How to find out more about your puppy's breeder
Pet Store
Hall of Shame, part 1
Pet Store Hall of Shame, part 2
USDA Violations by Petland Breeders
USDA Records on Various Breeders
How to find out more
about your puppy's breeder
Do Petland puppies really come from LICENSED breeders?
Hunte Corp.
Puppy Mill Links
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Former pet store employees speak out
Buying puppies online--buyer beware
Pet Stores and Puppy Mills in the News
Animal sellers in Washington DC area
Pet supply stores that DON'T sell animals--the good guys:)
Puppy mill survivor stories
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Unfortunately, if you purchased a puppy from a pet store, the answer is "yes" about 99 times out of 100. But if you want specifics, then you need to do some more research.
A great way to get information quickly is to visit the website www.petshoppuppies.org, select "Free puppy report" on the left, and fill out the form as best you can. This nonprofit organization has thousands of USDA inspection records and other information. and they may already have records on your dog's breeder.
Remember that the USDA's main interest is protecting farmers (puppy millers, in this case), NOT animals. Even a perfect USDA inspection is a guarantee that the animals are kept outside the house, not inside as family members.
Our goal is not to drive particular puppy millers out of business; it is to expose the connection between puppy mills and the stores where their puppies are sold. So if the USDA inspection record was particularly bad, please share this information with us at all4theanimals@yahoo.com. We would greatly appreciate it if you would email us a SCAN OF THE PURCHASE PAPERS THAT INCLUDE (1) THE NAME OF THE PET STORE AND (2) THE NAME OF THE BREEDER. You can cross out your own personal information first if you like.
IF YOUR PUPPY'S BREEDER IS LOCATED IN OKAHOMA: In 2007, the Tulsa World newspaper did a four-day news story on Oklahoma breeders. Reporters compiled a database of USDA inspection reports, related documents, photos, and other information, so if you are looking for information on an Oklahoma breeder, check here: www.tulsaworld.com/webextra/content/2007/puppymillsite/index.html
This is just a summary of the violations, though, and the full USDA inspection report gives more details.
IF YOUR PUPPY'S BREEDER IS LOCATED IN PENNSYLVANIA: They may be a USDA-licensed breeder, and if so, you can get those records. Sometimes they are not USDA-licensed, but they might be licensed in the STATE of Pennsylvania. You can find the state of Pennsylvania inspection records here:
http://services.agriculture.state.pa.us/KennelInspections/SearchKennelInspections.aspx
For federal (USDA) records, you can request the USDA inspection reports yourself this way:
1) Find the breeder's name on the puppy's registration papers (AKC or other registry). It will usually be just a person's name and maybe a state, and it's often on the page that gives the puppy's family tree. "Hunte Corporation" is the broker, not the breeder.
2) Use your computer's "search" function to find the name on one of the following lists. Search for just the LAST name, as they are often out of order, although they are supposed to be listed alphabetically by state. The lists are supposed to include ALL USDA-licensed breeders in the United States. They are from the USDA website and should be relatively current.
www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/efoia/downloads/reports/A_cert_holders.txt
www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/efoia/downloads/reports/B_cert_holders.txt
First check the "Breeders" list (A_cert_holders.txt). That is "Class A breeders." If you can't find the name in the "Breeders" list, check the "Dealers" list (B_cert_holders.txt) Those are "Class B dealers."
If you can't find the name on these lists, the breeder is probably UNLICENSED. This is illegal if they have over 3 breeding females, but legal if they have fewer, and you can't tell how many they have. There are many thousands of unlicensed breeders. Unfortunately, you cannot get any USDA info on them, since the USDA never inspects them. So unless you live near the breeder's facility, it's very difficult to learn anything about them. We don't have any information on them, either. If you would like the USDA to investigate to see if a breeder is operating illegally, visit http://www.petshoppuppies.com/fac.htm and see the sample letter provided.
3) If you do find the name on one of the lists, you can e-mail the USDA for three inspection records of the breeding facility. While some inspectors overlook major violations of USDA regulations, other inspectors note the violations during the inspections. (The problem is that violations are not punished and go on year after year.) You may be able to find out how many dogs are at the facility, whether it's extremely dirty, overcrowded, whether there are untreated sick dogs, whether a vet has been to the place within the past year, etc. Unfortunately, the USDA has become very lax about COUNTING the number of dogs at the facility--a very important factor.
4) These are public records. Reporters use this regularly, and you should not be at any risk of getting sued if you release this information, including breeder names, to the public.
Send an email to: foia.officer@aphis.usda.gov. Include your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address. Then ask for the last 3 inspection reports for the breeder (they say they do not keep more than 3). Provide the USDA license number (e.g., 43-A-XXXX), the breeder's name, and the breeder's address. Ask for the name of the person assigned to the case. Here is a sample:
"My contact information: (name, address, phone, e-mail)
I am writing to request the last three USDA inspection reports on the USDA licensed dog breeder listed below. I am also requesting records of any administrative action (e.g. fines) taken against the breeder. Please let me know who has been assigned to this project. Let me know if you require any additional information in order to fulfill this request.
71-A-0385 Patsy Gage, Rocky Ridge Kennels, 789 Cr 709, Berryville, Arkansas 72616. (substitute your breeder's info)
Thank you."
Or instead of writing to foia.officer@aphis.usda.gov, you can fill out the form at
https://foia.aphis.usda.gov/request.html
5) The USDA will send you a letter about two weeks later, probably telling you this is too difficult to do within 20 days, or even 30 days, even though the law requires that you get the information within 30 days. The letter will include the phone number of the person assigned to your request. When you get tired of waiting, you can call this person and ask how it's going. Be prepared to wait 3 MONTHS OR EVEN LONGER for them to get back to you. If you just request information about one breeder, they'll send you a paper copy; if you make many requests, they may send the info on a CD that you can download and print from your computer. This information is FREE unless you request many, many reports.
6) You can also do a Google search of the breeder's name and/or kennel and see what you turn up. The breeder may also be selling puppies over the Internet. It's very interesting to compare the conditions described in inspection records with how they describe their facility and their love for dogs. Or you might find the breeder's name pops up at www.onlinepetauction.com if they have recently sold their dogs at an auction. At these auctions, an individual breeder can sell off HUNDREDS of dogs in one day. www.nopuppymills.com/forum/archive/index.php?f-3.html lists some dog auctions that took place; a search may turn up the name of your puppy's breeder.
7) You can also check www.barkbytes.com, "AKC suspension list," for breeders kicked out of the AKC for violations, especially if the puppy's registration papers are something other than AKC. We haven't found it very useful because it's a very small number that the AKC actually finds out about. The AKC provides papers for thousands of puppy mills.
Again, if you do get information on your pet store puppy's breeder, we would greatly appreciate it if you will share the results with us at all4theanimals@yahoo.com.
Do Petland puppies really come from LICENSED breeders?
The Petland Corporation's main website claims
"Petland puppies come primarily from three sources:
*Individuals in your local community who breed registered pets and offer occasional litters.
*Licensed professional distributors who purchase registered pets from professional breeders who are inspected and licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture. [emphasis ours]
*Animal shelters, rescue groups and members of the local community who have accidental litters of homeless puppies and kittens to place." (www.petland.com/AboutPetland/PetWelfareQuestions1.htm)
Petland strongly implies that all non-local puppies come from licensed breeders, while giving themselves an out by using the word "primarily."
The Hunte Corporation, from which many Petland stores obtain puppies, claims, "Our puppies are supplied by the best LICENSED professional breeders in the country." (www.thehuntecorporation.com/tour/). [emphasis ours] This is flat-out statement. It does not mention anything about "hobby breeders."
A "hobby breeder" is defined by the USDA as a breeder who has 3 breeding females or fewer. These breeders are NOT required to have a license, so not being on the USDA list does not automatically mean that a breeder is breaking the law. (Breeders selling directly to the public can have as many dogs as they want without having a USDA license--a loophole in the current law.) Anyone who is selling dogs to pet stores and has MORE than 3 breeding female dogs IS required to have a license, though there are many thousands of unlicensed breeders violating this poorly enforced law.
It is NOT illegal for a "backyard breeder" with only a few dogs to sell their dogs to the Hunte Corporation, and that is the response some customers received when questioning why their puppy's breeder was unlicensed. However, it IS illegal for Petland and Hunte to ADVERTISE that they obtain puppies from licensed breeders if they are not doing so.
As the Dateline NBC exposé of Petland noted in 2000, getting puppies from USDA-licensed, inspected breeders is a BIG SELLING POINT for Petland. Customers are reassured to hear that the USDA inspects the breeding facility that their puppy came from. (In reality, the USDA standards are minimal, violations are hardly ever punished, and the law allows dogs to be confined to cramped cages for life, but most people don't know this.)
Many of Petland's breeders are licensed, and you can find their name, address, and license number on the USDA website on either the Class A Breeder List or the Class B Dealer List on the bottom-right hand side of the page, under "Facility Lists" at www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/publications.html. You can get USDA inspection records on these facilities. But we have found that some of Petland's breeders are NOT on this list. This means that the USDA does NOT inspect that facility and has NO IDEA of what the conditions are like there.
In 2005, these breeders were not found on the USDA list, though their puppies were for sale at the Fairfax City Petland: Wytalier, Racz, Szabo, Artnerova, Derkson, Drew, Bowman, Hidvegi, Balogh, Galambos, Vargane, Kovacs, Lutz, Transmeie, Blondell, Cleveland, Mullens, Sisk, Bendlage, Carney, Almasi, Okos, Brawley, Killian, Budd, Alley, Imre, Varga, Patricia DiMarco, Janosne Toth, and Jesse Slaughter. While some may be missing due to a clerical error on the part of Hunte, Petland, or USDA, it's unlikely that all of these would be clerical errors. Many people have written to us about Petland puppies whose breeders are not on either USDA list.
A person who recently purchased a puppy at the Mercer Mall Petland in Bluefield, West Virginia, requested the USDA license number of the breeder listed on her puppy's papers--Patty Babutzke. Petland was unable to provide this number and provided instead the Hunte Corporation's license number, 43-B-0123. In addition, this breeder's name was not on the USDA list of either Class A breeders or Class 2 dealers. This indicates that the breeder was UNLICENSED.
If you purchased a puppy at Petland or any store that advertises that its puppies come from LICENSED breeders, find the breeder's name on the puppy's registration papers and look for the name on both the Class A Breeder List and the Class B Dealer List at www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/publications.html. The USDA list is updated regularly, so you need to check it soon after you purchased your puppy or the breeder may no longer be in business. These lists are SEARCHABLE.
If you cannot find the name there, ask the pet store for that person's USDA license number. (43-B-023 is the WRONG ANSWER--that is the license number of the Hunte Corporation, Petland's distributor.) If they cannot provide you a number that is on the USDA list with the breeder's name, please let us know at all4theanimals@yahoo.com.
Also complain to your local Better Business Bureau that the store is engaging in FALSE ADVERTISING. Locate your nearest BBB through http://lookup.bbb.org.
Help warn others where pet store puppies really come from!
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COMPANION ANIMAL PROTECTION SOCIETY
INVESTIGATIONS OF BREEDERS
An organization called the Companion Animal Protection Society has recently visited the facilities of the breeders listed below. Visit their website atwww.caps-web.org/arkansas.php for detailed descriptions, photos, and in some cases video footage.
ARKANSAS:
Harris, Wilma
Johnson, Ginger
Watts, Cliff and Linda
Watts, Larry and Tony
ILLINOIS:
Corrigan, Connie
Esterday, Melanie (Formerly: Vanfleet, Alan and Melanie)
Headings, Harold
Lorton, Raymond and Betty
Lorton, Betty
Morris, Betty (I)
Morris, Betty (II)
Obermark, Virginia (I)
Obermark, Virginia (II)
Plank, Paul (I)
Plank, Paul (II)
State's Attorney Refuses to Bring Charges Against Illinois Puppy Mill (Lorton) Wear, Janet
IOWA:
Beyer, Carol
Brotherton, Ryan and Leann
Grell, Dean and Karen
Kauffman, David
Kauffman, Everett
Kauffman, Marvin
Kauffman, Marcus
Kruse, Jordan
Kruse, Leroy and Gertrude
Kruse, Steve
Kurtz, Alvin
Martin, Aaron and Rhoda
Miller, Samuel (1)
Miller, Samuel (2)
Moeller, Larry (1)
Moeller, Larry (2)
Tuntland, Dereck & Sarah
Uitermarkt, Melvin and Brant
Van Doorn, Ed
Van Maanen, Marvin
Van Wyk, Dennis and Donna
Van Zee, Sandy
Vander Schaaf, Bonnie
Vande Weerd, Tom and Jody
Yoder, Clayton and Laura
Yoder, Delmar
Yoder, Reuben
KANSAS:
Hibbard, Larry & Cindy
Spies, Linda
Willey, Michael and Lisa
MINNESOTA:
Kleven, Linda and Craig (I)
Kleven, Linda and Craig (II)
Lanz, Sharon
McDuffee, Gary and Wanda
Wee, Reuben (I)
Wee, Reuben (II)
Wensmann, Angie and Gerry
MISSOURI:
Adams, Dora
Adwell, Jonathan and Jean
Blomberg, Bill and Kathie
Cooper, Ronnie and Patricia
Gonnella, Gail and Boston, Jeffrey
McVeigh, Joe
Miller, Earl and David
Parker, Melvin and Bonnie
Walker, Marjorie (Hunte Booking Agent)
NEBRASKA:
Osterman, Shirley (last name is now Brown)
OHIO:
Beach, Ronald (I)
Beach, Ronald (II)
Martin, Delton
Mast, Ivan and Katie
Miller, Atlee
Miller, Jacob
Mullet, James and Ruth (I)
Mullet, James and Ruth (II)
Raber, Ervin
Schlabach, Reuben (I)
Schlabach, Reuben (II)
Schwartz, Joseph and Irene
Yoder, Aden
Yoder, Andy
Yoder, Mose
Yoder, Myron and Naomi
Yoder, Vernon
OKLAHOMA:
Brooke, Glenn
Craig, Dwayne
PENNSYLVANIA:
Blank, David
Martin, Edna
Burkholder, Keith and Marlene
Stoltzfus, Amos
Stoltzfus, Ivan
Weaver, Ammon
Wenger, Eugene L.
SOUTH DAKOTA:
Asmussen, James and Mary (I)
Asmussen, James and Mary (II)
Mickelson, Cathy
Mittleider, Rick, Dennis, and Virginia
Mitzel, Frank
Sandmeier, Debra
Tschetter, Deb and Wayne
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2006: BREEDERS WHO RECENTLY SOLD DOGS AT AUCTION
Puppy millers often buy and sell dogs at auctions. A person who attended a dog auction in Millersburg, Ohio, on August 26, 2006, circulated an e-mail to warn others about the breeders listed below. This person wrote:
"Most of these dogs were not quality dogs though most were AKC, CKC and ACA, and they looked like they were unsocialized, mistreated and neglected, and some were dirty and pee-stained. I saw mothers with puppies being auctioned, pregnant females and dogs with hernias, bad bites and scars that had healed. These dogs were sold for $5 to $750. I could hardly sit through this auction because it turned my stomach and it was all I could do to keep the tears back. There were 365 dogs sold on 8/26 and there are two more auctions before December 2006. Here is the list of breeders who sold their dogs at this auction:
David Hershberger
Mose Hershberger
Eli N. Hershberger
Dennis Hershberger
Nelson Hershberger
Joseph L. Hershberger
Owen R. Hershberger
Daniel Hochstetler
Berlin Pets
Pine Grove Kennel
PPF Farms
Da-Le Kennel
Crosco Acres
Country View Pets
Emanuel M. Yoder
Steven H. Yoder
Harvey Yoder
Ervin A. Yoder
Vernon E. Yoder
Eli J. Yoder
Roy A. Yoder
Katie A. Yoder
Abe L. Yoder
David D. Yoder
Roy D. Yoder
Andy J. Yoder
Joe Yoder
Robert M. Yoder
Paul E. Yoder
J-Mar Kennel
Anna Hensel
John Garman
Eli J. Miller
Samuel Miller
Ervin J. Miller
Joseph Miller
Levi J. Miller
Roman R. Miller
Levi A. Miller
David M. Miller
John Oren Miller, Jr.
Aaron Miller
Wayne Miller
Reuben Swarztentruber
Jacob Swartzentruber
Rondell Lepley
Phillip Geiser
Reuben K. Swarey
Marvin A. Graber
James Mullet
Daniel Kline
Benjamin Oberholtzer
Harvey Burkholder
Ammon Buckholder
Adrian Burkholder
Mose A. Schlabach
Daniel Schlabach
Ferman Schlabach
Jason Schlabach
Reuben Schlabach
Robert Coblentz
Henry E. Mast
Mose Beachy
Albert Stutzman
Harold Neuhart
Steven R. Troyer
Reuben L. Troyer
Leroy A. Troyer
Levi D. Troyer
Marlin A. Troyer
Daniel Kline
Glenda Thompson
Walk's Pups
Vernon Weaver
Gloria Whitmer
Raber's Kennel
Mervin Raber
Michelle Picknell
Dan and Jacob Bowman
Albert Stutzman
Robert Brady
Annette Newswanger
John Garman
Matthew Hostetler"