Kat Akeroyd (right, with one-year-old daughter Destiny), her husband Chris, and Shelagh Fjordbotten (with rescued puppy mill dog Blondie) protest outside Doggie World. The Akeroyds both quit working at the puppy store, which is now closed, and said the dogs were viewed “as dollar signs.” The City is looking to ban the sale of animals.

Doggie World may have closed its doors but concerns still follow the former puppy store. Many puppies that were sold have since died of the parvo virus while other puppies are sick with intestinal parasites and other medical issues. Some owners did get their money back for dogs that died, some other customers are trying to locate the owners of Doggie World to get a refund.

Meanwhile, Kat Akeroyd, a former Doggie World employee, decided to continue with a protest outside the empty store last Thursday. She promises to pursue stronger legislation that protects dogs better. Only a few people showed up for the protest.

“As long as people keep selling puppies, I’ll keep doing this. Backyard breeders can be just as bad as pet stores. The public can’t turn a blind eye to what really happens to these puppies. Now they know,” said Akeroyd who has a petition going at lapm.info. More than 100 people have signed it already.

Along for the protest was Shelagh Fjordbotten who fosters dogs the SPCA seizes from puppy mills. She had foster dog Blondie with her. The small dog was recently seized from a backyard puppy mill in Surrey. Blondie was forced to have multiple litters. Months ago, Fjordbotten saw ads on Craiglist for Doggie World puppy sales and alarm bells started going off, she said.

She felt she had to join the protest.

“Puppy mill dogs suffer greatly,” she said.

The Township, it turns out, allows the sale of puppies. The SPCA said it would be more than happy to help carete a bylaw if there is a desire to do so. Neighbouring Surrey currently has several pet stores selling puppies. Langley currently has none.