A brand new report highlights Iowa puppy mills with documented animal welfare violations.
Fifteen Iowa canine breeding operations have been known as out for animal welfare violations. Nine are repeat offenders. Four have been within the report not less than half a dozen instances.
The annual “Horrible Hundred” puppy mills report is compiled by the Humane Society of the United States, and the checklist is created by looking out federal and state inspection information.
“Despite the egregious violations documented, many of these breeders face no significant penalties, leaving the public in the dark about where their puppies come from,” mentioned Preston Moore, Iowa state director for the Humane Society of the United States, in an emailed launch.
Puppy mills are business canine breeding businesses that prioritizes breeding over animal well-being. They usually apply fast breeding and maintain the dogs and puppies in unhealthy, neglectful circumstances with an absence of veterinary care.
For instance, Ed Van Doorn of Squaw Creek Kennels in Barnes City was discovered to be doing neutering surgical procedures on puppies with out veterinary supervision, and in a room used for different functions. He was cited by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) however wasn’t penalized. It is Van Doorn’s first time within the “Horrible Hundred” report.
Puppy mills typically provide to pet shops like Petland—the one nationwide chain of pet shops within the United States that also sells puppies—so folks seeking to undertake dogs from Petland’s Iowa City location might not know the place their puppy got here from.
Iowa steadily reveals up on the Horrible Hundred checklist, and this 12 months is the third-worst within the nation—behind solely Missouri, with 23 sellers within the report, and Ohio with 20. The Humane Society notes the checklist isn’t complete as a result of many breeding operations aren’t inspected.
“This report, showing problems all-too common in puppy mills, exposes failures in regulatory oversight and underscores the urgent need for breeders to be held accountable and for the public to avoid buying puppies from pet stores or any outlet that obscures the reality of their upbringing,” Moore mentioned.
The Humane Society has lengthy criticized the USDA’s inspections and licensing course of.
Most of the violations for Iowa puppy mills contain unsafe, unsanitary circumstances, dogs with out information of veterinary care, histories of evading inspectors, and injured and/or useless dogs.
The 15 Iowa breeders on the “Horrible Hundred” puppy mills checklist:
Steve Kruse—Stonehenge Kennel, West Point:
Very huge puppy mill has been discovered with greater than 140 sick or injured dogs since 2015. Was suspended by the USDA for 21 days in March 2023. Has a long history of violations.
Seventh time within the report.
Helene Hamrick—Wolf Point Kennel, Ackworth:
Veterinary care violations together with ignored infections and wounds. Inspectors have discovered unsafe and soiled circumstances. Issues have been recurring for not less than a decade.
Seventh time within the report.
Connie and Harold Johnson—Furbabies Forever (previously CW’s Quaint Critters), Melvin:
Recurring sanitation and housing issues. Has an extended historical past of evading inspections, together with by cancelling its USDA license earlier than inspection occurred. Still licensed by the state.
Seventh time within the report.
Bruce Hooyer—JKLM Farm aka Shaggy Hill Farm, Sioux Center:
Inspectors noticed varied sanitation points together with feces buildup and rust. There had not been documentation of a recent vet inspection. Has had points since 2017, when inspectors famous a number of dogs had died on the operation.
Sixth time within the report.
Dennis and Donna Van Wyk—Prairie Lane Kennel, New Sharon:
Dirty circumstances, lack of water, publicity to chilly, recurring points courting again to 2015.
Fifth time within the report.
Charles Vogl—SCW Frenchies, Atlantic:
Dirty circumstances, unsafe constructions, robust odors in buildings.
Third time within the report.
Larry Albrecht—Coldwater Kennel, Greene:
Has had USDA violations for not less than 4 years in a row. Many of his violations embody a number of dogs who wanted veterinary care and poor circumstances.
Second time within the report.
Heath “Rex” Meyers—Century Farm Puppies, Grundy Center:
Failed inspections repeatedly, proof of performing his personal vet care, lack of correct vet care, too-small dwelling circumstances.
Second time within the report.
Joel Paris—Paris Puppies Paradise, Ogden:
Had 100 dogs faraway from property in September 2023. Dogs have been famous as underweight with soiled circumstances. Pled responsible in April 2024 for “animal neglect resulting in death” and “animal neglect resulting in injury.” Seems to nonetheless be in business.
Second time within the report.
Wuanita Swedlund, Cantril:
Forced to downsize after puppies died within the chilly, lack of house led to aggressive habits leading to deaths, associations with Steve Kruse.
First time within the report.
Freeman P. Helmuth—Sunrise Kennels, Corydon:
Lack of correct vet care.
First time within the report.
Linda, Stanley and Bethany Korver, Orange City:
Lack of correct vet care, soiled circumstances.
First time within the report.
Patti Kowitz—Tannin Border Collies, aka Wapsi River Wirehaired Pointing Griffons, Calamus:
State inspectors discovered robust odors at three inspections, just one person caring for almost 60 dogs and inadequate shelter.
First time within the report.
Terry Yoder—BR’s Dobermans, Riverside:
Dirty, unsafe circumstances. Holes within the ground and dwelling areas lined in grime and feces. Mouse feces discovered all through the power.
First time within the report.
