Missouri Puppy Mills: Euthanasia Plan - Club the Dogs

Background:

Late last year, researchers at The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) spent weeks poring over state and federal inspection reports, investigators’ photographs, and enforcement records to compile a list of some of the worst puppy mills in Missouri, known as “Missouri’s Dirty Dozen.” The report included direct quotes detailing horrific care violations documented in the facilities’ federal and/or state kennel inspection reports The violations included thin-coated breeds like Italian greyhounds found shivering in the cold in temperatures as low as 9 degrees, dogs with open, oozing or bleeding sores, underweight dogs with their entire skeletal structures showing, and sick or dying puppies who had not been treated by a vet.

March 9, 2011, the HSUS released an update to this report.  The majority of the Missouri Dirty Dozen kennels are still state licensed and in operation.  On the same day, the Missouri Senate voted 20 - 14 to repeal Prop B, the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act.  The Missouri House will vote on this issue soon.

If there is any doubt in your mind that MO Prop B, as written and passed by voters last November, is needed and provides essential protection for dogs, please read below for details from the Dirty Dozen update.

 Walnut Creek Kennel, Jesse and Sonja Miller, La Monte MO

The Millers no longer hold a current USDA license, but still have an active Missouri state kennel license.  In fact, Walnut Creek Kennel still has ads listed on "breeder club" classified advertising sites such as BreedersClub.net, a front for various sellers which claim to have a "no puppy mills" policy.

In their BreedersClub.net ad, the Millers claim, "We are a family who enjoys raising puppies on our farm.  We specialize in raising well-socialized, well-loved, and well-cared for puppies!"

Yet, as reported in the 2010 Missouri's Dirty Dozen report, the HSUS shared what a USDA inspector noted during a pre-license visit to Walnut Creek Kennel in August 2008:

"The Program of Veterinary Care stated that the applicant would be euthanizing the dogs at the facility by clubbing the dogs."

The Millers were also cited in 2010 and 2009 for "attempted inspection" violations - instances when they were not available during stated business hours to allow inspectors to conduct their visits.  They subsequently cancelled their federal license, yet are still licensed by the state of Missouri in 2011.

Dogs Tortured: Test of Susie's Law Underway in North Carolina

Susie
Photo courtesty WRAL news  

Last year North Carolina enacted Susie's Law.  Susie's Law makes any malicious abuse, torture or killing of animals a Class H felony, punishable by up to 10 months in jail.  Now the first prosecution under the new law is underway in Caswell County.

According to the Animal Law Coalition, Jimmy Lee Spears, Jr. has been charged with 3 felony counts under Susie's Law.  Spears is alleged to have starved 3 dogs to death while they were left chained.  That doesn't begin to describe the intense suffering of these animals as they slowly died.  Animal lovers throughout the country will be watching to see what happens as Susie's Law is put into practice.

Susie's Law is named after a dog who survived incredibly wicked abuse.  Susie was just an 8 week old puppy when she was tortured, burned and left to die in Greensboro, NC.  According to the Greensboro News & Record, her ears were burned off and she was covered in maggots by the time she was found, about two weeks later.  the perpetrator of the abuse was caught, charged, convicted, and sentenced to probation.  Susie's new owner, Donna Lawrence, was one of the leaders of the movement to create Susie's Law.  Lawrence wanted to make sure that anyone who tortured a dog would have to face jail time.

Reward Offered in Rottweiler Dog Cruelty Case

The Humane Society of Missouri is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who are responsible for severe injuries to a four-year-old male Rottweiler on June 15, 2010.


The dog, named Desperado by his Humane Society rescuers, had a rusted, dirty chain link collar deeply imbedded around its neck. The gaping wound measured 1 ½” deep and 10” long circling the dog’s neck. The chain link collar, which had to be cut with a bolt cutter, was only 6” in diameter. Animal Cruelty Investigators stated the collar should have been at least 10” in diameter to properly fit a dog of Desperado’s size.


Humane Society of Missouri veterinary staff examined the dog, cleaned the wound and have administered medication to alleviate pain and prevent infection. The dog will receive continuing treatment to allow the wound to heal. Humane Society veterinarians are cautiously optimistic the dog will make a full recovery.

Desperado was discovered on the property of a Baden, Missouri, business, his chain tangled in equipment on the property. Realizing the dog was injured, the owner of the business contacted the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force which brought Desperado to Humane Society of Missouri headquarters in St. Louis City.

TO REPORT INFORMATION IN THIS CASE:

Anyone with information about this crime should contact: Humane Society of Missouri’s Animal Abuse Hotline 314-647-4400

Colorado Dog Dragging - Petition for Maximum Penalty

Have you been following the story of Buddy, who was dragged to death in Colorado?

Two dogs were stolen from the back of a family's pick up truck while they were inside a restaurant. Max, a black lab, was returned to the family after Buddy's alleged murderer was arrested.

Steven Clay Romero, the man charged in the dragging death on December 30, 2009 of a German Shepherd named Buddy behind his truck for three miles faces the possibility of three years in federal prison, $100,000 fine and one year probation for this horrific crime. There is an online petition urging the US District Court in Grand Junction (Mesa County) Colorado to hand down the maximum sentence.

We've been following the story on OhMiDog and we've now signed the petition because we've had enough of animal cruelty. Join us.