Residents and the SPCA have raised concerns over a pet retailer’s ‘puppy in the window’ display.

Pic-A-Pet has recently begun advertising puppies for sale by placing them in their Queen Street shop window, drawing both adoration and condemnation from locals.

SPCA chairman Andrew Madeiros said the store’s practice of bringing puppies in without an owner is a new and concerning development.

“We are not supporters of petstore sales of dogs,” said Mr Madeiros.

“When [Pic-A-Pet] started stocking dogs for sale, the SPCA did express our concerns with the relevant authorities. They’ve been bringing puppies in without owners for several months now and retailing them, but some puppies have been in the store for months and not been sold. I haven’t seen the window display, but I would say it doesn’t matter where they’re displayed.”

The SPCA chairman said it is the source of the dogs that is the most concerning.

“Generally the problem with pet stores is the source of the puppies is often questionable. In order for them to be cost effective, they source the puppies from a relatively inexpensive breeder, or they don’t pay as much attention to the source as somebody who is hand-picking a breeder.”

Pic-A-Pet has roundly defended the practice, which they say has full government approval, adding it will “stand up against any store, anywhere in the US or any other country to be honest.”

Store owner Bryan Parkin said public reaction to the display has been “very positive”, with “literally hundreds” of customers giving positive reactions.

Mr Parkin defended his store’s sources for puppies, saying Pic-A-Pet stays clear of the so-called ‘puppy mills’.

“We don’t go anywhere near them. We have someone who goes out into the market and looks for dogs for us.

“They’re quality dogs because we’re paying a premium for them coming out of the UK. They come from various breeders, but they certainly don’t come from puppy farms.”