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Trial By Fire: Dogs Rescued From Missouri Breeding Facility

February 26, 2009, 6:18PM MT

By Cheri Moon

Breeder sets fire to home and kennels when officials arrived to confiscate dogs.

Breeder sets fire to home and kennels when officials arrived to confiscate dogs.

By Cheri Moon, Best Friends Staff

Stabilize. That is the primary objective. Stabilize a situation that has tilted and careened out of control.

A team of six Best Friends Animal Society specialists is headed into the remote countryside in Ozark County located in South Central Missouri to “wrangle dogs, assess their conditions and help stabilize a chaotic and disastrous set of circumstances.”

On February 24, when Missouri officials appeared on the premise of River Valley Puppies Kennels to remove approximately 200 dogs, the owner of the facility set fire to his house, the kennel where the dogs are kept and began shooting at anyone who attempted to enter the house—including firefighters.

Unlicensed Breeding Facility with Substandard Conditions
The Missouri Department of Agriculture has been conducting an ongoing investigation of River Valley Puppies Kennels, located near Tecumseh, Missouri. The unlicensed, commercial breeding facility has a well documented history of keeping dogs in “inadequate conditions.”

Click the image to the left to view video of the burned down kennel and house and meet the dogs and puppies who are now looking ahead to a better life.

Officials gave the kennel a deadline of January 31, 2008 to clean up its act, surrender 50 dogs, pay a licensing penalty fee and pass inspections. When the New Year rang in without the kennel owner’s compliance, the Department of Agriculture set the ball in motion to remove the dogs.

The Department of Agriculture’s Animal Care Facilities Act (ACFA) program worked with the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department to take possession of the dogs. District Veterinarian Larry Forgey with the Missouri Department of Agriculture was also on the scene.

Most of the dogs from the kennel are English Springer spaniels and German shorthaired pointers. The teams knew they would encounter substandard conditions and unhealthy animals. But nothing could have prepared them for a barrage of bullets and fire.

According to preliminary reports, some dogs received injuries from the fire in the form of charred feet and others were grazed by bullets. All dogs with illnesses or injuries were removed from the property and are receiving medical care. Currently, there are approximately 150 dogs running unchecked on the property.

A Cavalry of Expertise
The Missouri Department of Agriculture has asked Best Friends Animal Society to evaluate the remaining dogs and help place them with rescue groups.

Joining Best Friends is Noah’s Wish, a California-based animal welfare organization dedicated exclusively to rescuing and sheltering animals in disasters. They will be setting up a temporary shelter on the kennel site.

Says Misti Preston, spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Agriculture, “Although the Department of Agriculture does everything we can to protect the health and safety of animals, we don’t have all of the resources needed to facilitate the rescue of large numbers of dogs,” Preston says. “We truly appreciate the efforts and rely on outside groups such as Best Friends and Noah’s Wish, who bring their experience and knowledge to the rescue effort.”

The action against River Valley Puppies Kennels is one of 23 enforcement actions taken by the State of Missouri since the beginning of the year, resulting in the rescue of more than 1,100 dogs.

Says Rich Crook, Field Team Leader onsite in Missouri, “We don’t know what to expect—except dogs in need of help—and we can handle that.”

Ongoing Updates
As this situation unfolds, Best Friends will be providing updates on a daily basis.

Feb 27 Update

How You Can Help

• There is no call for volunteers or in kind donations at this time.

• Volunteers are not needed at the puppy mill site, but people interested in helping can make a donation for the care of the puppies by visiting puppymills.bestfriends.org.

• Download the guide, “Nine Things You Can Do to Help Stop Puppy Mills.”

• Join The Truth About the Pet Trade community to learn more about how you can help in your community.

Photo by Gary Kalpakoff, Best Friends Staff

Comments

Posted February 27, 2009, 4:20PM by ruthy92

There are many other groups dealing with this situation, and they should be given some kudos too

Such as Central Missouri Humane Society

Posted February 26, 2009, 7:45PM by ktsmom

January 31st, they were to surrender 50 dogs? Why only 50 when there were so many more? These poor animals are so innocent, and thank you to all who are working to care for them. I hope justice will prevail and continue to shut down these stinking puppy mills.

Posted February 27, 2009, 12:32PM by jennifer

Has the person who owned this puppy mill been arrested? I would think that, if nothing else, shooting at firefighters would ensure some jail time for him.

It's good to see both Best Friends and Noahs Wish out there making sure that these dogs have a better life from this point on.

Posted February 27, 2009, 5:22AM by atuttle32

Why are puppy mills overseen by the Department of Agriculture? Yes, they are domesticated animals involved, but they live in our homes and in our hearts. Government needs to spend more resources on governing and enforcing policy. And NEW policies need to be written. All I can think is how many tens of thousands of animals need to die before this happens?

I'm from Missouri, and I'm ashamed of this. So ashamed.

Posted February 27, 2009, 10:56AM by mimi

Could someone answer a question for me? "23 enforcement actions taken by the State of Missouri since the beginning of the year." What's changed? Suddenly there are a lot more news stories about puppy mills being reported and shut down, in Missouri and elsewhere, and it always surprises me. That people will report these horrible places, and that authorities will actually go out and enforce the law. I always expect the authorities to sneer at "animal rights wackos" and never act on reports of illegalities. It's unlikely the Dept of Ag has any more money for inspectors, or that the workload of law enforcement has lightened. Was it the Oprah expose, or something else? Or are there so many puppy mills that a few can get closed down to placate the "animal rights wackos" without anything really changing? What's going on? I'd be really interested in hearing your opinions. Thanks.

Posted February 27, 2009, 2:12PM by justice4cats

If the dogs were kids the owner's face would be front page news across the nation. Life is life in my book. Starting a fire, OMG.

Bless the ones who are there with the rescue.

Posted March 06, 2009, 8:36AM by bordercolliemom

Thanks to the AKC these places continue to exist. Oprah did a show on puppy mills and on her next show she read a leter from a "good breeder". If you belong to the AKC you are not a good breeder. It is the same as saying you hate child molesters then putting one in your car with a box of candy and dropping him off in front of a school. That is what anyone that belongs to AKC is doing.
I also think these people that run these mills should have their faces spread across the tv and newspapers.
What is going to happen to the people running this ? Are they going to jail? How does a place like this exist ,and no one that is supposed to be watching the treatment of these poor dogs let it go on. The inspectors that are paid by the tax payers are obviously taking payoffs. I just cried when I saw these poor dogs. Bless the people that go in and rescue them.

Posted March 08, 2009, 10:3PM by Rowena

Ordered to comply by january 31, 2008, and it takes them into well into 2009 to conduct the raid?!? That is deplorable.

150 dogs left on the property with a homicidal maniac? Next time they check, they will find 150 dead dogs. Leaving them there with that monster is tantamount to killing them.

Posted February 27, 2009, 11:12AM by gbste

The state of Missouri offers funding to those who want to start puppy mills. These "facilities" are classified as small farms and receive agricultural subsidies. We shouldn't be surprized to see these horrific stories out of Missouri.

Posted February 26, 2009, 9:22PM by Kelly4cats

This is a corrupt, inhumane business and there are too many mills for the authorities to keep up with. It must be made illegal to run these operations, for the sake of the dogs and the community.

So many rescued puppy mill dogs bred only for profit are taking up limited cage space in shelters and rescue groups. Think of all the dogs who won't get help now because these will take their place.

Posted February 26, 2009, 11:58PM by squeakie42

Well, I guess there's no need for an "ongoing investigation" now, is there? Shoot first, investigate later. Sorry, I can't help it -- sometimes I see no other solution for people like this.

Posted March 03, 2009, 12:35AM by juliro

In response to Mimi and others, I can't say if some of these investigations were long-term and are just now breaking, but I do expect things to improve because we have a new Sec. of Agriculture who is not hostile to animals, as well as a gatekeeper at OIRA who supports animal welfare.

However, many previous personnel remain at the USDA and if I am interpreting correctly, they are appointees and so remain in their position for a given number of years. I don't know if or under what grounds they could be dismissed. I've looked on various websites and not seen a clear answer.

In any case, it will be a long, uphill battle to defeat puppy mills. But I do believe animals will get a much fairer shake under the current administration.

Posted March 03, 2009, 10:18AM by Lalahcatlady

Please tell us that man is going to spend a very long time in jail. He is guilty of at least arson and animal cruelty. What an evil person he is.

Posted February 26, 2009, 8:59PM by mxipp

This is dreadful. I hope it prompts MO to look at all their rules and regulations and start putting puppy mills out of business. And every other state should do the same.

And there should be LOTS of publicity about every channel -- pet stores, newspaper ads, internet, whatever -- this man used to sell his puppies so more people are aware of just where that cute little dog they bought came from.

Posted March 03, 2009, 9:37AM by newtricksdogtraining

This guy should be charged with attempted murder for trying to kill all of those poor dogs. Unfortunately, he won't be, but I hope that they charge him with everything they can.

Posted March 04, 2009, 12:49PM by Bipedal

My first born was Brandy, a German Shorthair. He
was an athlete, full of love and humor and extreme-
ly social. I rescued him from a breeder. My second
born was offspring from Brandy's sister/father; his
name was Jerzy. I rescued him from the same
breeder. Jerzy was cross-eyed, hypothyroid, epilep-
tic, to sum it up: physiologically he was a mess.
This breeder was going to kill Jerzy. I didn't under-
stand why he would breed a sister and father. The
idiot. Brandy lived 16 1/2 wonderful years. Jerzy
lived 7 of the best years I could give to him. Breeders like this don't give a hoot about the dogs.
They care about the dollar.

I'm so appreciative for Noah's Wish, Best Friends
and the shelters which open their doors for a re-
covery for animals treated so poorly.