Puppy Mill Update: 8 Iowa Breeders or Kennels Sued for Violations | News

Eight Iowa dog breeders or kennels were cited for violations of federal regulations in the first quarter of 2024.

Two of the Iowa operators cited for violations were also the subject of criminal referrals by the Iowa-based animal welfare group Bailing Out Benji, the organization that collects quarterly data on violators across the country.

Benji reported that between January and March, eight Iowa breeders or kennels were cited for violations by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. During that same period, 16 kennels or breeders in Wisconsin – the most of any state – were cited for violations. Other states with significant numbers of offenders included Missouri, with eleven, and Pennsylvania, with nine.

In terms of fouls cited, Iowa ranked second with 19 fouls in the first quarter. According to Mindi Callison of Bailing Out Benji, Missouri ranked first with 21 violations.

She noted that 37% of violations in Iowa during the quarter involved veterinary care, the treating veterinarian or inadequate veterinary care. “That compares with the national figure of 29.19% for the same offences,” she said.

The Iowa breeders cited for violations in the first three months of 2024 are:

Wuanita Swedlund, Cantril – During a January 4 USDA inspection, Swedlund was cited for seven violations related to veterinary care; the time and method of identification; keeping record; minimum age requirements for dogs being transported; and veterinary care for dogs.

The inspector reported that Swedlund did not store medications and vaccines at the correct temperature and that there were at least ten dogs over 16 weeks old that were not chipped for identification. In addition, Swedlund’s data was missing information regarding the origin and acquisition of several adult dogs, and some data documenting the nature of the dogs did not include the animals’ full microchip numbers to enable tracking.

“This facility does not have enough employees to maintain the minimum level of care required by the Animal Welfare Act,” the inspector reported. “Currently the licensee is the full-time caretaker of the 111 adult dogs and 42 puppies, with occasional assistance from their spouse. This includes, but is not limited to, cleaning, feeding, disinfecting, observing, providing veterinary care, and maintaining accurate and current records. The high number of citations (10) in the last inspection report and in this current report suggests that the current number of employees is insufficient to provide the required level of husbandry practices and care.”

In late January, Bailing Out Benji filed a formal complaint against Swedlund with the Van Buren County Sheriff and Attorney over what the organization considered findings of neglect and torture that resulted in the death and mutilation of several puppies. No charges have been filed in the case.

Swedlund received an official USDA warning letter following the violations cited in December 2023. In addition, the state of Iowa ordered Swedlund to reduce her operation from 111 adult dogs to fewer than 30.

Larry Albrecht of Coldwater Kennel, Greene – During this Jan. 25 USDA inspection, Albrecht was cited for three violations involving housing, food and cleaning. In one enclosure where two adult dogs lived, a strip of rusted, jagged metal cladding was identified and removed. In at least five additional pens housing fourteen adult dogs, there were rusted wires and peeling metal, posing a potential disease risk. In addition, one self-powered device was heavily scratched or chewed, preventing it from being easily cleaned or disinfected.

“The facility did not clean as often as necessary to prevent a buildup of debris in the primary quarters,” the inspector reported. organic material on the back wall. One food bowl in an outdoor enclosure with two adult dogs had a layer of dark brown organic material on the inside.”

Albrecht sells dogs to pet stores in Indiana and Delaware, according to federal records obtained by Bailing Out Benji. At the time of the inspection, Albrecht had 211 dogs and 72 puppies available. Albrecht was also cited for violations in 2022 and 2023.

William Davenport, Afton – During a February 5 USDA inspection, Davenport was cited for one violation related to veterinary care. The inspector reported that for the two most recent litters of puppies, there were no records of the administration of medications for internal parasites, and that vaccination records were missing for one of the litters. At the time of the inspection, Davenport had 29 dogs and three puppies available. Davenport was also cited for violations in 2022 and 2023.

Dennis and Donna Van Wyk of Prairie Lane Kennels, New Sharon – During a January 2 USDA inspection, the Van Wyks were cited for dog housing violations. The inspector reported that eight enclosures housing 20 dogs had “excessive accumulation of feces in the outdoor areas of their sheltered enclosures” and had not been cleaned for three days.

Also, the sheltered portion of two enclosures housing German Shepherds and a Standard Poodle had an ambient temperature of just over 38 degrees at the time of the inspection. The building had a heating unit, but the Van Wyks said “it had not been plugged in for a few days,” the inspector reported. No bedding or other methods of retaining heat were provided to the dogs. heater during the inspection. The Van Wyks had 40 dogs and puppies on hand at the time. The couple was also caught for violations in the first and fourth quarters of 2023.

Ed Van Doorn of Squaw Creek Kennels, Barnes City – During a January 25 USDA inspection, Van Doorn was cited for one violation involving sheltered housing facilities. One of the buildings that housed 27 dogs had concrete block walls that were not sealed to make them impervious to moisture. Van Doorn indicated that he had purchased the sealer, but had not been able to apply it. The inspector warned that enclosure walls made of porous materials cannot be adequately cleaned and disinfected and may contain viruses or bacteria that can cause disease in dogs.

After the inspection, Van Doorn canceled his USDA license and purchased a new license, changing his status from dealer to breeder. At the time of the inspection, Van Doorn had 86 dogs and 40 puppies available.

Squaw Creek Kennels was also cited for violations in the third and fourth quarters of 2023. According to the USDA, Squaw Creek Kennels had given buyers the option to have a puppy neutered before it was shipped, and Van Doorn allegedly admitted to doing so best performer. of the sterilization operations in his kennel without any veterinary supervision. The operations were performed in what the USDA described as “a multi-purpose room used for care, surgery and other procedures,” using Van Doorn’s own equipment and instruments.

In January, Bailing Out Benji filed a formal complaint against Van Doorn with the Mahaska County Sheriff and Attorney over the violations cited by the USDA late last year. The county sheriff then obtained a search warrant for Squaw Creek Kennels.

In the warrant, a sheriff’s deputy told the court that Van Doorn “confirmed that he performed the surgical procedures” cited by the USDA, and that he “stopped when told the law had changed and a veterinarian was required.” . on stage.”

The deputy indicated that based on Van Doorn’s evidence and admissions, there would be documents at the kennel that would confirm “violations” of state law. On January 10, officers seized 17 sets of documents at Squaw Creek Kennels.

Court records show no criminal charges have been filed in the case.

Heath Meyers of Century Farm Puppies, Grundy Center – During this January 18 USDA inspection, Meyers was cited for two repeat violations related to his treating veterinarian and cleaning. The inspector reported that Meyers had expired bottles of eye drops on hand and that he had not cleaned the dog food bowls at least once every two weeks, but instead once a month. At the time of the inspection, Meyers had 130 dogs and 110 puppies available. Century Farm Puppies were also cited for violations in each quarter of 2023.

Helene Hamrick of Wolf Point Kennel, Ackworth – During a February 26 USDA inspection, Hamrick was cited for one violation related to veterinary care. The inspector alleged that Hamrick had failed to follow preventive care plans for healthy, unmatted coats by grooming each dog every three months. According to the inspector, Hamrick said she had not yet paid attention to two dogs that were at least a month overdue for care. Both dogs were male shih tzus, one named Jasper and the other named Doc, with a thick, overgrown coat, with hair covering their eyes and matted fur on their hind legs, ears and bellies. At the time of the inspection, Hamrick had 41 dogs and five puppies available. Wolf Point Kennel was also cited for violations in the first and fourth quarters of 2023.

Ida and Sarah Kauffman of Sunset Grove Kennels (aka Backyard Kennels), Hazleton – During this January 17 USDA inspection, the Kauffmans were cited for two violations related to the attending veterinarian and the veterinary care provided to dogs. The inspector reported finding five vaccines that had not been stored properly to ensure effectiveness. The inspector also reported that the kennel was not following the approved veterinary care program because the plan to test 10% of animals each year for heartworm was not completed by 2023.

Also, ivermectin for adult dogs was not administered or recorded. Additionally, there was no record of four puppies receiving their medications and vaccines. At the time of this inspection, the Kauffmans had 24 dogs and eight puppies available.

Also in 2022, the Kauffmans were cited for 13 violations, after which their license was revoked and a new one was issued. The Kauffmans sell to pet stores in at least three states, according to federal records obtained by Bailing Out Benji.

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