Pines pet store franchisee files bankruptcy over $3M debt, court records show
A Pembroke Pines pet store is filing for bankruptcy and restructuring millions of dollars in debt, according to federal court records.
Violet’s Puppies, LLC, a Petland franchisee located at 356 N. University Drive, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday, May 11, a voluntary petition filed in the Florida Southern District shows.
The finanical move centers around a $2.9 million small business loan issued by the First Internet Bank of Indiana in 2024 to finance the acquisition of the franchise location, court records add.
The southwest Broward location is expected to remain open while reorganizing the debt.
Petland’s Pembroke Pines store operates as a retailer for animals as well as pet products and services, selling puppies, cats and marine animals in addition to food, grooming tools, toys and offering puppy training school.
The store celebrated its first anniversary under new ownership in October with an in-store flash sale for customers and is popular for “puppy play rooms,” where prospective pet owners can get firsthand experience with the pooches they’re considering adopting.
Franchisor Petland, Inc., started in 1967 with locations in Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky before branching into franchising and wholesale distribution of pet merchandise in the early ‘70s.
Today, the brand has markets in South Africa, China, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and El Salvador, and remains a privately held corporation.
Because Pines’ Petland is individually owned and operated by Violet Puppies, LLC, the store says it’s able to offer unique amenities that set it apart from most other locations.
All puppies are sold with a 10-year warranty — possible through working with top USDA-licensed breeders that provide genetic testing for health and temperament complications — and come with free training, a free vet exam and two weeks of complimentary pet insurance, the store shared in an April 30 Instagram post.
Petland in Pembroke Pines operates Monday through Friday from noon to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
