The Tennessee Department of Agriculture has sent a letter to the Pet Company in Hamilton Place mall setting forth strict guidelines the business must agree to comply with if it wants to keep its state operating license.
The Pet Company has five days to respond to the letter issued today and agree to guidelines such as providing better training for employees, according to an agriculture department spokeswoman.
"If The Pet Company disagrees with these stipulations or TDA continues to find the same kinds of violations it cited recently, TDA will proceed with an action to suspend or revoke The Pet Company's license," spokeswoman Casey Mahoney stated in an e-mail.
The notice from the state is part of The Pet Company's ongoing battle since June 15 when city officials raided its store, seized 84 pets and slapped it with 90 violations of the city's code on the treatment of animals.
Chattanooga City Judge Sherry Paty since has ruled that she will not revoke the store's city-issued operating license, deferring instead to state officials who issue state operating licenses for pet stores.
Judge Paty still is expected to rule, however, on whether the store violated city code and whether it is responsible for reimbursing the city about $40,000 it has spent to take care of the store's animals for the last 38 days.
The Pet Company is seeking to have the city case dropped, arguing in court documents that it is a victim of "malicious prosecution."
City and state officials allege The Pet Company neglected to water its puppies properly, did not train its employees, allowed animals to wallow in feces and dirty cages, and had a faulty ventilation system that contributed to contagious disease.
For complete details, see tomorrow's Chattanooga Times Free Press.