The Humane Society of the United States has launched its annual “Horrible Hundred” report cataloging regulatory points at 100 puppy mills nationwide, together with 15 situated in Iowa.
The report is predicated on the findings of state and authorities inspectors. For the twelfth 12 months in a row, Missouri has the most important variety of breeders within the report, adopted by Ohio, Iowa and Wisconsin.
“This report shows what life is really like for dogs and puppies in this cruel industry,” mentioned John Goodwin, senior director of the Humane Society of the United States’ Stop Puppy Mills marketing campaign. “Our report is the tip of the iceberg. As shocking as circumstances are in licensed puppy mills, there are many operations that aren’t inspected at all due to legal loopholes. It’s critical for the public to understand the full picture of where their puppies come from, and they won’t get that on a breeder’s website or in a pet store.”
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The report additionally highlights practices at breeding operations endorsed by, or tied to, the American Kennel Club. The humane society experiences that Iowa breeder Patti Kowitz, who has appeared on the AKC’s Marketplace web site, failed three state inspections in a row, and her kennel was discovered to have robust odors and soiled, cluttered circumstances, with one person caring for about 60 dogs.
The report contains these analyses of the violations state and federal inspectors discovered at Iowa breeders in recent years.
Larry Albrecht of Coldwater Kennel, Greene
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has cited Albrecht for violations in every of the previous 4 years. His 2024 license renewal was delayed as a consequence of unsanitary and unsafe circumstances. Earlier this month, state inspectors reported discovering a Yorkshire terrier in want of veterinary consideration as a result of lack of hair on its tail, hind finish and all 4 toes. The facility had 280 dogs on the time. Albrecht acquired an official warning from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2021 for leaving a canine in poor dental well being, with points corresponding to unfastened tooth and bleeding gums. Albrecht was cited for the same problem in 2017.
Helene Hamrick of Wolf Point Kennel, Ackworth
This facility was cited for veterinary care violations in 4 totally different inspections from 2023 to early 2024. Issues discovered throughout the late 2023 inspections included a canine with an injured toe pad; a canine with a head tilt and indicators of an ear an infection; a puppy with a watch situation; and one other canine with important “hot spots,” indicating a pores and skin situation in want of remedy. Inspectors additionally discovered unsafe and soiled circumstances. In February 2024, a USDA inspector discovered some dogs’ coasts had been so badly matted that they’d fecal materials “twisted into the matts.”
Freeman P. Helmuth of Sunrise Kennels, Corydon
In 2023, violations a state inspection and two USDA inspections cited points. In April 2023, the USDA discovered a pug puppy affected by “poor eye health,” with its left eye “sealed shut by dry, yellow-colored discharge.” In addition, the puppy’s proper eye was “completely cloudy.” The USDA additionally famous that the puppy had not been evaluated by a veterinarian and was not receiving any remedy. There had been about 90 dogs and puppies on the property on the time. When the USDA returned in November 2023, inspectors discovered proof of rodent exercise. Sunrise Kennels has offered puppies to not less than two Petland shops in recent years, in keeping with the HSUS.
Bruce Hooyer of JKLM Farm, aka Shaggy Hill Farm, Sioux Center
State inspectors who visited JKLM Farm in March 2024 discovered a wide range of violations that indicated ongoing sanitation points. They famous a powerful odor within the whelping building, a buildup of feces beneath the flooring of some kennels and extreme rust. Inspectors additionally made be aware of the truth that the business’ most recent veterinary inspection kinds dated again to 2022.
In March 2023, state inspectors famous considerations in regards to the variety of dogs on the kennel, stating it was “a tremendous amount of work for two people” to handle 125 dogs, and that the variety of dogs had been growing. Inspectors have additionally famous that a number of dogs and puppies died on the business in 2017 and 2018.
Connie and Harold Johnson of Fur Babies Forever, previously CW’s Quaint Critters, Melvin
During a September 2023 state inspection, Fur Babies Forever was discovered to have rust peeling and flaking from a number of the kennels. When inspectors returned later that very same month, they had been denied entry ― a repeat violation. Fur Babies Forever and its company predecessor have a historical past of denying inspectors entry, and when inspectors do get in, they sometimes discover violations. The humane society acknowledged that “the kennel is still licensed by the state, but still often dodges inspections.”
Linda, Bethany and Stanley Korver, Orange City
During USDA inspections in February and May 2023, the inspectors cited this business for a complete of twenty-two violations. Nine of the violations present in May 2023 had been repeat violations that had not been corrected from the earlier inspection, together with soiled and unsafe circumstances, poor record-keeping associated to puppies, and accumulations of cobwebs, mud, particles and feces. All 27 grownup dogs had been missing proof of veterinary examinations and rabies vaccines, in keeping with the inspectors. Past points on the facility embrace a torpid and skinny canine present in 2016 that was so malnourished inspectors may see her ribs and hip bones.
Patti Kowitz of Tannin Border Collies, aka Wapsi River Wirehaired Pointing Griffons, Calamus
After inspectors had been twice unable to achieve entry to Tannin Border Collies, the business failed 4 consecutive inspections in 2023 and early 2024. Inspectors famous an odor they described as robust or extreme on three events. During one of many visits, inspectors discovered a canine with an untreated paw damage or progress that was later decided to be cancerous.
During a January 2024 go to, an inspector cited the business for soiled, cluttered and smelly circumstances, writing that “the conditions of the facility indicate current number of dogs may be too high for one individual to care for.” There had been almost 60 dogs and puppies on the property on the time. In November 2023, inspectors discovered a shivering canine with out enough shelter from the chilly.
Steve Kruse of Stonehenge Kennel, West Point
This breeding operation, one among Iowa’s largest, was topic to a 21-day USDA license suspension in March 2023. State inspectors additionally discovered violations within the second half of 2023, citing the business for robust odors, the shortage of strong resting surfaces for dogs and unsanitary circumstances. A September 2023 state inspection report made be aware of a limping canine and the truth that dogs weren’t being faraway from their enclosures when the workers pressure-washed the services.
At least 199 dogs had been euthanized on the facility in 2021 after Kruse exchanged dogs with one other Iowa operator, Daniel Gingerich, whose license was revoked that 12 months. The humane society says it “continues to have grave concerns about the dogs in Stonehenge Kennel.”
Heath ‘Rex’ Meyers of Century Farm Puppies, Grundy Center
This breeder, who has had as many as 240 dogs at any given time, was the topic of quite a few citations for violations in 2023 and early 2024. In January 2024, a USDA inspector cited the business for 2 repeat violations — one for a veterinary care problem and one for unsanitary circumstances.
In August 2023, USDA inspectors inquired in regards to the use with out correct documentation of a managed substance supplied by a veterinarian. It appeared the substance might have been used to kill dogs, with USDA inspectors noting that once they requested in regards to the destiny of 26 grownup dogs whose names had been crossed off data, Meyers mentioned they had been “likely euthanized.”
Additionally, inspectors famous that the ability was performing its personal dental cleanings and a few forms of dental extractions. In 2023, the business was cited for dogs in want of veterinary care, wire flooring that might lure the dogs’ paws, poorly groomed dogs and a scarcity of area for dogs to train.
Joel Paris of Paris Puppies Paradise, Ogden
This business continues to be in operation regardless of almost 100 dogs being rescued from the property in late 2023. Those dogs had been reported to be underweight and dwelling in feces. Paris was fined $2,600 for animal neglect leading to demise and damage, however nonetheless seems to be promoting dogs on-line, the humane society reported. Some of the business’ extra recent violations have been for denying inspectors’ access to the building, for which Paris Puppies Paradise has been cited 23 occasions previously decade.
Wuanita Swedlund of Cantril
This vendor was forced to downsize after a number of puppies died within the chilly. One puppy went lacking and was presumed to have been eaten by its mom. Another puppy needed to be euthanized after his leg was chewed off by absolutely grown canine. In the winter of 2023-24, Iowa officers started working with Swedlund to scale back the scale of her kennel to 30 dogs from 159.
According to inspectors, dogs are usually transported between Swedlund’s facility and Steve Kruse’s Stonehenge Kennels. Swedlund acquired an official warning from the USDA in January 2024, however incurred a number of extra violations in February 2024, with inspectors noting she didn’t have sufficient staff to correctly care for thus many dogs.
Ed Van Doorn of Squaw Creek Kennels, Barnes City
In November 2023, the USDA cited this business for performing major do-it-yourself surgical procedures on puppies with out veterinary supervision. The operations, inspectors reported, had been carried out inside “a multi-use room used for grooming, surgeries, and other procedures, using the licensee’s own equipment and instruments.”
In December 2023, the USDA gave Van Doorn an official warning for falsifying well being certificates, however as of April it seems no fines or penalties had been imposed for the do-it-yourself surgical procedures. In January 2024, state and USDA inspectors discovered extra violations at Squaw Creek Kennels, after which Van Doorn canceled his USDA license. As of April 16, nonetheless, he was nonetheless licensed by the state and seemed to be promoting puppies on his web site.
Dennis and Donna Van Wyk of Prairie Lane Kennel, New Sharon
In January 2024, inspectors discovered a number of the dogs at this kennel didn’t have sufficient safety from the chilly. They additionally cited the business for the repeat violation of extreme feces, with inspectors reporting there was a lot excrement the dogs had trampled it. The Van Wyks admitted the enclosures had not been cleaned in three days, the inspectors reported.
In December 2023, USDA inspectors reported dogs and puppies that had been uncovered to “an excessive buildup of feces,” with half the ground of 1 canine enclosure coated in feces and puppies sitting within the excrement. In addition, three puppies had no access to water.
Charles Vogl of SCW Frenchies, Atlantic
In December 2023, state inspectors discovered a powerful odor of ammonia and waste, together with an extreme quantity of feces. During the identical go to, inspectors additionally discovered unsafe buildings, trash and litter. The inspector famous that it appeared “several days” had been passing with out feces being faraway from some areas.
Terry Yoder of BR’s Dobermans, Riverside
During a January 2024 inspection, state inspectors discovered a number of violations at BR’s Dobermans, together with holes within the wooden ground of 1 building that allowed “animals to fall through to the outside,” extreme trash and litter, and mouse feces that had been discovered “on all surfaces throughout the facility.” Inspectors additionally reported that the entire indoor enclosures had been “coated in dirt, hair, feces and grime,” noting that they’d not “been sanitized for an extended period of time.” Veterinary data weren’t full, with no proof of distemper or parvovirus vaccines for most of the grownup dogs.
When state inspectors returned in February 2024, they reported Yoder refused them entry, stating that he nonetheless had not repaired the buildings and “had not cleaned in at least 36 hours.” Inspectors returned in late February and once more in March, they usually cited the business for quite a few violations, together with litter, grime, odors and the shortage of a illness management and prevention program.
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