A call to Petland corporate offices was not immediately returned.

Many Petland locations only offer dogs from animal welfare organizations.

Each is responsible for choosing healthy pets offered to Petland customers.

The 2008 financial crisis and subsequent public relations issues have drastically affected Petland.

Many Petland locations use their storefronts to display these animals.

The officials said the animals from the Akron location have been moved to another Petland in the area.

A message on the phone line of the Petland press office directed media to this statement on the company's website.

"This is a continuing public-relations campaign to smear the good name of Petland," the company said in response to the lawsuit.

"We are outraged of this gross violation of Petland's animal care standards."

Michael Cherry has been with Petland Discounts for 16 years.

In the early 1980s, Petland began expanding its presence in Canada and entered foreign markets.

The animal protection group is suing Petland, based in Chillicothe, Ohio.

Aquarium Adventure is a wholly owned subsidiary of Petland.

Some Petland stores micro-chip all participating animals.

After 45 years of expansion and success, Petland Discounts has expanded up to 100 stores in the tri-state area.

Petland, which also has 61 stores overseas, said Tuesday it was outraged and disappointed by what it called false accusations.

At Petland we care.

Tim invites the designers to Petland Discounts.

Dozens of people waited outside Petland on Saturday afternoon for free flea baths for their dogs.

Three days earlier, the police said, a fifth bird was reported stolen from a Petland Discount store in Freeport.

It contains a section for the burial of pets called the Love of Animals Petland.

According to Petland's website, the company currently operates 140 stores in the U.S. and plans to open an additional 25 over the next years.

A statement on the company's Web site noted that "Petland stores are independently operated by qualified franchisees.

Adrian Foster, 32, an employee at Petland Discounts, also dreamed of stardom.

Petland Discounts.