Community members protesting hold signs in front of PawStars.

Text and Photos
By Patrick Webb
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Local residents protested a new pet store they alleged is a front for puppy mills.

At 1 p.m. Saturday, May 11, around seven residents, later joined by additional community, assembled outside of PawStars at 2584 Walton Blvd, Warsaw, to protest the store.

PawStars, according to the company’s website, is a pet shop that helps puppies to find homes, and assists with rescues. At the time of publication, PawStars had seven mini teddy bear shih tzu’s for sale for around $1,000 on their website.

The organizer of the protest, Katie Platt, described herself as a concerned citizen and taxpayer who was opposed to the store opening in Warsaw.

Platt claimed that the owner, Leo Tatro, has had “multiple stores that have been forced to shut down for animal cruelty and illegally selling puppies online.”

“I’m out here protesting because Warsaw doesn’t need a commercial puppy mill seller,” said Wendy Trueblood, another community member. “And the fact that he’s been run out of Illinois and can no longer peddle his puppy mill puppies over there. He’s had to come here. He’s not wanted here either, and we’re just trying to get that point across.”

“The dogs that he’s getting, at least in the past it’s been proven, come from puppy mills,” said Trueblood. She explained that a puppy mill is “where they have multiple parents that stay in tiny cages, their only jobs are to breed.”

Shelia Guthrie, another protester, said that pet stores “are all fronts for puppy mills. Every pet store is in some way related to a puppy mill.”

Guthrie stated when a dog is unable to breed anymore at a puppy mill, they may be killed or abandoned. Platt added that volunteers for animal shelters often go to rescue abandoned animals.

The Warsaw Police Department were called by Tatro because they were blocking the main entrance. Officers spoke with the protestors and informed them they could stand on the grass near the entrance of the plaza.

Tatro, one of the owners of PawStars, said he closed the story Saturday due to “animosity on social media and just to avoid conflict.”

“(We were) closed today to avoid any further altercations,” he said. “I thought it was best for the company, best for the community.” Tatro said the protestors were respectful and moved when asked.

“What brought me to Warsaw is I love to sell puppies, find home for puppies, and also rescue,” said Tatro. He said he’d searched for a good location for several years and the location by Walmart was a good one.

Tatro shared he also opened the store to support a community center he’s apart of as a pastor in Chicago, which he said was a multimillion dollar project. 

Tatro said there was a protest four years ago in Lombard, Ill., at a pet store he owned, over concerns of where he got his puppies from.

Tatro said he used to breed dogs, which led to him to have a pet store. Tatro said he spoke to two of the protestors from Magnificent Mutts Rescue and heard their concerns.

Tatro said the protestors opened his eyes, and he started to investigate the breeders he worked with. Tatro said he previously took breeders on their words that the parents were at the site.

“Since then I have probably rescued over 100 dogs. I have reported numerous puppy mill situations,” said Tatro. He said he picks up the dogs himself and has worked with rescues, “also helping female moms to get out of (puppy mills).”

Tatro said he has cut out 98% of the breeders he used to work with. He added he has cameras in his facilities to ensure that animals are taken care of.

Tatro said animals surrendered to PawStars are later sold, which is to help cover medical costs.

“We’re not a real rescue of course, so all the medical expenses come straight out of our pocket,” he said.

Tatro said PawStars also offers a $10 for play dates with puppies to cover rescue costs. He said the “attack on the business,” had stopped them from proceeding. He also said he turned down a litter of puppies to a shelter, and said the litter could be euthanized.

Tatro said PawStars take puppies at the store outside to a grass area in front of the store, and each puppy has an individual 4’ by 3’ cage. He also expects to add three to four play areas inside.

Tatro said the puppies inside the store would’ve have been sold to homes, but had been delayed due to the protests.

“We want to provide a service to the community,” said Tatro. He added he hasn’t been charged for any crimes related to running a pet store or puppy mill.

Tatro said people with concerns could reach out to him. He added he wasn’t at the store Saturday because he was attending a drive through prayer event at his church in Chicago.

“If they do have another (protest), hopefully I can make it. I hope they don’t have to have another one,” he said.