Shots fired at pet-store protesters in Santa Monica
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The brass pellets that hit the protesters were found to have come from a high-powered air rifle, according to the Santa Monica Daily Press. Our colleague Lu Parker of KTLA News was on the scene shortly after the shots were fired; her report is at left.
The protesters were affiliated with the Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS), a group that works to shut down puppy mills and stores that purchase from them, and described the demonstration in front of the Wilshire Boulevard store Aquarium & Pet Center as peaceful. The group disputes store owner Scott Lee’s claim that he sells only puppies obtained from reputable breeders rather than puppy mills.
‘We get ours from local breeders,’ Lee told the Daily Press. The accusations are not true, he said. He’s owned the store for more than 20 years and maintains that his practices are aboveboard. CAPS’ West Coast director (and author of the book ‘The Diary of Jinky: Dog of a Hollywood Wife’) Carole Raphaelle Davis not only questions Lee’s puppy-gathering practices but also maintains that Aquarium & Pet Center staff had threatened CAPS members before the shooting incident and laughed after it occurred, accusations Lee denies.
A $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Santa Monica Police Department.
-- Lindsay Barnett
Video: KTLA