CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – Dozens of dogs are at a rescue Friday night after a northeast Charlotte pet store had its license revoked earlier this month.
According to documents from the State Department of Agriculture, Happy Puppy Universe license’s had been revoked due severe, repeated, and willful violations of the state’s Animal Welfare Act.
The documents listed more than a dozen violations. From food being improperly stored, to a lack of records for vet care, and at least 11 puppies had died at the store.
Founder of Peanuts Place Animal Rescue, Collen Sowers, took in 43 dogs after the store closed earlier this month. Sowers said it’s heartbreaking watching some of these animals fight for their lives.
“It got to the point where, between the number of violations and including the number of sick and dying dogs, 11 puppies had been confirmed dead in the last 60 days alone in the facility. And I have a feeling there’s a lot more than that, that weren’t, that went unreported,” Sowers said.
“We are on top of it, and it is an hour-by-hour thing,” Sowers said.
Looking at photos you would never know these dogs were receiving extensive medical care. Sowers said that each of the dogs has at least one illness.
“The majority of them have all been treated for everything from ear mites to coccidia, giardia, and upper respiratory infection,” Sowers said.
Sowers said that she is still receiving phone calls from people asking for help after buying a dog from Happy Puppy Universe.
“That’s the problem, is unsuspecting unknowledgeable people walk into a pet store, feel bad that the dogs are there,” Sowers said. “I have now had probably 25 phone calls that that actually got through to me, ‘cause my phone’s ran off the hook.”
Sowers said foster parents are now caring for the dogs that are healthy enough to go into homes.
“We’re just giving our fosters carte blanche that everybody has my card on file at these hospitals, and we’re just telling them, if your dog is sick, do not hesitate and get it to the urgent care facility,” Sowers said.
We reached out to the owner of the store for comment on the violations and did not hear back.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control released the following statement regarding Happy Puppy Universe.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control (ACC) has received multiple service requests regarding possible animal cruelty at Happy Puppy Universe, located at 10901 University City Blvd., Suite 109 in Charlotte, NC. One of the calls came from a customer who purchased a sick puppy from the business. Animal cruelty complaints can be filed anonymously, and that was the case with these reports. Between December 2023 and July 2025, there have been 10 documented complaints. The complaints primarily alleged unsanitary conditions, overcrowding, sick puppies, and inadequate care. Each report was investigated for animal cruelty and found to be unfounded upon inspection. One of the complaints, on July 25, 2024, involved ACC accompanying the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS). While no cruelty was found during that visit, the NCDA&CS did issue violations within their scope of authority. In the recent closure of Happy Puppy Universe by the NCDA&CS, the agency requested ACC’s assistance in providing reports of specific calls for service. ACC has supplied all requested records and continues to support the NCDA
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