'I Heart Puppies' to Shut Doors in CDM

It's been a source of contention for seven months, but this weekend the "I Heart Puppies" Store in Corona del Mar will shut its controversial doors.

A sign posted on the store's window states the owners, Brooke and Suzanne Bradford are, "closing our store front." The sign says all store merchandise will be sold for 75 percent off, with Sunday being the store's last day. Leashes, collars, toys and other items are also being sold on Craigslist.

"I Heart Puppies will continue to provide the same quality puppies for sale on our website, where we will be able to offer a large variety of breeds," the sign said. "We personally visit our breeders and their kennels and continue to monitor them to maintain the highest level off quality."

The pet store attracted public scrutiny in July, shortly after the Companion Animal Protection Society, a nonprofit group, launched an investigation into the store after complaints from residents and assertions that the store gets its puppies from Midwest puppy mills. Carole Raphaelle Davis, west coast director of CAPS, says although the storefront will be shut down, the group will continue to keep a close eye on I Heart Puppies' online business.

"We investigate unscrupulous dog dealers all over the country and they are no match for our investigators. Let's hope they go into a business that does not involve cruelty to animals," Davis said.

I Heart Puppies and Davis have had a tense relationship since the investigations began. The store filed for a restraining order against Davis, who in return filed an . Court records show the restraining order was later dismissed. Along with legal issues, the controversy brought droves of protestors during to the storefront on East Coast Highway.

Davis said she believes the pressure by those animal rights activists led to I Heart Puppies making the decision to pack up the shop.

"The owners of I Heart Puppies were simply not able to withstand our winning formula of investigations, evidence of puppy mill cruelty and protracted protests," Davis said. "I would be popping champagne corks if they had stayed open as a 'rescue only' store selling supplies and services. That was always our goal. We offered to help them transition to a humane business model but they refused to stop selling factory-bred dogs."

Davis said CAPS now has plans to look into in Newport Beach and continung to encourage the City Council to make the sale of puppy mill dogs illegal.