Malec's Pets in the West Shore Plaza has stopped selling pup pies from breeders and will instead run an adoption center for homeless animals in a larger store opening on Nov. 1.

Owner Tim Malec said he decided in January to phase out his sales of champion bloodline puppies by July.

"We've talked about it off and on for years," he said. "It's something we felt [was] important to do."

Cats and kittens from the West Shore Humane Society have been available for adoption at Malec's for years. The store began selling dogs in 1998 because some customers were looking for purebreds from reputable breeders, Malec said.

The decision to switch from selling purebred dogs to adopting out homeless ones has the animal rescue community purring with praise.

"I think it's a terrific move. A move like this benefits the animals," said Michele Avery of Lemoyne, organizer of a monthly protest at Petz Unlimited in Hampden Twp., which sells puppies from commercial breeders. "More pet stores should take clues from him. He's going to save lives."

Avery said she objects to puppy mills, where dogs are bred in large numbers in substandard conditions, because "we shouldn't be continuing to breed new dogs. ... There needs to be homes for the ones that are already here."

She encourages people to patronize stores that don't sell puppies, such as PETsMART, Superpetz, The Blue Dog and now Malec's.

"I'm hoping that consumers will also support (Malec) whenever they're shopping for pet supplies," Avery said. "Hopefully, more stores will follow suit because they're perceived better by the public."

Stephanie Shain, director of outreach for the Humane Society of the United States, said she thinks more pet stores are opting not to sell dogs because of customers' concerns about pet overpopulation.

"I don't know anyone who, 10 years ago, was doing this, especially with dogs," Shain said.

"Most people just want a pet for a friend. They don't need the perfect, show-quality (dog)," she added. "Virtually any kind of companion animal you are looking for, you can probably find at your local shelter."

Malec's customer Lori Leach is looking for a purebred Maltese, but she said she understands the rationale behind Malec's decision to stop selling dogs from breeders.

Leach bought a hamster named Chloe from Malec's. "She never bites," Leach said. "Unless you squeeze her," offered Leach's 6-year-old daughter Jenaya.

Shain said she would like to see shops extend their no-sell policy to other animals, such as rabbits and birds.

Malec said he will continue to sell rabbits, ferrets, iguanas, birds and some other popular pets, but his adoption center will have room for such animals from local shelters and rescue groups as well.

The store also will offer a parrot rescue program, through the York Bird Club. "They live so long and a lot of people get them and don't realize the responsibility ... and dump them," Malec said.

People adopting the parrots will be required to take a free bird care class from certified avian specialist Gary White. "That way you help break that cycle," Malec said.

More than 20 nonprofit rescue and shelter groups have expressed interest in bringing animals to the adoption center. Eight -- including the Humane Society, the Helen O. Krause Animal Foundation and Furry Friends Network -- have already signed up to do so, Malec said. He encourages any others that are interested to call him at 730-0380.

Malec said he won't make any money on the adoptions. The center will have room to temporarily house about a dozen cats as well as space for organizations to bring in dogs to meet potential adopters.

Malec also is starting a volunteer internship program for kids 10 years and older who can come in for an hour a week to help feed, brush and play with the animals in the adoption center. "We have a ton of kids interested in that," he said.

Malec has big plans for his new space, which at 15,000-square-feet will be more than three times the size of his current 4,800-square-foot store.

The approximately 1,000-square-foot adoption center will be larger than the original Malec's, which started out a dozen years ago in a corner of the former G.C. Murphy store, also in the West Shore Plaza.

In an irony Malec relishes, he is moving back to the G.C. Murphy space, only this time his shop will entirely fill it.

The new store will boast a 120-foot-long wall of tropical fish tanks, separate reptile and small animal houses, a wild bird section and a doggie deli with more than 1,000 canine treats.

"Service sets an independent store apart. We've got a broad selection," Malec said.

Store mascot Pinkie, a regal Persian who earned some notoriety when security cameras recorded her raiding cat food bags and knocking toys off the wall after hours, also will move to the new store.

Malec's parents, Robert and Marge, started the pet store business more than 25 years ago in Bedford County. Robert Malec, who died April 30, also was a humane officer there. The adoption center will be named in his memory.

Tim Malec, 35, said he grew up with "tons of dogs and cats and birds and fish and small animals." He opened the Malec's store in Lemoyne and took over both stores when his parents retired. His sister, Tanya Dick, runs the Bedford County store.