Puppy Dreams – Garland
439 W Interstate 30, Suite 439A
Garland, TX 75043
(469) 209-0535
Date and time of CAPS investigation: 11/08/22, 12:22
Approximate number of puppies observed at time of investigation: 40
Layout of store and puppy enclosures observed during investigation
I observed a total of 27 enclosures containing puppies, most having one to four puppies in each, set into one wall of the store. 21 of these enclosures were about 4’ wide, 2.5’ deep, and 1.5’ tall. Six larger ones were similar dimensions but about 3’ tall. The enclosures all had food dishes, water bottles, and solid floorings covered in shredded paper.
Details of investigation
I spoke to an employee (Caucasian female, about 35 years old, 5’5″, 140 lbs., with long orange hair) about purchasing a puppy and the store’s breeders. She told me that the store has a financing option available if half of a puppy’s cost is paid up front, with an 8% APR after three months.
The employee told me that the store’s breeders are all “USDA-approved.” This statement is misleading. There is no “approved” designation for USDA commercial dog breeders. Rather, breeders are “licensed” by the USDA if they meet certain standards of care as set forward by the Federal Animal Welfare Act. Please note, these standards are minimal at best, allowing dogs to be kept their entire lives in enclosures that are merely 6” longer and 6” wider than the dog itself when in a standing position. By using the word “approved,” the employee implies that the store’s breeders meet an exemplary standard of care for their animals, when in fact the USDA licensing standards are abysmally low. This implication is misleading, and can provide a false sense of assurance to the consumer regarding the true conditions in which the store’s puppies are raised.
I asked the employee how many breeds of dogs the breeders breed, and she responded, “For the most part, the breeders we get from, they only do like two different breeds or something like that.” This statement is false and misleading. CAPS’ research of Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVIs) obtained from the Kansas Department of Agriculture shows that Puppy Dreams sources puppies from the large scale breeder/broker BJ’s & Guys, located in Kansas and owned by Sharon Munk (USDA 48-B-0081). Per the CVIs (see line items 110 -138 in CVIs for KS to TX 2022), BJ’s & Guys sent 22 shipments totalling 47 puppies to Puppy Dreams in 2022. Although Kansas does not provide images of the actual CVIs but rather a list of same, CAPS’ extensive research of BJ’s & Guys for other recent investigative work shows that Munk breeds much more than two breeds. In fact, as documented in USDA Inspection Reports (USDA Inspection Report: BJ’s & Guys 01-27-16), CVIs (CVIs: BJ’s & Guys to Puppy Experience) and cage cards (Cage Cards: BJ’s & Guys ) for puppies sent from BJ’s & Guys to another store, Puppy Experience in Riverhead, New York, BJ’s & Guys bred at least 16 different breeds for this one store: Saint Bernards, Chinese Pugs, Havanese, King Charles Spaniels, Lhasa Apsos, Jack Russell Terriers, Shiba Inus, American Eskimos, Dachshunds, Bichon Frises, Wheaton Terriers, German Shepherds, Scotland Terriers, Schnauzers, Yorkshire Terriers, Corgis, and Labrador Retrievers. CAPS’ research of CVIs for puppies shipped from BJ’s & Guys to other pet shops during the month of October 2021 (CVIs for BJs & Guys: 10-21-22) also document the following breeds: Shelties, Poodles, Soft coated Wheatens, Papillons, Shih Tzus, Pomeranians, West Highland Terriers, Beagles, Cairn Terriers, Silky Terriers, Keeshonds, Aussies, Boston Terriers, for a total of at least 30 breeds bred by Munk.
Likewise, CAPS’ research of CVIs also shows that Puppy Dreams sourced 34 puppies from large scale breeder Rebecca Eiler of Creekside Kennel (USDA #48-A-2176) in Oberlin, Kansas in 2022 (see line items 186-206 in CVIs for KS to TX 2022). Here again, although Kansas does not provide images of the actual CVIs, but rather a list of same, CAPS’ extensive research of Creekside Kennel for other investigative work shows that Eiler breeds more than two breeds. As CVIs show (Creek Side Kennel: CVI 1, Creek Side Kennel: CVI 2, Creek Side Kennel: CVI 3, Creek Side Kennel: CVI 4; Creek Side Kennel: CVI 5), Eiler breeds at least six different breeds: Huskies, Teddy Bears, Chihuahuas, Teddy Poos, Shiba Mos, and Pembroke Welsh Corgis. As documented by the USDA inspectors in 2022 (Creek Side Kennel: USDA Inspection Report 6-01-2022), Eiler had 573 dogs on the property. With so many dogs, it is highly likely that she breeds many more than just the six breeds noted on CVIs, and certainly more than the two claimed by the employee. The employee’s statement is therefore false and misleading, likely intended to create a false sense of assurance regarding the true conditions in which the store’s puppies are raised.
When I asked the employee, “Do they only have like a few dogs? Or a bunch of dogs?” she said, “Only a few. Like breeder dogs? Only a few.” This statement is also false and misleading. On the most recent USDA inspection report for BJ’s & Guys (USDA Inspection Report: BJ’s & Guys (03-23-2022), inspectors documented 976 dogs on the premises (585 adult dogs and 391 puppies). Likewise, CVIs and USDA inspection reports for other breeders supplying puppies to Puppy Dreams also document the fact that breeders have more than “a few dogs,” as stated by the employee. These breeders are listed at the bottom of this report, together with dog counts documented at their most recent USDA inspections. To summarize CAPS’ findings regarding the number of dogs at the breeding facilities who provide puppies to Puppy Dreams, the breeder with the most number of dogs had 976; the breeder with the least number of dogs had 11; the average number of dogs kept at these breeding facilities is 216. Clearly, the employee’s statement that the store’s breeders only have a “few dogs” is extremely false and misleading, likely intended to create a false sense of assurance regarding the true conditions in which the store’s puppies are raised.
When I asked the employee about the conditions in which breeders keep their dogs, she at first replied “it just depends.” I then asked, “They might have them in cages?” She replied, “For the most part, no. More like play pens.” The employee’s claim that the store’s breeders do not keep their dogs in cages but rather in “play pens” is also false and misleading. Since its founding in 1992, CAPS’ investigators have more than a thousand undercover investigations of USDA licensed dog breeding facilities, or puppy mills, across the country. CAPS’ video evidence documents the fact that USDA breeders are large scale commercial operations that keep dogs in a manner designed for efficiency of cost, cleaning and breeding. Adult dogs are kept almost exclusively in kennels or cages with dirt or cement flooring; oftentimes these are elevated and/or stacked on top of eachother. Puppies are kept almost exclusively in whelping cages and pens before being transported to stores.
CAPS’ research of CVIs (Michel, Clinton: CVI) shows that Puppy Dreams sources puppies from USDA breeder Clinton Michel of Long Lane, Missouri (#43-A-3817). CAPS conducted an undercover investigation of Michel’s breeding operation on 08-14-2018. As documented in the video footage (Michel, Clinton: CAPS Investigation), dogs at Michel’s property live in raised wire cages.
Likewise, CAPS research of CVIs also shows that Puppy Dreams sources puppies from USDA breeders Roger and Marla Campbell of Newton, Kansas (#48-A-2232). CAPS conducted undercover investigations of the Campbell’s breeding operation on 06/01/21 and 06/02/21. As documented in the video footage (Campbell, Roger & Marla: CAPS Investigations), dogs at the Campbell’s property live in raised wire cages.
To see additional videos and reports of past puppy mill investigations conducted by CAPS, please go to the following link: CAPS Breeder Investigations & Reports. As with the Michel and Campbell footage referenced above, these videos document the fact that puppy mills typically raise their dogs in cages and not play pens, as stated by the employee. Her statement is therefore false and misleading, likely intended to create a false sense of assurance regarding the true conditions in which the store’s puppies are raised.
The employee also stated, “It’s mostly their pets they’re breeding.” This statement is also false and misleading. As mentioned earlier, many of the store’s breeders have hundreds on dogs, or as in the case of BJ’s & Guys, as many as 976. It strains credulity that these dogs are all considered and treated as “pets”, at least according to how the average consumer would define the word “pet.” As defined in the Cambridge English Dictionary (see Definition of pet), a pet is “an animal that is kept in the home as a companion and treated kindly.” In fact, the dogs at breeding facilities, whose welfare is regulated by the USDA, are viewed by the federal government and breeders alike as livestock, as are cows, chickens, pigs and all other animals regulated by the USDA. The breeding dogs are not “pets” for the commercial breeders who breed them but rather commodities who are housed in inhumane conditions, with little or no human affection, stimulation, excercise and minimal veterinary care, for the sole purpose of breeding puppies. These puppies are then transported at eight weeks and sold for profit to pet shops across the country.
When I asked the employee “Do you make sure they [i.e. the breeders] have no USDA violations?” she replied, “Oh yeah. They can’t. They’d lose their license.” This statement is false and misleading. While USDA inspectors are charged with upholding the Federal Animal Welfare Act and it is their job to note violations on field inspection reports, they do not suspend or revoke the licenses of commercial breeders unless they have received multiple, egregious violations over many years. While the USDA is notirous for its lax standards, minimal oversight, and poor enforcement, and even implemented a “teachable moments” policy from 2016 to 2022 instructing its inspectors to no longer cite breeders for “minor” non-compliances, there are nonetheless thousands of violations noted on USDA inspection reports over the years. These inspection reports, complete with noted violations, are accessible on the USDA website (see https://aphis-efile.force.com/PublicSearchTool/s/inspection-reports).
Furthermore, CAPS’ research shows that a number of USDA licensed breeders who supply puppies to Puppy Dreams also have numerous violations, often quite serious. These include the following examples:
BJ’s & Guys
On 01-10-17 (USDA Inspection Report: BJ’s & Guys 01-10-17), USDA inspectors documented 1211 dogs (810 adults, 401 puppies) on site. Munk received three repeat “direct” violations, the USDA’s most serious violations, for untreated health issues that included the following: a Chinese Pug whose right eye had a dry, cloudy cornea, prominent red blood vessels, crust on the upper and lower lids, and protrusion from the socket so much that they eyelids did not fully close over the eye when the dog blinked; another Chinese Pug with an abnormal right eye; and two terriers with excessively long nails that were causing their toes to be mal-positioned. Munk was also cited for having two live electric power cords whose cord protectors were no longer protecting the cords in two of the puppy enclosures.
On 07-11-16 USDA Inspection Report: BJ’s & Guys 07-11-16), USDA inspectors documented 1180 dogs (755 adults, 425 puppies) on site. Munk received two repeat direct veterinary violations for a Shih Tzu with untreated eye issues and a Pomeranian who was observed repeatedly rubbing her back and rear end against a wall and had thickened, bumpy skin with scabs on her tail, and a firm, hairless mass on her back. Munk also received violations for the following: enclosures that were not secure; enclosures with rust and flaking paint; an enclosure with rust and structure damage; ambient temperatures in two buildings recorded at above 85 degrees F; and puppies in at least two elevated enclosures on flooring with 1”x1” openings whose feet and legs were observed passing through the openings.
In June of 2016, USDA APHIS issued Munk an “official warning” for lack of adequate veterinary care related to the violations cited found during the 01-27-16 inspection (USDA Inspection Report: BJ’s & Guys 01-27-16). USDA inspectors documented 1080 dogs (695 adults, 385 puppies) on site. Munk received a direct veterinary violation for a Chinese pug with untreated eye issues. Munk also received violations for the following: three Saint Bernard dogs housed in an outdoor housing facility who lacked access to clean bedding, even though the low temperature the previous night was 21 degrees F; excessive accumulations of feces in at least ten of the outdoor elevated enclosures; and several enclosures with rust and flaking paint.
On 03-04-15 (USDA Inspection Report: BJ’s & Guys 03-04-15), USDA inspectors documented 1147 dogs (775 adults, 372 puppies) on site. Munk received violations for a broken section of paneling with exposed wood in the outdoor portion of an enclosure and at least six electric power cords for heating pads in one whelping building where the cord protectors were no longer protecting the cords, some of which had chew marks on them from the dogs.
On 03-19-14 (USDA Inspection Report: BJ’s & Guys 03-19-14), USDA inspectors documented 1181 dogs (755 adults, 426 puppies) on site. Munk received the following violations for enclosures: a large hole dug under one; flaking paint and rusty surface; excessive accumulations of feces; and two enclosures housing four dogs that lacked adequate shade.
More recent inspection reports document 920-1286 dogs and virtually no violations, as follows. On 06-20-17 (USDA Inspection Report: BJ’s & Guys 06-20-17), USDA inspectors documented 1286 dogs on site and no violations. On 05-22-18 (USDA Inspection Report: BJ’s & Guys 05-22-18), USDA inspectors documented 1193 dogs on site and no violations. On 03-12-19 (USDA Inspection Report: 03-12-19), USDA inspectors documented 1187 dogs on site and no violations. On 01-07-20 (USDA Inspection Report: BJ’s & Guys 01-07-20), USDA inspectors documented 963 dogs on site and no violations. On 04-13-21 (USDA Inspection Report: BJ’s & Guys 04-13-21), USDA inspectors documented 920 dogs on site and no violations. On 03-23-2022, USDA inspectors documented 976 dogs on site and no violations (USDA Inspection Report: BJ’s & Guys (03-23-2022). The fact that BJ’s & Guys does not have any USDA violations since 2017 does not mean that none exist. The USDA has made it very easy for licensees, such as Munk, not to have violations. In response to regulatory ordinances, the USDA started using teachable moments (as noted above), self-inspections, virtual inspections and a trial announced inspection program. Their recent guidelines also instructed inspectors not to cite ear, eye, and dental diseases as veterinary care violations, though this requirement was recently changed back.
Roger & Marla Campbell/Dandelion Acres
CAPS’ research of CVIs shows that Puppy Dreams also sources puppies from Roger and Marla Campbell of Dandelion Acres in Newton, Kansas (see line items 246-253 in CVIs for KS to TX 2022), another USDA licensed breeder (current USDA license #48-A-2232; previous USDA #48-A-1549) with an egregious track record of violations. Prior to 2017, when the USDA effectively ceased reporting violations, the Campbells received 72 USDA APHIS violations of the Animal Welfare Act within the four-year period 2012-2016.
Violations for lack of veterinary care included the following: a female Boxer who was nursing a litter of puppies but was so thin that her back bone, ribs, and hip bones were clearly visible and who lacked any appreciable muscle mass on the torso (direct NCI violation; repeat violation); another female Boxer whose back bone, ribs and hip bones are clearly visible who lacked appreciable muscle mass and was nursing a litter (direct violation; repeat violation); a Jack Russell with an open wound on his neck that had not previously been noticed by the licensees (direct NCI violation); a miniature Australian Shepherd with brown matter on his teeth, reddened, inflamed gums, and a creamy white discharge at the gum line (direct NCI violation; repeat violation); a Bull Terrier with glaucoma who was not receiving the daily eye drop treatment indicated by the attending veterinarian (repeat violation); a Bull Terrier with red, cloudy eyes, hair loss and thickened, flaky skin on his neck and face; another bull terrier with a red, swollen, moist, bloody lesion between her toes (repeat violation); a Pug whose eye surface was thickened and red with a small amount of white discharge (repeat violation); expired medications; a French Bulldog untreated for Keratitis Sicca (skin condition) and a thick green colored discharge in her left eye and a hazy appearance to her cornea (direct violation); Dachshund with hair loss on her face that was moist with creamy discharge (direct NCI violation; repeat violation); a Basset Hound with a cloudy, reddened eye and thick discharge around the eyelids who was squinting (direct NCI violation; repeat violation); a female Jack Russell Terrier with hair loss on her face, the exposed skin pink and with scabs, and an accumulation of dark debris completely coating some of her teeth as well as a reddened gum line and creamy white discharge on the upper teeth (direct NCI violation; repeat violation); and a male Pug who was limping (direct NCI violation).
Housing violations included the following: loose metal wiring in an enclosure that rendered it structurally unsound and caused gaps large enough to allow the puppies housed within to slip through; build ups of dried mud on at least 10 outdoor dog shelters; two outdoor shelters that were not as tall as the Boxers housed within and did not allow the dogs to sit, stand and lie in a normal manner; overgrown weeds; fiberglass wallboard in one enclosure with jagged, sharp edges; a mixture of dirt, grease and other excreta on another wallboard and six metal entry doorways; five enclosures containing five dogs with dried, caked fecal residue covering 25-60% of the cement flooring (repeat violation); sharp, rusty metal points and edges in multiple areas of the kennel; feeders with buildups of grime; excessive accumulations of feces, dirt and hair; cracked plastic doorway frames and chewed doors that were deeply pitted and dirty; dogs housed in outdoor enclosures not large enough to provide adequate shelter from the elements to all dogs within (repeat violations); at least two outdoor enclosures that lacked adequate bedding (the lowest temperature in the last 24 hours having been recorded by the USDA inspector as 36 degrees F); wire gates, flooring, and fencing with gaps causing potential for injury (repeat violations); gap in metal flooring (repeat violation); metal divider panels with excessive rust; one female Bull Terrier being housed in a stock trailer outdoors without any shelter from the elements (repeat); and metal food receptacles with bent, twisted and rough edges. Other violations included the following: dogs lacking official identification (multiple repeat violations); weaned puppies lacking same; and dogs with microchips who were not listed on the official USDA APHIS form 7005. To see USDA inspection reports detailing the above violations, please go to: Campbell, Roger & Marla: USDA Inspection Reports 2012-16.
Roger & Marla Campbell received an official warning from the USDA APHIS in March 2016 and an official complaint was filed against them by the USDA APHIS on July 15, 2016 (USDA APHIS Official Complaint 07-15-16) The USDA APHIS charged them with willfully violating the Animal Welfare Act, and fined them $8,000 (Campbell, Roger & Marla: USDA Consent Decision and Order 03-21-17. As per the USDA APHIS website (Screenshot of USDA website showing canceled license), the Campbell’s license (# 48-A-1549) status appears as canceled 8-15-20. However, the Campbells had already filed for a new USDA license (#48-A-2232). The pre-license inspection took place on 11-05-19 (Campbell, Roger & Marla: USDA Pre-License Inspection Report). The Campbells have since been operating under that license. The new USDA number uses a P.O. box in Goessel, Kansas, although the Campbells live and keep their kennel at 266 90th, Newton, Kansas. The two towns are 14.6 miles apart. As noted previously, CAPS conducted undercover investigations of the kennel (also dba Iris Lane Kennel) on 06-1-21 and 06-02-21 (Campbell, Roger & Marla: CAPS Investigations).
Justin and La Nae Jackson
CAPS’ research of CVIs shows that Puppy Dreams also sources puppies from Justin and La Nae Jackson of Clifton, Kansas (see line items 210-212 in CVIs for KS to TX 2022). Also USDA licensed breeders (USDA #48-A-1849), the Jacksons received an astounding 30 USDA APHIS violations of the Animal Welfare Act in five years, four of which were for lack of veterinary care (Jackson, Justin & LaNae: USDA Inspection Report 09-08-2011; Jackson, Justin & LaNae: USDA Inspection Report 03-08-2012; (Jackson, Justin & LaNae: USDA Inspection Report 06-03-2013); Jackson, Justin & LaNae: USDA Inspection Report 06-19-2014; Jackson, Justin & LaNae: USDA Inspection Report 09-08-2014; Jackson, Justin & LaNae: USDA Inspection Report 01-06-2016; Jackson, Justin & LaNae: USDA Inspection Report 04-13-2016; Jackson, Justin & LaNae: USDA Inspection Report 07-20-2016). The Jacksons received “repeat” violations for providing inadequate space for dogs; feeders covered in bird feces; and housing with gaps capable of entrapping dogs. The inspection on 06-03-13 earned them 20 violations including: a female Labrador with part of her ear missing due to an injury; another Labrador with open wounds on the tips of her ears; broken and missing wiring preventing secure containment; detached metal floor panels which were unsafe and presented the risk of falling through; gaps under fencing; rusted metal support poles; wire with sharp points; splintered wood surfaces; jagged plastic and fiberglass surfaces; deteriorated and rusting metal gates; rusted and jagged edges on feed troughs; and buildups of dirt, grease and excreta covering 40-60% of all surfaces in the dog igloo area.
Rick & Cindy Jenson
CAPS’ research of CVIs shows that Puppy Dreams also sources puppies from Rick and Cindy Jenson of Neodesha, Kansas (see line items 288, 293 in CVIs for KS to TX 2022). The Jensens are USDA licensed breeders (USDA #48-A-2152) who have also received violations. USDA inspectors issued the Jensons a violation on 08-07-2017 (Jensen, Rick & Cindy: USDA Inspection Report 08-07-2017) for having two enclosures with accumulations of feces and floors needing replacement. Most recently, at an inspection on 02-10-2022 (Jensen, Rick & Cindy: USDA Inspection Report 02-10-2022), USDA inspectors noted 362 dogs on site and issued violations for having holes dug under the enclosure divider fencing, as well as for six plastic water recepatacles whose tops were chewed with sharp, jagged edges.
Jacob Hochstedler/Sunnyview Kennel
CAPS’ research of CVIs shows that Puppy Dreams also sources puppies from Jacob Hochstedler in Hutchinson, Kansas (see line item 352 in CVIs for KS to TX 2022). Hochstedler (USDA license #48-A-2-86) was issued the following violations by USDA inspectors: chewed surfaces and loose wiring Hochstedler, Jacob: USDA Inspection Report 05-15-2014; accumulations of oil, grime, dirt and cobwebs (Hochstedler, Jacob: USDA Inspection Report 03-31-2015); a repeat violation for same (Hochstedler, Jacob: USDA Inspection Report 02-16-2016); and sharp wire points and holes in the fence of an enclosure (Hochstedler, Jacob: USDA Inspection Report 04-19-2016).
Albert Troyer
CAPS’ research of CVIs shows that Puppy Dreams also sources puppies from Albert Troyer of Clark, Missouri (CVI: Albert Troyer). Also a USDA licensed breeder (#43-A-6158), Troyer was issued veterinary care violations for having a female Shih Tzu whose ID chain was too tight and had caused lesions that were open and missing hair, as well as a lesion on her eye, and blood like matter on her left side; and excessive flies around the animals, near their food, water and feces (Troyer, Albert: USDA Inspection Report 06-21-2017; a hole in the wall of an enclosure housing three dogs; and two feeders with moldy, contaminated food (Troyer, Albert: USDA Inspection Report 07-14-2021).
Elmer Troyer
CAPS’ research of CVIs shows that Puppy Dreams also sources puppies from Elmer Troyer in Clark, Missouri (CVI: Elmer Troyer). Also a USDA licensed breeder (#43-A-5917), Troyer was issued violatons for: excessive buildups of feces in all of, and buildups 2’-3’ high under, the facility’s enclosures containing dogs (Troyer, Elmer: USDA Inspection Report 08-28-2017); excessive feces in twelve enclosures containing 23 puppies with over 50% of the resting surfaces covered in smeared feces; eight dog enclosures housing 34 dogs that were 60-80% covered with feces; an outdoor enclosure housing five dogs with many piles of feces; a make shift whelping enclosure housing six puppies with a concrete floor that was not impervious to moisture; an outdoor enclosure housing five dogs without enough space to allow the dogs to sit, stand and lay down in a normal position; four enclosures with chewed plastic feeders and sharp, jagged edges; two enclosures housing six dogs whose water bowls were empty; no written documentation of hands on veterinary exams conducted, as required by the USDA’s Program of Veterinary Care (Troyer, Elmer: USDA Inspection Report 02-15-2022); and excessive amount of flies inside and outside the facility (Troyer, Elmer: USDA Inspection Report 05-18-2022).
Marlene and Wayne Zimmerman
CAPS’ research of CVIs shows that Puppy Dreams also sources puppies from Marlene and Wayne Zimmerman of Wheeling, Missouri (CVI: Marlene & Wayne Zimmerman). Also USDA licensed breeders (#43-A-6492), the Zimmermans were issued violations for having gaps in the fencing of two outdoor enclosures, a plastic water receptacle with a chewed, jagged edge, accumulations of dust and cobwebs, and official USDA records that were not updated, and microchips for 11 dogs that had not been recorded (Zimmerman, Marlene & Wayne: USDA Inspection Report 12-08-2022).
The employee told me, “The owners really are the ones who work directly with the breeders.” This statement is false and misleading. CAPS’ research of CVIs shows that Puppy Dreams sources puppies from not just breeders but also multiple brokers including BJ’s & Guys (see line items 110 -138 in CVIs for KS to TX 2022), Canterbury Tails LLC. (see line item 165 in CVIs for KS to TX 2022), Conrad’s Cuddly Canines (CVI: Conrads Cuddly Canines), Shelli Kershner (see line items 239-243 in CVIs for KS to TX 2022), Pinnacle Pet (CVIs: Pinnacle Pet), QD Kennels (CVIs: QD Kennels), Southpaw Pets (CVI: Southpaw Pets), and Tiffanie’s LLC (CVI: Tiffanies LLC). Brokers such as these source their puppies from multiple breeders, including hobby breeders, who are not required to be certified and inspected by the USDA if they have fewer than five breeding females on premises. Because these brokers source from so many breeders, it is virtually impossible for the owners of Puppy Dreams to “work with,” much less know the names of, all the various breeders who supply puppies to the above brokers. In fact, the very reason a pet store sources from brokers is so that they do not have to deal with all the individual breeders directly. Brokers serve as middlemen between the stores and the breeders. Therefore, the employees statement is false and misleading, likely intended to provide a false sense of assurance regarding the nature of the relationship between the store’s owners and the puppies’ breeders.
Finally, when I asked, “If we wanted to google a breeder beforehand, could you give us that?” the employee told me, “We don’t give breeder information until the puppy is bought.” While there is no law in Texas that requires pet shops to provide breeder information to customers upon request, the employee’s refusal to provide it underscores the lack of transparency in Puppy Dreams’ dealings with their customers.
Breeder/broker information obtained from 2022-23 Certificates of Veterinary Inspection is listed below. Please note: CVIs reveal that puppies only go to the Puppy Dreams stores in Arlington and Sherman (under 40 miles from Garland), indicating that puppies are sent there before some go to the Garland store. Please also note: all USDA inspection reports referenced below can be assessed by going to the following link: USDA Inspection Records for Breeders Supplying to Puppy Dreams.
| Barton, Linda |
| 932 NW 50th Rd, Rd A10 |
| Liberal, MO 64762 |
| Borntrager, William23647 Stagecoach Ln A22 |
| Brashear, MO 63533 |
| 43-A-6069
Number of dogs listed on 2-1-2022 USDA inspection report: 66 (45 adults; 21 puppies) |
| Borntreger, Levi J |
| 25513 157th Street A15 |
| Monticello, MO 63457 |
| 43-A-6592 |
| Number of dogs listed on 6-1-2022 USDA inspection report: 127 (68 adults; 59 puppies)
Breedlove, Elisa 21309 Risky Road Waynesville, MO 65583 43-A-4023 |
| Campbell, Roger & Marla/Dandelion Acres LLC |
| 266 90th |
| Newton, KS 67114 |
| 48-A-2232
Number of dogs listed on 7-12-2022 USDA inspection report: 162 (121 adults; 41 puppies) |
| Conrad’s Cuddly Canines |
| 6104 Pike 9 |
| Frankford, MO 63441 |
| 43-B-3659
Number of dogs listed on 9-28-21 USDA inspection report: 53 (all puppies) |
| Eiler, Rebecca |
| 725 BB Lane A46 |
| Oberlin, KS 67749 (Decatur Co) |
| 48-A-2176
Number of dogs listed on 6-2-2022 USDA inspection report: 573 (371 adults; 202 puppies) |
| Headings, LaWade |
| 1935 S 1251 Rd |
| El Dorado Springs, MO 64744 |
| Hoover, Phillip M. |
| 13872 Hwy 15 |
| Memphis, MO 63555 |
| 43-A-5673
Number of dogs listed on 1-7-2022 USDA inspection report: 589 (445 adults; 144 puppies) |
| Jackson, Justin & La Nae |
| 424 6th Rd |
| Clifton, KS 66937 |
| 48-A-1849
Number of dogs listed on 6-15-2022 USDA inspection report: 408 (243 adults; 165 puppies) |
| J.A.K.’s Puppies2685 Grant – PO Box 245
Britt, IA 50423 42-B-0271 https://caps-web.org/caps-investigators-journal-the-truth-behind-j-a-k-s-puppies/ CAPS has investigated J.A.K.’s Puppies, breeders who sell to them, and the two fraudulent rescues created by J.A.K.’s to circumvent California’s and Chicago’s retail ban laws. CAPS worked with the Iowa Attorney General to shut down these rescues. |
| Jensen, Richard (Rick) |
| 14282 200 Rd |
| Neodesha, KS 66757 |
| 48-A-2152
Number of dogs listed on 3-25-2022 USDA inspection report: 367 (262 adults; 105 puppies) |
| Kershner, Shelli |
| 2440 Ave R |
| Rush Center, KS 67575 (Rush Co) |
| 48-B-0311
Number of dogs listed on 7-14-2022 USDA inspection report: 81 (71 adults; 10 puppies) |
| Michel, Clinton |
| 16909 Merchant Drive |
| Long Lane, MO 65590 |
| 43-A-3817
Number of dogs listed on 2-15-2023 USDA inspection report: 111 (68 adult; 43 puppies) Miller, Jay 9717 Lawrence 1095 Mt. Vernon, MO 65712 No USDA license |
| Munk, Sharon/BJ’s & Guys |
| 562 S Rd 150 W |
| Menlo, KS 67753 |
| 48-B-0081
Number of dogs listed on 3-23-2022 USDA inspection report: 976 (585 adults; 391 puppies) |
| Pinnacle Pet/Sobrad LLC |
| 11863 Kenobi Lane |
| Neosho, MO 64850
43-B-3750 |
| Number of dogs listed on 9-1-2022 USDA inspection report: 322 puppies |
| Precious Paws/Snyder, Gaynetta & Wheatcraft, Scott |
| 27845 Itaska Rd |
| Browning, MO 64630 |
| 43-A-5792
Number of dogs listed on 11-22-23 USDA inspection report: 284 (155 adults; 129 puppies) |
| Sanders, Jessie
194 Springhill Road Anderson, MO 64831 No USDA license |
| QD Kennels |
| 9603 Pike 12 |
| Frankford, MO 63441 |
| 43-B-3774
Number of dogs listed on 7-08-2022 USDA inspection report: 36 (all puppies) |
| Schrock, Mahlon & Fannie |
| 7464 S Hwy C |
| Harwood, MO 64750 |
| 43-A-6141
Number of dogs listed on 3-1-2022 USDA inspection report: 91 (41 adults; 50 puppies) |
| Southpaw Pets |
| 19614 Owl Rd |
| Neosho, MO 64850 (Newton Co) |
| 43-B-3812
Number of dogs listed on 1-17-2023 USDA inspection report: 18 (all adults) |
| Sunnyview Kennel/Hochstedler, Jacob |
| 6503 W Trail West Rd |
| Hutchinson, KS 67501 |
| 48-A-2086
Number of dogs listed on 2-10-2022 USDA inspection report: 11 (9 adults; 2 puppies) |
| Tiffanies LLC |
| 3917 Hwy C |
| Frankford, MO 63441 |
| 43-B-3731 |
| Troyer, Albert D. or Troyer, Albert J |
| 2480 Audrain Rd 154 or 374 Audrain Road 140 |
| Clark, MO 65243 |
| 43-A-6158
Number of dogs listed on 7-14-2021 USDA inspection report: 117 (65 adults; 52 puppies) |
| Troyer, Elmer & Edna |
| 10038 Hwy Y |
| Clark, MO 65243 |
| 43-A-5917
Number of dogs listed on 9-22-2022 USDA inspection report: 119 (77 adults; 42 puppies) |
| Wedel, Troy/Canterbury Tails Pets LLC |
| 875 Dakota Rd |
| McPherson, KS 67460 |
| 48-B-0319
Number of dogs listed on 9-8-2022 USDA inspection report: 361 (117 adults; 244 puppies) |
| Shady Grove Kennel/Yoder, Samuel |
| 313 E Red Rock Rd |
| Hutchinson, KS 67501 |
| 48-A-2207
Number of dogs listed on 2-14-2022 USDA inspection report: 103 (41 adults; 62 puppies) |
| Zimmerman, Marlene |
| 20501 Armour Dr |
| Wheeling, MO 64688 |
| 43-A-6492
Number of dogs listed on 5-17-2022 USDA inspection report: 18 (13 adults; 5 puppies) |
Note regarding number of dogs at above breeding facilities
The numbers of adult breeding dogs and puppies at the above facilities are consistent with being commercial breeding establishments, also known as puppy mills, that mass produce dogs for resale to pet shops. Please refer to the following link (Summary of legal cases defining “puppy mill”) for a summary of legal cases defining the term “puppy mill.”
