Minnesotans Exposing the Pet Trade

11/08/2025

The Minnesota Attorney General's office recently added a "Buying a Pet" section on their website. Of course we always encourage people to adopt, but there will seemingly always be those who go another route and it's important to know your rights, what information you should be receiving, and where to report if you think the law has been broken.

"What to do if you received the wrong breed, or a sick animal?

If you find that the cat or dog you bought has a qualifying undisclosed health problem, Minnesota law provides you with rights to remedies that may include a full refund, replacement, or reimbursement of some veterinary fees. To get this relief, however, you must have the cat or dog you bought examined by a veterinarian within 10 days of purchase, and that veterinarian must write a statement about the animal’s condition which existed at the time you received the animal. Relief may also exist up to one year after purchase if a veterinarian states in writing that the animal has died or is ill due to a hereditary or congenital defect, or is not of the breed type represented at the time of sale."

https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Consumer/Publications/BuyingAPet.asp

Deciding when, where, and from whom to buy a pet is a big decision with long-term consequences. Whether your new family member is furred, feathered, or finned, you have protections in Minnesota law from unscrupulous sellers.

11/07/2025

After a bit of a pause, we're back to protesting Four Paws and a Tail pet store, located inside the Northtown Mall in Blaine.

We've spent years gathering information about where the pet store purchases puppies from as well as speaking with consumers who have purchased sick puppies from the store. In the worst cases, puppies have died.

Our goal isn't to put the store out of business, it never has been. We're encouraging a Humane Pet Store model where instead of purchasing puppies from breeders, the store would partner with our many local rescues and shelters to host adoption days, similar to what PetSmart and Petco do.

Until this happens, we will continue to educate the public and encourage adopting new furry family members versus supporting an exploitative industry.

To learn more, check out gohumaneblaine.com.

Protest info: https://www.facebook.com/share/17PCy1556E/

11/06/2025

Absolutely incredible news from Las Vegas! Considering there are many stores selling puppies there, this is a huge win. The stores currently selling puppies will have three years to phase out this aspect of their business, which is disappointing, but we're happy there is an end date to this unethical business practice!

Channel 13 reporters have been following this issue for months of back-and-forth between city council members and the public.

10/10/2025

This highlights the severe lack of transparency when it comes to dog breeders -- a breeder can have all kinds of horrible violations but then apply for a new license and continue business as usual. So even if a potential customer tried to do their research, they may not find the full story about the place they're considering purchasing a puppy from.

https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/iowa-puppy-mill-gets-new-license-clearing-its-record-past-violations

One of Iowa’s largest and most troubled dog-breeding operations is now operating under a new license — a change that has wiped clean its slate of past violations and may derail a lawsuit over the government’s oversight of the business. Federal records collected by the Iowa-based animal welfare...

08/27/2025

Easy action for animals at the Minnesota State Fair 🐈‍⬛🐈

If you're visiting the MN State Fair, be sure to stop by the Senate booth in the Education building and vote "yes" on prohibiting cat declawing.

Declawing cats is the amputation of the last bone of each toe - similar to cutting off your finger at the top knuckle. This can cause a variety of problems for cats such as paw pain, back pain, infection, tissue necrosis, and lameness. Declawing cats can lead to litter box aversion and biting. It's unfair to deprive them of their natural tendencies, like scratching, and there are many tools and ways to get them to scratch intended items instead of things such as furniture.

Declawing is already banned in many countries as well as some U.S. cities and states. Let's add Minnesota to the growing list!

Thank you to Animal Folks for raising awareness about this and encouraging folks to take this easy action while at the fair!

08/23/2025

Please join us Sunday as this will be our last pet store protest for awhile so we can shift gears and have all hands on deck for our September events. See the "Events" page on Animal Rights Coalition to see all the events we have planned.

We've spoken to many consumers who have purchased sick puppies from Four Paws and a Tail pet store and we also have many state records showing the puppies come from horrible places. Come on out and help us raise public awareness that the store is not what it seems!

08/02/2025

Heartbreaking news in Minnesota 💔

Authorities reportedly found the dogs in small crates with no bedding or clean water.

07/27/2025

Just a heads up that we're canceling Sunday's protest near Four Paws and a Tail pet store due to the hot weather. We hope to see you at the next one!

07/21/2025

"If a dog is gasping just to breathe, something is seriously wrong. French bulldogs, pugs, and other intentionally deformed breeds wheeze, snort, and struggle to breathe because the American Kennel Club (AKC) breed standards prioritize dogs’ appearance over their health. Now, PETA is suing the AKC for profiting from this suffering."

https://www.peta.org/news/peta-sues-american-kennel-club/?fbclid=IwY2xjawLrYmlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHiGCH1eMedGmVJPvAE5fmOoxjViOkNVX-NKKXpQGrNQ_w2ruV_7v8iSicW4J_aem_I1oz4v7Dvc_EDjGORM1gPA

Dogs deserve to breathe, walk, and live without pain. That’s why PETA is suing the American Kennel Club over its harmful breed standards.

07/15/2025

Thank you to City of Lino Lakes for passing a Humane Pet Store Ordinance at their city council meeting last night! Also a huge thank you to the resident that brought this forward to their elected officials and made it happen! This ordinance is an important preventative measure to avoid the sale of puppies and kittens from breeders who care more about turning a profit than the welfare of the animals.

As we see every single day, rescues and shelters are struggling and always need folks to foster and adopt animals. This is a crisis and we shouldn't be adding to the problem by bringing more dogs and cats into existence if we can't properly care for the ones who are here.

Lino Lakes is now the 14th city to enact this ordinance and we're so grateful!

07/11/2025

Pet stores make it far too easy for folks who are unprepared to expand their family, to do just that. We've heard from many people that they weren't ready to take this leap, but couldn't leave the puppy behind after feeling a bond and also due to the urging from the pet store employees.

Sadly this can lead to people getting in over their heads and surrendering their furry family member, which in turn leads to extra strain on local rescues and shelters.

"Pet rescue organizations across Minnesota are seeing an increase in the number of pets being given up by their families. They say the rising costs of vet care, food and other essentials, along with housing changes, are among the reasons people are giving up their animals."

https://www.startribune.com/more-minnesotans-are-giving-up-their-pets-as-costs-rise/601368448

Rising costs of vet care, housing insecurity and economic struggles are putting pet ownership out of reach for many Minnesotans.

07/10/2025

We're disappointed to share that on Monday night the Spring Lake Park city council vote on the Humane Pet Store ordinance came to a "tie" which resulted in the topic being tabled, for now.

Thank you to Councilmember Dircks for your unwavering support and determination on this issue! We look forward to seeing more movement on this topic in the near future.

Mayor Nelson shared at a previous meeting that he used to breed dogs and may do so again in the future. He also shared that he purchased a puppy from Northtown Mall in the past and will never support this ordinance.

We would love to connect with more Spring Lake Park, MN residents to show support for this ordinance that protects dogs as well as consumers! Please message us if you live in SLP.

https://www.hometownsource.com/abc_newspapers/community/springlakepark/spring-lake-park-council-rejects-pet-store-ordinance-on-tied-vote/article_86d09b0f-cd05-4df7-bda1-8f9d2b58b553.html

The Spring Lake Park City Council denied an ordinance that would have prohibited the sale of dogs and cats in pet stores, and would have only allowed adoption of those