<petstores-brokers>

An animal dealer is a "middleman," also referred to as a broker. This type of company may breed (and often does) animals themselves but they also buy puppies or kittens from many different kennels for resale to pet stores.

Dealers are also described as "fluff and buff" shops — they buy from other breeders (located nearby in their own town or from kennels throughout the United States) and then "clean up" the animals before shipping them to pet stores.

On Certificate of Veterinary Inspections (required for transport of an animal across state lines), the dealer's name is listed as the seller but, often, the original breeder's name is not listed so the public has no idea who bred the puppies or kittens or the conditions of the actual breeding kennel.

Minnesota animal dealers

There are multiple animal dealers operating throughout the United States. Because dealers buy animals for resale (wholesale), they are required to obtain a Class B license from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Minnesota has had multiple animal dealers located in strategic areas of the state. In southern Minnesota, two of the largest dealers are still operating:

• Menning Enterprises (now named Rockview Kennels)

• Fulton Enterprises, formerly known as Toenges Enterprises

Menning Enterprises

Menning Enterprises, located in Edgerton, Minnesota, was one of the largest dealers who supplies puppies to pet stores in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, Illinois and Canada. (This dealer/breeder also supplies puppies to other kennels in these states as well as selling directly to consumers in Minnesota and nationwide.)

Menning Enterprises is no longer licensed under the USDA. This kennel has been re-named Rockview Kennels and is operating at the same address.

This broker has sold puppies to the following pet stores:

Minnesota

• Petland (Shakopee, Minnesota); now closed

• Petland (St. Paul, Minnesota); now closed

• Pet Ranch (Minnesota); now known as Four Paws and a Tail (Blaine, MN)

• Faribault Animal Center (Faribault, Minnesota)

• Fish & Pets (Rochester, Minnesota)

• Har Mar Pets (Roseville, Minnesota); now closed

• The Pet Connection (Roseville, Minnesota); now closed

• Playful Paws Pet Shop (Maplewood, Minnesota); unconfirmed if closed

• Premiere Pets (Ramsey, Minnesota); unconfirmed if closed

• Pet Galore (Alexandria, Minnesota); unconfirmed if closed

• Federated Co-op (Chisago City, Minnesota)

Wisconsin

• Angel's Pet World (Hudson, Wisconsin) — Angel's Pet World stopped buying from Menning Enterprises due to receiving many sickly pets from this dealer/breeder and, also, no longer wanting to buy from commercial breeders; this store is now a "humane pet store" and only works with animal rescue groups

• Tropic Water (Eau Claire, Wisconsin)

Iowa

• All Pets Animal Care Clinic (Spirit Lake, Iowa)

• Pet Barn Pet Center (Council Bluff, Iowa)

• Petland (Iowa City, Iowa)

South Dakota

• Mini Critters (Sioux Falls, South Dakota)

Illinois

• Petland (Rockford, Illinois)

Fulton Enterprises

Fulton Enterprises, located in Alden, Minnesota, purchased Toenges Enterprises, who had been operating for years. Fulton Enterprises is owned by Patrick Fulton, who had been the kennel manager for Toenges Enterprises. Toenges Enterprises cancelled their USDA license (which allowed them to sell to pet stores nationwide) on January 15, 2010. Fulton's USDA license started as of March 15, 2010.

This company has or currently sells puppies to the following pet stores:

Michigan

• Petland (Novi, Michigan)

• Westland Dog Food Company (Westland, Michigan)

• Paws N Claws (Eastpoint, Michigan)

• Family of Pets #1 (Troy, Michigan)

• Family of Pets #2 (Brighton, Michigan)

• Family of Pets #3 (Roseville, Michigan)

• Family of Pets #5 (Novi, Michigan)

• Family of Pets #7 (Flint, Michigan)

Connecticut

• The Dog House (Manchester, Connecticut)

• Gentle Jungle II (Meriden, Connecticut)

New York

• The Pet Shop (Rensselaer, New York)

Maryland

• White Marsh Pet Center (Baltimore, Maryland)

Virginia

• Family Pet Center (Chesapeake, Virginia)

Washington

• A Place for Pets (Burien, Washington)

NOTE: As mentioned above, Menning Enterprises (now Rockview Kennels) and Fulton Enterprises are dog dealers. They purchase dogs/puppies from other breeders and then re-sell them to pet stores. It is difficult to obtain documentation as to who are the original breeders. However, some of this data can be obtained by the consumer after the puppy is purchased.

Other Minnesota dealers

A list of other USDA-licensed Minnesota animal dealers can be found at: Dealers.

Minnesota breeders

For USDA-licensed breeders go to: Commercial Breeders

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