Breeder: Michael Raber
Address: 8399 CR 235
City, State, Zip: Fredericksburg, OH 44627
USDA License: 31-A-0927
Date and time of CAPS Investigation: 7/15/25, 0844
Weather at time of investigation: 74°F and sunny
Number of dogs and puppies noted in a 5/19/25 USDA inspection: 34 dogs and 33 puppies
The kennel had about eight indoor/outdoor enclosures on each of its eastern and western sides. The outdoor portions were each about eight feet long and four feet wide, with wire walls and concrete floorings. There were five large play yards around the kennel, most about 20-30’ wide and long, with one being about 40’ wide and long. They were accessible directly from dog pens if the pens’ outer doors were opened. Play yards had one to two pens opened to each, and I saw one to four dogs in each yard.
While the use of play yards, especially large ones, is a welcome sight, the hidden cost to dogs’ health from living in a commercial environment still exists in such facilities, as noted below.
Breeder is connected to the following stores:
Forever Love Puppies, Pembroke Pines, FL (information obtained from CVI 2023)
Evidence contradicting store’s claims:
Forever Love Puppies has several locations in Florida. They claim on their website to use “Always Top Breeders,” and say, “We exclusively collaborate with licensed breeders, ensuring your new companion is both lovingly raised and well-bred.” In addition, Forever Love Puppies claims their breeders use the “highest quality standards.” However, Raber has had numerous USDA violations in the past.
An inspection on 8/21/24 notes, “Enclosures are not being cleaned properly. The walls of 7 sheltered primary enclosures housing 23 adult dogs are soiled with brown material.” The same inspection cited Raber for a veterinary care violation, noting that he didn’t have a vaccination schedule for six dogs, who were “not up to date on their Distemper and Parvovirus vaccinations, a required vaccination.” A separate veterinary care violation on the same day notes, “The licensee does not maintain complete medical records for all adult dogs. Records indicate that five dogs have no vaccination history.”
Veterinary problems persisted, as shown in a 12/3/24 inspection in which a USDA inspector noted, “The licensee was unable to provide documentation for examinations performed by the Attending Veterinarian for a female Havapoo (#901001000065728).” The inspector noted that while Raber claimed the puppy was twice seen by a vet for being undersized, there was no record of the exams.
Several other inspection reports note the USDA inspector was unable to enter the property because no adult was there to accompany them.
The commercial problem
As CAPS has found in previous investigations, dogs raised in commercial environments often have dental and behavioral issues. Raber’s lack of veterinary records is concerning, especially when considering what other veterinary issues dogs could have that are not immediately apparent to an inspector.
