Petland Fenton Crossing
516 Old Smizer Mill Rd
Fenton, MO 63026
(636) 538-5731
Date and time of CAPS investigation: 5/1/26, 1413
Approximate number of puppies observed at time of investigation: 40 puppies
The puppies were in aquarium-like enclosures set into one wall of the store, allowing customers to view them. The enclosures had slatted floorings for urine and feces to fall through, and the floorings were partially covered with small blankets. The enclosures had toys and water bottles that were attached to the back walls. Most enclosures had two to four puppies each.
A sign above the enclosures read, “OUR BREEDERS ARE THE BEST!” Several enclosures had signs on their back walls saying, “APPLY FOR THE PETLAND CREDIT CARD.” A TV above the puppies ran a video about dog training, and posters were displayed around the area showing dogs and puppies playing in grassy fields.
Employee eager to put puppies in my arms
An employee approached me as I looked at the puppies, asking if I wanted to play with one. When I expressed interest in a Chihuahua, she immediately went to get the puppy and guided me to a playroom with the animal. I spoke to her about the puppy, including asking about breeder information but said that I would have to come back with my girlfriend before purchasing a dog. The employee then asked if I was interested in any other puppies. I mentioned two others (a Schipperke and Papillon), and each time the employee went to get them for me to play with, even though I didn’t ask to see the puppies.
Lies about breeders and discussion of how Petland uses Canine Care Certified breeders
The employee explained that the puppies ranged in price from $2,500 to $8,000 each, and she claimed that management and owners visit the store’s breeders every three months. She also said that the store has a few breeders in Missouri, but most of them are out-of-state. She said the breeders are “not just breeding just for puppies. They’re breeding to better the breed. So, they’re very strategically placing parents together to create a really good litter. Good sound mind, and temperament’s good, confirmation’s good. It’s not all about like what’s gonna be the cutest. It’s most like what’s gonna have longevity, what’s gonna be a good temperament long-term for people.”
She added, “And then we do work with hobby breeders as well. Hobby breeder, they can have three breeding females on the premises, and most of the time, they’re in the house. All the puppies are in the house with them because they only have one or two litters per year, and they like to raise them in the family room and in the kitchen with them. All of them have to be USDA-licensed with no infractions.”
I requested that she verify what kind of breeding conditions she meant, and I asked, “Okay, so it’s not just like cages or dogs in runs, or anything?” She said, “Oh no. Oh no.” I then pointed to a poster next to us that showed puppies in a grassy field, chewing on rope toys, and I asked, “It’s open like this?” She said, “Oh yeah.” She also said that some of the store’s breeders are Canine Care Certified, which she described as breeders who focus more on the “mothers of the puppies,” as opposed to how the “USDA license focuses on the entire facility.” She said the store is trying to buy puppies entirely from Canine Care Certified breeders.
For the puppies with whom I was in the playroom, the worker showed me paperwork revealing the names of their breeders. The Chihuahua was bred by Marvin and Barbara Graber, 7347 CR 56, St. Joe, IN 46785, 32-A-0611. The Schipperke was bred by Jerry and DeEtta Simmons, 10951 Hwy TT, Grovespring, MO 65662, 43-A-5840. And the Papillon was bred by James Graber S1, Sunrise Pets LLC, 10748 CR E 725 N, Montgomery, IN 47558, 22-A-0952. The employee claimed that the Schipperke breeders, Jerry and DeEtta Simmons, were “hobby breeders,” saying, “He comes from a hobby breeder. So, they are bred in the house, they are like very family oriented. They focus on Schipperkes, and then they have one rat terrier.”
After my investigation on 5/1/26, I did not follow up with the store, and I did not respond to communication attempts from it. Despite this, I received texts from the employee on 5/2, 5/16, and 5/19, asking me if I still wanted a puppy and when she could expect my return.
Evidence of false statements and misrepresentations by the store:
The employee’s claim that the store’s hobby breeders keep dogs and puppies in their homes is not accurate; the USDA does not want breeders keeping dogs inside homes. Furthermore, the employee’s claim that Jerry and DeEtta Simmons are hobby breeders is false. The Simmons’ 9/4/25 USDA inspection report notes that they had 54 dogs and 34 puppies on their property. The USDA defines a hobby breeder as a commercial breeder with fewer than five breeding female dogs. But satellite imagery shows that the Simmons have a commercial kennel, with dog runs lined up next to each other along the kennel buildings.
The employee’s claim that hobby breeders must be USDA-licensed with no violations is wrong. The USDA does not license commercial breeders with fewer than five breeding female dogs. While USDA inspectors are mostly lax about citing Animal Welfare Act violations, even breeders with multiple violations sell to pet shops. Petland Fenton has purchased puppies from the brokers Blue Ribbon Puppies and Southpaw Pets. Not only have I documented violations at breeders who have sold to these two brokers, but USDA and state departments of agriculture inspectors have documented violations as well. Some of these breeders have a history of repeated federal and state violations.
I’ve documented numerous Blue Ribbon Puppies breeders who keep dogs in wire cages and not in open fields like the Petland videos showed in the store. For example, at the facility of Blue Ribbon Puppies breeder Richard Wagler (32-A-0474), I saw dogs pacing incessantly inside wire cages, one even chewing on the wire. Blue Ribbon breeder Darrell Graber (32-A-0250) told me that it’s difficult to find homes for dogs that have lived in breeding kennels, and that the dogs frequently have bad teeth from not chewing on toys. He said he has all his breeding dogs killed when they are done breeding for him, and that he believes the easiest method of euthanasia is a bullet to the head. In addition, the CDC found Blue Ribbon Puppies to be one of the brokers responsible for a multi-state outbreak of campylobacter amongst puppies sold at pet stores.
The employee’s claim that hobby breeders only breed their dogs once or twice is also untrue. Most breeders use female breeding dogs until they no longer consistently have litters, or the litters no longer have enough puppies to be substantially profitable.
The employee’s claim that breeders focus on longevity and “temperament long-term for people” when breeding is false. Commercial breeders focus on physical features that customers will be drawn to, with the goal of increasing sales. The breeders seek profit, which is why they are commercial operations, as opposed to dog rescuers or trainers.
The employee’s claim that breeders have dogs in open yards instead of cages and runs is another lie. All commercial breeders keep dogs confined most or all the time. Kennels are visible in the satellite imagery of all three breeders whose information I saw at the store. Buildings with dog runs are lined up next to each other for efficiency of cleaning and kennel duties, and the structures don’t provide much space for the dogs inside.
In addition, I investigated Daniel Lambright in Indiana, whose name appears on recent Certificates of Veterinary Inspection as selling puppies to Petland Fenton Crossing. At Lambright’s facility, I documented dogs living in concrete runs that were only about 10 feet long and four feet wide. Dogs were pacing in and out of their doggie doors. The play area filled with crushed rocks was not being used, and there were no grassy fields for the dogs to run in.
The employee also said that some of Petland Fenton Crossing’s breeders are Canine Care Certified, which she described as breeders who focus more on the “mothers of the puppies,” as opposed to how the “USDA license focuses on the entire facility.” She said the store is trying to buy puppies entirely from Canine Care Certified breeders.
Breeder names obtained during store investigation
Marvin and Barbara Graber, St. Joe, IN, 32-A-0611, 86 dogs and 55 puppies at 10/22/24 USDA inspection (no inspections in 2025 or 2026 YTD)
James Graber S1, Sunrise Pets LLC, Montgomery, IN, 32-A-0952, 22 dogs and 25 puppies at 8/27/26 USDA inspection
Jerry and DeEtta Simmons, Down Home Country Kennel LLC, Grovespring, MO, 43-A-5840, 54 dogs and 34 puppies at 9/4/25 USDA inspection
Breeder names obtained from 2026 Certificates of Veterinary Inspection
Daniel Lambright, Riverbend Pets, Wolcottville, IN, 32-A-0917, 69 dogs and 56 puppies at 10/11/24 USDA inspection (no inspection in 2025 or 2026 YTD)
David Yoder, Skyline View LLC, St. Charles, MN, 41-A-0486 (license is under Amos Yoder), 97 dogs and 35 puppies at 4/15/26 USDA inspection
Linda Buscher, Freeberg, MO, 43-A-6299, 91 dogs and 39 puppies at 9/4/25 USDA inspection
Broker names obtained from 2024 Certificates of Veterinary Inspection
Blue Ribbon Puppies, Odon, IN, 32-B-0233
https://caps-web.org/caps-investigators-journal-the-truth-behind-amish-puppy-mills/
https://caps-web.org/caps-investigators-journal-the-truth-behind-puppy-mill-brokers/
Southpaw Pets, Neosho, MO, 43-B-3812
https://caps-web.org/southpaw-pets-missouri/
