Improving MO's Image as Puppy Mill State? You be the judge.
Kennel awards stir debate By Greg Jonsson ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH 04/29/2006 Frank Reynolds, owner of S&R Kennels in north-central Missouri, holds one of his dogs. S&R is one of seven kennels awarded Blue Ribbon status by the Missouri Department of Agriculture; the program has drawn criticism from some pet lovers. (Laurie Skrivan/P-D) BROOKFIELD, MO. At first, dozens of bug-eyed pugs and perky Pomeranians yap at strangers visiting S&R Kennels, but they soon settle down, making themselves comfortable half in and half out of the doggie doors that allow them to pass between pens inside and outside the building. The position allowed them to eye the goings on and enjoy some sun during the season's first warm weather earlier this month while keeping their bodies inside in the shade. As temperatures rise, the air conditioning inside the buildings will kick on and keep the sheds cool. Heaters kept things toasty in the winter. "These are my babies," kennel owner Frank Reynolds coos as he scratches a Pomeranian behind the ears. "All my babies." Advertisement S&R isn't the kind of place people picture when they decry puppy mills - a term breeders such as Reynolds don't care for. But it isn't an average kennel, either. According to the Missouri Department of Agriculture, S&R is in the top tier. Reynolds' kennel, on a gravel road in Linn County in north-central Missouri, is among the first breeding facilities to earn Blue Ribbon Kennel recognition from the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Last fall, the department explained the program at a meeting with St. Louis-area animal advocacy groups. The officials were met with little enthusiasm from pet lovers who said the recognition program would do nothing to improve conditions at the worst breeding facilities and would be confusing to consumers. Critics say the program gives the impression that something is being done without actually doing anything. The program - developed with two industry groups, the Missouri Pet Breeders Association and the Professional Pet Association - is no more than a state-sanctioned marketing program, they said. Seven breeders have now met the requirements to become Blue Ribbon kennels, and state officials stand behind the program. But animal advocates say their concerns haven't been addressed. "Above and beyond" "This isn't the typical kennel, and we're not trying to portray it as such," said Ronnie Praiswater, the state animal health officer responsible for S&R Kennels and other facilities in 17 northwestern Missouri counties. "They go above and beyond." On a recent tour, Praiswater pointed out the things that set S&R apart from the other facilities he sees. "On a regular inspection, I'm looking for animal welfare," he said. "Are the dogs clean? Are they being fed on a regular basis? Are they getting fresh water? Are the pens big enough? I don't have to go in and measure and count dogs here. I can see." At any given time, 150 breeding dogs and about the same number of puppies live in pens that are about twice the minimum standard demanded by the state. The standard simply requires nonporous materials, but Reynolds has outfitted his kennels with bright white materials that make them easy to clean - and make it easy to spot when they need cleaning, which Reynolds said was done constantly. The ventilation is excellent, dogs enjoy air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter, and fresh food and water are constantly available, Praiswater said. "Even when Frank isn't expecting me, this is what it looks like," Praiswater said. "If something breaks, he fixes it. Another kennel might wait for me to tell them to fix it." Reynolds, 59, runs the kennel with his wife, Terry Reynolds, 54, and has three full-time employees. "We love our dogs," Terry Reynolds said. "We try to take care of them." Window dressing? Kennels that attain Blue Ribbon status won't be inspected as often thereafter, saving breeders the hassle and freeing state resources to focus more on problem facilities, proponents say. Backers believe the program will pressure other breeders to improve as consumers choose puppies from Blue Ribbon kennels over others. Critics, on the other hand, say the program doesn't do much good at all. Diana Vuylsteke, a board member with the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation, said the program implied to consumers that puppies bought from Blue Ribbon kennels were safer or healthier when that wasn't the case. Requirements for the program include having neat grounds and clutter-free facilities, rust-free housing for dogs and a biosecurity plan. Those things may mean a facility looks nicer, but they don't reveal anything about the animals, Vuylsteke said. "Not only is it not helping the matter, it's a misrepresentation," she said. "It's just a big lie, and the public's being harmed." LaVerne Clark, a woman from southwestern Missouri who is involved in mastiff rescue efforts, said she was concerned the program did nothing to ensure that puppies don't end up with the genetic problems that plague some dogs. "I wish they would be more concerned about the health and condition of the breeding stock," she said. "If the facility's lawn looks good, fine, but it doesn't mean the dogs in it are any better quality than the worst puppy mill in the state." Jim Eber, a Department of Agriculture veterinarian and coordinator for the Animal Care Facilities Act, said the Blue Ribbon program did tell consumers something about the animals. "If you've got a better facility, if you've got everything above standards - new cages, better cages - that implies better care," he said. "It's not just window dressing." Vuylsteke said the Department of Agriculture should be focusing on the worst of the worst. Officials and inspectors should be spending their time visiting more facilities more often and closing down the ones with poor conditions. "We're concerned about the laws that are already on the books," she said. "They should enforce the existing laws, which are basically pretty minimal." gjonsson@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8253 |
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| George,
I think it would be great if this actually works and is able to shut down the puppymills. I also think they should really be concentrating on with the ones that have bad reputations first. Awards are nice, but shutting down puppymills would be better. |
| Doing rescue I look at breeding in any manner in a differnt light perhaps. Since this little rescue in Texas has personally rescued 15 Sheepies directly from Missouri puppymills in the last year........ I don't know how many of the other ones that we have rescued were born at puppymills....I have driven to SW Missouri twice myself .......One of Our Rescue Helpers has driven twice to save dogs..... 3 had to be euthinized because they were in such bad shape they couldn't be saved. One boy Major was bred until he couldn't breed anymore and had Prostrate Cance. He lived 3 months after we rescued him.... I am not going back to SW Missouri ..I will end up in jail. With puppymills all over, commercial breeders all over and puppies being sold on every corner , parking lotsand flea markets..... As long as breeding dogs is considered a CASH CROP and as long as AKC registers most of these Babies, things will not change. It brings money into the State of Missouri and helps with unemployment...... This is Window Dressing...... Just My Opinion. Kaye Second Chance OES Rescue |
| . I took the Babies outside to play and theey eded up going to sllep. SO I have a minute... Before some puppymiller or commercial breeder tries to jump in the middle of me..........THIS IS MY OPINION!!!!!!!!!!!! A commercial breeder is inspected by the USDA........ OK!!!!Are they better then a puppymill with no regulations at all????? YAH!!!!!!! But they still are mass produceing puppies but under cleaner conditons....... I personally don't care if the cages are made of stainless steel and sanatized 10 times a day...... I care that MOST of THE TIME there is no screening of genentic disorders or any consideration of dispositons of breeding dogs. I don't CARE WHO THE DOG IS OR WHAT IT"S PEDIGREE IS .........NOT ALL DOGS SHOULD BE BRED........ So My Opinon is the only difference between a commercail breeder and and a puppy mill is sanation............ I opened the door!!!! Sheepie Hugs, Kaye |
| Like so many other facets of our society, as long as the profit motive is driving society (including AKC) the only answer is educating the public in the benefits of responsible use of resources - in this case benefits of purchasing pets that are bred as companions for humans, not in conditions that resemble beef and poultry consumption. Granted most pet owners could not afford show quality animals, still the owner and the pet both deserve the kind of environment that is most beneficial to the animal and the owner. I suspect that many breeders become mills because the use the animals as money machines with little concern for the consumer who unknowingly has to live with the end product - which in many cases is the individual or organization that has to rescue the poor animal.
In Missouri I lay the blame on rural legislators backed by big money and apathy by their rural constituents who see the dog as nothing more than a farm animal that will bark to alert of preditors at night. AKC could be a driving educational force in its liturature distributed to the public, at shows and events, and in its advertising in magazines, clinics, and lobbying efforts. Are they? |
| Boy Howdy George You Hit It On The Head!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have stayed out of this subject for awhile....It just seemed to go in circles........ With Hunte literally owning the SW part of Missouri. The State Senator pushing through laws to benefit him and protect him. Hunte employes alot of people in that part of the country. Our USDA money backed the loan for HUNTE to build a 100,000 sq ft distribution center right in the middle of it. Hunte has organized the commercial breeders and millers.. I personally don't like the idea of my tax money building a building for a HUGH PUPPYMILLER. Plus Hunte ownes the Petstores that the puppies go to. AKC is concerned about Money.... I really don't think they care ANYMORE where it comes from. A litter registration fee is money......No matter who has that litter..... THey may take awey a really bad breeder right to register....... But, that doesn;t happen that often.................. There are more commercial breeders then all the rest of the breeders combined...... Are they going cut that sourse of money off? I don't think so. That is vey sad to me. I can remember when a AKC registered puppy meant something to be proud of. Greed on Both Ends......... The people that could do something about puppymills don't really care. It doesn't affect them so let someone else do it. Very Very Sad!!!!!!!!!! Sheepie Hugs, Kaye Second Chance OES Rescue |
| Not really on topic, but does anyone know how Missouri got to be sucha bad puppymill place? Why there? |
| In Missouri the rural legislators and their constituents run the state; Much of this area is rural farm and woodlands and in general the area known as the ozark region comprises northern Arkansas and southern Missouri. As I said earlier, the farm mentality in my opinion sees the dog as livestock and not as an object of show or conformation. In these rural areas it is common for people to just drop off unwanted dogs along a country road to fend for themselves. This kind of attitude allows open season for commercial trades of all kinds of questionable commodities. The state has similar issues and reputations with growth of pot in these rural areas and meth labs. Kind of like the moonshine trade of a bygone era. I suspect one may find similar problems in northern Arkansas due to its similar ozark environment. In much of these rural areas labor is cheap and there is little oversight of local business practices, few rural counties have planning and zoning ordinances and the like. The lower standards of living dictate different priorities and the oversight of such amenities as an animal protective agency is the last thing on their agenda.
Now for the disclaimer: these thoughts are my opinion based on personal contacts with farmers and landowners through the years, some of whom are close personal friends. I lived for several years in nearby Jefferson county (south of St. Louis) and hunted and fished for many years in the Ozark and farm land areas of outstate Missouri. To these folk how your coonhound runs and how to catch and release a bass without harming it are topics of greater interest, than your dog's bloodline. Open mouth, insert foot; now its time for rebuttal from any other "Show Me" members out there.  |
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