Correction: A previous version of this story reported an incorrect amount of what the Humane Society of the United States calls puppy mills inMissouri.
For the sixth year in a row, Missourihas the highest number of puppy mills listed in the Humane Society of the United State's annual Horrible Hundred report.
The report listed 23 puppy mills in Missouri, followed by Ohio's 13 and nine in Pennsylvania.
According to a news release, the report is compiled by researchers in the Humane Society's puppy mill campaign who spend hundreds of hours combing through federal and state inspection records.
In a separate report, researchers found Missouri was a top state for complaints from consumers about breeders and brokers selling sick puppies, underscoring the group's efforts to stop puppy mills.
The Horrible Hundred report criticizes the USDA for seemingly protecting breeders this past year by not revealing all of the breeders' identities in USDA inspection reports.
"Over the 12 month period since we published our last report, USDA inspectors have continued to find conditions just as horrific as those in our prior reports, including dogs with open wounds, emaciated dogs with their ribs and spines showing, and dogs with moldy food, dirty water and filthy cages," The Horrible Hundred report said. "The difference is that this year, we don’t always know which operators have been found with such dreadful conditions. The suffering these animals face seems even more unjust, because most of the identities of their breeders have been kept secret by the USDA — the very agency charged with protecting dogs in puppy mills and keeping bad breeders in line.
"Without this information, The (Humane Society)and the general public cannot evaluate whether USDA is meeting its charge. Additionally, consumers cannot judge whether or not they are supporting an operation which has been found employing the harmful practices described in this report. Moreover, the lack of transparency can be a hindrance to law enforcement efforts in jurisdictions that rely on inspection reports to determine compliance with state and local laws."
Ann Quinn, publicity director for the Missouri Pet Breeders Association, called the Humane Society's report unfair and said that many of the claims are "highly exaggerated."
Quinn pointed to portions of the report that mention yellow discharge in dogs' eyes as an example. Humans, too, wake up with yellow "sleep" in their eyes, she said.
"The inspections are unannounced. These inspectors can come to your house at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.," Quinn said, adding that it's not unusual that at least onedog would have such discharge.
"You can see why a report like this is troubling to me," Quinn said. "I know it is going to harm a lot of breeders.
"You have to realize there is another side to this story," she said. "I'm not going to tell you there aren't puppy mills. But they aren't licensed. (The breeders on the Humane Society's report) are licensed."
Humane Society of the United States spokesperson Alison Shapiro said the organization believes there are up to 1,600 licensed and unlicensed "puppy mills" in Missouri. The report calls out a sampling of 100 "especially problematic puppy mills."
While several Missouri breeders' names were withheld by the USDA, some that were named include:
• Bobbie Lyell, of Marshfield, with Oak Wood Farms. "Many dogs were underweight with patches of hair loss; at least one of them had lice; others had discharge from eyes or ears; veterinary issues found at three separate inspections in 2017," the report said.
• Marlisa McAlmond, ofAlton, with Cedar Ridge Australians. According to the report, McAlmond is a repeat offender who has a "massive operation with more than 400 dogs; 26 puppies and dogs were thin, with ribs showing, noticeable waists and/or muscle atrophy; inadequate and unsafe housing."
• Marilyn Williams, of Ava, with Pup 4 U. "Inspectors found injured dogs five years in a row; severely matted dogs; one dog was so matted the breed was unrecognizable and the dog also had lice. Breeder was permanently barred from holding a USDA license in 2006 but she is still in business under a state license and selling online," the report said.
• Kimberly Coleman, of Clinton, with TLC Kennels. The report said Coleman is also a repeat offender. "Kimberly Coleman has appeared in all five of our prior Horrible Hundred reports due to terrible conditions and multiple injured dogs found on her property by both state and federal inspectors. But shockingly, she still remains both USDA-licensed and state licensed in 2018, to the best of our knowledge," the report said.
• Debra Ritter, of Curryville, with Cornerstone Farms. OfRitter, the report said, "Huge Internet seller with more than 375 dogs has been cited by state inspectors year after year for poor conditions; dogs had diarrhea, hair loss and fleas; USDA mysteriously finds no violations."
• Pamela Baldwin, of Edgar Springs, with Samples Creek Kennel. Also a repeat offender, the report said, "More than 30 dogs found underweight, sick or injured in 2016-2017; some were limping or had open wounds; one dog had eyes completely covered in yellow discharge; another had an enlarged, bulging eye. Breeder sells to Tiffanies LLC, a massive pet store broker. Horrendous violations have been found again and again at Pamela Baldwin’s Samples Creek Kennel. Baldwin has appeared in all five of our prior Horrible Hundred reports due to terrible conditions and multiple underweight, sick and injured dogs found on her property by both state and federal inspectors."
• Donald Schrage, of Edina, with Rabbit Ridge Kennel. "Problem puppy mill with more than 130 dogs still accumulating violations under a state license, despite revocation of its USDA license in 2016; violations have spanned more than two decades," the report said of Schrage's operation.
• Pam Wilson, of Gallatin. "Admitted using a cattle prod to break up dog fights; direct violation for puppy with crusty scabs and other dogs with similar issues; licensee admitted she caught a rash from the dogs, yet none of the animals with skin disorders had been seen by a veterinarian," the report said. "In June 2017, a Missouri state inspector found nine violations at Pam Wilson’s kennel, including issues with unsafe housing, inadequate cleaning, unsafe animal handling and lack of proper veterinary care."
• Jimmie Holyfield, of Jamesport. "Inspector found cluster of co*ckroaches in kennel; piles of feces so numerous that dogs had difficulty moving without stepping in it."
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• Jason and Ashlae Simmons, of Lebanon, with Simmons Farms. "Breeder of AKC puppies was repeatedly found with sick or injured dogs yet had no proof of veterinary care for their issues; inspector found mother dog with 'prominent ribs'nursing puppies," the report said.
• Linda Kay Butler, of Montgomery City, with High Point Kennel. The report said Butler was a repeat offender and described the operation as an "AKC-linked breeder had repeated problems with veterinary care; several puppies in one litter had died; others had no records of vaccines or treatments."
• Kallie and Josh Bateman, of Neosho, with Puppy Travelers, Inc. "Twenty-four puppies seized at end of long transport to pet store were found in filthy conditions, small cages without water; the transport operation shares space with Pinnacle Pet, LLC, a massive puppy broker," the report said. "Puppy Travelers is an umbrella business for several smaller, USDA-licensed transporters that deliver puppies to pet stores."
• Michael Franke, of Novelty, with North River Kennel. "Puppies had loose, bloody stools; inspectors warned breeder four times about keeping dogs on wire flooring without adequate resting surface; one dog had hair loss and reddened ears," the report said.
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