Protests over new Wilmington pet store spark push for animal welfare in New Hanover County

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Puppy Place on New Center Dr. in Wilmington was met with protests on Sunday.  

Protesters are concerned that the business is bringing in dogs from puppy mills in other states to sell. So-called ‘puppy mills‘ are known for inhumane breeding practices.

Activists also point to the fact that North Carolina has the second highest euthanasia rate in the country. At a New Hanover County Commissioners meeting Monday morning, activist Bryan Michael asked for the board to consider a ban on the sale of cats and dogs in the county.  

“Regardless, whether it’s a puppy mill or not—which they are—regardless whether it’s a puppy mill or not, we don’t need to bring more animals into North Carolina. We don’t need to bring more dogs into North Carolina,” Michael said. 

Commissioner Dane Scalise said he hears those community concerns. 

“I’m sure that we could be doing more about protecting the animals of New Hanover County, and that’s why we’re going to convene a committee that is ultimately going to look at exactly what our ordinance says, what we may be able to do to change or improve it, and also hear from the citizens,” Scalise said. 

If the county were to ban commercial sale, it would join 400 other cities and counties along with five states that outlaw the commercial sale of cats and dogs. A potential commercial ban would not affect local at-home breeders.

Some locals—including New Hanover County Humane Society Manager Nicole Talley—think a ban is a good idea. 

“I mean you’re getting the same dog out of a shelter that you would be paying probably hundreds of dollars for out of a pet shop,” Talley noted. 

Talley also points to concerns over puppy mills. 

“You don’t know where those dogs are really coming from. You don’t know how they’re breeding them or what kind of conditions they were living in, what kind of diseases they may have, you just don’t know. So I don’t agree with it at all,” Talley expressed. 

 For Michael, seeing the response from the community and its leaders left him emotional. 

“It’s hard when you feel like you’re in something alone, when you’re fighting alone,” Michael said. “But it’s been really beautiful to see the community come together and everybody really care about this.” 

 WWAY reached out to The Puppy Place, but we have not heard back as of Monday evening.