KEY MESSAGE: Any dog breeder/broker that holds an Animal Welfare Act license must be inspected by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Kathy Bauck's USDA inspection reports show multiple violations over the years.

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Photo from CAPS; from CAPS undercover investigation.

Photo is of a dead female cocker. During time of investigation (2008),

USDA July 2008 inspection report showed "no violations."

USDA Inspections

All breeders and brokers who have an Animal Welfare Act license are inspected by the inspectors from the Animal Care Program of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which is under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Typically, an inspection occurs once a year; there are repeat visits if violations are noted. (The inspector returns to see if the violation has been corrected.)

For decades, citizens and organizations have filed complaints about these inspections, claiming that the inspections have not reported all violations and, subsequently, these violations escalated to grave and serious conditions which have harmed the animals. Dogs and cats have suffered, with breeders/brokers facing few or no consequences.

As a result of these complaints, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted an audit in May 2010 of the Animal Care Program entitled Inspections of Problematic Dealers. The audit concluded that the Animal Care's enforcement process was ineffective against problematic dealers and did not cite or document violations properly, among other points. For further details and copy of the report: OIG 2010 Audit

This is mentioned because, when an inspection report states "no noncompliances" that statement should be questioned; noncompliances possibly did occur based on the findings of the audit and the undercover investigations.

The USDA is now taking action to improve its enforcement efforts, but it is still recognized that inspections are based on minimal standards and a limited interpretation of the Animal Welfare Act.

Inspection Reports: Kathy Bauck

Example of a USDA inspection report. Full reports listed below.

Some of the reports listed below can be found on the USDA website at:

USDA: Animal Welfare License and Registration List

Kathy Bauck has shown direct, indirect and repeated violations throughout the years. A few excerpts are noted below in red. No copies of reports prior to 1995.

• 1995 (March 29) - Animal Care Inspection Report: Kathy Bauck

Inventory Count: 688 total (415 adult dogs, 273 puppies)

Inspector: Dr. Cathy Hovancsak

• 1996 (February 22) - Animal Care Inspection Report: Kathy Bauck

Inventory Count: 727 total (440 adult dogs, 287 puppies)

Inspector: Dr. Cathy Hovancsak

• 1996 (October 2) - Animal Care Inspection Report: Kathy Bauck

Inventory Count: 964 total (529 adult dogs, 435 puppies)

Inspector: Dr. Cathy Hovancsak

NOTE: Multiple violations cited, including: Puppies not properly identifed; large dogs in outside pens do not have enough shelter; numerous pens have torn roofs; 24 cages have too many dogs without enough floor space; accumulated hair, dirt and feces; dirty food and water bowls; etc.

• 1997 (February 18) - Animal Care Inspection Report: Kathy Bauck

Inventory Count: 770 total (502 adult dogs, 268 puppies)

Inspector: Dr. Cathy Hovancsak

• 1997 (April 2) - Animal Care Inspection Report: Kathy Bauck

Inventory Count: 739 total (502 adult dogs, 237 puppies)

Inspector: Dr. Cathy Hovancsak

• 1998 (February 25) - Animal Care Inspection Report: Kathy Bauck

Inventory Count: 912 total (603 adult dogs, 309 puppies)

Inspector: Dr. Cathy Hovancsak

• 1999 (February 23) - Animal Care Inspection Report: Kathy Bauck

Inventory Count: 891 total (589 adult dogs, 302 puppies)

Inspector: Dr. Cathy Hovancsak

• 2000 (February 7) - Animal Care Inspection Report: Kathy Bauck

Inventory Count: 1,082 total (673 adult dogs, 409 puppies)

Inspector: Dr. Cathy Hovancsak

NOTE: There were "no noncompliances" identified during this inspection, suggesting that this kennel was in full compliance of regulations within the Animal Welfare Act — note the inventory count was over 1,000 dogs/puppies. Staff-to-animal ratio is not reported on the reports.

• 2001 (March 7) - Animal Care Inspection Report: Kathy Bauck

Inventory Count: (24 puppies) - transport inspection

Inspector: Dr. Cathy Hovancsak

• 2002 (January 16) - Animal Care Inspection Report: Kathy Bauck

Inventory Count: 1,017 total (744 adult dogs, 273 puppies)

Inspector: Dr. Cathy Hovancsak

• 2003 (January 8) - Animal Care Inspection Report: Kathy Bauck

Inventory Count: 1,151 total (830 adult dogs, 321 puppies)

Inspector: Dr. Cathy Hovancsak

• 2004 (January 21) - Animal Care Inspection Report: Kathy Bauck

Inventory Count: 1,351 total (962 adult dogs, 389 puppies)

Inspector: Melissa Swanda

• 2005 (January 25) - Animal Care Inspection Report: Kathy Bauck

Inventory Count: Not listed

Inspector: Dr. Debra Sime

• 2006 (January 25) - Animal Care Inspection Report: Kathy Bauck

Inventory Count: 1,326 (Adult dogs vs. puppies not specified)

Inspector: Dr. Debra Sime

NOTE: Multiple violations cited, including: No written program of veterinary care; expired medications; Great Dane was lame; Boxer with bloody diarrhea; animals not properly identified; large amount of fecal accumulation; puppies feet passing through slatted floors; etc.

• 2006 (April 26) - Animal Care Inspection Report: Kathy Bauck

Inventory Count: Not listed

Inspector: Dr. Debra Sime

• 2006 (November 1) - Animal Care Inspection Report: Kathy Bauck

Inventory Count: Not listed

Inspector: Dr. Debra Sime

• 2007 (August 23) - Animal Care Inspection Report: Kathy Bauck

Inventory Count: Not listed

Inspector: Dr. Debra Sime

• 2008 (June 13) - Animal Care Inspection Report: Kathy Bauck

Inventory Count: 1,202 (805 adult dogs, 397 puppies)

Inspector: Dr. Debra Sime

NOTE: The CAPS investigation was conducted in 2008, showing animal cruelty within this kennel. The CAPS complaint to the local sheriff was submitted on May 13, 2008. This June 2008 Inspection Report by the USDA cited: Several animals observed had medical issues, including a Great Dane, 2 American Eskimos, a bulldog, a husky, a pregnant Bichon, a seizing English Mastiff, a seizing Pekingese, an emaciated English Springer, a Pug and other dogs; puppies' feet slipping through cage flooring.

• 2008 (July 15) - Animal Care Inspection Report: Kathy Bauck

Inventory Count: 1,203 (743 adult dogs, 460 puppies)

Inspector: Dr. Debra Sime

NOTE: The CAPS investigation was conducted in 2008, showing animal cruelty and suffering within the kennel. This July 2008 USDA Inspection Report states "no noncompliances," indicating nothing was wrong per the inspector.

• 2008 (September 24) - Animal Care Inspection Report: Kathy Bauck

Inventory Count: 1,016 (616 adult dogs, 400 puppies)

Inspector: Dr. Debra Sime

• 2008 (December 4) - Animal Care Inspection Report: Kathy Bauck

Inventory Count: 1,323 (741 adult dogs, 582 puppies)

Inspector: Dr. Debra Sime

• 2009 (March 4) - Animal Care Inspection Report: Kathy Bauck

Inventory Count: 1,062 (636 adult dogs, 426 puppies)

Inspector: Dr. Debra Sime

• 2009 (May 6) - Animal Care Inspection Report: Kathy Bauck

Inventory Count: 629 (483 adult dogs, 146 puppies)

Inspector: Dr. Debra Sime

• 2009 (August 21) - Animal Care Inspection Report: Kathy Bauck

Inventory Count: 1,062 (376 adult dogs, 200 puppies)

Inspector: Dr. Debra Sime

NOTE: No noncompliances identified, per the inspector.

• 2010 (March 31) - Animal Care Inspection Report: Kathy Bauck

Inventory Count: 430 (258 adult dogs, 172 puppies)

Inspector: Dr. Debra Sime

NOTE: No noncompliances identified, per the inspector.

In May 2010, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) released findings from a two-year audit of the Animal Care Program and its inspection processes. The OIG concluded that "the agency was not aggressively pursuing enforcement actions against violators" of the Animal Welfare Act. The USDA began to improve its enforcement efforts. Note the two preceding reports showed no noncompliances and the report below cites violations. To view 2010 OIG Audit, go to: OIG Audit of USDA-APHIS-AC

• 2010 (July 1) - Animal Care Inspection Report: Kathy Bauck

Inventory Count: Not listed

Inspector: Dr. Debra Sime

NOTE: Excessive dental tartar on teeth (can lead to serve peridontal disease); lab and bulldog were fighting, evidenced by fresh laceration (due to lack of daily observation of animals); sharp, jagged edges on pens (could injure animals).

• 2010 (August) - Animal Welfare Act License cancelled on August 16, 2010

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