adventure
- ↑ "Pets in the Classroom grant program to accept applications". The Times-Leader. McLeansboro, Illinois. 22 July 2014.
- ↑ Ison, Jona (3 February 2013). "Sunday's top story: Rescues concerned by Humane Society's ban on cats". Chillicothe Gazette. Ohio.
- ↑ Sotonoff, Jamie (10 March 2015). "Puppy: One for-profit chain says regulations dictate its sales". Chicago Daily Herald. Illinois.
- ↑ Fuoco, Linda (26 October 2010). "ADOPT THAT DOGGIE IN THE WINDOW; 'IT'S A GOOD THING TO DO'; ANIMALS IN EAST LIBERTY PETLAND STORE TO COME FROM SHELTERS". PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE. United States.