For Immediate Release:
October 5, 2023
Contact:
Brittney Williams 202-483-7382
Grundy County, Iowa – Damning U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports simply obtained by PETA reveal that Century Farm Puppies—an area breeding facility operated by the Meyers household that churns out puppies on the market—has been cited once more for violating the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA), this time for dogs with extreme dental illness and ears full of brown buildup. This marks not less than the 17th violation at Century Farm since 2017. Despite this sample of repeated violations, the USDA has but to rescue a single animal or search any penalties towards the power, so PETA rushed a letter to Grundy County Attorney Erika L. Allen urging her to have a veterinarian go to the power with investigators and file acceptable expenses towards these answerable for the neglect. The facility confines 285 to 350 dogs at a time.
According to the stories, on August 24 USDA veterinarians seen one canine rubbing her ears towards the ground, and additional inspection revealed a buildup of darkish brown materials in each ears. Other dogs have been discovered with damaged, worn, or free tooth and receding gums—and in a single case, the gums have been so receded that the tooth roots have been seen. The inspectors additionally discovered dogs housed in rusty wire enclosures, feeders coated in brown grime, and expired medicines. Similar issues have been reported throughout a March 1 inspection that additionally revealed a canine whose toe pad had been torn away, leaving them unable to make use of that foot. Another canine’s ears have been so filled with hair and brown buildup that his ear canals weren’t seen, and he was noticed shaking his head. A 3rd canine’s coat was severely overgrown and matted—which had been seen by mill personnel on February 20 however nonetheless hadn’t been addressed—and his toenails have been so lengthy that that they had grown in circles and touched his toe pads.
“When dogs are warehoused by the hundreds in miserable mills like this one, filth and suffering are inevitable,” says PETA Vice President of Evidence Analysis Daniel Paden. “PETA is calling on Grundy County authorities to prosecute those responsible for this appalling pattern of neglect and urges everyone never to buy a dog from any breeder or pet store.”
PETA is pursuing expenses underneath state legislation as a result of the USDA doesn’t render aid or support to animals throughout its inspections and these violations carry no federal felony or civil penalties. In 2022 and the primary quarter of 2023, Iowa led the nation in federal AWA violations at breeding mills. In the previous six weeks alone, Iowa authorities have seized over 220 dogs from puppy mills.
PETA—whose motto reads, partly, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For extra data, please go to PETA.org, take heed to The PETA Podcast, or comply with the group on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, or Instagram.
PETA’s letter to Allen follows.
October 5, 2023
The Honorable Erika L. Allen
Grundy County Attorney
Dear Ms. Allen:
I hope this letter finds you effectively. I’m writing to request that your workplace (and the correct law-enforcement company, as you deem acceptable) examine and, as appropriate, file felony expenses towards these answerable for neglecting dogs at Century Farm Puppies, operated by the Meyers household and situated at 22928 270th St. close to Grundy Center. PETA hopes investigators will go to the power with a veterinarian who has experience in canine well being and welfare in order that they will establish any animals in want of care and opine on the situations of and for the roughly 285 animals there.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) workers have documented persistent neglect on the kennel within the connected stories, the latest of which was simply made public. On August 24, two USDA veterinarians and a 3rd inspector discovered 4 dogs on the Meyers’ operation in want of veterinary care. One canine was “rubbing her ears on the floor” and had “a buildup of dark brown … material” in each ears. Three different dogs have been discovered with “advanced dental disease.” A canine named Flower was with “severe gum recession of upper incisors, canines and cheek teeth.” Cruz was affected by “a broken lower left incisor tooth exposing the pulp of the tooth.” And Melonia had not less than three free tooth and two tooth “worn down to the gums with exposed tooth pulp.”
Similarly, on March 1, a USDA veterinarian and a second inspector discovered 4 dogs in want of care. One canine’s tooth have been “completely encased in a hard” brown materials, and the canine’s ears have been so matted that USDA workers “could not observe the underlying skin.” A poodle’s ear canals have been so filled with “dark brown” buildup and hair that his ear canals “could not be observed.” A 3rd canine’s toe pad “had been partially torn away”—which left the animal holding the affected leg up and hopping round—and the canine had a free tooth whose roots have been uncovered. Yet one other canine’s ft and stomach have been matted, and his coat was “severely overgrown.”
These findings—amongst others on the facility—could violate Iowa’s animal neglect statute, Iowa Code § 717B.3(1)(f). The USDA renders no support or aid in any respect to animals on website, and these stories carry no felony or civil penalties and don’t preempt felony legal responsibility underneath state legislation for neglecting animals. If you’d wish to study extra concerning the USDA’s findings, please see the contact data for its workplace in Riverdale, Maryland, here.
Thank you in your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Daniel Paden
Vice President of Evidence Analysis
PETA
