Posted: Tuesday, March 10, 2009, 6:03 p.m., EDT

Best Friends Animal Society, a national animal rescue and welfare organization, is endorsing a new pet store in Los Angeles, Calif., that only offers dogs through adoption. The store, called Woof Worx, is scheduled to hold its grand opening on March 12 and Best Friends members are expected to be on hand to show their support.

Best Friends spokeswoman Nora Della Maddalena said Woof Worx is the first retail establishment to open under the Best Friend’s Puppy-Store-Free campaign. The national campaign, which was piloted in Los Angeles, aims to stop pet stores from selling so-called “puppy-mill” puppies.

“We would like to support stores that operate under humane models, and we want to encourage owners to take that approach,” Della Maddalena said.

According to Best Friends, Woof Worx will sell a variety of pet food and supplies, and offer grooming and small-dog daycare services. The only animals offered for adoption will be those from shelters and non-profit rescue organizations.

Woof Worx’s owner, Jamie Katz, is a former employee of the pet store Pets of Bel Air, which used to operate at the same location, according to Best Friends. As part of its Puppy-Store-Free campaign, Best Friends had protested Pets of Bel Air for allegedly selling dogs from substandard commercial breeders. Pets of Bel Air is currently involved in a class action lawsuit, which alleges the store sold puppies that later became sick or died because they were bred in “puppy mills.”

Della Maddalena said Best Friends plans to continue to protest other pet stores in Los Angeles and across the country that allegedly sell puppy-mill puppies. She noted Las Vegas and New York City as two cities the organization is currently targeting. <HOME>