Animal sellers in the D.C. metro area
Pet Store
Hall of Shame, part 1
Pet Store Hall of Shame, part 2
USDA Violations by Petland Breeders
USDA Records on Various Breeders
How to find out more
about your puppy's breeder
Do Petland puppies really come from LICENSED breeders?
Hunte Corp.
Puppy Mill Links
14-Day Heartache Guarantee
Protesting
for Beginners
Find a group near you
Shelters
Adoption info and links to rescue groups
Poems, etc.
Former pet store employees speak out
Buying puppies online--buyer beware
Pet Stores and Puppy Mills in the News
Animal sellers in Washington DC area
Pet supply stores that DON'T sell animals--the good guys:)
Puppy mill survivor stories
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Selling live, captive animals in stores is an idea whose time has passed. Unfortunately, some pet store owners don't know it yet. If there is an animal-selling pet store near you, yes, boycott the place, but don't avoid going in--that's exactly what they want you to do. Check on the animals and report the store to local Animal Control if you notice any violations of the law.
Unless there is an animal in imminent danger of death, we have found it useful not to let the store owner or employees see that we are appalled at the conditions there--it's better just to leave and make the report. That way, we can return to the store later to see if anything has improved, without being harassed by store owners.
State laws vary widely. Non-Virginia residents will need to check state laws to see what protection is offered to companion animals. Violations of Virginia law include:
1) mesh flooring that allows an animal’s legs to fall through, sag under the animal’s weight, or otherwise injure the animal’s feet and toes;
2) puppies without a solid resting platform, or with a platform not large enough to lie on;
3) animals that are sick or in distress;
4) very dirty cages—animals in contact with waste;
5) animals that appear undernourished or dehydrated;
6) animal being abused by a person;
7) animals suffering in excessive heat or cold;
8) puppies or kittens under 8 weeks old, if imported from another state and offered for sale without their mothers.
9) Although fish are obviously animals and suffer in pet stores, especially when confined to tiny cups, Virginia law excludes them from any protection. However, Virginia law requires that owners must provide ALL OTHER COMPANION ANIMALS with:
Adequate exercise--"the opportunity for the animal to move sufficiently to maintain NORMAL MUSCLE TONE AND MASS (emphasis ours) for the age, species, size, and condition of the animal."
and...
10) Adequate space--"sufficient space to allow each animal to (i) easily stand, sit, lie, turn about, and make ALL OTHER NORMAL MOVEMENTS (emphasis ours) in a comfortable, normal position for the animal."
In theory, these last two requirements are fantastic. If they were enforced, cramped cages would be a thing of the past. There is no way an animal forced to spend his life in an enclosure only slightly larger than his body can maintain "normal muscle mass" if that term were interpreted to mean the muscle mass of a healthy animal who is allowed to MOVE.
There is no way that an enclosure slightly larger than an animal's body would be considered adequate if those responsible for interpreting the laws recognized that RUNNING is a normal body movement for puppies, kittens, and many other animals. FLYING is a normal body movement for birds. HOPPING is a normal body movement for rabbits.
Local Animal Control officers explain that unfortunately, the laws for space and exercise are currently interpreted by the Office of the State Veterinarian (employed by the Virginia Department of Agriculture) as they apply to "agriculture" animals. Very few of these animals are allowed to live a long and healthy life, and their "normal" conditions are extremely cramped. This lax interpretation of "normal" causes suffering for not only cows, pigs, chickens, and other animals raised for food, but pet store animals as well. So although it is important to make local Animal Control aware that animals are confined in sickeningly small cages at a pet store near you, they may not take action unless the animal is extremely ill.
We want these laws to be interpreted in ways that will ACTUALLY protect animals instead of merely giving the APPEARANCE of protecting them. Please complain about the lax enforcement of Virginia laws requiring space and exercise for pet store animals to:
State Veterinarian Dr. Richard L. Wilkes, richard.wilkes@vdacs.virginia.gov, phone number 804-692-0601 or fax number 804-225-2666.
When you do, emphasize that walking, running, climbing, hopping, and flying are all NORMAL movements, depending on the species.
Those of us who have written received a reply including this statement from Robert E. Pitts, DVM: "The exercise requirement may be met by either the size of the enclosure that the animal is housed in at all times or by providing an 'opportunity' on a daily basis by allowing time outside the primary enclosure for exercise in a more spacious environment." So if you see an animal confined to a small cage and are pretty sure that the animal is never given an opportunity to exercise--and this is extremely common--you can report that to Animal Control. Whether they do anything about it is another story, but if they don't, they are not enforcing existing state law.
Stores listed as "pet stores" in local yellow pages within a 25-mile radius of Washington, D.C., are listed below by state, then alphabetically. In some cases, the Animal Control division to report cruelty to is also listed. The cities of Vienna, Falls Church, Alexandria, Fairfax (VA), and Rockville (MD) have their own Animal Control officers, so if a pet store is located within city limits (see area maps), report to the City Animal Control. Pet stores located in a county but not within the city should be reported to the county Animal Control.
Note: We have visited some of these stores, but we have NOT been to all of them personally. Some may no longer sell animals. Others sell animals in addition to those listed.
Please write to us at all4theanimals@yahoo.com if you know that one of the stores listed below has stopped selling animals, and we will remove it from the list. If you visit one of these stores, please let us know what animals they sell, what kind of condition they're in, and where the store gets animals from, if you can find out. If you know of additional animal-selling stores that we should add to this list, please tell us about those, too.
We repeat, this list is NOT a recommendation of any stores that sell animals, even the "better" ones. On the contrary, we encourage you to adopt homeless animals from shelters and rescue groups and to buy your supplies, whenever possible, from stores and online suppliers that do not sell any animals.
VIRGINIA PET STORES:
American Bird Co. (sells birds--see Hall of Shame)
7219 Lee Hwy, Falls Church, VA
703-536-2473
Annandale Super Pets (sells small animals--see Hall of Shame)
4415 John Marr Dr.
Annandale, VA
703-256-2400
Report violations to Fairfax County Animal Control, 703-691-2131
Birds 'N Things (sells birds--see Hall of Shame)
1215 Columbia Pike
Arlington, VA 703-521-2473
Fax 703-521-2474 Hours: Monday closed, Tues-F 11-7, Sat 10-7, Sun 12-5
Report violations to Animal Welfare League of Arlington, 703-931-9241.
Burke Pet Ctr. (sells puppy mill puppies and other animals--see Hall of Shame)
9546 Burke Rd
Burke, VA
703-323-3975
Store's number 703-323-3975
Hours: M-F 10-8, Sat 10-7, Sun 12-5
Report violations to Fairfax County Animal Control,
703-691-2131.
Creatures 'n Critters (at least one of these 3 stores sells puppy mill puppies--see Hall of Shame)
12532 Dillingham Sq.
Woodbridge, VA
703-590-7725
Creatures 'N Critters
13215 Gordon Blvd
Woodbridge, VA
703-491-2300
Creatures 'N Critters
14228 Smoketown Rd
Woodbridge, VA
703-490-4001
Dominion Pet & Supply Co (sells rabbits, hamsters, mice)
2501 N Harrison St
Arlington, VA
703-241-0100
Hours M-F 10-8, Sat 10-6, Sun 12-5
2007: This store seems to make most of its money from selling high-quality supplies, not animals. Please encourage them to go all the way and sell supplies only!
Report violations to Animal Welfare League of Arlington, 703-931-9241
Featherheads (sells birds)
286 Sunset Park Dr
Herndon, VA
703-709-5656
Report violations to Fairfax County Animal Control, 703-691-2131.
Featherheads (sells birds)
22135 Davis Dr #115
Sterling, VA
703-444-7994
Fox Mill Pets (sells puppy mill puppies and other animals--see Hall of Shame)
404 Elden St
Herndon, VA
703-435-5541
Hours: M-Sat 10-9, Sun 12-6
Report violations to Fairfax County Animal Control,
703-691-2131.
Fox Mill Pets (same owner)
13300 Franklin Farm Rd.
Herndon, VA 20171
Store's number 703-464-0962
Hours: M-Sat 10-9, Sun 12-6 Report violations to Fairfax County Animal Control, 703-691-2131.
Friends of a Feather (sells birds)
459 Herndon Parkway
Herndon, VA 20170
703-456-0111
Just Pets (sells large numbers of young animals, including puppies who are apparently locally bred)
1410 North Point Village Ctr
Reston, VA
703-435-0902
Hours: M-Sat 10-8, Sun 11-6
Report violations to Fairfax County Animal Control,
703-691-2131.
Marine Scene
293 Sunset Park Dr
Herndon, VA
Sells marine animals only
703-689-2815
Petco (sells small animals, invites rescue groups in for some small animals and for dogs and cats)
3200 Washington Blvd
Arlington, VA
703-276-7387
Petco (see above)
5825 Leesburg Pike
Alexandria, VA
703-845-2780
Petco (see above)
6612 Richmond Hwy
Alexandria, VA
703-660-1300
Petco (see above)
4167 Cheshire Station Plz
Dale City, VA
703-590-8823
Petco (see above)
10708 Lee Hwy
Fairfax, VA
703-352-3300
Petco (see above)
2441 Centreville Rd #F
Herndon, VA
703-713-1552
Petco (see above)
1929 Old Gallows Rd
Vienna, VA
703-448-3401
Petco (see above)
6394 Springfield Plz
Springfield, VA
703-455-2007
Petco (see above)
9230B Old Keene Mill Rd.
Fairfax, VA
703-455-2007
Petco (see above)
5825 Leesburg Pike
Bailey's Crossroads, VA
703-845-2787
Petco (see above)
13053 Lee Jackson Hwy
Fairfax, VA
703-817-9444
Petco (see above)
10800 Promenade Lane
Manassas, VA
703-257-6373
Petland Fairfax (sells puppy mill puppies and other animals--see the rest of this website)
9404 Main St
Fairfax, VA
703-323-6355
Hours: M-F 11-9, Sat 11-7, Sun 11-6
Report violations to Fairfax City Animal Control,
703-385-7924 (police nonemergency number)
PetsMart (sells small animals, invites rescue groups in for some small animals and dogs and cats, donates money to animal charities--there are more stores than listed here)
12971 Fair Lakes Shopping Center
Fairfax, VA
703-802-1617
PetsMart (see above)
6536 Frontier Drive
Springfield, VA
703-922-4993
PetsMart (see above)
46220 Potomac Run Plz.
Loudoun, VA
703-444-6500
PetsMart (see above)
3351 Jefferson Davis Highway
Alexandria, VA
703-739-4847
PetsMart (see above)
6100 Arlington Blvd.
Falls Church, VA
703-536-2708
PetsMart (see above)
10834 Sudley Manor Dr.
Manassas, VA
703-335-1755
PetsMart (see above)
46220 Potomac Run Court
Herndon, VA
703-444-6503
Puppy Love Pets & Grooming
2243 Old Bridge Rd #C
Woodbridge, VA
703-492-4921
Royal Pet Shop & Kennel (we understand that this shop LOST ITS LICENSE to sell animals in 2006 due to numerous complaints)
5916B N Kings Hwy
Alexandria, VA
703-354-7222
Hours: M-F 10-8, Sat 10-6, Sun 12-5 Since this is not in the city of Alexandria, report violations to Fairfax County Animal Control, 703-691-2131
Vienna Aquarium & Pets (sells small animals, including fish--see Hall of Shame)
303 Mill St NE #C
Vienna, VA
703-242-0553
Hours: M-F 10-7, Sat 10-6, Sun 11-5 Report violations to City of Vienna Animal Control, 703-255-6366 (police), direct line to Animal Control officer 703-255-6377
Wally's Aquarium (sells fish)
6493 Little River Tpke
Alexandria, VA
703-354-3399
PET STORES IN MARYLAND
A Place For Pets (sells fish)
109 Mayo Rd
Edgewater, MD
410-956-6585
Animal Exchange (sells birds, small mammals, repties, fish, amphibians)
605 Hungerford Dr
Rockville, MD
301-424-7387
Bethesda Pet Shoppe (sells birds, guinea pigs)
4939 Elm St
Bethesda, MD
301-718-8623
Congressional Aquarium Inc (sells fish)
142 Congressional Ln
Rockville, MD
301-881-6182
Critters (sells puppies and other animals--see Hall of Shame)
6844 Race Track Rd
Bowie, MD
301-262-0037
Eden Pet Supply & Aquarium (sells "feeder" fish and mice)
3771 Bladensburg Rd
Brentwood, MD
301-699-7584
Fish Factory Aquarium (sells fish)
811 Russell Ave
Gaithersburg, MD
301-977-7500
Gaithersburg Pet Ctr (sells puppies, fish)
632 Quince Orchard Rd
Gaithersburg, MD
301-948-1133
Just Puppies Inc (sells puppy mill puppies-see Hall of Shame)
13929 Baltimore Ave # 1
Laurel, MD
301-776-9929
Hours: Closed Mon. Tues-Sat 12-8, Sun 12-6
Report violations to Laurel City Police, 301-498-0092
Just Puppies (sells puppy mill puppies)
2004 Veirs Mill Rd.
Rockville, MD
301-738-7877
Hours: Closed Mon. Tues-Sat 12-8, Sun 12-6
Report violations to Rockville City Police, 301-309-3115.
Petco (sells small animals, invites rescue groups in for some small animals and for dogs and cats)
915 Washington Blvd S
Laurel, MD
301-490-7452
PetsMart (sells small animals, invites rescue groups in for some small animals and for dogs and cats, donates to animal charities)
20924 Frederick Rd
Germantown, MD
301-916-2029
PetsMart (see above)
5154 Nicholson Ln
Kensington, MD
301-770-1343
PetsMart (see above)
6000 Greenbelt Rd # 42
Greenbelt, MD
301-474-8334
Potomac Kennels (sells puppies)
16698 Oakmont Ave
Gaithersburg, MD
301-948-2202
Report violations to Montgomery County Animal Control, 240-773-5900.
Ratpack Feeder Rats
Gaithersburg, MD
301- 869-2964
RD Fish & Pets
2090 Crain Hwy
Waldorf, MD
301-870-9311
Reptile Connection [NOTE: The Washington Times and others report that in 2003, the owner of Reptile Connection, Christopher Coroneos, was charged with 31 counts of animal cruelty when nearly 200 dead animals were found in his warehouse. In 2006, this store is apparently still in business.]
2629 Garfield Ave
Silver Spring, MD
301-650-5959
Riverdale Pets Inc. (sells fish)
5614 Kenilworth Ave
Riverdale, MD
301-403-0222
Showcase of Tropical Fish Inc. (sells fish)
11250 Triangle Ln
Wheaton, MD
301-942-6464
Totally Fish (sells fish)
13671 Georgia Ave
Silver Spring, MD
301-598-2229
Tropical Lagoon Aquarium (sells fish, "feeder" mice)
9439 Georgia Ave
Silver Spring, MD
301-585-6562
Westwood Pet Ctr (sells reptiles, amphibians, fish, small mammals)
5428 Westbard Ave
Bethesda, MD 301-654-0604
PET STORES IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
Companions Pet Shop (sells puppies, kittens, rabbits, birds, other small animals)
Good news. We understand that this store has CLOSED.
1626 U St NW
Washington, DC
202-797-3663
Hours: Mon-Sat 10:30-7, Sun 12-5
Report violations to Washington Humane Society, 202-576-6664
MacArthur Pet Shop (sells birds, fish, guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters)
1045 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington, DC
202-965-0430
Petco (sells small animals, invites rescue groups in for some small animals and for dogs and cats)
3505 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC
202-686-0901