Pictures Taken from Holmes County Puppy Mills
that are actively breeding puppies which are being
recruited by
the Hunte Corporation to re-sell to Petlands to re-sell to you the
consumer.
Scroll down for Dog Auction Info
May take a few minutes to load. Thanks to CAPS for pictures. Visit their site for more info on puppy mills
Take note that dogs stand on wire mesh in almost every picture.
This is the lazy man's way to deal w/ cleaning kennels, which
is why the dogs stand on the mesh wire. See next picture.
Read First Hand Accounts of the Dog Auctions and
what the people of Holmes County think of the Auctions
Letters to the Editor of the New Philadelphia
Times Reporter
serious heart murmur, grade 5-6. The vet could not even spay her without danger to her. After we had Kacey evaluated at MedVet's cardiology department, the director of Small Paws, flew into Columbus ( with donated flight miles) and took Kacey to Texas A & M where she received heart coil surgery. It was amazing that she had survived pregnancy and childbirth. She wouldn't have lasted much longer. It's the ones not brought to auction, but that we get as 'throwaways' from the puppymills that are often really pitiful. My Co-Team Leader, Sharon, and I were told of a bichon being sold at an Amish flea market near one of the auctions. We found what we thought was a very old, almost hairless dog cowering in a pen with other dogs there. We bought her for $50, all the cash we had. Rosie had a nasty skin condition and was extremely fearful and filthy. Her papers said she was only 3 years old. She had been unable to conceive when bred. Another time I was called by a contact who gets dogs from amish farmers. She picked up a dog, again for $50. She had been thrown into a windowless milk shed. I took her straight to the vet. She had mastitis and pyrometra. Apparently she had miscarried and had become badly infected. The vet said her uterus was filled with pus and that untreated she would have been dead in a few days. She had an emergency hysterectomy. Yet another time Sharon and I waited down the road while our contact picked up two older bichons. The farmer had called her the night before and told her that if she didn't pick them up the next day he would throw them in the icy farm pond.
Linda Fausey, Bichon Rescue lfausey@columbus.rr.com
|
There was a tractor trailer
that had cages lined on each side and a walk way down
the middle. The cages were stacked 4 high. The dogs
stood on wire with a tray beneath to catch the urine and
stuff. One Amish man who was in front of me was asking
me questions like "what breed is that", "Does that one
look good". Some of the adults were scared. They would
not look at you. Some did circles in their cages. So
sad.
I made the mistake of
walking up to a pick up truck. In the wire cage was this
young weimaraner. He was just shaking and drooling.
I was heartbroken by then as he was a large dog and not
a breed I was looking for. Dog number 1 (due in heat
7-25-04) went for $675.00. Yes, they put down next time
in heat if they knew. My heart hurt. Then came the mini
dachshunds. They went for prices like $325 to $525. One
male went for $175. Reason, testicles had not dropped
and was almost a year old.
I am learning to deal with
words like proven sire, good mother, due in heat, has
nice litters, imported (meaning from over seas, like we
don't have enough here) just been bred so she would be a
bonus dog. These were words I was sure we would hear all
day. At this point, I was just sick. Next
were the weimaraners. In first were the two brothers.
The auctioneer had been doing along a bidder's choice.
That meant there were two dogs up for bid and winner had
choice. Sometimes winner would take both for two times
the money. These brothers were very scared. They were
shaking, short docked tail pointed down, doing what we
call the army crawl. The winner with a bid of $250.00
went down to look at them. Then decided to take both.
Up next was the weimaraner I
has seen. The one in the truck that stole my heart. How
could I let this happen to this boy. To live his life
not as a pet, but to be a breeding machine. Could
I help him, could I save this dog. He was not on the
list of dogs I was looking at.
Yet, there he stood,
shaking, looking around like what is going on. The
bidding started out at $500, then dropped to $450, then
$400, then $250.00, then $200, then $150. Somebody bid,
then I bid, then it kept going to $225.00. I had the
bid. Auctioneer trying to get more money. He was working
the crowd. I am still holding my breath, my heart just
pounding. Then SOLD. He pointed to me. I got him. I got
the boy. I got him. He is safe. He would be okay.
Then came the huskies. They
were beautiful. But they are also hard to place. They
sold for $100, $130, $160. They sold cheap. Labrador
Retrievers adults, male and female up next for bid. The
shelter already has too many labs that can't find homes.
Female sold for $150 and the male for $75. So more labs
will be out there some where breeding. Then an
Amish young man came up to where I was sitting. He had
asked if I had got the weimaraner. I said yes. He wanted
to sell me his pups that were back at his house. He had
AKC registered males and females. He gave me his name,
with times to call, and the price is $300. He might make
a deal for $250 each if we take all of them. He then
asked if I owned a pet store.
By now I am just tired, mad,
pissed off. The bostons were a no show. Somebody
said mange. I was going to stay and see if I could
get any mixed breeds. They were cocker and blue heeler
and looked like a rott. The schnauzer is ACA registered.
That states for the American Canine Association. The
Weimaraner was AKC registered and is microchipped. Linda
was trying to get the weimaraner to come with her. He
was going, but doing the army crawl. He had never seen
steps before and was very slow. My heart broke. But then
I remembered, he was saved. I left Amy at the truck and
went walking towards them. I said "Junior, I'm here". He
heard my voice, looked at me like thank you. Good thing
Linda is in shape as then he was pulling her to get to
me. He was doing what I call the Marmaduke run.
I got to the shelter and we
unloaded the dogs. First out was the female shepherd.
She had also gotten sick. She was scared and did not
want to come out of her carrier. We talked to her and
told her that she would get treated better her than she
has her whole life so far. Amanda took her back to
the kennel as I got out the male. He also got sick and
pooped. They all were scared. We sat and talked
for a few while waiting for Amanda. I told them I wish I
could have gotten more out. I told them that it was so
heartbreaking to see the puppies who will now live a
life of caged hell. Purchased as new breeding stock for
the end of the year and next years puppies and for years
and years after that. I looked over and Cheryl is
holding one of the dogs and tears were coming down her
face. She kept saying, "at least you saved two".
I did not say much more, as
that was the point at which I realized "I saved two
dogs". I know I had thought it to myself, but to hear
somebody else say it to me mattered. I saved two dogs. I
saved two dogs who will now be able to find a loving
home. A family who will want them for them and not how
many puppies can they sire. A family to love them as
much I as already did in the short time I had spent with
them. A loving family is what they were going to get.
I down loaded the pictures
of the dogs to email out. I know by now most of the
special people who donated to my going to save the dogs
has seen "the kids". Then I decided to sit down
and write this story. Not sure who will read it, not
sure if they will understand it. Still not sure if
anybody really understood why I just felt I had to go. I
just did. I was asked by somebody, "would you go
again". My answer, "not sure". The next dog auction is
on July 31. I guess I might be marking it on my calendar
just in case.
Central Ohio Shelter Director |
Letters to the Editor of the New Philadelphia
Times Reporter
To the Editor,
Puppy mills are hardly a ‘service’ to the area
Shock. That was my first reaction to comments made by Ervin Raber and Ben Mast of the Buckeye Dog Auction and Amish Country Flea Market.
Shock, that they make it sound like it’s a good thing for them to be “providing a service to breeders in our community.”
My next reaction? Anger. It angers me to know that all the readers of The Times-Reporter are being deceived. Do you really expect us to believe there is nothing secret about the auction? For it being such a great service I am amazed that they don’t do more advertising of it. Or at the very least they could put it on the calendar of events on the Web site. Maybe they would just like to explain why it used to be advertised on the Web site but is no longer? Seems a little secretive to me.
It angers me to know that when their consignors (aka: puppy millers) are asked questions about the care of the dogs they are not stating the truth. I’m sorry, but I have yet to meet the “consignor” who, when asked of the care of the dogs, tells me that they are housed in deplorable conditions, have no human contact and have received minimal veterinary care at best. That would be the truth, and that wouldn’t sell dogs would it? Oh, but it would. It would sell to other puppy millers who give no regard to the welfare of animals – just what the auction caters to.
Now onto my next reaction: Saddened.
It deeply saddens me to know they are so wrapped up in their fantasy that they will not acknowledge the real reason some protesters were registered buyers and indeed buying dogs. These protesters were out there trying to bring awareness to the public of the cruelty that is going on with these puppy mills and dog auctions, and why not to support them. They are there as are many rescuers to rescue these dogs and get them out of the puppy mill circulation. They are there to save a life. Once a dog goes home with a rescue, it is given all the veterinary care it has been denied, it is given a warm and soft place to rest and, most importantly of all, it is loved for the first time in its life.
A dog that has been raised in a puppy mill is a lot of hard work and costly veterinary care for the rescuer, so trust me they do not do this for fun or as a game. They do this because they care.
I hope that one day the flea market decides it will put the well-being of animals ahead of the all mighty dollar and remove Buckeye Dog Auction from the property, because I will not support an establishment that supports animal cruelty.
Joshanna Bleininger,
Newcomerstown, OH
To the Editor,
Beautiful Holmes County Hides Ugly Secret
Holmes County is known for its wonderful restaurants, craft shops, and the well kept Amish farms, but amongst these lovely rolling hills, and not so far off the beaten path, you’ll find something that will dismay, shock and disgust you. I’m speaking of the huge number of puppy mills that are hidden and scattered across the county. Over four hundred kennel licenses are issued in
Holmes County alone. (Puppy sales have turned into big business.) Some are legitimate, well kept kennels where the breeder limits the number of dogs they have, maintains their physical and mental health, and best yet, cares for them like the loving pets they are. The rest are puppy mills.
Puppy mills are breeding facilities that produce purebred or mixed breed puppies in large numbers, and sells them to unsuspecting consumers at exuberant prices. They are inhumane, designed to maximize profits, and commonly disregard the physical, social, and emotional health of the dogs in their facilities. Because of these conditions, puppy mill puppies are more likely to have more physical and behavioral problems than dogs from good sources.
Farms, where there were once grazing animals, are now being replaced with chicken coups and barns filled with stacked cages that are home to “mans best friend.” In these cages, you will find dogs that are used solely for mass breeding purposes in order to make easy and big money.
In most cases, these dogs are disheveled, matted, coated with fecal matter and in ill health. The females are bred time and time again with no regard for their well being. Some are caged in miniscule 2 x 2 pens for their entire life, with no space to move or run. What is unbelievable is; there is no limitation on how many dogs a kennel can have. In Holmes County, there are puppy mills with as many as seventy five to over one hundred dogs.
Outrageous! How can anyone possibly give this many dogs all the care they need both physically and emotionally?
Even if these puppy mills were to give adequate physical care to their animals, what kind of quality of life do these poor dogs have? These animals are certainly lacking in love, nurturing, and companionship. Isn’t that the
reason we have pets? When their usefulness is gone, these dogs are dumped like garbage into the dog pound where they try to undo all the damage that has been
done, or worse, they are taken behind the barn and shot, or drowned in the family pond. Their puppies are sold as pets, but the parents of these puppies are not treated as pets, they are nothing more than livestock to the
perpetrators of this disgraceful act. As Immanuel Kant said, “We can judge the heart of a man by the way he treats his animals”. Would any one of you want to purchase a puppy from a facility like this? I would hope not. So where do these puppies go?
They are sold behind beautiful web sites, to pet stores locally, and across the country. This way they can
still make their money, and not have to deal with the publics loathing of how they run their ugly business. I have been in these pet stores and have asked for the addresses and phone numbers of their puppy suppliers. I was told, “They did not want customers coming to their kennels”. They are sold to the stores for the pure convenience of not having to deal with the customer. I was also told these kennels are USDA approved, which means VERY little. USDA’s laws and regulations are so broad, that loopholes are easily found and enforcement is rare, if any.
Check the websites, nopuppymills.com
or prisonerofgreed.org/USDA.html for the in-depth information on USDA regulations.
It’s imperative that we stop this inhumane process. The best way to stop puppy mills from continuing their abuse is for consumers to stop buying the puppies they breed. Many people think they are “rescuing” a puppy by buying one—don’t be fooled. You’re just creating space for another puppy to be sold. NEVER buy a dog unless you can see for yourself where he or she was born, how the parents are kept, and what condition all the dogs are in.
A REPUTABLE kennel owner and breeder will never sell to a pet store, and they will willingly give you the name of their veterinarian as a reference. Another way is to contact your county dog warden, and your commissioners, to make sure that they are enforcing what IS enforceable. Call or write your state representative.
Changes must be made through the law in-order to protect God’s loving, innocent creatures from this kind of abuse.
The Holmes County Humane Society is doing all it can in this campaign against abuse. It’s also our responsibility to see to it that, our innocent fellow creatures’ needs are met. Speak Up! They have no voice of their own.
Pam Maurer New Philadelphia, OH
To the Editor:
Dogs sold at action exposed to further hardships while being taken away
I am writing in response to the many letters concerning puppy mills in the area, especially in Holmes County.
A story on Nov. 13 featured Ervin Raber, the co-founder of the Buckeye Dog Auction. He stated he holds several auctions of this kind each year with breeders and puppy shops from several states attending. He also stated that in his opinion there is no such thing as a “puppy mill.” Yet he has 50 breeding females and 12 stud dogs.
Can you imagine how many puppies this makes? He is not raising chicks, he is raising dogs – man’s best friend. There is no way he can give these dogs the love, attention, grooming and socialization they need.
Raber stated, “The thing they understand the least is that these kennel dogs are born and reside in a kennel environment. They have never been a house pet so it can’t be stressful for them to be confined among 20 others and be used as breeding stock.”
On Nov. 25-26, The Buckeye Dog Auction held another auction at the Amish Flea Market near Walnut Creek. I witnessed the comings and goings of the breeders and shop owners. Many came with large pickups, open in the back with nine dog crates inside. Others came pulling large livestock trailers, also partially open to the weather. The temperature outside was in the 20s.
Some of these trucks came long distances to buy dogs. I wonder how many of these dogs froze to death or were sick when they got home. How many were left in the crates in the weather for long periods of time?
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the Tuscarawas County Humane Society demonstrated with signs protesting the auction. Many supporters waved, honked and gave the thumbs-ups sign as they drove by.
Others screamed and swore at the demonstrators. Most were buyers or young men.
The purpose of the demonstration was to make people aware of the great number of dogs and puppies available for adoption at the humane societies and dog pounds around the area. A lot of these dogs are purebreds and some are housebroken. People who want a companion or pet for their child should check with these places.
For those who must have a registered dog, go to a reputable breeder. Check your local paper or go online at www.akc.org for a list of breeders. But be cautious as puppy mill breeders advertise, too.
With the holiday season here, the puppy mill breeders will be out in full force. If you should be unfortunate to find one, get the address and turn it in to the local Humane Society.
If the dogs you are looking at are dirty, have a bad odor or the breeder won’t show you the parents, beware. Ask to see vaccination records, registration papers and their kennels. Are the puppies happy and healthy looking? If any of these questions get a “no” answer, leave. Don’t ever buy a puppy because you feel sorry for it. That just gives the breeder reason to breed more.
Continue to be aware of what is going on in your community. Express your opinion to anyone you know who is looking for a dog.
We all need to stand together to ban these horrible places.
Jeanine Staley, Magnolia, OH