For Immediate Release:
August 8, 2023
Contact:
Brittney Williams 202-483-7382
Butler County, Iowa – Armed with damning U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports recording severe issues—such as dogs with without treatment and most likely uncomfortable oral illness, musty food, and no access to water—at Coldwater Kennel, a regional operation that produces puppies for sale that’s run by Larry Albrecht, PETA hurried a letter to Butler County Attorney David Kuehner asking him to examine the center, which houses almost 250 dogs, and file relevant charges versus those accountable for animal overlook and/or cruelty to animals.
According to the most just recently launched report, on June 28 federal government inspectors discovered comprehensive tartar accumulation on dogs’ teeth and a dog with a loose tooth and a number of teeth “completely covered in hard, dark brown” product. In February, the kennel operator was encouraged to get oral cleansing treatments done on the dogs, however the June report revealed that this was refrained from doing.
Last year, USDA inspectors likewise discovered “caked and moldy food” in feeding trays, a female dog who had no access to water, and 2 dogs with 5 puppies housed on wire grates. The report keeps in mind that the puppies’ feet failed the wires, producing a severe threat of injury and “discomfort, pain, or mobility issues.” Additionally, inspectors discovered 5 dogs kept outdoors with plastic dog houses that were so terribly chewed that they couldn’t be correctly sterilized.
“Filth, neglect, and suffering are par for the course in miserable puppy mills like this one, where dogs are treated as commodities to be produced as cheaply as possible,” says PETA Vice President of Evidence Analysis Daniel Paden. “PETA is calling on Butler County authorities to prosecute those responsible and urges everyone never to buy an animal from any breeder or pet store and to adopt from shelters instead.”
In the very first quarter of 2023, Iowa puppy mills acquired more federal infractions than those in any other state, with 26 breeders representing 107 overall citations. PETA keeps in mind that around 70 million buddy animals are homeless in the U.S. at any offered time which breeders contribute to the overpopulation crisis and reject animals in shelters an opportunity at discovering a home.
PETA is pursuing charges under state law since the USDA doesn’t render relief or help to animals throughout its assessments and these infractions bring no federal criminal or civil charges.
PETA—whose slogan checks out, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more details, check out PETA.org, listen to The PETA Podcast, or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
PETA’s letter to Kuehner follows.
August 8, 2023
The Honorable David Kuehner
Butler County Attorney
Dear Mr. Kuehner:
I hope this letter discovers you well. I’m composing to demand that your workplace (and the correct law-enforcement company, as you consider suitable) examine and, as appropriate, file criminal charges versus those accountable for overlooking dogs at Coldwater Kennel, run by Larry Albrecht at 12059 Camp Comfort Rd. near Greene. PETA hopes private investigators will check out the center with a vet who has know-how in canine health and well-being so that they can recognize any animals in requirement of care and opine on the conditions of and for the roughly 250 animals there.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) staff recorded overlook at the center in the connected reports, the latest of which was simply revealed. On June 28, USDA authorities discovered that 3 dogs had yet to receive the oral care that they were identified to require more than 4 months previously. Brown product had actually built up on approximately 50% of each dog’s teeth. A Pomeranian was discovered to have a number of teeth “completely covered” by such accumulation and one tooth that “was loose when touched.” In September 2021, USDA staff discovered that a dog had “dark brown tartar buildup covering the entire surface” of a number of teeth. Some of the teeth were “loose and moved easily,” and their hidden gums were “inflamed and bled,” which “could cause pain … to the dog.”
In May 2022, the inspector discovered 5 dogs whose shelters had actually been “heavily chewed.” Two months previously, USDA staff discovered that 4 dogs were entrusted “moldy” and/or “caked” food which a 5th dog had no water. When the dog was offered water, she consumed it for roughly a minute.
These findings might breach Iowa’s animal overlook statute, Iowa Code § 717B.3(1). While Albrecht runs an industrial establishment he is needed under Iowa Code § 162.10A to guarantee that his animals don’t do not have veterinary care or sufficient food, water, or housing. Thus, these findings aren’t exempt from examination. The USDA renders no help or relief whatsoever to animals on website, and these reports bring no criminal or civil charges and don’t preempt criminal liability under state law for overlooking animals. If you’d like to learn more about the USDA’s findings, please see the contact details for its workplace in Riverdale, Maryland, here.
Thank you for your time and factor to consider.
Sincerely,
Daniel Paden
Vice President of Evidence Analysis
PETA
