Nevada Pet Store/Puppy Mill Connection

©Bailing Out Benji 2019

All research and information was done by the volunteer team at Bailing Out Benji and must be cited as such when shared or quoted.

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“We don’t buy from puppy mills.”

“All of our puppies come from small, local breeders.”

“We visit every breeder we buy from.”

We have all heard these sentences come from the mouths of pet store owners and their employees. They paint this beautiful picture of puppies running by a pond and parents frolicking in the fresh, green grass… Sadly, 99% of the time that is a bold faced lie. The pet store owners know it, the employees might know it- but the customer is completely in the dark.

This is why we are here.

Bailing Out Benji is a small nonprofit that started in Ames, Iowa and now has volunteer teams all over the country. Volunteers from Bailing Out Benji devote their free time to researching puppy mills to create puppy mill maps for the worst states, as well as raise awareness about notorious pet stores and breeding operations with huge violations. This includes obtaining CVI data (Certificates of Veterinary Inspections) and making those reports public.

NOTE:

  1. Before an animal is transported out of state, a veterinarian, accredited by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), must examine the animal for signs of “infectious, contagious or communicable disease” and, if no disease is found, sign the certificate for approval to transport.

  2. Many breeders also sell to dealers, such as Choice Puppies (formerly known as Hunte Corporation) in Missouri, J.A.K.’s Puppies, Inc. in Iowa or Nebraskaland Pets, Inc. in Nebraska, who, in turn, re-sell the animals to pet stores throughout the United States. You will see that some of the breeders below are also dealers and buy puppies from other breeders and re-sell to pet stores.

 To make this easier, we will be breaking our article down by each pet store and connecting them to the various puppy mills they use. We will attach the information as we have obtained it from the Nevada Department of Agriculture, and we will make note of dog counts and any known violations from the breeders themselves. All of these breeders are ones the stores have purchased from in 2017, 2018 and 2019. 

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Fantastic Puppies LLC FKA Puppy Boutique- 4343 N Rancho Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89130

  1. Kayla Graber.  Loogootee, Indiana- unable to determine if she is licensed. 
  2. Kallie and Josh Bateman, “Bateman Diversified” AKA Puppy Travelers Transport AKA Florida West Transport. Neosho, Missouri- This company transports puppies to Florida under many different names and they were recently named one of the worst puppy mills in the country due to their transport practices. In February 2018, 24 puppies were seized from a Puppy Travelers transport van outside a Petland store in Fort Myers, Florida. The puppies were found with “urine, feces and no water” in their cages, according to news sources, and many of them were sick. This transporter was named one of the worst puppy mills in the nation. To view the entire report, click here.
  3. Simon S Wagler.  Odon, Indiana- unable to determine if he is licensed. 
  4. Colleen Kincaid, Kincaid K9s. Chanute, Kansas- 48 adult breeding dogs. 
  5. Deborah Hubbard, Sparta Missouri- 22 puppies, with violations including: kennels are too small for number of puppies in them, dogs without health certificates, dogs without any identification. 

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Petland Henderson- 510 Marks Street, Suite #120 Henderson, Nevada

  1. Johannah Abernathy and Terri Schneiders, Willowbrook Cavaliers, Quapaw Oklahoma- 58 adult breeding dogs with a history of violations including: jagged edges in dog food self feeders, water receptacles with jagged edges, excessive flies, rodent droppings, severe accumulation of waste, and jagged edges in exercise area. To view USDA inspection photos, click here. 
  2. Marvin and Rosemary Mullet, Clover Ridge Kennel LLC, Corydon, Iowa- 85 adult breeding dogs with a history of violations including: dogs with cloudy eyes, rusted kennels, expired medicines, and matted dogs. To view USDA inspection photos, click here
  3. Levi Graber, Blue Ribbon Puppies. Odon Indiana- 70 puppies
  4. Hunte Corporation, Choice Puppies, Goodman Missouri- 39 puppies.  To view an undercover expose on one of the largest puppy brokers in the country, click here
  5. Paul and Sheila Haag, Valley View Kennel and A Maze N Farmyard. Eden Valley- 489 adult breeding dogs, 396 puppies. They have previous violations including dogs walking with a limp. To view USDA inspection photos, click here.
  6. Pinnacle Pet, Neosho Missouri- 353 puppies. 
  7. Conrad’s Cuddly Canines, Frankford Missouri- 94 puppies. Conrad’s is a large-scale commercial puppy broker in Missouri that ships puppies all over the United States. Conrad’s sells over 5,000 puppies a year and reportedly grosses over $1,000,000 in sales.
  8. Jolyn Noethe, JAKS Puppies, Britt Iowa (broker) – 233 puppies .  JAKS has also started their own “rescue” in order to lie to the public about not being a puppy mill. You can read that information here.  JAKS was also named one of the worst puppy mills in the country and they are being investigated by the Iowa Attorney General for having fraudulent businesses.To view where JAKS is purchasing their puppies from, click here.
  9. Phil Hoover, Show Me Puppies.  Memphis Missouri- 362 adult breeding dogs. 
  10. Caleb Yoder, Montgomery Indiana- 25 adult breeding dogs. 
  11. Joseph Detweiler, Cedar View Kennel. Princeton, Missouri- 56 adult breeding dogs
  12. Lonnie Whittmer, Odon Indiana- 23 adult breeding dogs. 
  13. Lester Raber, Odon Indiana- A part of the Raber Clan in Indiana, together they have hundreds of adult breeding dogs and violations including: multiple instances of boxers with injuries and very thin and sick puppies,  shihtzus needing artificial tears, but not being given them; other dogs with untreated eye ulcers, etc. 
  14. Herman, Schindler, QD Kennels, Frankford Missouri- 133 puppies 
  15. Howard Yoder, Bloomfield Iowa- unable to access records.
  16. Tiffany Kurz, Tiffanie’s LLC, Frankford MO – Broker with over 229 puppies on their property. Violations include keeping puppies in kennels that are too small. This breeder was also named one of the worst puppy mills in the country. 
  17. Ervin Graber, Montgomery Indiana- A part of the Graber Clan in Indiana, together they have hundreds of adult breeding dogs. 
  18. Edwin Stutzman, Walnut Ridge Kennel, Corydon Iowa- 47 adult breeding dogs. 
  19. David J Graber, Odon Indiana- A part of the Graber Clan in Indiana, together they have hundreds of adult breeding dogs. 
  20. Edna Yoder. Montgomery, Indiana- unable to determine if she holds a valid license. 
  21. Kallie and Josh Bateman, “Bateman Diversified” AKA Puppy Travelers Transport AKA Florida West Transport. Neosho, Missouri- This company transports puppies to Florida under many different names and they were recently named one of the worst puppy mills in the country due to their transport practices. In February 2018, 24 puppies were seized from a Puppy Travelers transport van outside a Petland store in Fort Myers, Florida. The puppies were found with “urine, feces and no water” in their cages, according to news sources, and many of them were sick. This transporter was named one of the worst puppy mills in the nation. To view the entire report, click here.
  22. Ben S and Shirley Graber, Loogootee Indiana- 23 adult breeding dogs 
  23. Timothy Wittmer, Breezy Acres Kennel. Montgomery, Indiana- 30 adult breeding dogs. 
  24. Lamar Graber, Loogootee Indiana- unable to determine if licensed. 
  25. Benjamin L Borntrager. Clark, Missouri- 46 adult breeding dogs. 

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Petland Las Vegas-  8800 W Charleston Blvd #3, Las Vegas, NV 

  1.  Deborah Hubbard, Sparta Missouri- 22 puppies, with violations including: kennels are too small for number of puppies in them, dogs without health certificates, dogs without any identification. 
  2. Pinnacle Pet, Neosho Missouri- 353 puppies.
  3. Melinda Richards, Butler Missouri- Cat Mill. 20 adult breeding cats. 
  4. Conrad’s Cuddly Canines, Frankford Missouri- 94 puppies. Conrad’s is a large-scale commercial puppy broker in Missouri that ships puppies all over the United States. Conrad’s sells over 5,000 puppies a year and reportedly grosses over $1,000,000 in sales.
  5. Ty and Abby Anderson, Sugarfork Kennels- Goodman Missouri- 162 adult breeding dogs. 

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Puppy Love- 5318 Sparks Blvd #100 , Sparks, Nevada 

  1. Timothy Wagler. Montgomery, Indiana- 75 adult breeding dogs.
  2. Kevin and Kenny Knepp. Loogootee, Indiana- 46 adult breeding dogs.
  3.  Kallie and Josh Bateman, “Bateman Diversified” AKA Puppy Travelers Transport AKA Florida West Transport. Neosho, Missouri- This company transports puppies to Florida under many different names and they were recently named one of the worst puppy mills in the country due to their transport practices. In February 2018, 24 puppies were seized from a Puppy Travelers transport van outside a Petland store in Fort Myers, Florida. The puppies were found with “urine, feces and no water” in their cages, according to news sources, and many of them were sick. This transporter was named one of the worst puppy mills in the nation. To view the entire report, click here.
  4. Puppy Avenue Inc AKA Affordable Pups AKA Premier Pups. Johnstown, Ohio- 128 puppies, also owns a pet store. 

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Puppies Plus- 6405 South Virginia Street, Reno Nevada. 

  1. Conrad’s Cuddly Canines, Frankford Missouri- 94 puppies. Conrad’s is a large-scale commercial puppy broker in Missouri that ships puppies all over the United States. Conrad’s sells over 5,000 puppies a year and reportedly grosses over $1,000,000 in sales.
  2. Paul and Sheila Haag, Valley View Kennel and A Maze N Farmyard. Eden Valley489 adult breeding dogs, 396 puppies. They have previous violations including dogs walking with a limp. To view USDA inspection photos, click here.
  3. Levi Graber, Blue Ribbon Puppies. Odon Indiana- 70 puppies
  4. Pinnacle Pet, Neosho Missouri- 353 Puppies. 
  5. Tiffany Kurz, Tiffanie’s LLC, Frankford MO – Broker with over 229 puppies on their property. Violations include keeping puppies in kennels that are too small. This breeder was also named one of the worst puppy mills in the country. 
  6. Herman, Schindler, QD Kennels, Frankford Missouri- 133 puppies 
  7. Jolyn Noethe, JAKS Puppies, Britt Iowa (broker) – 233 puppies .  JAKS has also started their own “rescue” in order to lie to the public about not being a puppy mill. You can read that information here.  JAKS was also named one of the worst puppy mills in the country and they are being investigated by the Iowa Attorney General for having fraudulent businesses.To view where JAKS is purchasing their puppies from, click here.
  8. Hunte Corporation, Choice Puppies, Goodman Missouri- 39 puppies.  To view an undercover expose on one of the largest puppy brokers in the country, click here
  9. First Class Puppies, Bluejacket Oklahoma
  10. T&C Steffensmeier Kennel, West Point Iowa- 287 adult breeding dogs, with a history of violations including: dogs with serious dental issues and horrible teeth. 
  11. Adin Lambright, Bloomfield Iowa- Cat mill with 34 adult breeding cats. 
  12. Calvin Kroger, Hudson South Dakota – 60 adult breeding dogs
  13. Harvey Rissler, Barnett Missouri- 150 adult breeding dogs, with a history of violations including: very sick and injured bichons. But that doesn’t stop Puppies Plus from labeling him as a “star breeder of excellence” . 
  14. Amos Yoder, Skyline View, St Charles Minnesota- 104 adult breeding dogs
  15. Angie McDuffie, AJ’s Angels, Cushing Minnesota – 774 adult breeding dogs, 594 puppies. *Formerly known as Wanda Kretzman of Clearwater Kennel 3/9/2016 she cancelled license. Same day daughter-in-law obtained license for the very same kennel.  This is one of the worst puppy mills in the entire country. 
  16. Levi Nisley, Patriot Ohio – 240 adult breeding dogs
  17. Fannie Shrock/Mahlon Shrock, Harwood Missouri – 19 adult breeding dogs. 
  18. Joseph Herschberger, Windy Knoll Kennel. Spickard Missouri- 64 adult breeding dogs. 
  19. Phillip Hoover, Show Me Puppies, Memphis Missouri – 362 adult breeding dogs
  20. Kenneth, Kristina and Linda Baker, Huggins Missouri – 254 adult breeding dogs. 
  21. Sherrye Swenson,  Backus Minnesota – 31 adult breeding dogs, 77 puppies. 
  22. Alan and Terisa Steiber, Rockytopp Enterprises, Lansing, Iowa- 98 adult breeding dogs with violations including: outdoor dogs with insufficient shelter and wind block. 
  23. Jesse Lambright, Hillsboro Wisconsin- 79 adult breeding dogs. 
  24. Betty Fetters, Fetters Furry Friends. Novinger, Missouri-  103 adult breeding dogs. 
  25. Victoria/Gary Simmons, Amity Missouri – 87 adult breeding dogs. 
  26. Melinda Yutzy, Princeton Missouri – 154 adult breeding dogs. 
  27. Andy/Ruby Mast, Lazy Creek Kennel, Bogard Missouri – 27 adult breeding dogs. 
  28. David Miller ,Hillsboro Wisconsin – 62 adult breeding dogs. 
  29. Timothy Wagler. Montgomery, Indiana- 75 adult breeding dogs.
  30. Mattie O and Perry J Bontrager, Cedar Hill Kennel. Dalton, Wisconsin- 131 adult breeding dogs with a history of violations including: Puppies sold underage to pet stores; Eyes are not clear; mislabeled medications – meant for other animals.
  31. Debra Pratt, Hakuna Matata Transport. New Sharon, Iowa- 126 puppies. Debra Pratt now holds a USDA license for her transport company, but in 2013 she was named one of the worst puppy mills in the entire country due to neglecting to provide veterinary care to dogs, dogs being held in stacked cages with feces falling into the cages below, and many customer complaints showed that she sold sick puppies. Once her license was pulled, Pratt sold all of her dogs off during a puppy mill auction and many of them were sold sick with brucellosis

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Puppy Town- 6870 W Mountain Rd, Las Vegas, Nevada

  1. Kallie and Josh Bateman, “Bateman Diversified” AKA Puppy Travelers Transport AKA Florida West Transport. Neosho, Missouri- This company transports puppies to Florida under many different names and they were recently named one of the worst puppy mills in the country due to their transport practices. In February 2018, 24 puppies were seized from a Puppy Travelers transport van outside a Petland store in Fort Myers, Florida. The puppies were found with “urine, feces and no water” in their cages, according to news sources, and many of them were sick. This transporter was named one of the worst puppy mills in the nation. To view the entire report, click here.
  2. Kasey and Max Ellison,  4E’s Puppies. Purdy, Missouri- cannot access records. 
  3. Dennis and Judy Walles, Ox Arks Kennels. Galena, Missouri- 183 adult breeding dogs and 129 puppies. 
  4. Brian Ledford. Anderson, Missouri- cannot access records. 
  5. Kesha Ledford. Galena, Missouri- cannot access records. 
  6. Willard and Esther Borntrager, Stagecoach Run Kennels. Brashear, Missouri- 19 adult breeding dogs. 
  7. Ruth Ann and Gary Goostree, Rafter G Kennel. Rocky Comfort, Missouri- 44 adult breeding dogs with a history of violations including: Dogs with severely matted hair, eye disease, and dental disease,  dogs with skin disease, dogs with mammary mass/infection,  licensee could not “handle the dog”, ventilation turned off resulting in high ammonia levels in shelter; holes in enclosures with sharp edges; none of the dogs mentioned had been seen by a vet. This breeder was also named one of the worst puppy mills in the country.
  8. Shonda and Heath Madison, Madison Kennels.  Cassville, Missouri- 104 adult breeding dogs. To view USDA inspection photos, click here.
  9. Kayla Graber.  Loogootee, Indiana- unable to determine if she is licensed. 

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For more ways you can help the dogs trapped in puppy mills ,click here.

For more information, please visit our main page Bailing Out Benji .

©Bailing Out Benji 2019

** To those consumers that have bought a family member from any of the area puppy stores, and are wondering about their actual background -please feel free to fill out the form below with any questions or paperwork that you have and we will confidentially research the breeder your pup came from.