Seventy-three dogs including Cocker Spaniels, Labrador Retrievers, American Eskimos, Poodles, Beagles, Papillons and Brussels Griffons were rescued by the Humane Society of Missouri on Thursday, July 14th in Monett (Lawrence County) Missouri.
Not enough space 🙁
This will be the first puppy mill put out of business since the new Canine Prevention Cruelty Act. Missouri’s Attorney General, Chris Koster, promised that this is just the beginning of their efforts to improve Missouri’s dog breeding reputation.
Here are a few of the violations from the inspection reports:
- Failed to provide adequate veterinary care to animals in medical distress
- Failed to clean and sanitize the facility
- Facility allowed excrement in food receptacles and dirty, muddy drinking water. In some places feces had accumulated to the point it was indistinguishable from the flooring.
- Failed to keep sick, aged, or young animals in indoor or sheltered housing facilities.
- No drainage to keep animal waste and water eliminated so the animals stay dry and had shelter
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The owner routinely used gunshot as a means of euthanasia, also in violation of the law.
This is how the owner disposed of dogs
An agreement approved July 14 and enforceable under the circuit court, the owner will surrender all animals to the Humane Society of Missouri, surrender her Missouri Department of Agriculture commercial breeder license and will not operate a dog breeding facility for at least the next 6 years. What we want to know is if the breeder will be criminally charged? Per this act each violation carries with it a class C misdemeanor. If Missouri really wants to clean up their reputation as the puppy mill capitol we believe a good start would be to fully enforce the consequences of the act. The rescued animals were taken to the Humane Society of Missouri’s Headquarters for individual veterinary exams and treatment. As soon as they are healthy, as many of them as possible will be made available for adoption.