PetsMart is allowing Fur Keeps Animal shelter to set up adoption events at 2 of their locations. This is not acceptable. Many news reports, blogs and even other media have covered the story of conditions at Fur Keeps. This animal rescue has been investigated 14 times in a 5 year period. And now they are about to be investigated again after a petition got started exposing the conditions of the animals at Fur Keeps. They are keep in dirty horse barn stalls and the conditions are disgusting. Fecal matter and urine soak straw that these animals lay on. Fecal matter is spread around food bowls and water bowls. You can see this in pictures. This is not a proper rescue and there is no excuse for this. Anybody adopting an animal from Fur keeps needs to know the facts. PetsMart should not allow this "rescue" in their stores for adoption events until they are properly investigated and the vet care and housing of the animals is brought to humane standards and is cleaned up.
Dear PetsMart, we believe that Fur Keeps Animal Shelter is not a humane place for animals to live. Currently, you are allowing them to set up at 2 of your locations. This has got to come to a stop. PetsMart is allowing Fur Keeps Animal shelter to set up adoption events at 2 of their locations. This is not acceptable. Many news reports, blogs and even other media have covered the story of conditions at Fur Keeps. This animal rescue has been investigated 14 times in a 5 year period. And now they are about to be investigated again after a petition got started exposing the conditions of the animals at Fur Keeps. They are keep in dirty horse barn stalls and the conditions are disgusting. Fecal matter and urine soak straw that these animals lay on. Fecal matter is spread around food bowls and water bowls. You can see this in pictures. This is not a proper rescue and there is no excuse for this. Anybody adopting an animal from Fur keeps needs to know the facts. PetsMart should not allow this "rescue" in their stores for adoption events until they are properly investigated and the vet care and housing of the animals is brought to humane standards and is cleaned up. Another petition was also started and signatures are being delivered to the State of Illinois. This is not the first time. PetsMart needs to tell Fur Keeps to go somewhere else when trying to adopt these animals out that are not cared for the right way. The woman that runs Fur Keep's name is Dr. Rykoff. She also operates Ventur-on Farm Clinic and there is a conflict of interest with that is well, also tax documents claim that $63,000 was spent on veterinary care when they are only allowed to have 43 dogs on their property at one time as is shown in the agreement between them and Barrington Hills' ordinances. These conditions are disgusting and it is even more disgusting that a corporation like PetsMart allows a "shelter" like this to set up at their stores. This needs to stop and PetsMart should start by not letting them set up adoption events at their stores to further show Fur Keeps Animal Shelter that these conditions are not acceptable. We urge you to tell Fur Keeps to clean up their act and that they are not allowed to set up in your stores until they do or they are cleared in an investigation by the State. Does Petsmart really want to be associated with a place like this? When shoppers all over the Country see this and read about them they will surely stop going to these PetsMart locations, if not all PetsMart locations everywhere. Tell them, "Fur Keeps, You have got to go!"
From another petition that has been sent to the State and has many signatures and supporters you can get a better look into why you should not allow them to set up adoption events in your stores.
"Thank you for taking a moment of your time to hear our concerns.
Dr. Debra Rykoff, President of Fur Keeps Animal Shelter, Inc. and owner of Ventur-On Farm Clinic (located at the same address) has through her charity raised in excess of $100,000 in 2010 of which over $60,000 was spent on veterinary services. With such a large expenditure for veterinary care one would expect to find healthy, well cared for animals at her facility located at 142 Old Dundee Rd., Barrington Hills, IL.
Instead (as evident in photos) animals are kept in dark and dirty barn stalls, they stand on straw soaked in urine and feces, they are not allowed to leave the barn and are sometimes confined to cages where they can't stand or move. Their wounds, injuries and illnesses are left untreated resulting in their suffering and often their death.
There have been numerous complaints made against the facility and no action has been taken to close it down. It is clear from the photos available and the complaints of volunteers that animals at this facility are being neglected if not abused.
I implore you to conduct a thorough investigation into the activities of Dr. Rykoff and Fur Keeps Animal Shelter - close down this facility and help to end the suffering of defenseless animals."
Thank you for your time and consideration.
