Dog Owners Accuse 'Happiness is Pets' of Selling Puppy Mill Dogs

Naperville, Ill. - A suburban Chicago pet store chain is coming under fire for how it treats puppies after several died recently. Happiness is Pets, which on its website bills itself as the number one puppy store in the Chicago area, is accused of getting its dogs from so-called puppy mills.

Bryan Phillips bought a dachshund puppy from the store in Naperville a month ago. He says since then he’s had to take Dakota to the vet eight times.

“Some days she does awesome, she does normal puppy stuff, jumping up on things, exploring, wants to know what’s going on. Other times she’s a lump on the log doing absolutely nothing, hardly eats for the day,” Phillips said.

Dakota has been diagnosed with distemper, a highly contagious virus which causes coughs, runny eyes or seizures and can often be fatal. It can be prevented with vaccines, but once a dog gets it, owners can only treat the symptoms.

The animal rights group, Companion Animal Protection Society, said Happiness is Pets gets it dogs from puppy mills, mass breeding operations where they and others allege the care is questionable.

Sunday a weekend protest outside the store in Orland Park turned confrontational and required police to respond. Jonathan Berning, the owner’s son, was arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault.

"We are accustomed at Happiness is Pets whenever we do protests, in having the employees come out and lob insults, profanity, obscene gestures. We're used to that. This is the first time that I've, anybody's been assaulted, said Dianne Arp, who pressed charges against Berning.

During a visit to the Naperville store, the puppies all looked healthy. But a yellow lab purchased from the Arlington Heights store recently died from distemper. The Illinois Department of Agriculture, which regulates pet stores, is investigating. But spokesman Jeff Squibb says there are no laws in Illinois requiring breeders to vaccinate their dogs.

Protesters want to shut down the Happiness is Pets chain, but the company, which has five suburban stores and has been in business since 1987, does have many satisfied customers.

"We have actually bought two dogs from Happiness is Pets," said Renny Bagdady, shopping at the Downers Grove store Monday afternoon. “We've had no problems.”

We reached out to the owner of the "Happiness is Pets" chain for comment but could not get ahold of him.