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Posh Puppy Store Closes in Reaction to Protest in Beverly Hills

December 28, 2007, 1:52PM MT

By Kate

On the busiest puppy buying day of the year, a feisty group of animal welfare activists gathered in Beverly Hills for a yuletide rally

On the busiest puppy buying day of the year, a feisty group of animal welfare activists gathered in Beverly Hills for a yuletide rally

by Carole Raphaelle Davis

Watch video of the protest on YouTube

Not even two weeks after HSUS unleashed the scandal that blackened the reputation of Pets of Bel Air, the Hollywood celebrity pet shop that caters to party tarts Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, yet another celebrity pet shop came under fire—Posh Puppy of Beverly Hills. On Saturday, December 22, the busiest puppy buying day of the year, a feisty group of animal welfare activists gathered in Beverly Hills for a yuletide rally to speak out against puppy mills and to promote adoption in front of the Posh Puppy store on Wilshire Boulevard. “Stop! Don’t shop! It’s kinder to adopt,” they chanted in unison.

Posh Puppy, which has several branches in Los Angeles (Beverly Hills and Tarzana) and specializes in selling “teacup breeds” like Malteses and Yorkies for thousands of dollars, has raised the ire of local residents who are frustrated with puppy stores sprouting up on every corner. They came to voice their disapproval of the cruelty behind the growing trend of disposable accessory dogs and to educate the public that the majority of pet shops are supplied by puppy mills.

John and Michelle Yoon, breeders themselves and owners of the Posh Puppy stores decided to close for the day instead of facing down this group of lively and organized California activists. Hollywood writer and comedian Carol Liefer pumped up her sign and pointed out that, “they [the owners] did the worst thing they could have done from an Art of War perspective. They retreated like cowards. We won! They closed!”

Members of small rescue organizations and large animal welfare organizations like Last Chance for Animals, Best Friends Animal Society and the Humane Society of the United States handed out brochures, waved signs and hooted as supporters drove by, honking their horns. Wide smiles, banners and home-made signs were all on display under the blinding California sun. Four-legged demonstrators and two-legged picketers mingled, informing passers-by and drumming up the genuine support of last minute Christmas shoppers. But the message was not about buying this holiday season, but more about giving—as in giving an abandoned dog a loving home.

Though the picket regulations were clear about not blocking the entrance to the store, dog-loving Beverly Hills cops weren’t about to spoil our fun and looked the other way when actor/comedian Richard Belzer, of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit sat in the forbidden doorway with his adopted poodle Bébé. “I, like most human beings, love dogs and some are not aware of the grotesque and ill treatment in these breeding mills here,” said Richard Belzer. “They just think of dogs as money and we have to protect them.”

In order to make a point, protesters had been asked to bring their own rescued pocket dogs. Many of the dogs were wearing oversized price tags that were slashed down from “$2000 to Priceless!” Almost all the furry objectors were dressed in cheerful holiday attire, some with antlers, some with bells and Santa suits. Terri Austin, founder of The Amanda Foundation in Beverly Hills, was carrying a miniature dog in her purse—yet another pure-bred dog that had been dumped on death row. “If we came here every week, we could shut them down for good. Let me know as soon as you do another protest, I am so there,” she said.

The Christmas spirit had electrified the crowd. Carole Sax, a local rescuer exclaimed what fun she was having. “I’m having a ball,” she said, bouncing Gretchen, her rescued Chihuahua, (named after the late Gretchen Wyler of the Genesis Awards). “I’ve never felt more alive, doing what I’m supposed to be doing—taking a stand with all these nice people! This place is disgusting and we should shut them all down!” Moments later, Gretchen, the designer dog, took a dump in her designer pocketbook.

Like a California wildfire, news of the rally had spread all over the internet in the days leading to the event. Small local rescue organizations worked overtime sending the invite to everyone on their e-mail lists. Last Chance for Animals, the sponsor of the rally, had sent out an action alert to its California members and Best Friends Animal Society followed with an alert two days later. Then, adding to the momentum, the Humane Society of the United States acted quickly and sent out a call for California members to join in. The dog lover groups on Myspace.com were peppered with bulletins. We knew we were going to have a successful rally at that point.

Apparently panicked by the impending rally, the Yoons scrambled to move all the animals from the store and taped a sign on the inside of the glass double doors of Posh Puppy, claiming they had closed for the “safety of our puppies as well as our clients.” The absurdity of its wording wasn’t lost on protesters, who see themselves more as the protectors of the animals being sold there. (In fact, if the Yoons were willing to work with L.A. Animal Services, we would have had loving homes for all of their puppies within days.)

With a sly grin, Bill Dyer, of In Defense of Animals, slipped a fistful of anti-puppy mill brochures through a crack in the door, creating a surreal still life juxtaposition of $200 sequined party dresses for dogs and sad pictures of dogs suffering in a breeding warehouse.

Reporter and writer Jane Velez Mitchell came with her two rescued Chihuahua mixes. All wound up and spinning like a top, Cabo, her little black four-legged protester was the loudest of all. As if on springs, he jumped up in front of the cameras and barked his disapproval of the pet trade for three hours straight. Jinky, a death row mutt from the San Pedro shelter and the author of rescue book “The Diary of Jinky, Dog of a Hollywood Wife” expressed himself literally: he lifted his leg and peed on Posh Puppy’s wall.

A short woman of about eighty who’s face was pulled tight as a drum approached me. She was wearing a mink jacket despite the balmy L.A. weather and dropped her shopping bags and asked if she could join the group. “I love zuh doggies,” she said in a Russian accent. “ How can zay treat zem ziss vay?” I shrugged, thinking, boy, she’s damn lucky it’s not Fur Free Friday. That was in November and she would have gotten a real tongue lashing from this group. But sometimes you have to pick your battles and the battle of the day belonged to puppy mill dogs. I handed her a sign that my husband had made in our kitchen that morning that said, “Don’t be a bitch! Adopt one!” I told her, “OK now, walk around but you might, um, want to turn your jacket inside out? That look isn’t working for me right now.”

The star of the rally was undoubtedly Baby, a puppy mill survivor belonging to animal welfare advocate Jana Kohl. Baby’s story is heart wrenching. She had been kept in a cage as a breeding dog for nine years and her leg had to be amputated because it had been broken so badly in her wire cage. Her vocal chords had been removed so that she could no longer bark and annoy anyone with her cries. Her story broke our hearts but reminded us why we were there. We were there for her and all the others like her who are still imprisoned.

After the rally and amongst the blitz of congratulatory e-mails and phone calls, reports came in from distraught buyers of puppies from Posh Puppy in Tarzana and Beverly Hills. One of them, Jayme Rones will be facing the Yoons in court on January 2 in Van Nuys, California. The rest of the reports, and there are eight so far as of this publication, are from Posh Puppy and other puppy stores in Los Angeles. The allegations are being investigated.

For animal welfare advocates, the important thing to note is that even if a puppy store is willing to prove it is not being supplied by mass breeders (why don’t they?), this is a shady business with very little oversight. With all the negative buzz about puppy mills, it would behoove all puppy stores to be forthcoming about encouraging buyers to visit where the puppies are bred. If a store is willing to sell a dog on-line, via e-mail, their ethics are planted in the gutter.

On December 27th, John Yoon, was asked by Jennifer Krause of Best Friends Animal Society why he sells dogs when there are so many homeless animals in need at the local shelter. "We live in a free democracy,” he replied. “And people have the right to choose. Some people may choose to buy an economic car, like a Hyundai, and it may run perfectly well, and suit them just fine, and others may choose to buy a top of the line, Mercedes Benz. It's just a matter of choice."

The manner in which Mr. Yoon justifies his dog selling business reveals the way he thinks of animals as commodities. He is comparing dogs to cars. Not only is the comparison harmful, he is making a rather ugly social statement about people as well. To Yoon, the Hyundai is the shelter dog and the Mercedes Benz is his top of the line $3000 tea cup Maltese. To Yoon, the person getting the “economic” dog at the shelter just can’t afford to choose the top of line product that he sells in his upscale store. Yoon’s got it all wrong. 20% of the dogs at the shelter are “top of the line.” I have rescued two myself: a pure-bred Bichon Frisé and a show quality Cairn Terrier.
Mr. Yoon exacerbates his damaging comparison on Posh Puppy’s MySpace page.

The Posh Puppy web page flaunts cars—Bentleys, Aston Martins, Porsches and BMW’s as arduously as it does undersized, over-bred tea cup dogs. Mr. Yoon is correct about the fact that it’s a matter of choice. Adopting a Maltese from a rescue organization for a donation of $300 is a far more ethical choice than buying a $3000 Maltese from a pet store. Not only is it a more ethical choice, it’s a smarter economic choice. If Mr. Yoon could adopt a Bentley with 3000 miles on it, I bet he’d take it.

Puppy stores owners who claim to be breeders themselves, in an effort to assure buyers of their sincere love for dogs (Posh Puppy owners claim to be breeders) doesn’t automatically put them on Santa’s nice list. In fact, it just makes us wonder how many dogs they are breeding. Anything more than three breeding bitches puts a breeder under the jurisdiction of the USDA and there are minimum standards of care. To read the minimum standard of care for live animals in a breeding facility is depressing to anyone who loves their dog. The dogs only need food, water, room to stand, turn around and have ventilation and some artificial light. You never have to let them out of the cage. Oh, and you’re not allowed to let them freeze to death.

In all fairness though, if we are going to point fingers at puppy stores and their suppliers, we should reserve a special finger for the buyer. With all of the information available in the press about puppy mills supplying pet stores, there is no longer any excuse for people to buy dogs and cats from pet stores. These buyers are not doing their homework. They want a luxury item and they want it now, at any cost and without any regard to where the dog might come from. When someone is buying an inanimate $2000 item on EBay, you can read the questions that go back and forth between the buyer and the seller, who is being asked to prove where that item is from. It seems like puppy buyers ask fewer questions than someone buying a used bowl on EBay.

Carole Raphaelle Davis is an actress, animal welfare advocate and author of “The Diary of Jinky, Dog of a Hollywood Wife.” Web Site: www.HollywoodJinky.com

Photos by Melissa Maroff and ELLE

Video by Sandra Mohr

If you know someone who has bought a sick puppy from a pet store, please post your story here.

Comments

Posted December 12, 2008, 4:3AM by poorkids

Am horrified by the outrageous actions of these protestors. You have already convicted these people with NO PROOF. Only an accusation. With the economy in a slump...you have no idea what kind of economic damage you are doing to these people. Not only that but the majority of protesters look as if money is not an object..so who cares if they ruin someone financially. It is this silly, naive mentality that is killing our country. I am all for prosecuting those who are cruel to animals...but I would not condemn someone without proof. There is absolutely nothing wrong with purchasing a puppy...there is nothing wrong with buying from a shelter. But there is something wrong with people who are attempting to force their views on others. How many of these people are as concerned about those poor kids in foster care? How many adopted a baby rather than adopt a child from a foster home? You are after the wrong people...go after those who are raising the puppies. Leave those alone who are trying to make a living...when you pat yourselves on the back tonight, I hope you take a second to think of those who didn't work today. I hope you think of the employees who DEPEND on there job. Who DEPEND on being able to support their families. You aren't hurting the owner near as much as you are hurting those who work at these stores. Yep, I would be proud if I were you. Taking from others...taking away a person's income so they aren't able to support their family...forcing your narrow minded views on others simply because they want to make a living. Nothing would make me prouder...than to know that I caused a child to suffer. Instead your concern is for the animals, you need to get your priorities in order...

Posted February 01, 2009, 3:47PM by DOGDOG123

These protestors are idiots. Their going off nothing but pure accusations. They have no proof what so ever on this place being a puppy mill. This is the way this country works. People pay money for what they want. Me and so has everyone else in this world. If these teacup sized dogs were available in sheltors i can bet every last $ in my pocket these guys would be out of business. Thats why they opened this business to provide certain rare and hard to find dogs to the people who have been searching all over to find at a price. I bet half of you ladies would pay some rediculous amount of money on a diamond ring or some expensive designer purse, not even knowing or caring if that diamond is Sierra leone and the kid who found it has half a limb or that expesive ass bag you have around your arm was put together in a sweatshop halfway around the world. Protestors forcing their oppinion on other no knowing the people that work at the puppie stores have an entire family at home and are only making a living. Ive adopted from a sheltor 3 times and they were all dogs that i wanted. And im in the process of searching for a dog for my mother and she wants a teacup. Ive searched all over and called 100's of sheltors looking for one but they just dont have them. So of course ill pay $ for dog. Its all choice people, we as americans have the right. Quit making people feel bad for paying for what makes them happy.

Posted March 21, 2009, 2:59PM by Melissa62

Posh Puppy already closed down both of its locations after documented evidence of using puppy mill dogs and numerous lawsuits. The puppy mill where many of the dogs came from was also raided and shut down in Lancaster, CA.

And no, people don't have a right to "buy what makes them happy" when it comes as a result of abusing living beings. There are many things we can't do that make us happy, simply because they are illegal. Although this is technically "legal" at the moment, it still violates laws of animal abuse. And just because something is "legal" doesn't make it right.

Here is an article you might be interested in:
http://network.bestfriends.org/puppystorefreela/news/31537.html

Posted March 31, 2008, 11:56PM by tibbys

I work a block away from this B.H. store and last year after they opened i walked in to look at the puppies. I was not fully aware of where these animals in the pet store come from at the time, but while there the first thing someone said to me after hello was that these animals did not come from a puppy mill. i am disgusted to think that this person was lying to me about such a horrific thing. i didn't even ask a question, i just walked to look at the puppies and she wanted to assure me. please let me know next time you'll be protesting this store, i will be happy to join you!!!

Posted March 22, 2008, 12:35AM by babyurastar1

Me andmy family bought the sweetest puppy in the world from a random breeder we knew nothing about. We made a dumb move and bought the teacup maltipoo ]:. The first day we had him we took him, Giacomo to the vet for his shots, We found out he was sick with heartworms. He ended up dying 2 days later. We later found out the man who sold us the pup illigally brought them to California from a puppy mill in Mexico. Its so sad to know this is happening to dogs all over the country. But its great to know SO many people are rescuing dogs from having this happen, keep up the good work! :]

Posted January 05, 2008, 2:50AM by cathyscott

Earlier this week I was coincidentally at an emergency animal hospital in Las Vegas when a limo driver, who said she worked for a wealthy famous woman (whose name I won't include here), retrieved seven puppies that she said were just "purchased." The vet, when he brought the sick puppies out to the driver, told her that one of the puppies appeared to be just a week and a half old, and that the others had a variety of bacterial and viral infections. Each left the hospital with individual meds. The fact that all seven had to undergo emergency medical treatment just after being "sold" is a perfect example of what happens to so many of these poor puppies and the poor physical condition they suffer. It was heartbreaking to see.

Good for the protestors at Posh Puppy! It's the law of supply and demand; if people don't buy puppies, then the demand will go down, putting puppy stores and breeders -- like the one that sold a helpless week-and-a-half-old puppy -- out of business.

Posted January 06, 2008, 1:34PM by kittychump

Thanks to one & all for the outstanding picketing and stand-up truth telling - you're all heroes & heroines in the real-life movie of "Creepbusters"!!!! It gladdens my heart to see big stars out ON THE PICKET LINE WITH THEIR ADOPTED PETS - and to see the follow-through and updating showing the struggle is ongoing and the commitment is total.

Temporary settlements don't change everybody else's right to picket, to speak truth, and to keep on truckin' - life is all about struggle for justice. Bless you all - you're all in my prayers - especially the little critters involved.

Posted January 11, 2008, 9:5PM by GrandmaK

It sounds like we need more dedicated people to stop these horrible "puppy mills". I live in Oklahoma and I'm just beginning to understand what is going on here. I have 3 adopted cats and 2 adopted dogs and I sure as heck won't ever buy another animal. Keep up the wonderful work and let's keep on working on the animal issues that we have allowed in America.
Kay in Oklahoma

Posted December 29, 2007, 11:36AM by Melm62

"We live in a free democracy." I don't think horrific, systematic animal abuse is one of our freedoms. There's nothing about it in the Constitution. That's the mentality of your typical subhuman ignoramus. Like Carole said, dogs are not cars. That's why we really have to push harder to get a mandatory spay/neuter law passed in every state.

Posted December 31, 2007, 6:50PM by rmlamasney25

YES, melm62, you are exactly right. It is no one's RIGHT to cause suffering and death to living, senient beings, who have been bred by humans to be companions! I would love to see a basic animal bill of rights, so to speak, on a Federal level.

Posted December 28, 2007, 8:22PM by binksterlouie

FABULOUS ARTICLE!, this needs to go in the National Best Friends magazine that goes to everyone. These petstores across the country need to be shut down. The public needs to be educated!
Thanks

Posted January 04, 2008, 2:6PM by caroleraphaelledavis

To Laurat:
The disappointing news is that on Jan 2, the plaintiff settled with the owners of Posh Puppy. She also signed a gag order.

I failed. I feel so badly about this. I was not able to convince her to hang in there, not settle and demand proof of where the puppy's parents are.

I have one thing to say to owners of breeding facilities that supply the thousands of pet stores: get a cash crop that doesn't scream.

Best Friends members, go and picket a store near you.

Posted January 03, 2008, 7:13PM by laurat

Thanks to all of those who were able to attend the protest. I wish I could've been there myself, but I'm glad to see that stores like this are finally getting the negative attention they deserve. I also wish that Mr. Yoon's customers (or victims) had been there to confront him about his $3,000 pups. I'd be willing to bet that some have spent twice that amount in vet bills after leaving his store just to save their new pup's life. Stores like this are running a scam and getting away with it as new ones continue opening everywhere. When can we protest this one again and other stores still in the area? I'd like to see Posh Puppy and all the rest close every Saturday until someday for good.

Posted January 04, 2008, 2:39PM by mjsamsol

I wish she could have hung in there! Years ago I was ignorant about kitty mills. I experienced (and my kitten as well) some things the hard way. After months of vet care, Samson is a very healthy kitty today! People, be careful. Samson passed on a virus to my 3 year old Solomon and I nearly lost him as well. Thank God they are both healthy! Solomon just turned 11 on Dec. 27, and Samson will soon be 8. Be aware of these mills!

Posted January 04, 2008, 4:9PM by njanmlrsq3

Congrats in closing the store, even if it was just for a day. I wanna also say a big thanks to Richard Belzer for taking time out of his schedule to attend the Rally. I always enjoyed watching SUV.

Posted January 04, 2008, 6:18PM by ratmom

Just plain AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted January 04, 2008, 9:0PM by tismeinaz

If we take this story down the path that Mr Yoon wants to follow - what would he do to someone that sold him a jugo doctored up to look like a mercedes? In effect that is what he is doing. He is claiming that his dogs are prime specimens. I can go to the mercedes factory and watch them build my car but I can't visit his breeding facility. His dogs may be akc registered, but that means nothing - most mill dogs are registered because the greedy akc is in their pockets. Can Mr Yoon provide medical records for his dogs showing where the parents were dna tested for the heartrending diseases that many purebreds are prone to? Do they provide the standard breeder contract that states the breeder will take the dog back for health or other reasons such as my being unable to care for the dog at some point? Reputable breeders do this. Reputable breeders don't sell their puppies at the corner store and Mercedes doesn't sell it's cars at the corner lot.

Posted January 05, 2008, 12:33AM by underdogger

Well....I'm sure many of you viewed the enlightening video of John Yoon and Michelle Yoon interview on the day of the court trial. The video appeared on YouTube and on the http://poshpuppy.name Blog at Blogger.

Currently the blog and YT video are open by invite only as Mr. Yoon has chosen to make threats via YouTube Instant Messaging.

Mr. Yohan "John" Yoon , writing under the YouTube screenname <elbowyeish> http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=elbowyeish

(yeesh...check out his favorite videos!), has threatened the video maker and blogger. Here is the message exchange...word for word:

FROM: elbowyeish [videos (0) | favorites (19) | friends (0)]
Sent: January 04, 2008
Subject: Posh Puppy Courthouse Video
Message:
"I don't know who you are but I will soon find out. We already had our lawyers contact youtube to find your identity. This video is in violation of Federal Law regarding a highly sensitive case. The honorable Judge Mina Friedman of the Van Nuys Superior Court has put a tight gag order on this case. This video is in violation of Federal Law and privacy. We will sue for inprisonment. Hope you have a good lawyer. And you should probably get rid of the blog you made as well. We already hired a private investigator as well to hunt you down."

REPLY: Re: Posh Puppy Courthouse Video: "If you would care to identify yourself as long as you are making threats, then I'd be glad to correspond with you.

This information was given to me by a friend. I know of no laws that have been violated and know of no "gag" order.

Who's your lawyer and private Investigator?.I'll call them."
------------
Another message from Yoon
From: elbowyeish [videos (0) | favorites (19) | friends (0)]
Sent: January 04, 2008
Subject: Re: Re: Posh Puppy Courthouse Video
Message:
Why don't you read your precious friend's quote? But it's ok, we are still coming after you so it's better you don't take this down because it will be evidence to incriminate you. Thanks!

(he then quotes from BF)

January 4, 2008 at 2:06 PM
posted by: caroleraphaelledavis
To Laurat:
The disappointing news is that on Jan 2, the plaintiff settled with the owners of Posh Puppy. She also signed a gag order.

I failed. I feel so badly about this. I was not able to convince her to hang in there, not settle and demand proof of where the puppy's parents are.

I have one thing to say to owners of breeding facilities that supply the thousands of pet stores: get a cash crop that doesn't scream.

Best Friends members, go and picket a store near you.
________________________

As far as the legal folks we asked know, no privacy was invaded as he was in a public place speaking openly to a writer (with tons of people around) asking him questions about his business. There was no hidden camera, the camera was in plain view and was brought in through the high security at the courthouse entrance.
Yoon is panicked as you can see by the SALE prices on his store site. Google "Posh Puppy Beverly Hills"
and read it while they weep over the dwindling blood money.

I know that the video maker feels that as a witnesses (attested to by the plaintiff), that he is being intimidated by a defendant in a lawsuit.

That's a felony.

Posted January 05, 2008, 2:19PM by binksterlouie

Why is elbowyeish hunting us down instead of just telling everyone where the puppys come from? WHAT ARE YOU HIDING? Just tell us who supplies you with your puppies?

Posted January 05, 2008, 10:56PM by caroleraphaelledavis

Check out the Posh Puppy Blog:

http://poshpuppy.name/

Posted January 06, 2008, 4:39AM by OKATJEN

My sister and her ex boyfriend walked into a local pet store in Westminster, Colorado just to admire the animals. They walked out with a rottweiler puppy and minus $1000.00, with promises that the reputable breeder would mail the "papers" to them. The puppy was having some bowel problems after they got it home. They took it to the vet and found that the puppy had an active parasite problem that was very painful for the puppy's belly. This same infection caused them to have to clean every floor surface in their house due to uncontrolled defacation. This puppy did recover. The "papers" were never sent. The petstore eventually shut their doors. Needless to say - my sister and her boyfriend eventually broke up and he left the 1 1/2 year old 115" lb dog with my sister who couldn't "handle" him - so she ended up giving the dog away. (Grrrr to all involved!!) He is now in a very loving home with a man who finally had him neutered (don't get me started). The dog was a lucky one. Not only do petstore sell sick animals, but they do not care who buys an animal. That is as important - what is the longterm welfare of the animal. Shame on all petstore owners and those who buy!!!!

Posted January 06, 2008, 12:56PM by caroleraphaelledavis

The writer here. New developments:

Yoon has removed the display of luxury cars from the Posh Puppy Myspace page in reaction to this article and my questioning his comparison of living beings to cars.

Yoon has been sent a notice by The Humane Society of the United States Washington DC offices requesting him to provide them with a COMPLETE list of all their suppliers. He has also been requested to provide them with his license number.

Posted January 06, 2008, 3:4PM by binksterlouie

Carole, what an unbelievable job you have done on this! Maybe 2008 will be the year we can make progress on shutting these house of horrors down.
Please everyone comment whenever you can and don't forget YouTube! These dogs & cats can't speak for themselves, we are their voices.

Posted January 08, 2008, 10:44AM by ruthy92

You will see the same kind of hysterical garbage from all the puppy millers, dog breeders, and puppy peddlers when their crimes get exposed.

They all scream on forever about "lawsuits" "judges" "lawyers" "terrorists" and various threats.

It is just a smokescreen for their criminal activity.

Look to the the pet industry lobbying groups for leadership in this kind of attack. The sleaziest of the sleazy.

Here are the kinds of groups and people that come up with this kind of smear http://www.cchs-petshelter.org/id84.html