Southern Indiana residents sound alarm about Clarksville Puppygram store

CLARKSVILLE, Ind. (WAVE) – Southern Indiana residents are sounding the alarm after a controversial pet store moved across state lines.

The store, called Puppygram, used to have a location in Louisville, but was forced to move when Jefferson County passed an ordinance banning the retail sale of cats and dogs at pet stores. Now, southern Indiana residents want a similar ordinance passed.

“The current ordinance in place, it kind of gives the what as far as the basics for care, but it doesn’t really give the details as to how that care should be provided,” said Jennifer Logsdon.

Logsdon is part of a group of people who started a Facebook group called Southern Indiana Animal Welfare Watchdogs at the end of last year.

She said the group plans to help the city of Clarksville hold organizations accountable and will provide town council with a regular report.

“The biggest thing with why we started the Facebook group was just to kind of provide education and a way for people who are observing what’s going on or have concerns, a way for them to document that,” said Logsdon.

Although Logsdon said the group wasn’t created to single out a specific person or organization, many in the group, like Erin Daugherty, have joined because of concerns about Puppygram, which recently opened its doors in Green Tree Mall.

“I think the big thing is transparency,” said Daugherty. “Every time a question is asked, it’s immediately shut down.”

Daugherty told WAVE some of her concerns are about puppies not getting enough water or socialization.

“When a dog is not being properly cared for at a puppy stage, you’re looking at health problems, behavioral problems, all kinds of problems that can arise,” said Daugherty.

Louisville Metro Council’s 2023 ordinance, which caused Puppygram to move in the first place, targeted puppy mills. Puppy mills are breeding facilities that prioritize profit over establishing healthy conditions for the dogs.

Daugherty said she worries Puppygram is getting their dogs from puppy mills.

“There is no breeder list. There is no rescue list. Where is the information for the breeders, where you’re getting them from? Because if you can’t provide that, then you allow people to assume they’re coming from puppy mills,” said Daugherty.

Now, Daugherty and several others are pushing for Clarksville to pass a similar ordinance to the one in Jefferson County.

“There needs to be stricter guidelines as far as what is acceptable, what is not, stricter guidelines as far as transparency. They need to show that these puppies are not coming from puppy mills,” said Daugherty.

Clarksville Town Councilmember Tony Munich told WAVE the city is planning to look into potential changes to its ordinance. He also said animal control has been out to Puppygram multiple times and has not reported any concerns.

WAVE reached out to Puppygram’s CEO, who got back to us Monday night, saying he will be in town this week and would be happy to speak with us about any misinformation on social media.

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