Five Iowa breeders cited for puppy mill violations

IOWA ( Iowa Capital Dispatch ) — Federal inspectors cited five Iowa breeders of dogs or cats for regulatory violations during the second quarter of 2024, the Iowa Capital Dispatch reports .

The Iowa-based animal advocacy group Bailing Out Benji on Tuesday published its quarterly review of violations cited at puppy mills across the country. The report shows that kennels in 16 states were cited for violations by the U.S. Department of Agriculture between April 1 and June 30.

The states with the highest number of violators were Ohio, with 14; Missouri, with 11; New York and Wisconsin, with 10 each; Pennsylvania, with seven; and Indiana, with six.

Iowa had a total of five breeders cited for violations:

Heath Meyers of Century Farm Puppies in Grundy Center — This breeder, which had 125 adult dogs and 134 puppies on hand when visited by inspectors this past quarter, was also cited for violations in the first quarter of 2024 and throughout 2023.

During an April 23 inspection by the USDA, Meyers was cited for one direct violation pertaining to inadequate veterinary care, and four noncritical violations pertaining to watering, cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping, pest control, veterinary care and other issues.

The inspector noted that while Meyers had a total of 159 dogs and puppies on hand, the maximum number of animals he was allowed to have on hand was 150, raising questions as to whether Meyers was “capable of providing care for that number of animals.”

A female spaniel named Willow was noted as having a large irregularly shaped wound on her side that measured five inches by three inches. “The wound exposes fresh, moist, reddened tissue where the skin had rolled away,” the inspector reported. “There is a creamy, white-to-yellow discharge along the top edge of the wound along the back of the dog and covering approximately 70% of the open wound … Another wound was found on the right side of the dog’s neck, approximately two inches by two inches in size.”

Also, a female bichon named Luna was in poor dental health with bloody gums.  The inspector reported she was “unable to examine the teeth more closely due to the dog reacting painfully to the exam.”

The spaniel and the bichon were taken to a veterinarian during the inspection process.

The inspector also made note of two female bichons that had no access to water while in an outdoor exercise yard. In addition, the kennel had not been sanitizing as often as necessary to prevent an accumulation of “organic debris” in the dog enclosures, and Meyers had no medical records for two adult dogs and one puppy.

Larry Albrecht of Coldwater Kennel in Greene — This kennel had 196 adult dogs and 108 puppies on hand at the time of its April 8 inspection. Albrecht was cited for one direct violation pertaining to inadequate veterinary care.

The inspector reported that Albrecht failed to “have frequent and direct communication with their attending veterinarian regarding the emaciated body condition of one female shih tzu named Dazzle.”

Four weeks prior to the inspection, the dog had given birth to eight puppies, seven of which were stillborn.  The dog’s food bowl was empty at the time of the inspection, so she was offered a bowl of “mush” concocted by the kennel. “The dog smelled it and walked away,” the inspector reported. “(She) has visible ribs, vertebrae and hip bones with little to no fat or muscle covering. The hair coat is thin and patchy as well with little to no hair on her tail.”

Albrecht had never contacted the business’ attending veterinarian regarding the emaciated dog, the inspector reported. The inspector gave Albrecht 48 hours to have the dog evaluated by a licensed veterinarian and to develop a treatment plan.

Bailing Out Benji reports that it has records of Albrecht selling to pet stores in Delaware and Indiana. Albrecht was cited for violations in the first quarter of 2024, and was cited at various times in 2023, 2022 and 2021.

Thomas and Nancy Carlson of New Designs Kennel in Rockwell City — At the time of its May 20 inspection, the kennel had 39 adult dogs and 14 puppies on hand. The Carlsons were cited for two noncritical violations pertaining to contingency planning and veterinary care.

The inspector reported that a male dachshund named Stanley had been examined by a veterinarian in January but given no plan of treatment for an abnormal dental condition of some kind. The Carlsons were also cited with violations in the second quarter of 2023.

Tom and Jody VandeWeerd of Riverside Kennels in Rock Rapids — At the time of its June 12 inspection, this kennel had 39 adult dogs and 36 puppies on hand. The kennel was cited for one noncritical violation pertaining to its housing facilities for dogs.

Several dog doors in the main shelter kennel had metal hinges, most of which were “excessively rusty and/or corroding,” the inspector reported, noting that the situation could increase the risk of disease and injuries.

Bailing Out Benji reports that it has records indicating the VandeWeerds sell to pet stores in Connecticut and South Dakota.

Ross and Valorie Craig of Dunroven Farms in Newell — At the time of this business’ June 27 inspection, it had 32 cats and 13 kittens on hand. Dunroven Farms was cited for four noncritical violations pertaining to the time and method of animal identification, recordkeeping, housing facilities and watering.

The inspector noted that there were at least eight cats over the age of 16 weeks that no microchip implanted or on their collars for identification and USDA tracking.

The business also lacked information as to how it acquired eight adult cats and lacked information on the disposition of three adult cats. Several surfaces in a building holding four adult cats had red, pitted rust present, including a baseboard heater and three self-feeders.

Also, the water receptacles in a building housing 23 cats and 13 kittens were in such a state that they could no longer be sanitized. “A brown calcium buildup is present in the water receptacles due to hard water at the facility,” the inspector reported. “While the facility has attempted to remove the calcium buildup, it has not removed it. The rough surface of calcium buildup may cause disease hazards and may affect the health of the animals.”

Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network 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: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com. Follow Iowa Capital Dispatch on Facebook and Twitter.

This story was republished under a Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

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