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"We don't buy from puppy mills. "All of our puppies come from small, local breeders." "We visit every breeder we buy from." Many pet stores in Minnesota and throughout the United States claim the above — which often is false and can mislead consumers about where a puppy was born and the size and conditions of the kennel.
TRACKING DOG SALES TO PET STORES AND DEALERS The question is, how do consumers learn where a puppy is being bred, comes from and goes to so they can make an informed buying decision? For most consumers, obtaining this information is not possible or extremely difficult. Pet stores that sell puppies refuse to release information about the breeder until the animal has been purchased. The consumer is "kept in the dark" about the breeder, not provided with data on the size or conditions of the dog breeding facility. By the time the animal is purchased and brought home, the family has bonded with the animal and will not "return" the dog based on new information learned. This is a delberate tactic used by pet stores to keep consumers uniformed and willing to buy. One way to try and learn about who breeds what dogs is to obtain Certificate of Veterinary Inspection Reports (CVIs). Any Minnesota breeder or dealer selling and shipping an animal across state lines is required to file this certificate. By recording where the animals are being shipped to, the certificates track animal movement and are supposed to help prevent and track the spread of disease. In early 2016, the MN Board of Animal Health abruptly stopped providing Certificates of Veterinary Inspection to the public. This is why many of the CVIs noted below end at 2015. This lack of transparency has greatly impacted the public's ability to be informed prior to a purchase. Most other states provide CVIs to the public.
CERTIFICATE OF VETERINARY INSPECTION (CVI) EXAMPLES: DOG SALES TO OUT-OF-STATE PET STORES AND DEALERS Below are examples of Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVIs) from a few commercial dog breeders and dealers located in Minnesota. As explained above, breeders and dealers must submit a copy of this certificate if they are transporting animals across state lines. NOTE: 1. Before an animal is transported out of state, a veterinarian, accredited by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), must examine the animal for signs of "infectious, contagious or communicable disease" and, if no disease is found, sign the certificate for approval to transport. 2. Many breeders also sell to dealers, such as J.A.K.'s Puppies, Inc. in Iowa or Nebraskaland Pets, Inc. in Nebraska, who, in turn, re-sell the animals to pet stores throughout the United States. Some Minnesota breeders below are also dealers and buy puppies from other breeders and re-sell to pet stores.
CLEARWATER KENNELS, sold and now operating as A.J. Angels Clearwater Kennels, located in Morrison County and owned and operated by Wanda Kretzman, was one of the largest kennels in Minnesota. The kennel was sold to her daughter-in-law Angie McDuffee and now operates under the name of A.J. Angels. In their USDA inspection report dated 2022, this kennel was reported to have 885 adult dogs and puppies. In 2019, this kennel was reported to have 1,267 animals (758 adult dogs and 509 puppies. Past puppy sales have included shipments to a long list of pet stores in multiple states, including Michigan, Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, California, Connecticut, Iowa, Nebraska, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Massachusetts, and Maryland. This breeder has sold puppies within Minnesota. Recent sales have been directed to dealers who then re-sell the puppies to pet stores. CVI Example:
Clearwater Kennels - Out-of-State Dog Sales 2015
Clearwater Kennels - Out-of-State Dog Sales 2014
Clearwater Kennels - Out-of-State Dog Sales 2013
Clearwater Kennels - Out-of-State Dog Sales 2012
Clearwater Kennels - Out-of-State Dog Sales 2011
VALLEY VIEW KENNEL, Owner Paul and Sheila Haag Valley View Kennel, located in Meeker County and owned and operated by Paul and Sheila Haag, was also one of the largest kennels in Minnesota. In 2018, this kennel cancelled its USDA license, meaning they could no longer sell puppies to pet stores. They do, however, still operate with a state license; the state provides no data ot the public about commercial breeders so it is unclear as to their current inventory counts. In their USDA inspection report dated October 29, 2018, this kennel was reported to have 1,038 animals (528 adult dogs and 510 puppies. For years, this breeder sold to multiple pet stores in Minnesota and to some stores and consumers out of state. This breeder sells retail (to consumers directly) through A Maze'n Farmyard or other means. In past years, this breeder sold to Doyle's Farm & Home in Wisconsin (Ace Hardware). He also sold to Four Paws and A Tail pet store in Blaine, Minnesota. In 2014 and 2015, he sold to dealers and pet stores below:
CVI Example:
MENNING ENTERPRISES; now operating under the name ROCKVIEW KENNELS Menning Enterprises, located in Pipestone County and owned and operated by Ron Menning, was one of the largest breeders and dealers in southern Minnesota. This kennel is still operating but now has the name Rockview Kennels and the president and registered agent is Wesley Johnson. In their USDA inspection report dated 2022, this kennel was reported to have 665 dogs and puppies. In July 2019, this kennel was reported to have 687 animals in their facility (264 adult dogs and 423 puppies). This kennel sells to consumers and pet stores in Minnesota and throughout the United States. In prior years, Menning Enterprises sold puppies to many pet stores in the upper Midwest area, including Iowa, Wisconsin, South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska and Missouri and to pet stores in Massachusetts. It is assumed that Rockview Kennels, under Wesley Johnson, may be selling to the same pet stores. CVI Example:
MENNING ENTERPRISES - Out-of-State Dog Sales Sales 2015
MENNING ENTERPRISES - Out-of-State Dog Sales Sales 2014
MENNING ENTERPRISES - Out-of-State Dog Sales Sales 2013
MENNING ENTERPRISES - Out-of-State Dog Sales Sales 2012
MENNING ENTERPRISES - Out-of-State Dog Sales Sales 2011
LEROY YODER, owner Dog breeder Leroy Yoder, located in Winona County, owns and operates a dog breeding kennel. In past years, this breeder sold primarily to a dealer named Pinnacle Pets, formerly Mid America Pets, in Missouri and to William Yoder in Iowa, also a dealer. In 2024, export documents show that Leroy Yoder and other breeders in Winona County are selling to K9 Partners in Iowa as well as directly to various pet stores throughout the nation. Dealers re-sell and re-ship the puppies to pet stores. NOTE: Winona County is now known as the "puppy mill capital of Minnesota" because it has multiple dog breeding facilities operating in the county. CVI Example:
LEROY YODER - OUT-OF-STATE DOG SALES 2015
LEROY YODER - OUT-OF-STATE DOG SALES 2014
LEROY YODER - OUT-OF-STATE DOG SALES 2013
LEROY YODER - OUT-OF-STATE DOG SALES 2012
LEROY YODER - OUT-OF-STATE DOG SALES 2011
BLUEWATER CREEK, formerly RENNER'S KENNELS (owners John and Lyle Renner) Renner's Kennels, was owned and operated by John and Lyle Renner, is located in Becker County. It became called Bluewater Creek Kennels and was operated solely by Lyle Renner. It appears this kennel is no longer in operation. In their USDA inspection report dated November 5, 2019, this kennel had 138 animals (115 adult dogs and 23 puppies). In a report dated September 10, 2015, this kennel was reported to have 124 adult dogs and 88 puppies (total: 212). In past years, Renner has sold puppies to multiple pet stores in multiple states, including North Dakota, California, North Dakota, Florida, South Dakota, and Nebraska. Renner also sold to large out-of-state brokers. This breeder also sells to Minnesota pet stores. See below for names of out-of-state pet stores and dealers. CVI Example:
RENNER'S KENNELS - Out-of-State Dog Sales 2015
RENNER'S KENNELS - Out-of-State Dog Sales 2014
RENNER'S KENNELS - Out-of-State Dog Sales 2013
RENNER'S KENNELS - Out-of-State Dog Sales 2012
RENNER'S KENNELS - Out-of-State Dog Sales 2011
NOTE: Years ago Animal Folks also collected and compiled CVIs for Kathy Bauck, a breeder who was convicted of animal cruelty. At the time, this data showed that Bauck was selling to New York pet stores in violation of her federal license. This data and other information was presented to the USDA-IES which, along with CAPS' undercover investigation of this kennel, was used to support the revocation of her USDA license. To view Bauck CVIs and sales to pet stores, go to: BAUCK |
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