On Monday, the Humane Society of the United States released its annual Horrible Hundred report,which details problem puppy mills and puppy brokers across the country.
Ohio has one of the largest numbers of puppy sellers on the list, with 16. Some of those breeders have been cited multiple times.Breeders can be included on the Horrible Hundred reportfor sick or injured dogs, inhumane and unsafe conditions, and a lack of protection from the heat and cold.
Humane society officials said puppies from these dealers can be sold to families in every state because puppy mills sell to pet stores across the country.
“While the USDA paused many of their in-person inspections during the pandemic, dogs were left more at risk than ever,” said John Goodwin, senior director of the Humane Society of the United States’ Stop Puppy Mills campaign. “Public records and our undercover work show that Petland and other pet stores continue to buy from commercial breeding operations where dogs languish in miserable conditions.”
Ohio and Kentucky were mentioned in the report's "most disturbing" findings:
- "Ohio breeder Joseph A. Miller of Horseshoe Kennel admitted he performed an invasive dental procedure on a dog instead of taking her to a veterinarian, which resulted in her dying while she struggled in his grasp. It appears Miller paid no serious penalty and is still licensed by the state and USDA," officials said.
- "Kentucky breeder Sharon Richards, who was previously linked to a fire that killed 31 dogs and also pled guilty to felony charges in a different case after dogs were removed from her property in Wisconsin, is still in business and has been found with more dogs living in dismal conditions," officials said.
One Kentucky breeder was mentioned and six in Indiana were included on the Horrible Hundred. The closest breeder cited is located in Brookville, Indiana. The Ohio and Kentucky breederslisted are not in the Greater Cincinnati area.
For the ninth year in a row, Missouri has the largest number of puppy sellers on the list with 21. Officials said alarge number of listings in certain states can be linked "at least partly"due to the greater availability of records in some states.
To avoid buying puppies from a bad breeder, humane society officials said buyers should visit a breeder and see the conditions in which their puppy was born and raised.
For more information on the Horrible Hundred, visithumanesociety.org/100puppymills.
Breeders cited on the Horrible Hundred list in Ohio, Kentucky andIndiana:
Ohio
- Ivan M. Barkman / Lone Pine Kennel, Baltic, Ohio: Failed state inspection for matted dog, dog with eye disorder; history of poor veterinary care and sick dogs (repeat offender).
- Eli D. Hostetler, Holmesville, Ohio: State inspectors found a nursing mother golden retriever who was severely underweight and another who had “deep open wounds” in December 2020, plus other dogs in need of care; USDA inspectors have not cited the facility in years.
- Daniel and James Miller / Happy Mountain K9 Facilities / Puppys R Us, Loudonville, Ohio: State inspectors found issues at six different visits, including two dogs with eye disorders; owners failed four inspections in a row for dogs exposed to winter weather without proper shelter when temperatures had been below freezing; seller offers puppies on PuppyFind.com (repeat offender).
- James E. Miller / Elite Puppies, Millersburg, Ohio: Multiple issues found at three different state inspections in 2020; dogs found in need of veterinary care included a cavalier with “discharge and red irritated tissue around the eye” and three dogs with dental disease; inspectors found unlawful medication not “consistent with state and federal law.”
- Joseph A. Miller / Horseshoe Kennel, Millersburg, Ohio: Breeder admitted a dog died during do-it-yourself dental procedure; Miller failed at least four state inspections and one USDA inspection in 2020 for inadequate veterinary care.
- Joseph D. Miller, Millersburg, Ohio: Failed state inspection for illegal surgery on dog that was not performed by a veterinarian; another dog with injured leg, and unacceptable housing; USDA has not inspected in more than a year. S
- Levi Nisley, Patriot, Ohio: Breeder linked to three Petland stores was found with outdated veterinary records and a puppy with “red protruding tissue” coming from an eye; breeder was mentioned in consumer lawsuit against Petland regarding another sick puppy.
- Steven N. Sauder / Sandy Hill Kennel, Shiloh, Ohio: State inspectors found excessive excreta, dirt and grime, and lack of proper cleaning at facility previously found with a bleeding dog (repeat offender).
- Lena and Michael Troyer / Spring Side Kennel, Baltic, Ohio: USDA violation for unsanitary conditions, “platforms are covered with frozen urine and feces;” prior issues with veterinary care (repeat offender).
- Wayne R. Troyer, Sugarcreek, Ohio: Breeder formerly accused of shooting a dog in the head in 2009 had 2020 violations for wire flooring, not making facility available for inspection (repeat offender).
- Ivan D. Weaver, Fredericksburg, Ohio: Failed at least two state inspections in December 2020 for more than 15 violations; repeat violations for dogs kept in dangerous, small and defective housing.
- Andy E. Yoder / Backroad Kennel, Millersburg, Ohio: State inspectors found a dog with scabs and two others in need of care in September 2020; breeder has a history of injured dogs; issues stretch back to 2014 when USDA inspectors found a dog with an embedded collar and seven dead puppies (repeat offender).
- Jonathan J. Yoder, Millersburg, Ohio: Inspectors found an underweight nursing mother dog, unacceptable flooring; some dogs with questionable origins.
- Joseph M. Yoder, Fredericksburg, Ohio: Failed two consecutive state inspections in December 2020; some dogs did not have clean, drinkable water; two dogs in need of dental treatment; excessive feces (repeat offender).
- Norman E. Yoder / Green Meadow Farm, Apple Creek, Ohio: State inspectors found multiple dogs with raw, reddened, open sores, and other veterinary concerns; breeder performed do-it-yourself dentals against veterinary advice (repeat offender).
- David J. Yutzy, Millersburg, Ohio: Several dogs had eye disorders —one had “protruding tissue in both eyes,” and two others had watery or cloudy eyes; a fourth dog had “severe” dental issues; state inspectors found poor shelter and excessive feces.
Indiana
- Becky and Rex Rosenberger / Clearview Basset Farm, Brookville, Indiana: Breeder found operating without a license; repeatedly failed to correct issues found by state inspectors, including inadequate housing for the dogs and poor protection from the elements.
Kentucky
- Sharon (Sherri) M. Richards, aka Sharon Lambrecht, Webster and Irvington, Kentucky: Before moving to Kentucky, owner previously pled guilty to felony charges of “mistreatment of animals / cause death” in Wisconsin; also linked to fire that killed 31 dogs; still has dogs in small, rusty wire cages in dirty conditions; breeder was recently found selling sick puppies; also offers puppies on PuppyFind.com.
