Bailing Out Benji is a national nonprofit organization that independently audits government health records and inspection reports in order to connect puppy mills to the various outlets in which they sell. We pay for many of these documents and then make them available for free on our website and to the public in order to provide the transparency that the public deserves before buying a puppy.
To see our pet store and online broker research, click here.
According to the USDA: An inspection report documents an inspector’s observations and professional assessments of compliance at facilities regulated under the AWA. Below we have compiled a list of all of the USDA dog breeders and brokers that have had violations in Quarter 1 of 2022. This time period is from January 1st, 2022 to March 31st, 2022.
Editors note: USDA inspectors have 5 days to give a copy of their inspection to the licensee and 30 days to publish their reports online. There may be additional facilities we add to this list once more inspection reports are added to the database.
Omitted from these violations are missed inspections and teachable moments. The list below also only reflects dog and cat breeders and brokers (licenses A and B).
This list of violations below was obtained from the USDA APHIS search engine. Any pet store connections were obtained from various state departments of agriculture.
Quarter 1 : January 1 to March 31
Official USDA Warnings, Complaints, and Decisions
Alvin Zehr and Irene Zehr. Hillsdale, Michigan- This facility received an Official USDA Warning due to violations stemming from their December 13, 2021 inspection. Zehr USDA Warning – Zehr 12.13.2021
Andy Nisley. Howard, Ohio- Nisley received an Official USDA Warning on January 20, 2022 due to violations stemming from their November 18, 2021 inspection. Andy Nisley USDA Warning – Andy Nisley 11.18.2021
Brian Letsinger. Ava, MIssouri- On January 20, 2022, Letsinger received an official USDA warning due to violations on their November 17, 2021 inspection. Brian Letsinger USDA Warning – Brian Letsinger 11.17.2021
Carolyn Anderson, Anderson’s Yorkies. Mason City, Iowa- Anderson has received 16 USDA violations so far in 2022. These violations pertain to time and method of identification, record keeping, housing, primary enclosures, and attending veterinarian and veterinary care. Carolyn Anderson 2.8.2022– Carolyn Anderson 2.2.2022– Carolyn Anderson 1.25.2022. Anderson also received an official USDA warning due to these violations. Carolyn Anderson USDA Warning
Christy Bontrager and Eli Bontrager, Shady Valley Kennels. Tomah, Wisconsin- The Bontragers received an official USDA warning after violations stemming from their December 15, 2021 inspection. Shady Valley Kennels USDA Warning – Shady Valley Kennels 12.15.2021
Cynthia Paula Jack, Coal Creek Kennel. Stringtown, Oklahoma– At their February 10, 2022 inspection, Jack received 6 USDA violations, including 3 direct violations, pertaining to: attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care; record keeping; housing facilities; cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping, and pest control; and veterinary care for dogs. Cynthia Paula Jack 2.10.2022 . Cynthia Paula Jack also received an official USDA warning due to these violations. Cynthia Paula Jack USDA Warning
Joseph Hochstetler, Sideline Kennel. Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin- At their March 14, 2022 inspection, Hochstetler received 1 USDA violation pertaining to housing facilities. Joseph Hochstetler 3.14.2022 We have record of this facility selling puppies to pet stores in Connecticut. Hochstetler also received an official USDA warning due to violations stemming from their December 13, 2021 inspection. Joseph Hochstetler USDA Warning – Joseph Hochstetler 12.13.2021
Menno Gingerich. Alba, Iowa- At their February 16, 2022 inspection, Gingerich received 4 USDA violations- including one that directly pertained to animal care and one critical violation. His violations were due to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, and housing facilities. Menno Gingerich 2.16.2022. Menno Gingerich also received an official USDA warning due to these violations. Menno Gingerich USDA Warning
Patty Talcott. Hardinsburg, Indiana- On January 14, 2022 Talcott received an official warning from the USDA due to violations on their October 12, 2021 report. Patty Talcott USDA Warning – Patty Talcott 10.12.2021
Rachel Davis, Vickie Davis and Virgel Davis, Davis Kennel. Seymour, Missouri- On February 11, 2022 this facility received an official USDA warning due to violations stemming from their December 7, 2021 inspection. Davis Kennel USDA Warning – Davis Kennel 12.7.2021 We have record of this facility selling puppies to pet stores in at least 5 states
Woody Wiley. Cantril, Iowa- At their February 17, 2022 inspection, Wiley received 4 USDA violations- one of which pertains to direct animal care. These violations included attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, record keeping, and exercise. Woody Wiley 2.17.2022. Woody Wiley also received an official USDA warning due to these violations. Woody Wiley USDA Warning
Direct Violations this Quarter (violations at the time of inspection having serious or severe adverse effects on the welfare of the animals):
Envigo RMS, Inc. Indianapolis, Indiana- This research facility holds a Class A Breeder license. At their March 8, 2022 inspection, Envigo received 5 USDA violations- two of which were pertaining to direct animal care. Those violations included veterinary care, housing facilities, primary enclosures, and compatible groupings. Envigo RMS 3.8.2022
Henry Sommers, Happy Puppys. Cincinnati, Iowa- At the time of their January 11, 2022 inspection, Sommers received 6 USDA violations, including one directly pertaining to animal care. These violations were pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, record keeping, housing facilities, veterinary care, cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping and pest control. Henry Sommers 1.11.2022
Joyce Cairns, Unicorn Kennels. Glasco, Kansas- Cairns has received 5 direct USDA violations and 1 regular violation so far in 2022. These violations were pertaining to watering, attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, outdoor housing facilities cleaning, sanitization housekeeping and pest control. Joyce Cairns 1.5.2022 – Joyce Cairns 1.12.2022 We have record of this facility selling puppies to pet stores in at least 4 states.
Linda Thompson, Rolinda Acres Country AKA Thompson’s Puppies. Waterville, Iowa- At their March 10, 2022 inspection, Thompson received 9 USDA violations, including 1 direct violation, pertaining to: attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care; time and method of identification, record keeping; housing facilities; exercise for dogs; feeding; and cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping, and pest control. Linda Thompson 3.10.2022
Lloyd Yoder, Valleyview Premium Puppies. Riverside, Iowa- So far in 2022, Yoder has received 21 USDA violations pertaining to: attending veterinarian and veterinary care; housing facilities, and cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping, and pest control; requirements and application; record keeping; outdoor housing facilities; feeding; and veterinary care for dogs . Lloyd Yoder 2.28.2022 (1) ; Lloyd Yoder 2.28.2022 ; Lloyd Yoder 3.15.2022 We have record of this facility selling puppies to pet stores in Texas and Virginia.
Tamara Blackoak Skinner, PomPered Biewers. Cleveland, Oklahoma- At the time of their March 28, 2022 USDA inspection, Blackoak Skinner received 1 direct violation pertaining to watering. Tamara Blackoak Skinner 3.28.2022
Critical Violations this Quarter:
Jim Kramer, Auction House. Arcadia, Kansas- At their February 26, 2022 inspection, Kramer received 2 critical USDA violations pertaining to access and inspection of records and property and handling of animals. Jim Kramer 2.26.2022
