Challenging Petland’s Business Practices (Racketeering Class Action)

In 2017, the Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a class action lawsuit against Petland, a national pet store chain, alleging Petland violated the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act and Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a Petland puppy purchaser representing a putative nationwide class of her fellow consumers — people who bought puppies and kittens from Petland and were victimized by Petland’s predatory business practices.

The lawsuit alleges that Petland charges premium prices for puppies and kittens the chain “certifies” to be healthy — as claimed by Petland’s veterinarians — when in fact Petland knows full well it is selling animals prone to illnesses and other defects, due to their sourcing from puppy and kitten mills.

The lawsuit also contends that Petland further inflates the animals’ price with phony services and warranties that exist only to line the company’s pockets, not benefit consumers or their dogs.

The court granted the Defendants’ motions to dismiss the case in 2018, but the Animal Legal Defense Fund has appealed to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.