Resource Center

Stories

The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast.

These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need.

Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:



Search results for "pet store" ...

  • Puppy Pipeline

    The Post tracked a puppy mill pipeline stretching from the Ozarks to South Florida, one that brought thousands of sometimes-sick puppies from mass-operations to local pet stores. At least 2,500 puppies were delivered to Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties from out-of-states breeders in an 11-month period. Roughly one in three of those came from breeders or distributors cited for problems by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees wholesale dog breeding. Citations varied from keeping animals in too-small and rusting cages with exposed nails or wires, to caked feces, to infestations of roaches and other insects that covered the walls and ceilings of kennels. In dozens of cases, kennel owners averted USDA inspection entirely.

    Tags: puppy mill; puppies; USDA; dog breeder; breeding; Department of Agriculture; animal mistreatment

    By Pat Beall; Jennifer Sorentrue; Adam Playrofd

    Post (Palm Beach, Fla.)

    2010

  • Puppy Heartbreak

    The website for South-Flordia's Wizard of Claws was known for selling dogs to celebrities along with many other customers, claiming its dogs to be of the best quality. But the dogs people received were very sick and unhealthy, some even dying. Some of the dogs were traced back to the "puppy mills" of the Midwest, where animals are poorly bred under even worse conditions

    Tags: Wizard of Claws; puppy mill; pet store; dog; puppy; animal cruelty; breed

    By Jeff Burnside; Scott Zamost; Pedro Canico; Robert Hernandez; Ed Garcia

    WTVJ-TV (Miami)

    2006

  • Unfit for Sale: NJ's Puppy Pipeline

    In a three part series, News 12 investigates how dogs 'unfit for sale' are winding up in New Jersey pet stores. Many of these stores were selling illegal dogs from unlicensed brokers, most of them raised in 'puppy mills' in Pennsylvania. It was also found that only two agents from the Pennsylvania Bureau of Dog Law are available to inspect more than 250 licensed kennels in just one county. One official accuses the bureau of 'protecting animal cruelty'.

    Tags: animal cruelty; pet stores; illegal dogs; puppy mill; unlicensed brokers; breeding

    By Walt Kane;William Schlosser;Anthony Cocco

    News 12 New Jersey (Edison

    2004

  • 1999 IRE National Conference Show and Tell Tape #7

    1999 IRE National Conference (Kansas City) Show and Tell Tape #7 is the seventh of a nine-part series. This tape includes: 1.) Tony Dastoli (WAGA-Atlanta) Telemarketers lying to school principals. 2.) Allison Gilbert (WWOR-UPN New York City) Pets in airplane cargo holds. 3.) Larry Yellen (WFLD-Chicago) Illegal gun sales. Guns cross county lines from suburb to city. 4.) Kathleen Johnston (WTHR-Indianapolis) "Guarding the Guardians" Millionaire heiress, Ruth Lilly, and the money being spent by her so-called caretakers. A case of fortune swindling. 5.) Dan McDonald (WBTF-?) Investigation shows how easy it is for minors to buy shotgun ammunition. Store clerks are supposed to check ID's, but only one place does it. 6.) Matthew McClure (CBC-Edmonton) ***only 5 minutes of a much longer piece*** Major restaurant chain fails to pay employees during so-called "training shifts," even though they are clearly doing all the jobs of a regular shift. 7.) Joel Grover (KCBS-Los Angeles) "Dirty Restaurants Revisited" Station uncovers inspectors bribing restaurant owners to get an A rating. The ratings system was inspired by last summer's dirty restaurant investigation.

    Tags: TAPE; Kansas City; conference; no transcripts; IRE

    By IRE

    IRE

    1999

  • No title (id: 9601)

    DVM Newsmagazine reports on pressures faced by veterinarians by pet 'superstores'; the stores can sell products for less than the vets can buy them and they provide pet clinics on-site, August 1993.

    Tags: Bixler Verdon 13 pages

    By None

    DVM Newsmagazine

    1993

  • How Sick is That Doggy in the Window?

    Los Angeles Times Magazine examines the business of breeding, raising and selling animals to pet stores; documents abuses in "puppy mills" and the growing practice of selling unhealthy, infectious animals to unsuspecting owners, Dec. 3, 1989.

    Tags: Puppy mills Yorkin

    By Nicole Yorkin

    Los Angeles Times Magazine

    1989

  • Should You Buy That Doggie

    Parade Magazine runs investigation of Midwestern "puppy mills," where purebred dogs are raised as a kind of cash crop to be sold at pet stores; animals are raised under cruel, filthy conditions and many are injured and infected with parasites.

    Tags: Satchell American Kennel Club pets USDA

    By Michael Satchell

    Parade Magazine

    1987