2023 USDA Violations- Quarter 2

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 2 of 2023.

This time period is from April 1, 2023, to June 30, 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, unless those missed inspections are habitual. 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 previous 2023 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 April 1, 2023, to June 30, 2023.

Arkansas

Cedar Ridge Kennel Inc (25 adult dogs, 4 puppies). Booneville, Arkansas- At the time of their April 4, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Cedar Ridge Kennel received 2 non-critical violations pertaining to sheltered housing facilities and veterinary care for dogs. Cedar Ridge Kennel 4.4.23

Misty Means (22 adult dogs, 10 puppies). Ash Flat, Arkansas- At the time of their June 14, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Means received 1 direct violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, and 2 non-critical violations pertaining to time and method of identification and records. Misty Means 6.14.23

Rex Lovelace, Puppy Palace (15 adult dogs, 9 puppies). Harrison, Arkansas- At the time of their May 2, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Lovelace received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to primary enclosures (3 dogs affected by violation). Rex Lovelace 5.2.23

Florida

Bruno Happy Dogs (14 adult dogs, 17 puppies). Southwest Ranches, Florida- At the time of their May 3, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Bruno Happy Dogs received 2 non-critical violations pertaining to time and method of identification and access and inspection of records and property. Bruno Happy Dogs 5.3.23

Gorilla Backs Kennel LLC (4 adult dogs). Lake Wales, Florida- At the time of their June 27, 2023, USDA new site inspection, Gorilla Backs Kennel received 3 non-critical violations pertaining to time and method of identification, access and inspection of records and property, and primary enclosures. Gorilla Backs Kennel LLC 6.27.23

Oksana Zhuchenko, SL Imports LLC AKA Kittens Up (4 kittens). Hollywood, Florida- At the time of their June 12, 2023, USDA routine inspection, SL Imports received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to contingency planning. SL Imports LLC 6.12.23

Illinois

Raymond Hostetler, Timber Acres (39 adult dogs, 23 puppies). Tuscola, Illinois- At the time of their June 13, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Hostetler received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care (10 dogs affected by violation). This facility also had violations in 2022. We have records of this facility selling to a pet store in Connecticut. Raymond Hostetler 6.13.23

Indiana

Michael L. Weaver (61 adult dogs, 41 puppies). Goshen, Indiana- At the time of their May 31, 2023, USDA re-license inspection, Weaver received 7 non-critical violations pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, time and method of identification, records, primary enclosures, exercise for dogs, and veterinary care for dogs. Michael L. Weaver 5.31.23

Iowa

Annette Moeller (53 adult dogs, 155 puppies). West Point, Iowa- At the time of their May 10, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Moeller received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to primary enclosures. We have records of this facility selling to puppy selling pet stores in at least 3 states. Annette Moeller 5.10.23

Bethany Korver, Linda Korver, & Stanley Korver (27 adult dogs, 6 puppies). Orange City, Iowa- The Korvers also received 10 non-critical violations in Quarter 1 of 2023. At the time of their May 5, 2023, USDA routine inspection, the Korvers received 12 non-critical violations pertaining to time and method of identification, records, housing facilities, primary enclosures, veterinary care for dogs, and cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping, and pest control. We have records of this facility selling to a pet store in Nebraska. Bethany Korver, Linda Korver, Stanley Korver 5.5.23

David Grove, Glenda Grove, Eric Grove, & Adam Grove, Iowa Fox Creek Kennels (32 adult dogs, 11 puppies). Unionville, Iowa- At the time of their May 16, 2023, USDA routine inspection, the Groves received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to feeding. This facility had violations in 2022 and 2021. David Grove, Glenda Grove, Eric Grove, & Adam Grove 5.16.23

David Horning (111 adult dogs, 10 puppies). Ionia, Iowa- Horning received an Official USDA Warning stemming from violations they received on February 28, 2023, and has since canceled their license. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in at least 2 states. USDA Warning David Horning

Erwin Yoder, Yoder Kennel (33 adult dogs, 16 puppies). Bloomfield, Iowa- At the time of their May 31, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Yoder received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to veterinary care for dogs. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in at least 8 states. Erwin Yoder 5.31.23

Freeman Helmuth, Sunrise Kennels LLC (57 adult dogs, 33 puppies). Corydon, Iowa- At the time of their April 24, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Sunrise Kennels received 4 non-critical violations pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, records, compatible grouping, and veterinary care for dogs. Sunrise Kennels LLC 4.24.23

Heath Meyers, Century Farm Puppies (225 adult dogs, 128 puppies). Grundy Center, Iowa- Meyers received an Official USDA Warning stemming from violations they received on March 1, 2023. USDA Warning Heath Meyers

Henry Byler (49 adult dogs, 4 puppies). Seymour, Iowa- Byler also received a violation in Quarter 1 of 2023 for an attempted inspection. At the time of their April 17, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Byler received 4 non-critical violations pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, housing facilities, and veterinary care for dogs. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in at least 7 states. Henry Byler 4.17.23

Kyle Holtkamp (61 adult dogs, 29 puppies). Donnellson, Iowa- Holtkamp also received violations in Quarter 1 of 2023. On June 13, 2023, Holtkamp received 1 non-critical violation for an attempted inspection. On June 27, 2023, Holtkamp received 3 non-critical violations pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, records, and veterinary care for dogs. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in at least 3 states. Kyle Holtkamp 6.27.23

Larry Albrecht, Coldwater Kennel (165 adult dogs, 81 puppies). Greene, Iowa- At the time of their June 28, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Albrecht received 3 non-critical violations pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, records, and veterinary care for dogs. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in at least 4 states. Larry Albrecht 6.28.23

Linda Mulder, Limi Je M Kennel (29 adult dogs, 13 puppies). Boyeden, Iowa- At the time of their May 3, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Mulder received 3 non-critical violations pertaining to veterinary care for dogs and cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping, and pest control. This facility had not been inspected since 2021. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in at least 2 states. Linda Mulder 5.3.23

Nancy Carlson & Thomas Carlson, New Designs Kennel (61 adult dogs, 15 puppies). Rockwell City, Iowa- At the time of their June 15, 2023, USDA routine inspection, the Carlsons received 2 non-critical violations pertaining to primary enclosures and veterinary care for dogs. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in at least 3 states. Nancy Carlson & Thomas Carlson 6.15.23

Nathan L. Miller (12 adult dogs, 1 puppy). Kalona, Iowa- At the time of their June 29, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Miller received 4 non-critical violations pertaining to outdoor housing facilities and veterinary care for dogs. Nathan L. Miller 6.29.23

Norman Hershberger & Steve Kaffman (23 adult dogs, 17 puppies). Hazleton, Iowa- At the time of their April 13, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Hershberger and Kaffman received 2 non-critical violations pertaining to veterinary care for dogs. Norman Hershberger & Steve Kaffman 4.13.23

Steve Kruse, Stonehenge Kennel (435 adult dogs). West Point, Iowa- Kruse also received violations in Quarter 1 of 2023 and in 2022. At the time of their April 19, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Kruse received 1 direct violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care (15 dogs affected by violation), and 1 non-critical violation pertaining to cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping, and pest control. Has a long history of violations. On May 9, 2023, Kruse received 1 repeat direct violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care (4 dogs affected by violation), and 1 non-critical violation pertaining to primary enclosures.  Steve Kruse 4.19.23 Steve Kruse 5.9.23

Thomas Yoder & Willie Yoder (21 adult dogs, 16 puppies). Keosauqua, Iowa- At the time of their April 25, 2023, USDA re-license inspection, Yoder received 3 non-critical violations pertaining to housing facilities and primary enclosures. We have records of this facility selling to a pet store in Washington. Thomas Yoder & Willie Yoder 4.25.23

Toni Robbins, Taga Aussies (51 adult dogs, 25 puppies). Coon Rapids, Iowa- At the time of their April 13, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Robbins received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to watering (17 adult dogs and 13 puppies affected by violation). Toni Robbins 4.13.23

Kansas

Colleen Kincaid, Kincaid’s K9s (60 adult dogs, 21 puppies). Chanute, Kansas- At the time of their June 1, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Kincaid received 3 non-critical violations pertaining to housing facilities and veterinary care for dogs. Kincaid has since canceled her license (48-A-2169). We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in Nevada. Colleen Kincaid 6.1.23

Linda Kent (47 adult dogs, 25  puppies). Elgin, Kansas- At the time of their April 5, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Kent received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to records. Linda Kent 4.5.23

Mary Moore, D&M Kennel (228 adult dogs, 55 puppies). Uniontown, Kansas- Moore also received violations in Quarter 1 of 2023 and in 2022. During a USDA-focused inspection on May 2, 2023, Moore received 13 non-critical violations pertaining to time and method of identification, records, housing facilities, sheltered housing facilities, primary enclosures, feeding, cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping, and pest control, employees, and veterinary care for dogs. During a routine inspection performed on May 2, 2023, Moore received 1 direct violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care (14 dogs and 3 puppies affected by violation). During another focused inspection on May 3, 2023, Moore received 1 repeat direct violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care (18 dogs affected by violation). On her May 4, 2023, focused inspection, Moore received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care (1 dog affected by violation). On May 30, 2023, Moore received 14 non-critical violations most of which were repeat violations from previous inspections, and 2 direct violations pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care (a repeat violation) and sheltered housing facilities. On May 31, 2023, Moore received 1 repeat direct violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care. On June 22, 2023, Moore received 2 repeat non-critical violations pertaining to time and method of identification and records. Moore received a 21-Day suspension for violations received between May 25, 2022, and May 31, 2023. We have records of this facility selling to a pet store in Massachusetts and to the broker JAKS. Mary Moore 5.2.23 (1);  Mary Moore 5.2.23;  Mary Moore 5.3.23 ; Mary Moore 5.4.23 ; Mary Moore 5.30.23 (1) ; Mary Moore 5.30.23 ; Mary Moore 5.31.23 ; Mary Moore 6.22.23 ;  21 Day Suspension Mary Moore 6.5.2023

Raymond Aurand & Marlene Aurand, Aurand’s Kennel (20 adult dogs, 13 puppies, 8 cats, 10 kittens). Salina, Kansas- At the time of their April 25, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Aurand received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to records (13 puppies and 10 kittens affected by violation). We have records of this facility selling to a pet store in Connecticut. Raymond Aurand & Marlene Aurand 4.25.23

Minnesota

Ada Yoder (45 adult dogs, 59 puppies). Utica, Minnesota- At the time of their April 12, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Yoder received 1 direct violation pertaining to sheltered housing facilities and 1 non-critical violation pertaining to veterinary care for dogs. Has not been inspected since 2021. Yoder received an Official USDA Warning stemming from violations they received on April 12, 2023. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in at least 3 states. Ada Yoder 4.12.23 ; USDA Warning Ada Yoder

Menno Yoder, Sunny Acres Kennel (41 adult dogs, 34 puppies). Saint Charles, Minnesota- At the time of their April 6, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Yoder received 3 non-critical violations pertaining to primary enclosures and veterinary care for dogs. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in at least 4 states. Menno Yoder 4.6.23

Rebecca Stille & Tim Stille, Arias Friends (39 adult dogs, 9 puppies). Faribault, Minnesota- The Stilles also received violations in Quarter 1 of 2023. At the time of their June 14, 2023, USDA re-license inspection, the Stilles received 2 non-critical violations pertaining to veterinary care for dogs. Rebecca Stille & Tim Stille 6.14.23

Missouri

Anthony Denney (4 adult dogs, 1 puppy). Spickard, Missouri- At the time of their June 12, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Denney received 2 non-critical violations pertaining to housing facilities. Anthony Denney 6.12.23

Beverly Hargis, Hargis’ Sunshine Kennels (33 adult dogs, 21 puppies). Hallsville, Missouri- At the time of their June 30, 2023, USDA re-license inspection, Hargis received 4 non-critical violations pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, sheltered housing facilities, primary enclosures, and veterinary care for dogs. This facility also had violations in 2022. Beverly Hargis 6.30.23

Charles McGinnis & Debbi McGinnis, Monarchs Kennel (30 adult dogs, 9 puppies). Bolivar, Missouri- McGinnis also received violations in Quarter 1 of 2023. At the time of their April 11, 2023, USDA routine inspection, McGinnis received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to outdoor housing facilities (7 dogs affected by violation). Charles McGinnis & Debbi McGinnis 4.11.23

Cody Zimmerman (52 adult dogs, 13 puppies). Seymour, Missouri- Zimmerman received an Official USDA Warning stemming from violations they received on March 17, 2023. USDA Warning Cody Zimmerman

David Calhoun (12 adult cats). Macomb, Missouri- At the time of their June 15, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Calhoun received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care. David Calhoun 6.15.23

Debra Hopkins & Rex Hopkins, Colbyco Pomeranians (17 adult dogs, 2 puppies). Poplar Bluff, Missouri- At the time of their April 25, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Hopkins received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to veterinary care for dogs (17 adult dogs affected by violation). This facility had not been inspected since 2021. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in at least 2 states. Debra Hopkins & Rex Hopkins 4.25.23

Jalisha McIntire, Emily’s Morkies (21 adult dogs). Ellington, Missouri- At the time of their June 13, 2023, USDA routine inspection at site 2, McIntire received 2 non-critical violations pertaining to time and method of identification and records. Jalisha McIntire 6.13.23

Janice Eminger, C&J’s Happy Tails. Joplin, Missouri- For her violations of the AWA, Erminger has had her USDA license revoked. Decision and Order of License Revocation Janice Eminger

Joseph Hostetler, Hostetler’s Kennel (24 adult dogs, 11 puppies). Jamesport, Missouri- On May 11, 2023, Hostetler received 1 non-critical violation for an attempted inspection. He has since canceled his current USDA license (43-A-6744). We have records of this facility selling to Connecticut puppy selling pet stores and to the brokers JAKS and Southpaw. Joseph Hostetler 5.11.23

Joyce Walters, Select Pets (22 adult dogs, 13 puppies). Anderson, Missouri- On April 24, 2023, Walters received 1 repeat non-critical violation for an attempted inspection. Walters also received violations on February 9, 2023, and March 22, 2023, for attempted inspections. She was not inspected until June 8, 2023, when she did not receive any further violations. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in New Jersey. Joyce Walters 4.24.23

Kristina Jordan, Jordan Family Treasures (9 adult puppies, 8 puppies). Garden City, Missouri- At the time of their May 25, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Jordan received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to veterinary care for dogs. This facility has 3 previously canceled licenses. Kristina Jordan 5.25.23

Lamar Z. Martin, Howling Pines Kennel (30 adult dogs, 12 puppies). El Dorado Springs, Missouri- At the time of their May 24, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Martin received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to housing facilities. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in Connecticut and to the broker Pinnacle Pet. Lamar Z. Martin 5.24.23

Levi J. Petersheim & Samuel Petersheim (54 adults, 56 puppies). Madison, Missouri- At the time of their April 21, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Petersheim received 2 non-critical violations pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care and housing facilities ( 24 dogs affected by violation). We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in at least 2 states. Levi J. Petersheim & Samuel Petersheim 4.21.23

Melvin E. Yoder (16 adult dogs, 11 puppies). Alexandria, Missouri- At the time of their May 17, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Yoder received 2 non-critical violations pertaining to time and method of identification and housing facilities. Melvin E. Yoder 5.17.23

Randy Swartzentruber (65 adult dogs, 43 puppies). Halfway, Missouri- Swartzentruber received an Official USDA Warning stemming from violations received on March 6, 2023. USDA Warning Randy Swartzentruber

Teresa Rauch, Ratepa Kennels (74 adult dogs, 78 puppies). Bolivar, Missouri- Rauch also received violations in Quarter 1 of 2023. At the time of their June 16, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Rauch received 1 repeat non-critical violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in Connecticut and to the broker Pinnacle Pet. Teresa Rauch 6.16.23

Travis L. Smith (34 adult dogs, 11 puppies). West Plains, Missouri- At the time of their June 30, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Smith received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to outdoor housing facilities. Travis L. Smith 6.30.23

Nebraska

Heath Francke & Serenity Francke, Sand Creek Kennels and Sporting Dogs (69 adult dogs, 59 puppies). Newport, Nebraska- At the time of their April 6, 2023, USDA re-license inspection, Francke received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to housing facilities. This facility had not been inspected since 2021. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in at least 5 states. Heath Francke & Serenity Francke 4.6.23

Peggy Shaw (96 adult dogs, 74 puppies). Wilber, Nebraska- At the time of their June 16, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Shaw received 2 direct violations pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care and primary enclosures. Shaw also received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to primary enclosures. Peggy Shaw 6.16.23

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New Mexico

Cinda Moe (6 puppies). Roswell, New Mexico- At the time of their May 10, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Moe received 3 non-critical violations pertaining to records, contingency planning, and primary enclosures. Cinda Moe 5.10.23

New York

Elmer Stoltzfoos & Lena Mae Stoltzfoos, Puppy Love Kennel LLC (53 adult dogs, 57 puppies). Fort Plain, New York- At the time of their May 22, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Puppy Love Kennel received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to housing facilities. Puppy Love Kennel LLC 5.22.23

Jonas Burkholder (26 adult dogs, 20 puppies). Rushville, New York- At the time of their May 5, 2023, USDA re-license inspection, Burkholder received 2 non-critical violations pertaining to housing facilities. Jonas Burkholder 5.5.23

Marshall Farms Group LTD (14060 adult dogs, 7586 puppies, 560 adult cats, 257 kittens). North Rose, New York- At the time of their May 15, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Marshall Farms Group received 1 critical violation pertaining to primary enclosures (1 deceased kitten affected by violation) and 1 non-critical violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care. Has a long history of violations. On June 12, 2023, Marshall Farms Group LTD received 2 non-critical violations pertaining to housing facilities and employees. Marshall Farms Group received an Official USDA Warning stemming from violations received on May 15, 2023. This facility breeds for research facilities. Marshall Farms Group LTD 5.15.23 ; Marshall Farms Group LTD 6.12.23 ; USDA Warning Marshall Farms Group

Tiny Cuties JJP LLC (12 adult dogs). Long Island, New York- At the time of their May 25, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Tiny Cuties received 3 non-critical violations pertaining to records, housing facilities, and primary enclosures. Tiny Cuties JJP LLC 5.25.23

North Carolina

Lois Baker (47 adult dogs, 12 puppies). Andrews, North Carolina- At the time of their May 17, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Baker received 4 non-critical violations pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, housing facilities, and sheltered housing facilities. This facility has a history of violations. Lois Baker 5.17.23

Ohio

Aaron Beachy, Hickory Lane Puppies (35 adult dogs, 13 puppies). Baltic, Ohio- At the time of their April 3, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Beachy received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to housing facilities. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in Connecticut. Aaron Beachy 4.3.23

Aden D. Schlabach, Hillside Acres (31 adult dogs, 32 puppies). Fredericksburg, Ohio- At the time of their June 28, 2023, USDA re-license inspection, Schlabach received 2 non-critical violations pertaining to housing facilities and watering. This facility had not been inspected since 2021. Aden D. Schlabach 6.28.23

Andy Nisley, AD Mini Paws (64 adult dogs, 102 puppies). Baltic, Ohio- At the time of their April 21, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Nisley received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to veterinary care for dogs (64 dogs affected by violation). Andy Nisley 4.21.23

Andy Nisley, Nunda Valley Kennels (46 adult dogs, 27 puppies). Howard, Ohio- At the time of their May 9, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Nisley received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care. This facility also had violations in 2022. Andy Nisley (M) 5.9.23

Andy Yoder (M), A & E Kennel (33 adult dogs, 8 puppies). Sugarcreek, Ohio- At the time of their April 6, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Yoder received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to veterinary care for dogs. Andy Yoder 4.6.23

Atlee Barkman, Barkman’s Country Kennel (68 adult dogs, 36 puppies). Baltic, Ohio- At the time of their May 3, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Markman received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to records (17 adult dogs affected by violation). This facility also had violations in 2022. Atlee Barkman 5.3.23

Cozy Cove Puppies (30 adult dogs, 22 puppies). Millersburg, Ohio- At the time of their April 19, 2023, USDA re-license inspection, Cozy Cove Puppies received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to veterinary care for dogs. This facility had not been inspected since 2020. Cozy Cove Puppies 4.19.23

David Weaver (39 adult dogs, 46 puppies). Millersburg, Ohio- At the time of their April 5, 2023, USDA re-license inspection, Weaver received 1 direct violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care (4 dogs affected by violation). Weaver also received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to housing facilities. This facility had not been inspected since 2021. Weaver also received  1 non-critical violation on May 23, 2023, and 1 non-critical violation on June 8, 2023, for attempted inspections. Weaver received an Official USDA Warning stemming from violations received on April 5, 2023. David Weaver 4.5.23 ; David Weaver 5.23.23;  David Weaver 6.8.23 ; USDA Warning David Weaver

David R. Yoder, Waterfall Puppies (169 adult dogs, 135 puppies). Dundee, Ohio- Waterfall Puppies also received violations in Quarter 1 of 2023. At the time of their April 20, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Waterfall Puppies received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to veterinary care for dogs. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in Connecticut. Waterfall Puppies 4.20.23

Eli Barkman, Stony Acres Kennel (10 adult dogs, 3 puppies). Baltic, Ohio- At the time of their April 18, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Barkman received 3 non-critical violations pertaining to records and veterinary care for dogs. This facility had not been inspected since 2020. Eli Barkman 4.18.23

Eli B. Miller, Homestead Puppies LLC (43 adult dogs, 27 puppies). Fresno, Ohio- At the time of their April 20, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Homestead Puppies received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to veterinary care for dogs. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in Virginia. Homestead Puppies LLC 4.20.23

Eli D. Hostetler (39 adult dogs, 42 puppies). Holmesville, Ohio- At the time of their May 8, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Hostetler received 4 non-critical violations pertaining to housing facilities, outdoor housing facilities, and veterinary care for dogs. This facility had not been inspected since 2021. Eli D. Hostetler 5.8.23

Enos Shetler (36 adult dogs, 46 puppies). Fredericktown, Ohio- On May 1, 2023, during a USDA routine inspection, Shetler received 1 critical violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care that involved the death of 4 puppies. Shetler also received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to veterinary care for dogs during this inspection. Shetler received an Official USDA Warning stemming from violations received on May 1, 2023. Shetler has since canceled his license (31-A-0867). We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in Connecticut and to the broker Preferred Canines. Enos Shetler 5.1.23 USDA Warning Enos Shetler

Freeman Beechy (25 adult dogs, 21 puppies). Hillsboro, Ohio- On April 25, 2023, Beechy received 2 non-critical violations for an attempted inspection and for moving locations without telling APHIS. Freeman Beechy 4.25.23

Jacob J. Miller (7 adult cats). Fredericksburg, Ohio- At the time of their June 15, 2023, USDA re-license inspection, Miller received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to veterinary care for dogs. Jacob J. Miller 6.15.23

Jacob Yoder, Hidden Valley Kennel (37 adult dogs, 56 puppies). Fresno, Ohio- At the time of their April 5, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Yoder received 1 critical violation pertaining to access and inspection of records of property. Yoder refused to allow inspection. Prior to this attempted inspection, Yoder had not been inspected since 2021. Jacob Yoder 4.5.23

Johnny Hostetler (21 adult dogs, 18 puppies). Howard, Ohio- At the time of their April 24, 2023, USDA attempted inspection, Hostetler received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to access and inspection of records and property. During their May 3, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Hostetler received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to housing facilities. Johnny Hostetler 4.24.23 Johnny Hostetler 5.3.23

John W. Schwartz. De Graff, Ohio- Schwartz received 2 non-critical violations on April 25, 2023, and May 24, 2023, for attempted inspections. He has since canceled his license (31-A-0879). John W. Schwartz 4.25.23 John W. Schwartz 5.24.23

Maple Springs Kennel (69 adult dogs, 99 puppies). Johnstown, Ohio- At the time of their May 10, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Maple Springs Kennel received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to veterinary care for dogs (69 adult dogs affected by violation). Maple Springs Kennel 5.10.23

Marvin A. Yoder (13 adult dogs, 14 puppies). Baltic, Ohio- At the time of their April 10, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Yoder received 1 critical violation pertaining to primary enclosures. Yoder received an Official USDA Warning stemming from violations received on April 10, 2023. Marvin A. Yoder 4.10.23 USDA Warning Marvin A. Yoder

Marvin H. Yoder, Willow Lot Kennels (22 adult dogs, 3 puppies). Millersburg, Ohio- Yoder also received violations in Quarter 1 of 2023. At the time of their May 15, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Yoder received 2 non-critical violations pertaining to feeding and cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping, and pest control. This facility also had violations in 2022 and 2020. Marvin Yoder (H) 5.15.23

Marvin J. Miller & Emma Hostetler, Country Side Kennels. New Concord, Ohio- On April 27, 2023, Miller and Hostetler received 1 non-critical violation for an attempted inspection. They have not been inspected since 2020. Marvin J. Miller & Emma Hostetler 4.27.23

Mervin Hershberger (75 adult dogs, 38 puppies). Baltic, Ohio- At the time of their April 4, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Hershberger received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to housing facilities. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in Connecticut and to the broker Preferred Canines. Mervin Hershberger 4.4.23

Mervin Raber (34 adult dogs, 7 puppies). Millersburg, Ohio- At the time of their May 6, 2023, USDA re-license inspection, Raber received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to veterinary care for dogs. This facility had not been inspected since 2021. Mervin Raber 5.6.23 

Mose Miller, Maple View Miller AKA Maple View Kennel (26 adult dogs and 35 puppies). Baltic, Ohio- At the time of their April 25, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Miller received 4 non-critical violations pertaining to contingency planning, housing facilities, veterinary care for dogs, and cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping, and pest control. On May 2, 2023, during another routine inspection, Miller received 1 direct violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care (2 dogs affected by violation) and 1 non-critical violation pertaining to veterinary care for dogs. On May 16, 2023, Miller received 1 non-critical violation for an attempted inspection. Miller received an Official USDA Warning stemming from violations received on May 2, 2023. Mose Miller 4.25.23 ; Mose Miller 5.2.23 ; Mose Miller 5.16.23 ; USDA Warning Mose Miller

Mount Hope Auction Inc. Mt Hope, Ohio- Mount Hope Auction also received violations in Quarter 1 of 2023. At the time of their April 20, 2023, USDA-focused inspection, Mount Hope Auction received 1 repeat critical violation pertaining to procurement of dogs, cats, and other animals, and 1 non-critical violation pertaining to records. This facility also had violations in 2022. Mount Hope Auction Inc 4.20.23

Myron Yoder. Baltic, Ohio- At the time of their April 5, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Yoder received 1 critical violation pertaining to access and inspection of records and property when he refused to allow inspection. At the time of their April 24, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Yoder also received 1 direct violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care (2 dogs affected by violation), and 6 non-critical violations pertaining to housing facilities, cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping, and pest control, primary enclosures, and veterinary care for dogs. This facility had not been inspected since 2021. On May 2, 2023, Yoder received 1 non-critical violation for an attempted inspection. On May 25, 2023, Yoder received 2 non-critical violations pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, and contingency planning. Myron Yoder 4.5.23 ; Myron Yoder 4.24.23 ; Myron Yoder 5.2.23 ; Myron Yoder 5.25.23

Puppy Blvd (23 adult dogs, 8 puppies). Dundee, Ohio- At the time of their April 20, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Puppy Blvd received 6 non-critical violations pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, contingency planning, housing facilities, and veterinary care for dogs. On June 5, 2023, Puppy Blvd received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to records. This facility had violations in 2022. Puppy Blvd 4.20.23 Puppy Blvd 6.5.23

Q Test LTD (8 adult dogs). Columbus, Ohio- At the time of their May 10, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Q Test LTD received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to records. Q Test LTD 5.10.23

Reuben Hostetler (33 adult dogs, 18 puppies). Howard, Ohio- At the time of their April 3, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Hostetler received 3 non-critical violations pertaining to housing facilities and veterinary care for dogs. Reuben Hostetler 4.3.23

Reuben M. Schlabach, Sharp Run Kennel AKA A 1 Bundle of Joy (55 adult dogs, 48 puppies). Millersburg, Ohio- At the time of their May 1, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Schlabach received 3 non-critical violations pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, veterinary care for dogs, and cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping, and pest control. This facility had not been inspected since 2021 when he also received 3 non-critical violations. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in Virginia. Reuben Schlabach 5.1.23

Reuben Troyer (30 adult dogs, 14 puppies). Baltic, Ohio- At the time of their May 8, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Troyer received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to veterinary care for dogs. Reuben Troyer 5.8.23

Sunrise Pups LLC (67 puppies). Ostrander, Ohio- Sunrise Pups also received violations in Quarter 1 of 2023. At the time of their April 18, 2023, USDA re-license inspection, Sunrise Pups received 3 non-critical violations pertaining to contingency planning, primary enclosures, and exercise for dogs. Sunrise Pups LLC 4.18.23

Sycamore Rise Puppies (31 adult dogs, 8 puppies). Sugarcreek, Ohio- At the time of their May 11, 2023, Sycamore Rise Puppies received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to housing facilities. This facility had not been inspected since 2021. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in Connecticut and to the broker Nichols Pups. Sycamore Rise Puppies 5.11.23

Sylvia Yoder (7 adult dogs, 13 puppies). Somerset, Ohio- At the time of their April 24, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Yoder received 7 non-critical violations pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, records, housing facilities, primary enclosures, and veterinary care for dogs. Recently licensed in 2022. On May 9, 2023, during a routine inspection, Yoder received 1 direct violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care. Yoder received an Official USDA Warning stemming from violations received on May 9, 2023. Sylvia Yoder 4.24.23 ; Sylvia Yoder 5.9.23 ; USDA Warning Sylvia Yoder

Vernon E. Yoder (116 adult dogs, 63 puppies). Millersburg, Ohio- At the time of their May 25, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Yoder received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to veterinary care for dogs (42 dogs affected by violation). Vernon Yoder 5.25.23

Wayne Burkholder (29 adult dogs, 7 puppies). Baltic, Ohio- At the time of their May 5, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Burkholder received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to veterinary care for dogs. This facility had not been inspected since 2021. Wayne Burkholder 5.5.23

Oklahoma

Angela Weaver. Howe, Oklahoma- On May 10, 2023, Weaver received 1 non-critical violation for an attempted inspection. She has received 3 other non-critical violations for 3 other attempted inspections in 2023, and 1 more in December of 2022. Angela Weaver 5.10.23

John Gregory McKee, Heartland Puppies. Cordell, Oklahoma- On May 12, 2023, and June 5, 2023, McKee received 2 total non-critical violations for attempted inspections. John Gregory McKee 5.12.23 John Gregory McKee 6.5.23

Jose Rojas, Sugar Bulldogs LLC (27 adult dogs, 6 puppies). Collinsville, Oklahoma- At the time of their April 6, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Sugar Bulldogs received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to primary enclosures. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in Arizona. Sugar Bulldogs LLC 4.6.23

Laura Williams. Howe, Oklahoma- On May 10, 2023, Williams received 1 non-critical violation for an attempted inspection. This facility had not been inspected since 2021. Laura Williams 5.10.23

Martin Blum & Cory Blum (21 adult dogs, 14 puppies). Copan, Oklahoma- At the time of their June 7, 2023, USDA routine inspection, the Blums received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to housing facilities. Martin Blum & Cory Blum 6.7.23

Pennsylvania

Benjamin Stoltzfus, Breezy Hollow Acres (52 adult dogs, 55 puppies). Orrstown, Pennsylvania- At the time of their May 22, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Stoltzfus received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to primary enclosures. Benjamin Stoltzfus 5.22.23

Berry Patch Puppies LLC (18 adult dogs, 31 puppies). Honey Brook, Pennsylvania- At the time of their June 8, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Berry Patch Puppies received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to records. Berry Patch Puppies LLC 6.8.23

Crist Lapp, Meadow View Kennel (79 adult dogs, 11 puppies). Ronks, Pennsylvania- Lapp received 1 non-critical violation on April 13, 2023, for an attempted inspection. At the time of their May 18, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Lapp received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to contingency planning. Crist Lapp 4.13.23 Crist Lapp 5.18.23

Dan Lapp, Laurel Ridge Kennel (20 adult dogs, 11 puppies, this facility also has 1869 guinea pigs). Montgomery, Pennsylvania- At the time of their April 6, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Lapp received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to records. This facility had a violation in 2022. Dan Lapp 4.6.23

Elmer Z. Zook, Elmer Zook Kennel (63 adult dogs, 58 puppies). Ephrata, Pennsylvania- At the time of their May 15, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Zook received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to watering. Elmer Z. Zook 5.15.23

Hope Wadel, Hopefull Kennels (111 adult dogs, 74 puppies). Doylesburg, Pennsylvania- At the time of their May 2, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Hopefull Kennels received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to primary enclosures. Hopefull Kennels 5.2.23

Texas

Kristin White, Duane White, & Lena White, B.E.W Yorkies (62 adult dogs, 32 puppies). Clarksville, Texas- At the time of their May 3, 2023, USDA routine inspection, White received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to veterinary care for dogs. The last verified veterinarian visit was on 1-16-2021. Kristin White, Duane White, & Lena White 5.3.23

Patricia Bingham (11 adult cats, 16 kittens, 22 leopard cats). Alvin, Texas- Bingham also received violations in Quarter 1 of 2023 which included 5 direct and 17 non-critical violations. At the time of their June 9, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Bingham received 2 repeat critical violations pertaining to requirements and application, and attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care (2 deceased and 2 ill leopard cubs affected by violation). Bingham also received 1 repeat direct violation on June 9, 2023, pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care.  On June 12, 2023, Bingham received 1 repeat direct violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, and 4 non-critical violations pertaining to records, primary enclosures, and cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping, and pest control. This facility also had violations in 2022 and our organization publicly called for the local sheriff to investigate this facility for animal neglect. Patricia Bingham 6.9.23 (1) ; Patricia Bingham 6.9.23 ; Patricia Bingham 6.12.23 (1) ; Patricia Bingham 6.12.23

Pet City Houston Inc (78 puppies). Houston, Texas- At the time of their April 17, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Pet City Houston received 2 non-critical violations pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care and primary enclosures (3 puppies affected by violation). To view the facilities Pet City buys from, click here.  Pet City Houston Inc 4.17.23

Virginia

Elena Mikirtichev & Andrey Mikirtichev (8 adult dogs, 72 cats, 23 kittens). North Chesterfield, Virginia- The Mikirtichevs also received violations in Quarter 1 of 2023. At the time of their April 3, 2023, USDA routine inspection, the Mikirtichevs received 1 critical violation pertaining to primary enclosures, 1 direct violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, and 12 non-critical violations pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, housing facilities, sheltered housing facilities, outdoor housing facilities, primary enclosures, cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping, and pest control, employees, and veterinary care for dogs. On April 19, 2023, the Mikirtichevs received 1 repeat direct violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, and 2 repeat non-critical violations pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care and primary enclosures. Elena Mikirtichev & Andrey Mikirtichev 4.3.23 Elena Mikirtichev & Andrey Mikirtichev 4.19.23

Samuel J. King (21 adult dogs, 26 puppies). Farmville, Virginia- King also received a violation in Quarter 1 of 2023. On April 24, 2023, King received another non-critical violation for an attempted inspection. At the time of their May 17, 2023, USDA routine inspection, King received 2 non-critical violations pertaining to time and method of identification and contingency planning. Samuel J. King 4.24.23 Samuel J. King 5.17.23

Wisconsin

Amos Allgyer, Pawfect Puppies (22 adult puppies, 15 puppies). Platteville, Wisconsin- At the time of their May 16, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Allgyer received 1 direct violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care (7 dogs affected by violation) and 3 non-critical violations pertaining to form of official tag, records, veterinary care for dogs.  Allgyer received an Official USDA Warning stemming from violations received on May 16, 2023. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in at least 7 states. This facility also had violations in 2022.  Amos Allgyer 5.16.23 USDA Warning Amos Allgyer

Atlee Miller (21 adult dogs, 28 puppies). Hillsboro, Wisconsin- At the time of their June 12, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Miller received 3 non-critical violations pertaining to records, sheltered housing facilities, and cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping, and pest control. Atlee Miller 6.12.23

Daniel Ray Miller (51 adult dogs, 62 puppies). Hillsboro, Wisconsin- At the time of their May 22, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Miller received 5 non-critical violations pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, minimum age requirements, primary enclosures, veterinary care for dogs, and cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping, and pest control. This facility had not been inspected since 2021. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in Nevada and to the broker JAKS. Daniel Ray Miller 5.22.23

Daniel S. Borntrager (25 adult dogs, 18 puppies). Augusta, Wisconsin- At the time of their April 4, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Borntrager received 2 non-critical violations pertaining to primary enclosures and veterinary care for dogs. Daniel S. Borntrager 4.4.23

Ervin Miller, Marcus Miller, & Anna May Miller (46 adult dogs, 8 puppies). Hillsboro, Wisconsin- At the time of their June 5, 2023, USDA routine inspection, the Millers received 5 non-critical violations pertaining to housing facilities, veterinary care for dogs, and cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping, and pest control. Ervin Miller, Marcus Miller, & Anna May Miller 6.5.23

Fannie Troyer (12 adult dogs, 17 puppies). Hillsboro, Wisconsin- At the time of their May 15, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Troyer received 5 non-critical violations pertaining to time and method of identification, housing facilities, and veterinary care for dogs. This facility had not been inspected since 2021. Fannie Troyer 5.15.23

John H. Beiler (31 adult dogs, 14 puppies). Platteville, Wisconsin- At the time of their May 8, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Beiler received 4 non-critical violations pertaining to time and method of identification, records, and housing facilities. This facility had not been inspected since 2021. John H. Beiler 5.8.23

Junior Yutzy (34 adult dogs, 19 puppies). Hillsboro, Wisconsin- Yutzy also received a violation in Quarter 1 of 2023. At the time of their June 14, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Yutzy received 3 non-critical violations pertaining to time and method of identification, records, and cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping, and pest control. Junior Yutzy 6.14.23

Katrina Smith & Wes Smith, Sunset Ridge Puppies (13 adult dogs, 13 puppies). Boyceville, Wisconsin- At the time of their May 8, 2023, USDA routine inspection, the Smiths received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to contingency planning. Katrina Smith & Wes Smith 5.8.23

Levi E. Borntrager, Barbara’s Kennel (19 adult dogs, 13 puppies). Augusta, Wisconsin- At the time of their April 4, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Borntrager received 2 non-critical violations pertaining to housing facilities and cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping, and pest control. Levi E. Borntrager 4.4.23

Martha Schrock & Joseph Schrock (29 adult dogs, 2 puppies). Fairchild, Wisconsin- At the time of their April 5, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Schrock received 5 non-critical violations pertaining to housing facilities, Cleaning, sanitization housekeeping, and pest control, and veterinary care for dogs. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in at least 2 states. Martha Schrock & Joseph Schrock 4.5.23

Melvin Mishler (18 adult dogs, 32 puppies). Hillsboro, Wisconsin- At the time of their April 25, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Mishler received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to time and method of identification. Melvin Mishler 4.25.23

Nathan Miller (15 adult dogs, 5 puppies). Hillsboro, Wisconsin- At the time of their May 1, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Miller received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to time and method of identification. Nathan Miller 5.1.23

Nathan Otto (15 adult dogs, 7 puppies). Hillsboro, Wisconsin- At the time of their June 9, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Otto received 2 non-critical violations pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, and veterinary care for dogs. Nathan Otto 6.9.23

Raymond J. Stutzman (15 adult dogs, 3 puppies). Cadott, Wisconsin- At the time of their May 31, 2023, USDA routine inspection at site 2, Stutzman received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care. This facility had not been inspected since 2021. Raymond J. Stutzman 5.31.23

Samuel Beiler (40 adult dogs, 14 puppies). Platteville, Wisconsin- At the time of their June 5, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Beiler received 1 non-critical violation pertaining to primary enclosures. This facility had violations in 2022. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in at least 3 states. Samuel Beiler 6.5.23

Simeon (Sim) Lapp ( 17 adult dogs, 7 puppies). Darlington, Wisconsin- At the time of their April 20, 2023, USDA routine inspection, Lapp received 1 direct violation pertaining to attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care (1 deceased puppy and 1 other puppy affected by violation), and 1 non-critical violation pertaining to records. This facility had not been inspected since 2021. Lapp received an Official USDA Warning stemming from violations received on April 20, 2023. We have records of this facility selling to pet stores in at least 3 states. Simeon Lapp 4.20.23 USDA Warning Simeon Lapp

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Data on the Decline

©Bailing Out Benji 2021

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

Written by Mindi Callison

 

The Juxtaposition Between Data and Testimony

Since 2006 advocates across the country have been working hard to pass humane ordinances in their cities, counties and states that prohibit pet stores from partnering with animal mills for puppy, kitten and sometimes rabbit sales. To date, more than 375 localities and 3 states have passed similar language with even more working on the issue in 2021. 

The pet store and commercial dog breeding industry regularly attends these council meetings and state bill hearings to defend their business practices and one of their main talking points has been that humane ordinances  “haven’t shut down a single puppy mill“. Of course, their definition of puppy mill is vastly different than the definition that advocates use.

The pet industry- which includes employees, owners and lobbyists for pet stores and commercial breeders- always testifies that they believe puppy mills are unlicensed, unregulated breeders, while advocates stick to the definition that a puppy mill is any commercial breeding facility that puts the profit over the welfare of the animals. Clearly, the two definitions are at odds with each other because the pet industry relies heavily on USDA and state licensed breeders, no matter how many breeding animals are kept onsite or how many violations the facilities have. 

Definition differences aside, the pet industry isn’t looking at licenses or data when they routinely tell policy makers that none of these humane ordinances have shut down a single puppy mill. If they did, they would be telling a different story.

Before we dig in, we do want to make an editor’s note:

Over the last decade, the public has become increasingly more aware of the puppy mill industry. More families are researching before they buy, they are avoiding puppy-selling stores, they are demanding stronger breeding/licensing laws in their own states, and they are pushing for humane ordinances. Not any one thing can point to the downfall of this industry, but the holistic approach of education, advocacy and policy is a huge part in ending the puppy mill industry once and for all.

The Data on the Decline

In 2008, the USDA issued 4228 class A licenses and 1067 class B license to companion animal breeders- 5,295 licenses total. Comparatively, in 2021 the USDA issued 2035 class A licenses and 762 class B licenses- 3,697 total. This shows a 30% decrease in active USDA licensed breeders and brokers over the last 13 years. 

While there is a small fluctuation each year in federal and state licensees, the overall trend is showing that more commercial dog and cat breeders are not only going out of business, but many of the worst puppy mills have either been shut down or downsized greatly. 

A few examples are below: 

Horrible Hundred puppy mill owner Steve Kruse (Stonehenge Kennels. West Point, Iowa 42-B-0182) had over 940 adult breeding dogs in 2014 and has downsized to 670 adult breeding dogs in 2021. Kruse routinely sells puppies to pet stores and is still in operation. 

Kimberly Coleman (TLC Kennels. Clinton, Missouri. 43-A-4973) had over 212 adult breeding dogs in 2014 and was a repeat Horrible Hundred puppy mill offender. After years of violations, public pressure and the inability to partner with many stores due to violations, Coleman auctioned off all of her animals in 2019 and closed her breeding facility.  Coleman routinely sold puppies to pet stores in California among other states. California passed a statewide ordinance that went into effect in 2019. 

Gary Felts (Black Diamond Kennels. Kingsley, Iowa. 42-A-0757) had over 276 adult breeding dogs in 2014 and had downsized to 153 adult breeding dogs in 2017. After years of Federal violations and public pressure, Felts closed his breeding facility and auctioned off all of his dogs in 2017. Felts routinely sold puppies to pet stores. 

We have also seen a decline in licensed dog brokers. As fewer stores are offering puppies and kittens for sale, the need for middle men has decreased as well.  A few of the most notable examples include: 

David Steffensmeier (Jeannie’s Gems. West Point, Iowa. 42-B-0298) routinely sold puppies and kittens to pet stores all over the country. Steffensmeier cancelled his license in 2019. 

Sham rescues Rescue Pets Iowa and Hobo K9 rescue were ordered to shut down by the Iowa Attorney General after our investigation linked them to puppy broker JAKS Puppies (Jolyn Noethe. Britt, Iowa 42-B-0271). These two entities were created to broker puppies to stores in cities and states where it was prohibited; proving that these ordinances do affect the puppy mill industry. California and Chicago were the main targets, as both passed ordinance language that prevented breeders from selling through stores.

In addition to our own findings on this decline in licensed breeders, a 2019 report from the Omaha World Herald echoed our research. According to the article:

 “Nebraska Department of Agriculture records show that half of the state’s commercial dog and cat breeders have left the business over the past seven years. The decline was particularly sharp between June 30, 2018, when there were 216 state-licensed breeders, and the same date this year, when the number was down to 138.”

Two USDA and Nebraska state licensed breeders were quoted in the article stating that they “blame rising overhead costs, laws limiting pet store sales and competition from animal rescue organizations.” Clem Disterhaupt (Sandhills Kennels. Stuart, Nebraska. 47-A-0427) also stated that “Midwest breeders were hurt by a California law that banned pet stores from selling commercially bred puppies, kittens and rabbits.”

What does the research say? 

Industry leaders also echo this trend. According to a recent report from IBIS World Dog and Pet Breeders Industry:

“The Dog and Pet Breeders industry has been subject to a moderate level of revenue volatility over the past five years. Recent efforts to regulate the industry and fight against puppy mills have contributed to strong revenue declines.”

To Read the full IBIS World report click here.

Thanks to this research and graphic below from the IBIS World Report, you can see the states with the highest concentration of puppy-selling pet stores. This falls in line with the data we have been collecting on stores.

Currently in 2021, humane pet store bills are being heard on the state level in Washington, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania and New York (among others). California’s state ban went into effect in 2019 and was cleaned up in 2020.  These states are the ones who are importing the most puppies from Midwest USDA commercial breeders (puppy mills) and are trying to stop this pipeline from happening. Because many of the largest commercial breeders and brokers are selling to these stores, they will have vastly fewer outlets to sell puppies through and will have to either change their business models, downsize their kennels or close. 

 

Throwing data and facts aside allows the pet industry to make the claim that no puppy mills are feeling the effect of these ordinances so they can plant a seed of doubt in the minds of policy makers in order to prevent humane laws from being passed. 

In order to correct that narrative, our nonprofit wanted to share our research and industry reports regarding commercial breeder licensing over the last few years. Contrary to what the pet industry is saying, puppy mills are closing down, advocacy efforts are working and the entire industry is on the decline. 

We strongly encourage advocates to keep working on humane ordinances, keep working on state bills pertaining to pet stores and continue fighting for more regulation on the commercial dog breeding industry. The trends are in our favor and the future is humane. 

 

©Bailing Out Benji 2021

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

Bailing Out Benji is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that researches and investigates the commercial dog and cat breeding industry and tracks the sale of animals as they move to pet stores and online customers.

If you would like to donate to help us continue our important work, please click on the button below. 

 

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Iowa Puppy Mills by the Numbers

 

As an Iowan, I have always been proud to live in this state. The scenery is beautiful, and the people are amazing. I have always believed that there is no better place than here….

Since starting Bailing Out Benji in 2011, my eyes have been opened to the world of misery and torture in our own back yard. I had no idea that is Iowa is the SECOND WORST state in America when it comes to puppy mills, with over 250 puppy mills (and over 17,000 adult dogs trapped)! Since Bailing Out Benji was founded, the number of puppy mills in Iowa has dropped from over 400 to just over 250- which is fantastic news! But we have a long way to go… And we can’t do it without YOUR help! 

In this article, I have included a few “fast facts” about Iowa puppy mills, so you can share and help us educate! We firmly believe that through education we can put an end to this industry! 

Counties with the most puppy mills in Iowa 

Sioux County (with 28!)

Lee County (With 21!)

Davis County (with 14!)

 Lyon County (With 7!)

Worth County (With 7! )

Remember, these are just a few of  the worst counties when it comes to puppy mills… It does not mean that they are the only counties with puppy mills and it doesn’t mean these are the puppy mills with the most number of dogs. If you are curious about puppy mills in your area, please contact us

Felts

2015 Breeders with DIRECT USDA Violations.

 In 2015 alone, there were 24 USDA inspections done that included direct violations of the Animal Welfare Act. A direct violation is one that puts an animal in immediate distress (illness, open wounds, inadequate cage size, etc) 

Of those 24 inspections: 

-5 USDA licensed breeders had more than one inspection last year with direct violations on each inspection

-1 USDA licensed breeder had three inspections done and had a direct violation on each

-25 direct violations were handed out in total. 

Iowa USDA Licensed Breeders Make 2015 HSUS Horrible Hundred List

Each year, the Humane Society of the United States puts out their list of the worst puppy mill owners in the country, and each year Iowa makes the list! Sadly, in 2015 Iowa made quite the impact, with 11 puppy mills making the cut. 

Puppy mills in the following counties made the list: Calhoun, Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Lee, Marion, Mitchell, Plymouth,Sioux, Van Buren. 

These puppy mills alone have over 903 adult dogs trapped in their facilities and they are living in some of the worst conditions in the entire country. The HSUS does a “Horrible Hundred” list each year, and Iowa is always represented. Here are the links to the 2014 and 2013. 

 

Iowa USDA Licensed Breeders with the Most Adult Dogs 

The top five breeders in Iowa have overwhelming amounts of dogs. Totaling over 2,000 adult breeding dogs, these facilities have numerous violations and many have made the HSUS horrible hundred list in previous years. 

Larry Albrecht- Coldwater Kennels, Butler County. Latest USDA Count- 261 adult dogs, 220 puppies. 

J. Maasen- Sioux County. Latest USDA Count- 282 adult dogs, 158 puppies. THIS BREEDER MADE THE 2015 HORRIBLE HUNDRED PUPPY MILL LIST. 

Marvin and Joanna Newswanger- Maple Tree Kennels, Chickasaw County. Latest USDA count- 331 adult dogs 

Ed VanDoorn- Squaw Creek Kennels, Mahaska CountyLatest USDA Count- 387 adult dogs, 152 puppies. 

Steve Kruse- Stonehenge Kennels, Lee County. Latest USDA count- 823 adult dogs, 584 puppiesTHIS BREEDER HAD FIVE INDIRECT VIOLATIONS ON THEIR LATEST INSPECTION. 

IAPm

And Lastly, Iowa has over 10 pet stores that buy from puppy mills, but even more Iowa puppy mills shipping puppies to stores out of the state. For more information on them, please click here

Bailing Out Benji is the only organization in Iowa that actively protests these pet stores and we would LOVE your help! Ames, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City are three cities that we host protests in each weekend. If you know of a pet store in your area that sells puppies, please contact us! We would love to help you educate the citizens in your town! Remember, Pet store puppies ARE puppy mill puppies: don’t buy the lies! 

The dogs in the puppy mills need YOUR help today. Help us educate your family, friends and coworkers by sharing this article! With each new person learning about puppy mills, we are one step closer to putting an end to the industry altogether! 

For more ways to help, please contact us! 

— Mindi

** All Info is Current as of October 2015 and will be updated regularly**

And don’t forget to like us on facebook !!

What’s in YOUR Backyard?

Want to see a puppy mill for your own eyes? 

 

Everyone has differing opinions of what a “puppy mill” is.

Some breeders say that it is a derogatory term, much like a racial slur. Other breeders say that the “AR”s (or Animal Rights Activists, as they refer to us) are using it as a blanket term to cover anyone that breeds and that we want to end all breeding altogether (which is false, by the way)

My own PERSONAL definition of a puppy mill is ANY breeder of any size that puts the profit of the sale over the welfare of the dogs left behind. I don’t care if you have two dogs or two hundred. If you are allowing the parent dogs to go without proper food, water, shelter, VET CARE, or socialization then YOU are a puppy mill, by my standards.

Sadly, Iowa is full of these. Even worse, the reputable breeders won’t step forward and speak out against these terrible facilities. 

According to the USDA website, Iowa has over 239 USDA Commercial dog breeding facilities…. How many of them can honestly say that they care for their dogs? As you have read, I have been to an auction where sick and injured dogs were still being bred and then sold to worse kennels to continue this terrible lifestyle. Well… It has got to stop.

If you are curious about puppy mills in your area, here is the link to the USDA website. From here, you can search for name, city, county, type of animal… You name it, and it is all public information.

I dare you to drive by one of these places in your area. Don’t stop… Don’t harass…  Just drive by. See what I see… Smell what I smell… Hear what I hear.

Put a face on the evil in your area. Draw attention to these places. Stop being complacent. 

Do you know anyone in Polk County (Iowa)? 

Do you know anyone that lives in Des Moines? 

Melving Jennings lives at 2650 NE 108th Street, Mitchellville, Iowa- A 20 minute drive from our state’s capital. Yet, it remains hidden among Iowa’s agriculture. NOT ANY MORE. Help me put Jenning’s on the map. 

Recent USDA inspection report dog counts:
11/7/11 – 67 adults/39 puppies
1/28/11 – 105 adults/41 puppies
2/10/10 – 115 adults/71 puppies

However, Denny Wiese Iowa Puppies (a breeder just down the road, in Altoona) recently closed her doors and it is rumored that the dogs were recycled into this facility. Her latest USDA report showed  161 adults/85 puppies (on 11/7/11). 

Jennings has been cited in the past for having “an excessive accumulation of feces on the wire flooring” and it affected approximately 75 dogs. 

Do you think that he can take care of 100 extra dogs? 

Did you know, you can drive right by this place and see dogs from the road? You can hear their barking from your car. 

 

 Here is the link again to the USDA website. Don’t wait for someone else to tell you about the breeders in your area. 

Go out and find them yourself. 

And don’t forget to  “like” us on facebook, by clicking here 

 –Mindi

“Adopt, Don’t Shop for your next pet” 

**Note: I am not condoning any violence or action against the breeders found on the USDA website. It is meant to be an educational tool to aid in informing others about the atrocities that are happening in your own backyard. Please share the information and make complaints to the proper authorities in your area (sheriff, humane society, and department of agriculture… yes, complain to all of them)

Animal Welfare Act and the USDA

 

Updated 2020 © Bailing Out Benji

Actual USDA licensed and inspected breeder from Iowa 

So many people have questions about USDA licensed breeders, the people who inspect them, and why certain licensed breeders are allowed to get away with many violations without any consequence- not to mention the many problems we have with small town zoos.   The Animal Welfare Act can be difficult to interpret, and it is subjective to each inspector. 

It’s important to note exactly what inspectors are looking for when they arrive at a USDA licensed kennel. Their job is to make sure breeders are adhering to the minimum standards set forth by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), but that is it. They can look at a facility with hundreds of dogs in small cages, desperate for human attention, and note no violations. In fact, in recent years the USDA has moved towards sharing “teachable moments” with their licensees; where they share concerns verbally and write nothing down on an official report. NOTE: Currently, when a USDA inspector utilizes the “teachable moment” policy, or ignores violations in accord with self-reporting or other recently changed policies, the inspector makes the following notation on the official inspection report: “No non-compliant items.” Then the inspector documents, either on a separate “teachable moment” document, or in his/her field notes, the specific non-compliant items discovered during the inspection. (source: MAAL) 

That’s because the AWA does nothing to ensure dogs are happy, or live a quality life. It’s not written into the regulations, and therefore is not something the USDA enforces. Here are some quick facts about the minimum standards set forth by the USDA:

-Inspections are “Risk-based,” meaning that facilities that meet a certain criteria are inspected “as seldom as once every 2 to 3 years.”
-Cage size: must be 6 inches larger than the size of the dog, on all sides
-Up to 12 dogs can be housed in one cage
-Dogs never have to be let out of their cages. Breeders only need to have an exercise plan
-There is no limit to the number dogs a breeder can have—many have over 1,000 . ( Please note: A dog breeding limit can be set on the state level and has been in Washington, Oregon, Virginia and Louisiana ) . 
-There is no age limit for breeding dogs. If a dog is able to produce puppies for ten years, that’s how long they could be in the facility.
 

Animals covered under this act are: Dogs, Cats, Monkeys (other nonhuman primate mammals), guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, and other warm-blooded animals that is intended for use in research, testing, or exhibition. 

Not all animals are covered by this act. Excluded animals include: Birds, Cold Blooded Animals, Fish, Rats and Mice, Amphibians, and livestock (cows, horses, pigs). 

Certain facilities are covered by the AWA, which means that these types of facilities must be USDA licensed. These include facilities that: Breed animals for commercial sale (such as puppy mills), Use animals used in research, Transport animals commercially, or Publically exhibit animals (such as zoos, aquariums)

Facilities not covered by the AWA include pet stores, farms and hobby breeders. 

Taken from the USDA website. Their calculations showing dogs only need 6 inches of space around their bodies

As noted above, the AWA does nothing to address boredom, emotional well- being or quality of life. A dog spinning in circles in a tiny cage 24-7 would not trigger a USDA violation as long as that dog appears outwardly healthy and the cage is at least 6 inches taller that the dogs’ head and 6 inches wider and longer than the dog measures from nosetip to tail BASE. This is an example of why the AWA needs to be rewritten. Emotional torture is every bit as damaging as physical torture for these dogs. The AWA requires that basic standards of care and  treatment be provided for certain animals bred and sold  for use as pets, used in biomedical research, transported  commercially, or exhibited to the public. Individuals  who operate facilities in these categories must provide  their animals with adequate care and treatment in the  areas of housing, handling, sanitation, nutrition, water,  veterinary care, and protection from extreme weather  and temperatures. Sadly, the word adequate doesn’t meet many of OUR standards.

Most commercial breeders use wire flooring on their cages so the feces and urine are able to fall through the openings. This set up is another cruel part of the industry. When people started getting smart and complaining that the wire flooring was causing further injury and deformity to the dogs, the breeders asked that the USDA refer to it as “mesh”. After many people spoke up, the USDA required the wire to be coated, as opposed to making the wire thicker. Any attempts at making changes to these regulations has been met with much resistance.  

Although Federal requirements  establish basic standards, regulated businesses are encouraged to exceed these standards. (AWA website.Most do not. Unfortunately, many USDA licensees not only have a history of violations, but they have many repeat violations with no follow-up or enforcement by the USDA. In fact, every year the Humane Society of the United States creates a “Horrible Hundred” puppy mill list, and many of the violators are repeat offenders. 

-Recent updates with the USDA 2019- 

It is also important to note that in February of 2017, the USDA removed all of their public access to USDA inspection reports in a shocking and sudden move, leaving countless animal welfare organizations in the dark on what is going on within these facilities. Several organizations are in ongoing litigation to fight for our right to obtain the records in their full, un-redacted state. This made our work a lot harder. 

Since the records have been redacted before being released for public viewing, we have seen a dramatic difference in what inspectors are reporting. In fact, the Washington Post uncovered that  the USDA’s enforcement of the AWA had virtually stopped in 2018. See photo obtained from the Washington Post Below. 

Provided by the Washington Post

In 2019, the Washington Post also provided additional research showing that “USDA inspectors documented 60 percent fewer violations at animal facilities in 2018 from the previous year.” You can view their full article here. See the photo obtained from them below. 

Obtained by the Washington Post

This is why there is a huge need for organizations like Bailing Out Benji to exist. We not only research the puppy mill industry, but we connect them to the pet stores they sell to and we have volunteers working to end this cruel industry every day. This is where we need your help! Keep talking about puppy mills and help us educate; go to your city, state and federal leaders to strengthen enforcement on a local level; and don’t hesitate to contact us if you want to get more involved with our small nonprofit! You can also view our pet store research here. 

 

-Recent updates with the USDA 2020- 

On the orders of Congress, the USDA was recently forced to reinstate all of their records back on the USDA website. 

 

Follow us on social media and get involved in the fight to #EndPuppyMills !

 

To make a donation or learn about other ways to support our efforts, click the image above

To receive action alerts and updates on our efforts, click the image above

Sources are the AWA website, MAAL,  Washington Post,

Reputable Breeder or Puppy Mill?

In this day and age, the term “puppy mill” is becoming a blanket term for all dog breeders.  I don’t think that this is very fair. I have met many reputable breeders in my lifetime and they don’t deserve it… But on the same token, I have seen MANY USDA licensed breeding facilities that have brought me to tears because of how they treat their animals.

So if you are coming across this page because you are looking for tips on how to spot a less than reputable breeder, I hope that this information helps…

If you are a breeder and want to leave your thoughts, please do so!

If you are offended by anything in this article, PLEASE let me know… I would consider that a red flag, in itself- but I am open to all suggestions.

Great vs Not-so-great Breeders


Taking time to consider what breed of dog you should get is very important… You need to consider temperament, size, age. But it is equally important to decide from where or whom you will be acquiring the dog. This article describes a few differences between a reputable breeder and breeders that are best avoided. These are just some generalizations and in the end you, as the consumer, have to decide whether or not the person you are acquiring the puppy from has their interests in the right place. If you are left with any questions after you read this, please feel free to leave a comment and I will get back to you!


Finding the RIGHT Breeder

Sometimes finding a respectable breeder that specializes in the breed you are interested in may not be all that easy and it may be tempting to settle for the first breeder that you find. Unfortunately there are many ‘breeders’ that care little for the dogs they raise or for the customers they get. These are typically what some might call backyard breeders (BYB) or puppy mills. The term backyard breeder has different definitions to different people; the more inclusive definition might encompass anyone who breeds dogs without the goal of improving the breed and the more exclusive definition is limited to someone that breeds to make a profit. At times puppy mills or other mass breeders might try to sugar coat what they are by giving themselves appealing names such as puppy farm or professional sounding like commercial breeder but don’t let that fool you it’s all the same thing: people that breed and only care for your money.

Remember that a dog is a long term commitment; your canine companion will be with you for 12+ years, getting him should not be something that is decided overnight or in one trip to the pet store. Dogs are not an “until” pet they are a FOREVER pet… If by chance you end up getting a dog that was poorly bred and has genetic problems it will end up costing you not only financially but also emotionally and physically. When talking to the breeder, don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask for proof of claims, a reputable breeder will happily show you a pedigree when asked about it. Now let’s take a look at some things that distinguish good breeders from the bad ones.

The Reputable Breeder

A responsible or hobby breeder knows full well that breeding is not a business; it’s not a means to get some extra cash. Then one might ask: if they don’t make a profit, why do they do it? Just as the name implies, they do it because it’s a hobby, a passion. They desire to improve the breed they have taken a liking to. To do the best they can they acquire as much knowledge about their breed as is humanely possible, they literally could go on and on about the history of their breed, what it was used for, characteristics, advantages and disadvantages.

A reputable breeder will tend not to breed their dogs that are under 2 years of age; this is most likely due to the fact that one an important genetic test (OFA) cannot be preformed until the age of 2. Many will not continue breeding dogs that are over 8 years of age and usually a dog will not be bred more than 4 times in their life time. A hobby breeder doesn’t breed every time a bitch is in heat because they will only produce the amount of pups they can care, groom and socialize. If asked, these breeders can explain why a specific breeding pair was matched up, what traits they were trying to enhance or what characteristics they were trying to eliminate.

Another thing that distinguishes reputable breeders is that they take very good care of their breeding dogs and litters. They tend to raise the litters in the home to accustom them to family life. Usually the breeding female or male participates in conformation shows and competitive dog sports. While this may seem like ‘fun’ it is a critical part of assessing how well their specific dogs represent the breed and how well they perform as compared to other specimens of their breed. If the breeder doesn’t compare against other then how is she/he to know that they are producing the best? Or what needs to be improved? One will notice that a good breeder’s environment and whelping area is extra clean and that they have truly invested in specialized equipment instead of improvising and using makeshift equipment.

On average a hobby breeder will not release their puppies until the dog has 8 weeks of age and some breeders may not release them until 10 weeks of age. This is to ensure proper socialization of the pooch with the help of his littermates and mother. Because reputable breeders rely more on word of mouth and club or breed organizations, they seldom IF EVER advertise in the newspaper or with flyers. This includes craigslist! Any breeder that is finding a home for their puppies on craigslist is a BYB.  This of course isn’t to say that it’s impossible to find good breeders in the classifieds but the chances of doing so are really low. Also hobby breeders don’t rely on third parties such as pet stores or brokers to place their puppies. Remember that they have worked hard to produce these pups, if anything they’ll want to make sure they go to perfect homes.

When it comes to prospective buyers a truly honest breeder won’t be afraid to discourage you from buying a puppy or from referring you to another breeder. They will openly discuss the advantages of the breed, as well as the disadvantages.  Many also do customer screenings which is usually done through an interview and maybe even a home check. They will provide you with a contract that clearly states that you may be reimbursed for the cost of the puppy should it have genetic defects (without having to return the dog), whether or not you will have to alter the dog, and other things that protects the buyer and breeder. Respectable breeders will not usually show you the litter on the first visit or if the puppies are 5 weeks or younger; the reason being that they want to avoid bringing any illness to the pups, upsetting the mother, and they also want to prevent impulse buying or hasty emotional attachments. In due time, however, they won’t hesitate to show you the whole litter and the parent(s).

Good breeder will always provide proof of claims they make, this might be in the form of a pedigree, test results, contracts, etc. Breeders will provide you with proof of genetic testing on the puppy, the parents or most likely both. Some of the common tests breeder do are the OFA (for hips), CERF (for eyes), PennHIP (for hips), and BAER (for hearing) just to name a few. These will also be up to date, the CERF testing, for example, has to be done every year. Probably the most distinguishable aspect of a good breeder is that they stay in contact with those that they have sold their puppies to. They are more than willing to provide grooming, training, and medical advice if needed. They will also take the dog back no matter how old, if the owner can no longer take care of him.

The above mentioned characteristics are what really set apart the good breeders from the bad ones. One can usually find good breeders through breed organizations with connections with the AKC, UKC, FCI or some other reputable registry. The quickest way to find the official breed club is to Google the breed name (no misspellings) and find the link that say (Breed Name) Club of America, or something to that effect. The AKC website also has some ways to find reputable breeders that specialize in whatever breed you are looking to buy.

The Profit Breeder

Most breeders that are not reputable will tend to fall into two categories: backyard breeders and puppy mills. With exception of puppy mills, bybs aren’t always bad people. Half of the time they are people that don’t know that they are doing wrong and are ignorant as to the proper way to breed dogs. This of course isn’t to say that they are not a factor to the over-crowding in shelters and pounds but some of these, when taught that they are doing wrong, will try their best to become respectable breeders or stop breeding altogether. There are, of course, some that simply won’t listen and are too addicted to the money they bring in; these people are seriously looked down upon by the dog people community. According to Veterinarypartner.com the AKC estimates that in 1996 70% of dogs that were registered as purebreds were bred by people that bred their dogs only to later found out how expensive, exhausting and heartbreaking it was and then later decided to fix their dog.

Puppy mills on the other hand are completely greedy and should be avoided at all times. While they may not sell directly to people, they majority of puppy mills will ship their dogs off to pet stores and receive profits from whatever they sell. That is why many advocate never purchasing puppies from pet stores even though they may claim that they get their pups from reputable breeders; remember as mentioned above, good breeders don’t use third parties to place their puppies.

Puppy mills breed for money, there is no reasoning around that; however, backyard breeders produce litters for a myriad of ignorant and illogical reasons. Some of the most common reasons are listed below:

Our dog is great and if we breed him he’ll produce equally great pups.

We want puppies that are going to be just like our dog.

A(n) friend/family/acquaintance wants a dog just like ours.

Selling dogs is an easy way to bring in extra money.

We want to make back the money we spent on our dog.

All female dogs should have at least one litter to be happy/healthy/well behaved.

We can’t afford to spay her.

Our breeder wants us to breed our dog.

We want to breed our dog because he comes from champion lines.

It’s ok to breed our dog because she is AKC registered.

In some cases backyard breeder may indeed love their dogs very much, but even so they do very little to ensure that the dogs that other people are going to end up loving just as much are free of genetic problems. The majority of the time a BYB will breed their dog with any other dog of the same breed (if that) without doing any genetic testing to make sure they are a good match, it is very rare to find a bad breeder that breeds and keeps in mind conformation or improvement of the breed. And even though the chances of acquiring a dog with a health problem is higher if the dog is from an irresponsible breeder, they offer no health guarantee and are unqualified to give medical advice should problems arise. To sum it up, once the money has been exchanged, you are on your own.

The majority of backyard breeders and puppy mills have little to no knowledge on AKC standards, and they don’t make an effort to further any knowledge they may have with participation in breed clubs.  Some will have the audacity to say that AKC conformation doesn’t matter for ‘pet quality’ dogs. Pet quality dogs are usually purebred dogs that have a characteristic that would be considered a fault in a conformation show or have something that makes them unfit for showing. One should wonder why they are breeding ‘pet quality’ dogs when there are plenty of them in shelters and rescues, and also why they continue to bred pet quality dogs and not top quality. Pet quality dogs should also be sold with a “limited registration” and a contract that mandates alteration, but many ignore this and as a result more “pet quality” dogs are born.

Remember that the correct maintenance of a dog doesn’t allow for much profit, the only way that backyard breeders and puppy mills (more so the latter) is to keep dogs in poor conditions and only spend the minimum on them, simply to keep them alive until they sell. Unfortunately this poor care results in a dog with poor socialization and most likely one that will have behavioral problems or fears in the future.

In the end, it could cost you a lot more to buy from a backyard breeder or puppy mill seeing how they don’t care for health screening, you may end up with expensive vet bills and because of the poor conditions they are kept in, any behavior problems will usually need to be corrected with the help of a behaviorist which of course isn’t free. As with anything in the dog world, you get what you pay for.

Red Flags

If a breeder you know does some of the things below or holds some of those views, it may be that they are profit breeders. If you are bold enough, you can question them about why they do that or why they think that way and see if they give you a logical answer, however half the time they are most likely to get irritated with you. However you as the buyer have a right to ask as many questions as you’d like.

*The breeder insists that you two meet offsite. This is usually a sign that they don’t want you to see their kennels or whelping area. Always a good idea to ask why they want to meet offsite.

*Has no papers for purebred dogs. This is usually a sign that the litter was an accident or that they simply don’t care whatsoever about the betterment of the breed as a whole. Remember that papers are required, they are not a ‘bonus’ or an ‘extra‘.

*Use incorrect terminology such (e.g. full-blooded or teacup). The incorrect terminology should signal that either the breeder doesn’t know a thing about breeding or they are using misleading terms to make you get erroneous conclusions.

*Promotes abnormalities such as extra small (teacup) or extra big. The reason to avoid breeders that advertise extra small or extra big dogs is because the majority of the time the pups have health issues and will tend not to conform to the breed standards.

*So called breeders of designer breeds. Designer breeder are simply mixed breeds, they aren’t truly breeds. These breeders are simply breeding that which there are plenty of in shelters and rescues: mutts.

*Beware if dog is registered in anything other than the AKC, UKC, CKC (Canadian kennel club), FCI, or ANKC. There are many other mimic registries that will offer papers for just about any dog, sometimes even mixed breeds or designer breeds. These registries don’t care much for conformation and are worth very little. The above mentioned registries are non-profit, hold shows dogs sports, and fun dog health research.

*Only guarantee they provide is having been checked by the vet. Having been checked by the vet is a good thing; however a cursory check doesn’t reveal genetic problems. Never allow a ‘vet check’ to be a substitute for health testing, and make sure they have proof of the test results.

*The breeder looks down on genetic testing and says his/her dogs are problem free. This type of breeder is usually in it for the money, as they don’t want to waste money on the testing. They can’t really guarantee problem free dogs if they don’t do health tests.

*Breeders that charge more for females or males, or those that are registered or have a pedigree. Why should a breeder be charging you more for different gender or for papers that are required to be there? That’s right, they shouldn’t. Ask and see if they give a good reason but for the most part they won’t. Once again, remember papers are requirements not a bonus. Also remember that the AKC doesn’t screen the dogs they register, so papers are not a proof of quality.

*Beware of breeders whose contract requires you to breed. Good breeders know that breeding is a serious commitments and one that requires money, they wouldn’t impose this responsibility on you unless you really wanted it.

*Breeders who constantly switch from one breed to another depending on which is popular. These are very likely to be in it for the money. They want to produce whatever there is a demand for; these breeders are treating breeding as if it were a profit business which it is not. A good breeder will have one or two breeds which they truly desire to improve.

*Red flag breeders with a USDA license. Those with this license are most likely mass breeders and produce too many dogs to provide care for either when they are in their care and when they’ve been placed.

*Use makeshift accommodations. Makeshift accommodations show that they most likely don’t want to spend their precious profits on the purchase of quality equipment.

*Unwilling to show entire litter or parent(s). This shows that there might be something to hide, such as an illness in other littermates or behavior problems in the parent. If the breeder doesn’t want to show you the parents and yet claims that the pups are purebred it might be that they might not be pure bred.

While I am a strong advocate for adopting instead of shopping for pets, I know that some people insist on buying. If that is the case, PLEASE do your research and remember: There are breed rescues all over that are dedicated to rescuing animals from bad homes or bad situations. You can find them all on petfinder.com . You can search for any breed, age, or size of dog- and only rescues and shelters are allowed to use it. 

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Information from K9 Domain

Century Farm Puppies (Grundy Center, Iowa)

Century Farm Puppies

Rex and Debbie Meyers

Phone: 319-824-3214

Cell Phone: 319-415-8009

Grundy Center, Iowa

CenturyFarmMain
“One woman said she didn’t know how happy the puppy would be losing it’s lake front condo and moving to Beverly Hills!”

             Rex and Debbie Meyers once told me that their puppies are shipped all over the country, mainly to Las Vegas and New Hampshire. It got me thinking… Those people must be using the internet to contact this facility! So, in honor of Century Farm Puppies brand new website, I am creating this post! I will be comparing their claims with actual reports from the USDA inspectors that visited this puppy mill. If you are stumbling upon this site because you are searching for the actual Century Farm Puppies webpage, I implore you to continue reading. Read this post in this entirety. I am about to show you behind the curtain… Behind the beautiful webpage with the adorable puppies. I am going to show you how the USDA inspectors view this “top kennel in Iowa” (*editor note, that is a self-made claim by Rex and Debbie.) First, I want to share with you, an email that we have from Deb Meyers– PROVING that the dogs are not raised in the home. 

DyvigsCFP

          The claims that you will read come straight from their website and they are the same that every other commercial dog breeder uses:

Big farm,  lots of land to run,  happy,  healthy,  USDA inspected…

The information that I will use will come from three sources: Century Farm Puppies, Dyvig’s Pet Shoppe, and the USDA inspection reports .

Example of a Sundowner building. There are 3 of them crammed into one building at this facility

 

” We have 200 acres and a Lake for the puppies to explore” (from the website) 

Rex and Debbie said that they have an outdoor pen and the puppies are only allowed to play in it. When I was on their property, they put all of the puppies in this circular gate that was no bigger than a child’s swimming pool.  They had old lawn chairs that the puppies were able to climb around and play on. Debbie told me that she gets these at garage sales or on the side of the road… ** I should mention that the adult dogs are never allowed to leave their cages. They aren’t taken out unless it is time for the “veterinarian” to visit, and most of them time they still remain in their tiny cages.

“USDA is extremely picky, they do not allow any cobwebs, fly specks, hair, etc…” (from their website) The info below is from their USDA reports. 


“Our adults have inside/outside runs with heating and air conditioning, automatic feeder/water and automatic doors.” (from their website) The info below is from the USDA reports

 

Debbie said that the only protection against the elements (weather) are flaps that come down or doors that close. She said that there was no air or heat for the parent dogs.

“Our puppies are very well cared for and spoiled…” (again, from their website) and below is the USDA reports


**Editors note: When I was there, Rex offered me bad advice when it came to heart guard. He said that you can just buy the medicine for the biggest breed and then just split it among several dogs (or among several months). This CAN NOT happen. Those heart guard pills don’t have the medication spread evenly throughout the pill. One dog may get no dose, while the other gets an overdose. PLEASE be careful and do not listen to his bad advice!

 

         I have personally been to this facility twice and have personally seen many of these violations (and much more). Thankfully, I was able to rescue a “retired” King Charles Cavalier, who had a dropped uterus during her last pregnancy. She was only three (ish) years old and the genetic defects were already showing. She was diagnosed (after visiting a real vet for the first time in her life) with luxating patellas- a genetic disorder that was passed to each puppy she had. Sadly, she isn’t the only sick adult dog there. She is the only one we could remove from that horrendous situation.

        Since Century Farm only uses the APR registry, they don’t have to screen for genetic defects… Not to mention, the USDA requires that a vet only checks out the dogs once a year. The whole situation is very unhealthy for the adult dogs.

I refer to this facility as a “puppy mill”, because they worry more about quantity and not quality. Small time, family operations do not have almost 600 dogs on their property. Here are a few of the most recent dog numbers at Century Farm puppies (from the USDA) 

DyvigsUSDA

 

 

 

 

      These are the reasons why we are picketing at Dyvig’s Pet Shoppe in Ames, Iowa. It is very important that Dale Dyvig not be associated with any breeder (especially this family)! Please contact him and express your concerns… Ask Dyvig’s Pet Shoppe to have adoptable pets, as opposed to commercially bred dogs!

 

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They Adopted…

Jennifer Aniston chooses to adopt

Ryan Gosling and his rescued friend George

THEY ADOPTED!!

Katherine Heigl is a HUGE animal advocate

Alyssa Milano believes in “Adopt, Don’t Shop”

Oprah loves adopted animals too
Kaley Cuoco and adopted friend 🙂

  Joss Stone only adopts


WHAT’S YOUR EXCUSE?!?!?!

Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber adopted a rescue dog
Taylor Swift just adopted a furry friend 

 

 

 

Charlize Theron and her adopted dog

www.petfinder.com

You can find your next

family member here.

emmastone
Emma Stone and longtime boyfriend, Andrew Garfield decided to add a furry friend to their family 🙂 They went to their local shelter and picked out a sweet dog!

 

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! 

Josh Hutcherson from “The Hunger Games” adopted a new furry friend too. “Driver” is a special needs pitbull with only a few toes and had to undergo femur surgery.

Cat (Small Animal) Mills: The Awful Truth

Any animal can be milled!

That is a truth that not everyone realizes. Sugar Gliders, Rats, Chinchillas, rabbits,  foxes, Ferrets and kittens. Any animal that you see in a pet store has (more than likely) been milled. 

Thankfully, there has been some (not enough) media attention surrounding puppy  mills. Most everyone has at least heard the term or seen a picture and realizes that it isn’t a good thing. But sadly, any animal that is sold in pet stores is usually milled. Just think about it- pet stores are always able to have more than enough of the animals listed  to sell to anyone that walks in their door. And why is that?  Since there is a demand, there will be an industry.


There will always be  “farmers” that make sure there are more than enough rats, hamsters and chinchillas to keep the cages in the pet stores full. But because no rodentmillone is speaking out against these types of mills, breeders are able to switch which species they are breeding rather easily. Many former puppy mill breeders have switched, and now breed a multitude of cats to public (and private) organizations. Much like the puppy mill industry, the breeder has absolutely no concern for the health of the animals, the conditions they live in, or the fate of the animals leaving the property.

Kitty mills are just another example of humanity’s “supreme reign” over the animal kingdom. We have the power to torture for profit, so we do. Most people don’t even think that kitty mills are that prevalent in this day and age because of the high number of cats in shelters. However, it is a huge problem.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, most cats are adopted “casually”. About 48% of human owned cats are taken in as strays, or found by someone who gives the kitten or cat to a friend, or is adopted directly from a rescue league. A much smaller percentage, 14%, adopts their cats from shelters, especially kill shelters. The remaining percentage goes directly to either breeders or pet stores. However, with all this kitty purchasing going on, 71% of all cats or kittens that find themselves in the unfortunate position of being in a shelter are euthanized before forever homes can be found. Only one out of every five kittens and cats are destined to live in one home for their lifetime. Most cats find themselves abandoned or left on the shelter doorstep when they are either too much responsibility or lose their cute little kitten appeal.

But it’s not just dogs and cats…. Again, every animal can (and is) milled. There are thousands of small animal mills in the United States, with millions of rats, mice, chinchillas and rabbits who are suffering for their short lives. These pets are not only sold to pet stores, but they are sold to testing facilities and bred at colleges for “scientific purposes”. Where do we draw the line? 

According to the HSUS:
There are Shocking Conditions in Small Animal Mills

Commercial pet dealers who breed or sell most warm-blooded animals to pet stores are required to be licensed and inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. But The HSUS’ review of USDA inspection reports reveals that many of these breeders are guilty of repeated violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act for crowded and dirty conditions.

Inspection reports from 2004-2006 reveal Animal Welfare Act violations that include:

  • a cattery full of expired medications, which could leave the kittens exposed to deadly diseases
  • a small-animal dealer with over 2,000 hamsters and other small pets inside cages that had reportedly not been cleaned in weeks; sick hamsters being treated without a veterinary consult; holes in the facility walls, and accumulation of dust, cobwebs, and rodent droppings throughout the facility
  • a small-animal breeder with “dead hamsters found in different enclosures housing other hamsters,” as well as “green algae” growing in some of the animals’ water bottles
  • 11 guinea pigs housed inside a small tub only large enough for four
  • a ferret and chinchillas without enough room in their cages to stand up
  • rabbits in overcrowded enclosures less than 9 inches tall

But what can we do? As a group that is actively fighting puppy mills, we have a hard enough time getting people to care about dogs living their entire lives in cages… Letalone  getting people to care about rats. But education is so important. Getting the word out about ALL types of animal mills and raising awareness about the conditions in which these beating hearts are forced to live. 

So, we already know that pet overpopulation is a big problem in this country, and many other countries. But are there  really small animals in shelters waiting to be adopted? YES! There are! Please check petfinder.com or adoptapet.com . Any animal that can be purchased, is usually dumped on local shelters, rescues or craigslist. So please, the next time you are looking to add ANY pet to your family, consider adoption first! 

 

If you liked this article, PLEASE like us on facebook and share 🙂 

–Mindi

“Don’t Shop, Adopt!”

Designer Dogs = Expensive Mutts

Cavachons, Dorkies, Yorkipoos, Buggles, Goldendoodles, Cockapoos, Bowzers, Porkies, Baskimos, Puggles.

What do they all have in common?  

They are all mutts… Really really really expensive mutts. By slapping the “designer dog” label on them, unscrupulous dog breeders and puppy mills are able to sell them at outrageous prices so the consumer feels like they are getting something “special” and “new”. When really, they are getting a high-priced mutt, that more than likely isn’t recognized by the AKC.

Some even tell buyers that these new “breeds” like yorkiepoos, buggles or  jugs will be recognized by the AKC some day very soon. But people in the market for a new puppy  need to realize that a cute name doesn’t turn a mongrel into a  purebred. If you fall for the hype, you could pay more for a mutt than you would  for a registered, guaranteed purebred.

Creating a New Breed Using Existing Dog Breeds

Ever heard of a Chusky? Yeah, me neither, not until I started doing research for this article. According to many sites, I own an expensive “designer dog”. My beautiful dog Zeppelin is a 100% purebred Chusky (sarcasm very much intended) and I got him for the low, low sale price of $0.  Had his previous, abusive owners known that, they wouldn’t have surrendered him into my care at no cost! This beautiful Chow-Husky mix is absolutely one of a kind, and he is just that… One of a kind. Which is why most designer breeds haven’t been accepted by the AKC. When two purebred dogs are put together, you don’t always know what is going to come out the other end. You can’t know which traits it is going to get! It is like breeding two people. You can’t possibly know if it is going to get dad’s work ethic, or mom’s artistic abilities.

Doodles are another hot, new breed — except they aren’t a breed, either. They are  a mix of Poodles and Labradors or Golden Retrievers. Most doodles you see for  sale are just first generation crosses of retriever to Poodle. They are mixed  breeds! There is a puppy mill owner in Altoona, Iowa that will sell you a “GoldenDoodle” for $400, while the shelter down the road will adopt it to the right family for less than $100.

Another fun fact: The “oodles” of Poodle mixes like yorkiepoos, pekapoos, schnoodles (and so on)  have absolutely no breeding standards, no club, no standardized breeding records, and no plan  for the future–which means no AKC acceptance letters for these doggies. So what is the point? Why go to a pet store and spend $1000 on a designer mutt, when you can go to your local shelter or www.petfinder.com and find something that is just as adorable, SO much cheaper, and that is going home with all (or most) of its vet work done?

Here is my thought for the day… If rescues and shelters started putting these designer labels on their dogs, would they be adopted more quickly? I am really curious about what you think!

If you “like” this article, PLEASE “like” our facebook page 🙂

–Mindi

And as I always say… “Don’t Shop, Adopt!”  

Want to know More? Read it here:

Shelter dogs aren’t broken!.

How much is that doggie in the window?.

Dyvig’s Pet Shoppe, Ames, Iowa… A store NOTORIOUS for selling Puppy Mill puppies.