Bailing Out Benji is a national nonprofit organization that exists to provide transparency into the puppy mill industry. We forensically audit government health records and inspection reports in order to connect puppy mills and commercial dog breeders 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 2023.
This time period is from January 1, 2023, to March 31, 2023.
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. 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.
You can view our 2022 Quarterly Violation Reports here.
If you have any questions about the breeders listed on this report or our methodology for obtaining this information, please email our research analyst: Alexis Bell, research@bailingoutbenji.com
This time period is from January 1, 2023, to March 31, 2023.
Official USDA Warnings, Complaints, and Decisions
Barbara Hammen and Martin Hammen, S.R.K Kennel. Jolley, Iowa- At the time of their February 15, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Hammen received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to requirements and application. Canceled license in 2021 but found to have been selling puppies through Puppies.com over the last year (2022). Requires a license for this type of interstate commerce and when the breeder has more than 4 female breeding age dogs. They have since gotten a new license. Hammen received an Official USDA Warning stemming from violations received on February 15, 2023 and has since canceled license. Barbara Hammen & Martin Hammen 2.15.23 USDA Warning Barbara Hammen & Martin Hammen
Carol Stoner, Stoner’s Fun Loving Pets. Wheatland, Missouri- Stoner received an Official USDA Warning stemming from a direct violation they received on October 27, 2022, and has since canceled their USDA license. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in Connecticut and the broker Pinnacle Pet. USDA Warning Carol Stoner
Charles McGinnis and Debbi McGinnis, Monarchs Kennel. Bolivar, Missouri- At the time of their January 17, 2023, USDA routine inspection, McGinnis received 1 direct violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, and 1 non-critical violation pertaining to housing facilities. McGinnis received an Official USDA Warning stemming from violations they received on January 17, 2023. Charles McGinnis & Debbi McGinnis 1.17.23 USDA Warning Charles McGinnis & Debbi McGinnis
David Horning. Ionia, Iowa- At the time of their February 28, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Horning received 1 direct violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care (5 dogs and 1 deceased puppy affected by violation), and 5 non-critical violations pertaining to time and method of identification, housing facilities, indoor housing facilities, and veterinary care for dogs. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in Connecticut and Minnesota. Horning received an Official USDA Warning stemming from violations received on February 28, 2023, and has since canceled their USDA license. David Horning 2.28.23 USDA Warning David Horning
Donna Taber, Jet Kennels. Wasola, Missouri- At the time of their January 26, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Taber received 1 direct violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, and 3 non-critical violations pertaining to time and method of identification, outdoor housing, and cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping, and pest control. Taber received an Official USDA Warning stemming from violations received on January 26, 2023. Donna Taber 1.26.23 USDA Warning Donna Taber
Floyd Borntrager, Kuntry Lane Kennel. Salem, Indiana- Borntrager received an Official USDA Warning stemming from a violation received on January 13, 2023. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in 4 states. At the time of this article being written, Borntrager’s inspection report was not available online. USDA Warning Floyd Borntrager
Gary Brown and Carolyn Brown. Van Buren, Arkansas- Brown received an Official USDA Warning stemming from violations they received on December 1, 2022 and has since canceled their license. USDA Warning Gary Brown & Carolyn Brown
Heath Meyers, Century Farm Puppies. Grundy Center, Iowa- At the time of their March 1, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Meyers received 1 direct violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care (5 dogs affected by violation), and 4 non-critical violations pertaining to records, primary enclosures, cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping, pest control, and veterinary care for dogs. Heath Meyers 3.1.23 USDA Official Warning Heath Meyers
Janice Eminger, C&J’s Happy Tails. Joplin, Missouri-Eminger received an Official USDA Warning for operating as a dealer between March 4, 2019, and May 10, 2021, without having a license to do so. USDA Warning Janice Eminger
Karen Griffith. Mountainview, Arkansas- At the time of their February 10, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Griffith received 1 direct violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care that affected 2 dogs, and 1 non-critical violation pertaining to time and method of identification. Griffith received an Official USDA Warning stemming from violations received on February 10, 2023. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in Florida and Connecticut. Karen Griffith 2.10.23 USDA Warning Karen Griffith
Leroy Fhlug, Wisconsin Puppy Patch. Fhlug received an Official USDA Warning for operating as a dealer without a valid license. USDA Warning Leroy Fhlug
Marty Clinton, Twin Springs Kennel LLC. Vanzant, Missouri- Clinton received an Official USDA Warning stemming from a direct violation received on December 14, 2022. USDA Warning Marty Clinton
Patricia Bingham. Alvin, Texas- Bingham also received 13 violations (including 2 direct) in Quarter 4 of 2022. At the time of their January 4, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Bingham received 1 direct violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, and 6 non-critical violations pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, records, housing facilities, and cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping, and pest control.
On January 10, 2023, Bingham received 1 non-critical violation for an attempted inspection. On January 27, 2023, Bingham received 1 direct violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, this violation affected 7 cats and 2 kittens. They also received 4 non-critical violations during this inspection for requirements and application, records, contingency planning, and housing facilities.
On February 16, 2023, Bingham received another direct violation for attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, this violation affected 5 cats and 2 kittens. They also received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to records. On March 3, 2023, Bingham received another direct violation for attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, 8 cats and 3 kittens were affected by this violation. They also received 6 non-critical violations pertaining to records, contingency planning, housing facilities, and employees (only 2 employees to care for 58 cats plus 2 enclosures of newborn leopards).
On March 8, 2023, during a focused inspection, Bingham received another direct violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, this violation affected 13 cats and 6 kittens.
Bingham received a Notice of Confiscation on March 8, 2023, to notify them that 19 of their animals were being confiscated for failure to provide adequate and necessary care to the animals. Our organization publicly called for the sheriff to investigate this facility for potential animal cruelty charges. Patricia Bingham 1.4.23 Patricia Bingham 1.10.23 Patricia Bingham 1.27.23 Patricia Bingham 2.16.23 Patricia Bingham 3.3.23 Patricia Bingham 3.8.23 Notice of Confiscation Patricia Bingham
Paul Swartzentruber and Josie Swartzentruber, PJ’s Puppy Nursery. Buffalo, Missouri- Swartzentruber received an Official USDA Warning stemming from violations they received on November 21, 2022, and has since canceled their USDA license. USDA Warning Paul Swartzentruber & Josie Swartzentruber
Simon Brenneman and Rosie Brenneman, Woodside Kennel. Stanwood, Michigan- At the time of their January 11, 2023 USDA routine inspection, Woodside Kennel received 1 direct violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care (3 dogs affected by violation), and 5 non-critical violations pertaining to time and method of identification, records, cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping, pest control, and veterinary care for dogs. Woodside Kennel received an Official USDA Warning stemming from violations on January 11, 2023. Woodside Kennel 1.11.23 USDA Warning Woodside Kennel
Steve Kruse, Stonehenge Kennel. West Point, Iowa- Kruse has also received violations in Quarters 2, 3, and 4 of 2022. At the time of their March 7, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Kruse received 1 direct violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care (17 dogs affected by violation), and 1 non-critical violation pertaining to veterinary care. At the time of their March 14, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Kruse received 2 non-critical violations pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, and veterinary care for dogs. Kruse received a 21-Day suspension for violations received on March 7 and March 14, 2023. Our organization has also called on the country sheriff to press cruelty charges. Kruse sells to pet stores all over the country through brokers in Iowa. Note: Has a history of violations. Steve Kruse 3.7.23. Steve Kruse 3.14.23 Steve Kruse 21-Day Suspension
Direct Violations this Quarter (violations at the time of inspection having serious or severe adverse effects on the welfare of the animals):
Andrey Mikirtichev and Elena Mikirtichev. North Chesterfield, Virginia- This facility has received violations in all four Quarters of 2022 totaling 9 violations. At the time of their March 16, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Mikirtichev received 2 direct violations pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care and primary enclosures, 16 cats were affected by these violations.
They also received 8 non-critical violations pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, time and method of identification, access and inspection of records and property, housing facilities, outdoor housing facilities, and cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping, and pest control.
On March 20, 2023, Mikirtichev received 2 direct violations pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care. These violations affected the same dog. Andrey Mikirticheva & Elena Mikirticheva 3.16.23 Andrey Mikirticheva & Elena Mikirticheva 3.20.23
Cody Zimmerman. Seymour, Missouri- At the time of their March 17, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Zimmerman received 1 direct violation pertaining to watering (4 dogs and 8 puppies affected by violation). Cody Zimmerman 3.17.23
Henry E. Wengerd. Dundee, Ohio- Wengerd also received violations in Quarters 3 and 4 of 2022. At the time of their February 16, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Wengerd received 1 direct violation pertaining to housing facilities (4 dogs affected by violation), and 5 non-critical violations pertaining to housing facilities, feeding, watering, cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping, pest control, and veterinary care for dogs. Henry E. Wengerd 2.16.23
Randy Swartzentruber. Half Way, Missouri- At the time of their March 6, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Swartzentruber received 1 direct violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care (2 dogs affected by violation). Randy Swartzentruber 3.6.23
Scott Swanson, S&J Kennel (Site 2). Ollie, Iowa- Swanson also received violations in Quarter 2 and Quarter 4 of 2022. At the time of their February 1, 2023, USDA attempted inspection, Swanson received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to access and inspection of records and property. At the time of their March 29, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Swanson received 1 direct violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care (2 dogs affected by violation), and 3 non-critical violations pertaining to records, housing facilities, and primary enclosures. We have records of this facility selling to at least one pet store in Virginia. Note: Has violations in 2021 as well. Scott Swanson 2.1.23 Scott Swanson 3.29.23
Critical Violations this Quarter:
Daniel Yoder and Sadie Yoder. Jasper, New York- Yoder also received violations in Quarter 3 of 2022, including 1 critical violation. At the time of their February 7, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Yoder received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to housing facilities. Daniel Yoder & Sadie Yoder 2.7.23
Reuben E. Graber, True Dream Pawz. Hillsboro, Wisconsin- At the time of their February 13, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Graber received 1 critical violation pertaining to sheltered housing facilities (26 puppies affected by violation) and 1 non-critical violation pertaining to housing facilities. Note: Previous to inspection, had not been inspected since 2020. Reuben E. Graber 2.13.23
You can view our 2022 Quarterly Violation Reports here.
