SD Animal Defense Team: June 2011

June 09, 2011

Carlsbad! Do you really want this store to stay open?

Joe Shamore, owner of California Pets in Escondido and Carlsbad, states on the store's website they use "reputable USDA breeders not puppy mills." In an email to the Animal Defense Team, he stated "Yes we do our homework on breeders. We do have access to most breeder reports." What does that mean? We're finding out and we're sharing the information with you. Cross posting is encouraged. Joe also pledged to send the SD Animal Defense Team a list of breeders where he gets his pet store puppies. Did he do it? NO. What is Joe hiding? And while we are at it, who the heck is Joe Shamore? He's listed all over business papers as the owner or the President or the General Manger of California Pets. Yet the Carlsbad City Council has never heard of him.

Just two years ago ,the Animal Defense Team cooperated with the USDA to investigate some of the breeders used by California Pets. Here are the breeder records, directly from USDA records, their names, towns, USDA numbers and violations. If available, we are also including the number of breeding dogs found during inspections. And yes, we are now investigating his current breeding kennels.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? ARE THESE "REPUTABLE BREEDERS"? Share your thoughts with California Pets owner --maybe--Joe Shamore at joesreal7@aol.com

Puppies From These Breeders Have Been Sold by California Pets:

Michele Sonnenberg
Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
41-A-0021
USDA Violations!
+ Expired medications in refrigerator and cabinet (Banamine and Oxytoxin)
+ Inadequate veterinary care. Dogs had excessive matting of the hair coat.
+ Dirty and unsanitary food bowls
+Wood walls and cement floor in kennels soaked with urine
+No windbreaks to protect from weather extremes
+Sharp metal points protruding into enclosures, causing injury hazard
+Primary space requirements for dogs and weaned puppies not provided. All were in too small enclosures.
+Primary enclosures in the barn missing doors
+Ventilation fans not working. Insufficient ventilation
+Adult female husky with puppies in enclosure without 6" clearance for her head which restricted her movement.
+Cleaning, sanitation, housekeeping and pest control not adequate. Premises had accumulation of trash, junk, waste products and /or discarded matter. Whelping barn, nebulizing crate, and "the big dog barn" had a large number of primary enclosures with an accumulation of hair, dust and debris.
+ Number of adult breeding dogs at last inspection: 431

Puppy Mill or Reputable Breeder?

Angie Thompson
Cainsville, Missouri
43-A-4237
USDA Violations!
+ "One Maltese female breeder 3 days after whelping needing to be seen treated and evaluated by kennel vet. All pups dead on delivery, mother with no milk, rear quarters and lower half of bitch is wet with hair loss."
+Incomplete records of dogs on premises.
+Round plastic barrels used for housing without flat floors.
+Outdoor housing without shelter from elements.Cages not large enough for dogs to "sit, stand or lie in a normal manner." Metal barrels, cars, refrigerators or freezers must not be used as shelter structures.
+ Number of adult breeding dogs at last inspection: 111

Puppy Mill or Reputable Breeder?

Butch Olseth
Walthill, Nebraska
47-A-0533
USDA Violations!
+Inadequate vet care with excessively matted dogs
+Dog enclosures not structurally sound, surfaces soiled, rusted, unsanitary, excreta and food waste accumulations
+Dogs soiled
+"From the south on the east side of the whelping house pens 2,3,5&7 and the west side from the south pens 1,2.3.6&7, all housing 22 dogs, have excessive fecal matter or excretia in the runs."
+ Unknown number of dogs

Puppy Mill or Reputable Breeder?

Jay Blackburn and Julie Snidow
Galt, Missouri
43-A-3124
USDA Violations!
+"Exploding rat infestation. Saw evidence of many active rat runs under outdoor edges of buildings and pens. Also saw where rats are entering building through the drain system."
+ "Found 100+ dogs below the minimum space required."
+"Two outdoor runs with nursing mothers where fecal deposits were greater than 6" in height in the deposit area. Need for general removal of fecal and collected urine in wash downs and collected fecal from under the wire tuns and slat enclosures."
+"Drainage coming from the whelping house and the solids are being left next to the building foundation on the west with the liquids spilling out and around. Also found 2 plastic barrel/tubs under the drains of the next house to the southeast, these tubs were full and in need of being removed from as far as possible."
+Unknown number of dogs

Puppy Mill or Reputable Breeder?

Shannon Plymell
Pattonsburg, Missouri
43-A-4928
USDA Violations!
+Male Coton de Tulear, excessive matting with generalized hair loss. Violation of Adequate Veterinary Care (AVC).
+Male Welsh Corgi, very thin. Violation of AVC.
+ Female Welsh Corgi, very thin. Violation of AVC.
+Male Sheltie, very thin with ribs prominent and palpable hipbones and vertebrae. Violation of AVC.
+Japanese Chin, raw and inflamed areas of skin around and in between both eyes. Violation of AVC.
+5 Shitzus plus 1 Cairn Terrier, excessive matting of hair coat. Violation of AVC.
+Puppies in whelping facility without required legal identification
+Outdoor housing structure damaged, potential injury to dogs, does not contain dogs securely
+REPEAT VIOLATIONS: Outdoor facilities without shelter from elements. No windbreaks or rainbreaks.
+REPEAT VIOLATIONS: Shelters not large enough for dogs to "sit, stand, lie down or turn around freely."
+Dogs not provided with bedding in outdoor housing as required in temperatures under 20 degrees.
+Expired Medicines: Amoxicillin, Oxycotin, Procaine Penicillin. Violation of Adequate Veterinary Care.
+Oxycotin is currently used by the licensed breeder. However, Oxycotin is indicated for use in horses, cows, sows and ewes, not labeled for use in dogs. Violation of Adequate Vertinary Care.
+Containers of bleach, Lysol and Totalcide stored in whelping pen. Toxic hazard.
+Outdoor runs have an excessive accumulation of animal waste.
+Enclosures housing the Sheltie and Papillon mixes and Coton de Tulear is constructed from a small gauge wire panel. Physical hazard. Not stable.
+Enclosure in center aisle of whelping building at least four square fee smaller than required for number of dogs.
+Number of breeding dogs at last inspection: 123

Puppy Mill or Reputable Breeder?

June 07, 2011

LA City Council Moves to Ban Puppy Stores

June 7, 2010:
Hooray! The Los Angeles City Council has instructed Animal Services to draft an ordinance preventing pet stores from selling dogs, cats, rabbits and chickens that are bred for profit by animal mills!

The proposed ordinance would establish a way for shelter animals to be adopted through pet stores as well as ban factory farmed animals from being sold.

“We’re not only protecting the animals. We’re protecting the people … who don’t know that when they go into a pet store, they are going to pay hundreds if not thousands of dollars for an animal that is likely to be sick , have genetic defects and may not even live two or three weeks when they get it home,” said Brenda Barnette, general manager of Animal Services.

The motion, introduced by Councilman Paul Koretz and seconded by Councilman Tony Cardenas, was unanimously approved by the Los Angeles City Council.

“We’re talking about lives here. We’re not just talking about somebody selling widgets. We’re not talking about somebody owning a little candy store. We’re talking about lives. We’re talking about mammals. We’re talking about beings,” Cardenas said.

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Wall of Shame: These San Diego Stores Sell Puppies

The Animal Defense Team has targeted the stores listed in red with protests.

San Diego Puppy

5825 Mission Gorge Rd.

David Salinas is selling puppy mill puppies in this storefront and online.
His Horton Plaza kiosk was cancelled the day before our big protest there. Surprise! We are continuing to monitor Horton Plaza to be sure no other puppy stores open there. We have been protesting and doing educational outreach at this store since May, 2012. Please join us at our events.

Puppy Star's CLOSED MARCH 2012!!!

6167 Balboa Ave.

Clairemont

+ Naedeen's Puppies -- owned by Puppy Star's CLOSED MARCH 2012!!!

1021 S. Coast Highway

Oceanside

+ Pet Place -- owned by Puppy Star's CLOSED 2012!!!

6512 El Cajon Blvd.

San Diego

Lemon Grove Pets

7034 Broadway

Lemon Grove, CA 91945

619-460-1965

My Puppy Closed! This store has shut down. If you hear of it reopening in a different location, please let us know. 7770 Vickers St. Ste. 101, San Diego 92111

California Pets at North County Fair, Escondido

California Pets 2525 El Camino Real, Carlsbad (Plaza Camino Real)

Pet Works CLOSED DECEMBER 2010! Grossmont Center Shopping Mall, La Mesa

Fiesta Pet Shop 1145 Highland Ave., National City

Noy's Pet Shop 2550 Imperial Ave.

Pet Market 1536 Sweetwater Rd., National City

Puparazzi -- CLOSED SEPTEMBER, 2011!!! Woo Hoo! Mission Valley Shopping Center

Pups & Pets 50 Town Center Parkway Santee, CA

Please help us keep up-to-date on current stores selling puppies on San Diego County! Thanks

From Sourcewatch.com: USDA

USDA certified puppy mills There are only about a hundred USDA inspectors to monitor 10,000 facilities across the country, ranging from research labs to zoos. Furthermore, "standards" are abysmal. Federal guidelines allow a medium sized terrier to be kept in a cage the size of a clothes drier for its entire life. The federal Animal Welfare Act is hardly the gold standard for compassion. For example, the act does not say you cannot have 300 dogs confined to cages for their entire lives; never to be taken for a walk or receive any personal attention, let alone be a part of a family. A breeder passes USDA muster as long as the dog has food, water and enough space to turn around. USDA standards are very minimal. Adhering to them does not prove that a breeder is not a puppy mill. Even more so, since even these standards are often not enforced. Many licensed breeders for large chains like Petland, have significant violations. [12]

Prisoners of Greed Compassionate Vet Pledge

We are researching which San Diego County veterinarians partner with local puppy stores and will be posting them to this website soon. We will also present provide those vets with puppy mill information, ask them to reconsider their alignment with pet stores selling puppies, and give them the opportunity to sign the Compassionate Vet Pledge.

Compassionate Vet Pledge
Most dogs in puppy mills live their entire lives in wire bottom cages, they are bred when they are six months old, bred every time they come into season, never allowed out of the cage to exercise, not provided quality food or medical care, left outside in the winter and summer without heat or air-conditioning and killed when they do not produce. Certainly veterinarians who are dedicated to the care of animals would object to these practices.

The Federal Animal Welfare Act requires that a veterinarian prepare a vet plan. Without a plan, the kennel can not obtain a license from the United States Department of Agriculture. If every vet in this country, stood for compassion and refused to be the vet of record for a commercial kennel or a pet store that sells dogs/puppies, no commercial kennels could operate.

Download the USDA Policy on Vet Requirements

We are asking all vets to sign the Pledge of Compassion. Every vet who signs the Pledge will receive a framed Certificate of Compassion to hang in their office. The vets will also be featured on this website and recommended as Compassionate Vets. Clients can then determine whether their vet is a Compassionate Vet who will stand up against the misery created in commercial kennels.

Print the pledge and take it to your vet. Have them sign it. Send us a copy and also send it to the Coalition Against Misery Box 343 Pocopson, PA 19366. They will send them the framed certificate and some Prisoners of Greed brochures to display in their office.

Will your vet stand up for the dogs?

Download the Pledge

What is a Puppy Mill?

The term is used by Humane Societies, the ASPCA and the community to indicate USDA kennels that commercially raise wholesale dogs with profit instead of the welfare of the animals as their primary objective. The dogs are farmed as a cash crop.

Animal Planet says it's now a one billion dollar industry with brokers, breeders and pet stores getting rich off of the unbelievable suffering of the dogs in the breeding mills. Under the USDA standard of care, the breeding dogs -- the mothers of the puppies -- NEVER get out of their cages, are housed in wire crates, often stacked so that the dogs on the bottom tier live in terrible stench and filth with no human contact, and receive only enough food and water to be kept alive. YES THIS IS LEGAL, BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT HUMANE.

The HSUS: "The kennel conditions in which puppies are bred and raised are deliberately kept from consumers."

Missouri Puppy Mill Bust/Support Prop B!

71 Dogs Removed from Missouri Puppy Mill; Help Support Prop. B!

On September 21, the ASPCA Field Investigations and Response Team in conjunction with the Humane Society of Missouri (HSMO) removed 71 dogs from an overrun puppy mill in Camden County, MO. The dogs—who include Dachshunds, Maltese, Shih Tzus, Lhasa Apsos, Huskies and Boxers—were transferred to the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri in Springfield and HSMO in St. Louis, where they received medical treatment and will be cared for until they’re ready for adoption.
“This case was unique in that the dogs were voluntarily relinquished by the kennel owner who could no longer afford to feed them,” explains Tim Rickey, ASPCA Senior Director of Field Investigations and Response. Last week the mill owner contacted a local rescue group, Half-way Home Pet Rescue in Cedar County, for help, and Half-way Home then reached out to the ASPCA.
“When breeders are no longer able to care for their animals, the problem lands squarely on the shoulders of local shelters,” says Half-way Home’s Latisha Duffy, who works closely with breeders in Missouri to find homes for retired breeding dogs.
Known as the “Puppy Mill Capital of America,” Missouri is home to more than 3,000 commercial dog breeding facilities and supplies more than 40 percent of all dogs sold in pet stores nationwide. “We see some of the worst conditions in Missouri puppy mills,” explains Rickey. “The dogs, often very ill, are forced to live in overcrowded, filthy conditions.”
In an effort to end the many cruelties associated with puppy mills, the ASPCA, a founding member of Missourians for the Protection of Dogs/YES! on Prop. B, is supporting Proposition B, also known as the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act. This landmark measure, which will appear on the state’s November ballot, promotes the humane treatment of dogs in Missouri’s large-scale commercial breeding kennels. If passed, Prop B would limit the number of breeding dogs to 50 per facility, and would require large-scale breeders to sufficient food, water and space for the animals under their care.
To learn how to extend your support for Proposition B, please visit our Puppy Mill section on ASPCA.org.

The Truth About Horse Racing

Last year's shameful death list of horses who died racing at Del Mar:

Mr. Napper Tandy
Pocosin's Game Boy
I Want My Money
Mi Rey
Sovine
Peanut Ridge
Maggie and Hopie
Insider
Mad for Plaid
Pauper's Prize
Zetta's Corridor
Endless Moon
Madame Kiawah

Last year (2009) 230 horses died at California race tracks, including the 13 at Del Mar. The evidence is clear: the industry is breeding speed over soundness. Horse's bones, tendons and ligaments cannot hold up to the extreme punishment of racing and horses are paying for it with their lives.

The Animal Defense Team doesn't think this qualifies as either "sport" or entertainment. Do you?

Horses are being trained and raced as two-year-olds, before they are fully mature. Drugs mask problems like pain and bleeding into the lungs, pushing them beyond their physical limits. Lasix, phenylbutazme and corticosteroids are legally used across the country. Drugs keep horses on the racetrack even when they shouldn't be racing.

Losers or injured horses are quickly discarded and sent to the slaughterhouses in Mexico and Canada. Since 1980, the Equine Protection Network states more than 4 million horses have been barbarically slaughtered. The Humane Society of the US estimates at least 11,000 a year.

Racehorses are the victims of an industry based on greed, drugging, deception and death.
Del Mar. CRUEL AS EVER.

PET STORE DOUBLESPEAK

They say: "Our puppies come from breeders, not puppy mills." The word "breeder" isn't an exclusive term. Anyone who produces puppies is technically a breeder. A responsible breeder would never sell her puppies to a pet store.
They say: "All our puppies come from USDA facilities, so we know they are not from puppy mills." Being USDA licensed doesn't mean that the business is not a puppy mill. There are hundreds of USDA-licensed puppy mills in operation that have long lists of violations and problems. A USDA license is required for anyone who is a commercial breeder producing dogs for wholesale.
They say: "We only deal with breeders we know." The store's definition of "knowing" a breeder often just means that they have been receiving shipments of puppies from the same place repeatedly, not that anyone from the store has ever visited the breeder's facility or inspected their records.
They say: "Our puppies come with a health certificate from a licensed veterinarian." A health certificate only means that the puppy has had a brief "wellness" exam by a vet. This exam doesn't include testing for genetic disorders, or testing for diseases such as Giardia and Brucellosis, both of which are contagious to humans and are frequently seen in puppy mill pups.

Congratulations! These Stores Have Signed A Puppy Friendly Pet Store Pledge

Pet Stop, 7490 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla
Noah's Natural Pet Market,4431CassSt.,PB
San Diego Pet Supply, 1490 Island Ave., SD