CAPS’ Investigation of Four Breeders who have Sold to Southpaw Pets Demonstrates that the Broker is Obtaining Puppies from Mills to Resell to Pet Shops
CAPS learned about Southpaw Pets, a USDA-licensed dog broker in Neosho, Missouri while gathering Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (interstate health certificates referred to as CVIs) going to Petland stores in Wichita, Kansas prior to our investigation of the two stores. CVIs indicated that Southpaw Pets was selling to Petland of Wichita West. Dan Sheeley started Southpaw Pets in 2019 and appears to operate the facility from his place of residence.
Brokers have a USDA “B” license while breeders have an “A” license. Brokers obtain puppies from licensed and unlicensed (exempt due to number of breeding female dogs) breeders to sell to pet shops; some brokers also breed dogs. Breeders, especially larger ones, sometimes sell directly to pet shops.
More recent CVIs show that Southpaw Pets is selling to Petland and Puppy Dreams stores in Texas, where CAPS has investigated 19 pet shops. Texas currently has 39 pet shops. The number of pet shops started to increase after the legislature passed HB 2127 in 2023. This law restricts cities and counties from generating local ordinances that differ from or exceed state law in specified areas. The law grandfathered in the 17 municipalities with existing pet shop ordinances. CAPS has been working with Rep. Jared Patterson, who has been trying to pass a statewide retail ban law. So far, his legislation has been unsuccessful. Texas’ legislature only meets every other year.
Southpaw Pets obtain its puppies from licensed and unlicensed breeders in the Midwest. CAPS documented breeder names from CVIs going from out-of-state breeders to Southpaw Pets in Missouri. Southpaw most likely uses a lot of breeders in Missouri, but CVIs are for interstate commerce only. Below are four USDA-licensed breeders investigated by CAPS:
Roger and Marla Campbell, Dandelion Acres, Newton, KS, 48-A-2232 (previously 48-A-1549 under Iris Lane Kennel)
CAPS conducted undercover investigations of the Campbell’s breeding operation on 06/01/21 and 06/02/21. As documented in the video footage, dogs at the Campbell’s property live in raised wire cages. The Campbells have an egregious track record of violations. Prior to 2017, when the USDA effectively ceased reporting their violations, the Campbells received 72 USDA APHIS violations of the Animal Welfare Act within the four-year period 2012-2016.
USDA filed an official warning and fined them $8,000; their license under the name of Iris Lane Kennel was cancelled. Then they managed to obtain a new license under the name of Dandelion Acres at a PO Box more than 14 miles away from their residence and breeding facility in Newton.
Other puppy mills investigated by CAPS that have sold to Southpaw Pets include Nelson and Leanna Yoder in Coalgate, Oklahoma, Alison Hawkins in Finley, Oklahoma, and Darlene Chalfant in Idabel, Oklahoma.
