From Susan Mazey:

Hi all members of Peaceful Pet Store Protests: I was told today, Monday, someone had heard that Pets Landing had closed. To verify, I drove to Pets Landing this evening and sure enough, there was a note on their door stating they had closed permanently as of today, July 20, 2008. The note explained that they closed due to the economic downturn which is probably true. But I can't help believe that our efforts gave them a little "push".

We have protested in front of their store every Saturday since mid-December 2008. Over the months, many people stopped to talk to us and inquire about puppy mills. We educated them about the immoral and inhumane mass dog breeding business and handed them information on where they could adopt. Many people had not even heard of the term "puppy mill". I know for a fact that our efforts changed the minds of quite a few people who would have otherwise purchased puppies from Pets Landing but instead decided to adopt. Whatever the reason, this is a "red-letter"day for the movement, but we are just beginning our efforts and will continue our protests at other stores until no more puppies are sold in pet stores here in the Valley. This event today should give us a much needed boost to keep going.

That said, and with the extreme hot weather we have been though and even more hot stuff still to come, I thought it would be nice to take a much deserved break from our protests for the time being for at least a few weeks or so.

Our next target will be the mall pet stores which are all owned by the same gentleman, eight stores in all here in the Valley. We will probably start with the "Puppies 'n Love" store at Fashion Square Mall on the corner of Scottsdale Road and Camelback Road in Scottsdale. Its not too far from Pets Landing and centrally located.

I will notify all of you when we resume our protests. I can't thank enough those of you who showed up at our protests--your time was well spent. Feel proud that we have reached our first goal. I know I do.

Thanks, Susan