Iowa’s puppy mills compiled one of many nation’s worst information of compliance with animal welfare rules within the third quarter of 2023, newly disclosed information present.
For the months of July by way of September, the 5 states that compiled the very best variety of animal-welfare violations dedicated by canine breeders and kennels had been:
- Virginia, 52.
- Wisconsin. 51.
- Ohio, 36.
- Iowa, 28.
- Arkansas, 17.
The information, culled from U.S. Department of Agriculture stories, was collected, analyzed and reported by the nationwide animal-welfare organization Bailing Out Benji, which is predicated in Iowa. Just seven Iowa breeders had been accountable for all the violations cited in Iowa through the third quarter of the yr.
The variety of violators, and the variety of violations cited, fluctuates tremendously relying on the variety of licensed operators who inspectors go to.
In 2022, for instance, Iowa led the nation within the variety of infractions cited, with 286 reported by the USDA over the course of your complete yr. Second-place Missouri had fewer than half the variety of infractions, with 109 over the identical interval.
According to the USDA stories, these Iowa breeders had been cited for violations within the third quarter of 2023:
Carolyn Anderson of Anderson’s Yorkies, Mason City
On Aug. 3,Anderson obtained an official USDA warning on account of violations cited by inspectors greater than a yr in the past. During a May 2022 go to, the inspectors had cited Anderson for 15 violations, together with one crucial violation, pertaining to animal identification, recordkeeping, the dealing with of animals, housing amenities, incompatible grouping of animals, train for dogs and veterinary look after dogs.
When an inspector inquired in regards to the recent loss of life of a toy poodle named Summer, Anderson allegedly defined the puppy had died after being attacked by the opposite dogs. “Summer may have had severe distress, trauma and physical harm before her eventual death,” the inspector reported. At that point, the inspector additionally famous that a minimum of 14 grownup dogs and 5 puppies had been overdue for his or her vaccines.
The inspector returned in July 2022 and cited Anderson for six further violations pertaining to the attending veterinarian, veterinary care, recordkeeping, animal housing amenities and watering. The inspector reported that on June 22, a Yorkshire terrier named Asher was left exterior and have become overheated. The canine was introduced inside and cooled with moist washcloths. Two days later, the canine was torpid and shivering, then had a seizure and died.
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The inspector additionally famous that an indoor space the place dogs are walked had “brown organic material buildup” protecting half the ground and dogs needed to walk “on the very edges of the walkway to avoid a soiled surface.” The inspector discovered two grownup dogs inside a wire crate with an empty, dry water bowl, and 19 dogs and puppies that had been due, or overdue, for his or her vaccines.
During a subsequent go to on Aug. 22, 2022, USDA officers cited Anderson for one noncritical violation pertaining to recordkeeping. The inspector decided that 12 dogs or puppies counted over the past inspection had been not on the kennel, apparently having been offered to individuals Anderson couldn’t determine. In 2022, Anderson was cited for a complete of 38 USDA violations.
Heath Myers of Century Farm Puppies in Grundy Center
During an Aug. 24, 2023, go to, a USDA inspector cited Myers for 9 noncritical violations that pertained to the attending veterinarian and insufficient veterinary care, recordkeeping, housing amenities for animals, cleansing, sanitization, housekeeping, and pest management.
The inspector decided Myers was unaware that 4 of the grownup dogs in his care had medical points that required consideration, together with a spaniel named Flower that had severely recessed gums, leaving the roots of a number of enamel seen and uncovered. Another spaniel named Cruz had a damaged tooth that left the pulp of the tooth uncovered. A 3rd spaniel named Melonia had a minimum of three unfastened enamel and different enamel that had been brown in shade, coupled with severe gum recession.
Myers additionally was discovered to have a number of expired drugs available, together with a tube of Neosporin that expired in January 1995 and catheters that had expired in 2010 and 2011.
The inspector additionally noticed that the destiny of 26 grownup dogs was unknown, with no obvious file of their sale or disposition. Myers allegedly instructed the inspector the dogs had been almost certainly euthanized.
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The inspector additionally famous that a number of major enclosures for dogs had a buildup of natural materials in them, together with hair and feces, with fecal matter protecting the floor of a rubber chew toy for puppies. Two feeding gadgets utilized by 4 grownup dogs had a buildup of darkish brown materials alongside their inside, making a threat of illness brought on by accumulations of dust, hair and particles.
The business had 162 grownup dogs and 123 puppies available on the time of the inspection. Myers was additionally cited for violations in March this year.
Lyle Miller of Miller Clan Pugs in Wellman
During a July 24, 2023, go to an inspector cited Miller for the loss of life of a feminine pug named Miranda. The canine had been left exterior and overheated. A consultant of the business stated Miranda had been enjoying in an out of doors train yard, then was introduced her again inside. A couple of minutes later, the consultant stated, Miranda was discovered to be unresponsive. The employees tried to chill her down, however she quickly died.
Miller, who had 20 grownup dogs available on the time of the inspection, was given an official USDA warning on account of the loss of life.
Maple Grove Kennels of Iowa City
During a July 10, 2023, inspection, Maple Grove was cited for 2 crucial violations pertaining to the dealing with of animals and the grouping of incompatible dogs, in addition to 9 noncritical violations pertaining to the attending veterinarian, veterinary care, the identification of dogs, recordkeeping, the housing amenities, cleansing, sanitization, housekeeping and pest management.
During the go to, the inspector famous that the employees had simply administered Oxytocin ― a hormone used to manage post-birth bleeding in moms — to a canine that had given beginning the day earlier than. The drug had expired six years earlier in 2017.
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“There are records missing for all adult dogs and a litter of puppies,” the inspector famous. One canine named Lucy had escaped from the kennel on July 2, 2022. Eleven days later, she was discovered lifeless in a neighboring hayfield. In January 2023, an grownup canine named Tina had been discovered to have a badly injured leg from a combat with one other canine in a shared enclosure. The different canine needed to be euthanized on account of the combat.
The inspector additionally noticed that in a building occupied by 23 dogs and puppies, there was an abundance of stay flies and an accumulation of lifeless ones. “The facility does not have a program in place to control insects in the building,” the inspector reported, including that the employees was not routinely selecting up excrement in an train yard, creating an elevated threat of illness.
Maple Grove was given an official USDA warning on account of the violations, after which the business opted to cancel its license. Maple Grove had 19 grownup dogs and 15 puppies available on the time of the inspection.
Marlin Dibbet of Rainbow Kennels in Sioux Center
During a July 12, 2023, go to a USDA inspector cited Dibbet for one noncritical violation pertaining to the attending veterinarian and insufficient veterinary care. The inspector noticed a 6-year-old canine that was holding his left entrance paw up within the air, unable to place any weight on the leg. Dibbet allegedly instructed the inspector he seen the scenario “a few days ago” however had not documented the damage or contacted a veterinarian.
“A non-weight bearing limb is indicative of possible injury or infection and is painful,” the inspector reported. “This animal needs to be seen by a veterinarian.”
In addition, the inspector famous {that a} feminine canine had an extreme buildup of brown, natural matter utterly protecting a few of her enamel and migrating to her gums. Dibbet “must have this dog examined by a veterinarian,” the inspector reported, including that Dibbet should present documentation of the prognosis and remedy upon the federal company’s request.
At the time of the inspection, Dibbet had 50 grownup dogs and 12 puppies available.
Nathan Miller of Kalona
During a Sept. 13, 2023 go to, a USDA inspector cited Miller for one noncritical violation pertaining to the identification of dogs. There was no identification assigned to at least one litter of American Eskimo puppies born seven weeks previous to the inspection. The inspector famous that such identification is critical for the USDA to hint the actions of animals.
Earlier in 2023, the USDA cited Miller for 4 noncritical violations pertaining to out of doors housing amenities and insufficient veterinary care, with an inspector noting that an out of doors enclosure with a tin roof was housing one grownup canine however didn’t have ample wind and rain breaks. At the time of essentially the most recent inspection, Miller had 13 dogs and two puppies available.
Scott Swanson of S & J Kennels in Ollie
During an Aug. 14, 2023, go to, a USDA inspector cited Swanson for 5 noncritical violations pertaining to the attending veterinarian and insufficient veterinary care, the identification of dogs, recordkeeping and the incompatible grouping of dogs. The inspector famous that Swanson had modified his vaccination and deworming schedule with out consulting the attending veterinarian and was not vaccinating grownup dogs for hepatitis and Bordetella.
Also, Swanson had not contacted a veterinarian a few bulldog puppy that had an irregular eye situation that Swanson stated he had seen a couple of days earlier. Swanson was additionally cited for violations in June 2022, in November 2022 and in early 2023.
At the time of essentially the most recent inspection, Swanson had 29 grownup dogs and 10 puppies available.
Find this story at Iowa Capital Dispatch, which is a part of States Newsroom, a community of reports bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: [email protected].
