GROVE CITY, Ohio (WCMH)– Grove City passed new restrictions on where pet stores can get their dogs and cats that is at the heart of a lawsuit Petland filed against the city.

The city ordinance says pet stores within their boundaries can only buy and sell dogs and cats from rescues or animal shelters. Petland’s suit claims Grove City reneged on a prior agreement they had with the city during the planning phase. The store on London Groveport Road opened two weeks before the pet law passed.

The 21-page lawsuit filed by Petland claims the new pet law eliminates the ability for their store to sell puppies and kittens, animals company officials say they purchase through USDA-licensed breeders.

Opponents call them “high-volume breeders,” ones they fear are poorly treating animals and that dogs and cats sold end up in the public animal shelters. Petland denies the claims. In Ohio a high-volume breeder is classified as one selling 60 or more animals and or nine litters of animals during a one-year period.

Petland is asking the court for injunctive relief and a prohibition against enforcement of the city ordinance.

“Well we think it is such an incredible waste of taxpayer dollars and we could be using that time and money in moving towards a more sustainable and humane business model,” said Mary O’Conner-Shaver, with Ohio Voters for Companion Animals. One of the groups instrumental in helping the city pass the ordinance.

John and Ashley Toothman say a puppy they purchased from a Lewis Center Petland store, died the day Grove City passed their pet law.

“We had just lost Oliver at 11 a.m. that morning, so that meeting really hit home for us and we really felt compelled to get down there and tell his story,” said Toothman. They say they spent thousands of dollars buying Oliver and paying for his vet bills before he died. Toothman says Oliver was nine months-= old when he died of kidney disease.

NBC4 spoke with several customers coming in and out of Petland who support the business.

“I think it should be up to the buyer. I think we have too many rules on these things,” said Gary Sines, who lives in the neighboring community of Harrisburg.

“It was pretty crappy that they hit them after they have moved in. I mean it should have been established before they moved in and spent the money to open up here,” said Tia Tippett, who lives in Grove City.

Petland spokesperson, Elizabeth Kunzelman says what is happening to their store is unfair and hopes the courts can remedy the injustice.

Grove City officials have not commented on the suit.What others are clicking on: