Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Animal Welfare topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident urges Clarksville to scrutinize Puppygram; company CEO defends operation
Summary
During public comment resident Jen Bugg warned Puppygram's mall storefront could import poorly sourced puppies and asked the council to use licensing, zoning and inspections to block predatory practices. Puppygram CEO Miles Handy denied sourcing from puppy mills and said the company was formed to prevent online scams.
At the start of public comment, Jen Bugg told the council that Puppygram's proposed storefront at Green Tree Mall was run by a "known bad actor" and urged strict scrutiny of any business license, zoning review and inspections. She said the company has a record—under other names—of sick animals, eviction and consumer complaints in other cities and recommended the town apply "strict scrutiny" to licensing and inspections to protect local animal welfare.
Miles Handy, who introduced himself and said he is the CEO and 100% owner of Puppygram, responded during public comment that Puppygram was created to address online scams and that the company does not source from puppy mills. Handy said they provide veterinary health certificates and had been involved in state-level guideline development; he denied the specific neglect allegations raised by the commenter.
