Breeder: Lewis Bloom
Kennel Name: Bloom Farms LLC (Bloom Kennels on USDA license)
Address: 1901 Frontier Rd, Clay Center, KS 67432
USDA License: 48-A-1316 (cancelled 5/6/22; operating without a license)
Date and time of CAPS Investigation: 3/8/25, 1:24 PM
Weather at time of investigation: 50°F and sunny
Approximate number of dogs and puppies observed at time of investigation: eight dogs
Number of adult dogs and puppies at last USDA inspection: 24 adult dogs and 13 puppies on 1/24/22 (has had as many as 101 dogs and puppies)
Commercial kennel
The property had two areas resembling kennels, but I could only confirm dogs in one area—a series of indoor/outdoor runs connected by doggie-doors and some fully outdoor runs nearby. Another area had raised cages attached to a building, with chickens underneath. I noticed movement in one cage but could not confirm if it was a dog.
In the kennel area, there was a metal barn with eight indoor/outdoor runs on the western side. Each run was about four feet wide and 10 feet long, with concrete floors and wire fence walls. Some runs were empty, while others housed one or two dogs.
To the west of those runs, on the same concrete slab, were six additional enclosures—slightly wider but about the same length. These were separated by a thin hallway, possibly for moving between runs. Three of these wider runs had doghouses, two of which were plastic and barrel-shaped. The barrel runs had tarps for partial cover, but no dogs were visible inside.
Dogs’ view blocked by fence; no play area
Almost all outdoor portions of the kennel were surrounded by a tall wooden fence, preventing dogs from seeing to the north or west. On the east side was the kennel building. Only the southernmost run allowed dogs a view of the kennel yard—most dogs could not see their surroundings.
No play area was visible on the property. If the enclosures with doghouses are intended as a play area, they provide no enrichment beyond what the other concrete, wire-fenced enclosures already offer.
ACA Award
Despite these clear puppy mill conditions—tightly packed runs and obstructed views—the American Canine Association awarded Bloom an “Achievement of Excellence Star Breeder Award” for 2025–26, describing him as “one of the finest breeders in America.”
Breeder is connected to the following store:
Pet Kingdom, 4650 S Cleveland Ave #7, Ft Myers, FL 33907 (information obtained from CVI 2021)
I visited Pet Kingdom on 8/21/21, where an employee claimed, “So legally, we can’t buy from puppy mills.” However, Bloom’s facility—with its packed dog runs and lack of outdoor visibility—meets any reasonable definition of a puppy mill.
Online sales
Bloom also sells puppies online through his website: www.lewisbloom.com. (Note: The site consistently displays a “connection not private” warning when visited.)
