Pet store owner says economy, not protests, led to closing

Ron Berning is no monster.

But that fact was sometimes obscured by the hostility the owner of the Happiness is Pets in Warrenville received from residents unhappy his business was in their neighborhood.

"I've been in business for 22 years," said Berning, who owns six such pet stores in Cook and DuPage counties. "I don't stick around that long if I'm not keeping my customers happy."

Berning closed his Warrenville location earlier this week, after less than two years in town.

Almost since he moved in, Berning was the subject of scorn by residents who accused him of purchasing abused dogs from "puppy mills." The couple leading that charge, Therese Davis and her husband had staged several protests outside his doors urging people not to come inside.

Davis had acknowledged she had even sought out past customers of Berning's stores in a quest to find evidence of abused or sickly animals.

His stores have been subject to a handful of complaints - no more than three in any given store - lodged with the Better Business Bureau during the last three years. But all the complaints listed on the agency's site have been resolved, and Happiness is Pets is listed as having a "satisfactory record," according to the bureau.

That, Berning said, is more evidence than the Davises have ever been able to muster to the contrary.

"I've had customers who would come in to buy a dog strictly to spite them," Berning said.

Still, Berning acknowledged business was slow at his Warrenville shop - although he denies the Davises had any effect.

"Let's face it, the economy isn't great right now," Berning said. "Even Starbucks just announced they'll be closing down 600 stores. Retailing to a degree is a crapshoot."

For now, Berning said he'll try his luck at a new location he's opened in Oak Lawn.