A pet store owner in Okotoks, Alta.\u00a0said\u00a0he’s been forced to shut down his business after multiple\u00a0attacks by animal rights activists.<\/p>\n
When employees at the Animal House\u00a0pet store showed up to work\u00a0Friday morning, they were greeted by the words “puppy mill” spray painted on the front windows.<\/p>\n
Staff said it is only the latest in a string of bullying, slander and harassment incidents the store has faced.<\/p>\n
“People have been coming into the store, they’ve been screaming, they’ve been shouting, they’ve tried to knock things off the shelf, they’ve threatened me and the\u00a0staff, they’ve threatened to beat us up and take the puppies,” said store manager Jessica Lee.<\/p>\n
“It’s been a very scary week.”<\/p>\n
![\"Okotoks](\"https:\/\/i.cbc.ca\/1.3947058.1485055656!\/fileImage\/httpImage\/image.jpg_gen\/derivatives\/original_620\/okotoks-pet-store-vandalism.jpg\")
<\/p>\nRCMP said this act of vandalism discovered Friday at the Animal House pet store is one of several occurrences in recent months at the store. (RCMP)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
It’s gotten so bad, Lee said, that the store has had police on standby for the past few days.<\/p>\n
Protester Chelsea Kirker with the group Albertans Against Puppy Mills said\u00a0the graffiti has nothing to do with their group and it damages their message of wanting to outlaw the retail sale of puppies in the province.<\/p>\n
Kirker said she has heard of\u00a0the store selling\u00a0multiple\u00a0puppies that were discovered to be sick with parasites shortly after being sold.<\/p>\n
She said she believes the store shutting down will likely not be the end of the store’s puppy sales.<\/p>\n
“I personally feel that even though\u00a0they are closing their storefront here, they will continue to sell puppies elsewhere through Kijiji [or]\u00a0online.\u00a0They may even open up a new store,” Kirker said.<\/p>\n
![\"Okotoks](\"https:\/\/i.cbc.ca\/1.3947064.1485057966!\/fileImage\/httpImage\/image.jpg_gen\/derivatives\/original_620\/okotoks-animal-house.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAnimal House staff said the harassment from activists has gotten so bad, they have had police on standby for the past few days. (RCMP)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Activists said they believe\u00a0the store supports puppy mills.<\/p>\n
Store owner Ty Marshall said in a Facebook post<\/a>\u00a0the rumours they use puppy mills are\u00a0blatantly false. He said all animals come from small ethical breeders and are seen by vets before being sold. Puppies at his store are also vaccinated and dewormed.<\/p>\n Lee said the store even works with the SPCA to ensure the dogs are cared for.\u00a0The store has a vet on standby and the staff works hard to make sure puppies get basic training before the animals are sold.<\/p>\n Animal\u00a0House will close its doors after all inventory is sold, which they believe is likely to be sometime next month.<\/p>\n RCMP ask that anyone with any information about the vandalism incident should contact 403-995-6400\u00a0or Crime Stoppers.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Animal House windows were vandalized Friday, the latest in a string of attacks at the store CBC News A pet store owner in Okotoks, Alta.\u00a0said\u00a0he’s been forced to shut down his business after multiple\u00a0attacks by animal rights activists. When employees at the Animal House\u00a0pet store showed up to work\u00a0Friday morning, they were greeted by … <\/p>\n