LINCOLN PARK — A Lincoln Park dog store specializing in toy and teacup breeds paid a $1,440 fine Wednesday to settle a series of tickets with the city.
Pocket Puppies Boutique, 2479 N. Clark St., acknowledged liability in 10 violations at $140 each, plus a $40 court fee. According to the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, the store was cited for failing to provide proper disclosures on dogs it was selling.
Owner Lane Boron ignored requests for comment after the hearing, but previously blamed the violations on new employees who didn't put the proper signs on cages with newly arrived dogs.
Critics have charged that Pocket Puppies is "operating illegally in plain sight," in violation of the city ordinance demanding that dogs for sale come only from "shelters and other humane adoption centers" adopted three years ago.
Boron, however, has insisted he's found shelters and other legal sources dealing in toy and teacup breeds.
Although Pocket Puppies had been threatened with up to $10,000 in fines and the potential loss of its business license, Wednesday's settlement, accepted by Administrative Hearing Judge Carol Kenny, clears the store to continue doing business in the city.
