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  issue > breeder > clearwater kennel, now AJ's Angels

 

 

Located in Cushing, Minnesota, Clearwater Kennel was the largest dog breeding kennel in Minnesota housing over 1,000 dogs and puppies. This kennel was owned and operated by Wanda Kretzman, formerly Wanda McDuffee. Prior to Clearwater Kennel, this breeder owned and operated Happy Tails, another large-scale dog breeding facility in Morrison County, with her ex-husband.

Clearwater Kennel is now operating under a different owner (Angie McDuffee, daughter-in-law of Wanda Kretzman) with a new name: A.J.'s Angels and federal license: 41-A-0484. Its federal license application in 2022 reported that the kennel may have, at one time, 2,000 dogs. See animal counts below.

A.J.'s Angels does not sell directly to consumers from its facility. Export documents showed this breeder was selling primarily to brokers, such as JAQ's Puppies in Iowa who, in turn, re-sells and ships the puppies to pet stores nationwide.

The Switch

On March 2, 2015, the USDA filed a complaint against Clearwater Kennel for violation of the Animal Welfare Act. Multiple violations for years were cited against this kennel; however, rather than revoke its federal license and close the kennel due to violation of law, the USDA entered into a settlement agreement with Wanda Kretzman, the owner. This agreement was signed by the judge on March 11, 2016.

It should be noted:

  • Prior, on March 9, 2016, Clearwater Kennels (owner Wanda Kretzman) cancelled its USDA license.
  • Also on March 9, 2016, a USDA license was granted to A.J.'s Angels (owner Angie McDuffee) to operate the kennel on the same property. The owner of A.J.'s Angels, as noted above, is the daughter-in-law of Wanda Kretzman.
  • Documentation by the USDA shows the federal government was aware of this transfer and, it appears, may have helped orchestrate this action by expediting the pre-license approval for A.J. Angels to operate.

Original Complaint filed by USDA Against Clearwater Kennels

Consent Order between Clearwater Kennels and USDA

Post of cancellation of USDA license: Clearwater Kennels

Post of new active federal USDA license: AJ's Angels

USDA Inspection Report: Angie McDuffee AJ's Angels

Aerial view of this breeding facility. Dogs are kept in the long, low buildings.

Photo below shows outside view of buildings; taken by USDA.

 

Animal counts

The "inventory count" of adult dogs and puppies within A.J.'s Angels kennel is reported on USDA inspection reports. Puppy counts can vary widely based on when the facility sells and ships its puppies and time/date of the inspection.

• no report posted in 2023

• 885 dogs and puppies (549 adult dogs and 336 puppies) per the 12-07-22 USDA inspection report

• 1,172 dogs and puppies (786 adult dogs; 386 puppies) per the 10-21-21 USDA inspection report

• no report posted for 2020

• 1,267 dogs and puppies (758 adult dogs; 509 puppies) per 2019 USDA inspection report

• 1,368 dogs and puppies (774 adult dogs; 594 puppies) per 2018 USDA inspection report

• 1,255 dogs and puppies (731 adult dogs; 524 puppies) per 2017 USDA inspection report

• 1,030 dogs and puppies (648 adult dogs; 382 puppies) per 2016 USDA inspection report

This high volume of dogs was found in Clearwater Kennel prior to the kennel being transferred to Angie McDuffee; as noted below:

• 1,229 dogs and puppies (808 adult dogs and 421 puppies) as per 2015 USDA inspection report

• 1,050 dogs and puppies (738 adult dogs and 312 puppies) as per the 2014 (Sept.11) USDA inspection report

• 1,124 dogs and puppies (682 adult dogs and 442 puppies as per 2013 (Feb. 27) USDA inspeciton report

• 994 dogs and puppies (652 adult dogs and 342 puppies) as per 2021 (April 17) USDA inspection report

• 1,391 dogs and puppies (768 adult dogs and 623 puppies) pas per 2011 (Jan. 12) USDA inspeciton report

• 1,752 dogs and puppies (916 adult dogs and 836 puppies) as per 2010 (August 10) USDA inspection report

• 1,295 dogs and puppies (754 adult dogs and 541 puppies) as per 2009 (July 16) USDA inspection report

• 1,291 dogs and uppies (947 adult dogs and 344 puppies) as per 2008 USDA inspection report

• Animal counts for years 2007, 2006, 2005 not available

• 1,677 dogs and puppies (987 adult dogs and 690 puppies) per 2004 USDA insepction report (on or about Nov. 23)

Prior to Clearwater Kennel, dog breeder Wanda Kretzman (formerly McDuffee) owned and operated Happy Tails with her husband — also a high volume of dogs.

• 1,321 dogs and puppies (829 adult dogs and 320 puppies) as per 2003 USDA inspection report

• 798 dogs and puppies (542 adult dogs and 256 puppies) as per 2002 USDA inspection report

• No data prior to this date

 

VIDEO

Video below was taken by the Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS), showing an exterior portion of the kennel. The investigator observed 400 dogs; however, as noted above, this kennel was reported to have 1,172 dogs and puppies as of October 2021.

A.J.'s Angels: https://www.caps-web.org/ajsangels/

Large-scale breeding facilities can cause stress, disease, and injuries to the adult dogs and puppies. Breeding dogs who are not provided with basic care and attention often have psychological problems that require years of rehabilitation — if the animal is rescued and not killed after "their breeding use."

 

 

State license

The Minnesota Board of Animal Health granted a state license to AJ's Angels.

The MN dog and cat breeder law, which requires licensing and inspections of certain commercial dog and cat breeders, specifically included language to address the mental health of every animal in a facility; as well as to provide proper staffing. See below.

• (a) subd. 4: "the animals must be provided daily enrichment and must be provided positive physical contact with human beings and compatible animals at least twice daily unless a veterinarian determines such activities would adversely affect the health or well-being of the animal;"

• (a) subd. 7: "the commercial breeder must provide adequate staff to maintain the facility and observe each animal daily to monitor each animal's health and well-being, and to properly care for the animals."

While the above language (and other language in the law) was specifically included to address high-volume kennels, the MN Board of Animal Health (BAH), designated to be the authority to enforce the law, chose not to conduct rule-making. The creation of rules allows for language in a law (often broad) to be further defined, which allows for a more effective and measurable enforcement of the law by inspectors or investigators. This lack of rule-making has resulted in ineffective management of the breeder law.

Once the bill was passed into law, Animal Folks and others provided the BAH with materials and experts on animal enrichment and socialization practices. To better understand if or how the BAH assesses enrichment, socialization, and staffing protocols in a licensed facility (and the proper enforcement of the law), Animal Folks requested training materials used by the BAH; the BAH has refused to provide such data. There is no oversight of the BAH and how it conducts its inspections of breeding facilities.

A lack of understanding about animal welfare and the psychological needs of dogs in breeding kennels is another reason why the Companion Animal Board bill has been introduced. It is time the enforcement of the breeder law be transferred to a board and staff with a keen knowledge of canine health and well-being. (The BAH is governed by livestock producers and staffed by livestock veterinarians due to their mission, which is the control of dangerous animal disease.)

 

 


 

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