2 Kane County Pet Stores Could Lose Their Licenses After Violations

BATAVIA, IL — Two Kane County pet stores could have their licenses revoked after violating the Animal Welfare Act, according to documents obtained by Patch.

Petland, also known as Starfish Ventures, at 401 N. Randall Road in Batavia, and The Perfect Pup, at 2400 E. Main St. in St. Charles, received notices of revocation Nov. 14.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture said Petland is operating as a pet shop without a license, a violation discovered when an inspector visited the store Sept. 27. The department said the Batavia store submitted an application for a dog-dealing license on July 7, 2022, but voluntarily relinquished its pet shop operator license July 25, saying "all animals have been removed from the store."

On July 28, the Department of Agriculture issued Petland a dog-dealing license, which could now be revoked since the store sold dogs "at various times, including on or about Sept. 27" without a pet shop operator license.

The Perfect Pup's dog-dealing license could be revoked for the same reason: the business is operating as a pet shop without a license, officials said.

The St. Charles store submitted an application for a dog dealer license on May 23. Four days prior, it voluntarily relinquished its pet shop operator license via an email to the Department of Agriculture. In the meantime, the store continued to sell dogs, documents show.

Pre-hearing conferences for both pet shops are scheduled for Dec. 28.

"We applaud the Illinois Department of Agriculture for cracking down on pet stores who refuse to comply with the Humane Pet Store Law and continue to sell puppy mill puppies to unsuspecting Illinois consumers," Marc Ayers, Illinois director for The Humane Society of the U.S., told Patch in a statement. "We are confident that remaining puppy selling pet stores will be brought into compliance under Illinois law."

Earlier this year, Furry Babies in Aurora was also issued a notice of revocation after it was found to be operating without a license, Patch reported.

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