Breeder: Cox, Marsha
Business name: Mar Don Kennel
Address: 11442 LIV 416
City, State Zip: Chillicothe, MO 64601
Year: 2007
USDA License: 43-A-0841
Date of CAPS Investigation: 2007-10-31
Breeds: German Shepherd, Poodle, Pug, Labrador Retriever, Boxer, Pit Bull, Dachshund, Chihuahua, terrier and other breeds.
Approximately 200 dogs on the property at the time of the investigation.
Marsha Cox’s facility consisted of numerous double-decker kennel style buildings. The cages in these buildings typically contained two to three small dogs a piece. The floorings were made of wire and each cage was approximately 2 feet wide, 2 feet tall and 2 feet deep. Each also had a small dog door that lead to an interior portion of the cage inside the building. It is unclear how many of this building type there were as investigators were not granted access to the majority of the property.
Other kennel types used to house dogs were large outdoor pens that stood approximately 2 feet wide, 6 feet tall and 6 feet long. These were typically used to house larger breed dogs, particularly Boxers and German Shepherds. The flooring of many of these pens was streaked with urine and fecal accumulation (3.11(a)-Cleaning of primary enclosures). Many cages also did not provide adequate shelter for the number of size of the dogs in each. In several instances, small wooden boxes with a very small hole cut into them were the only shelter available for multiple dogs. The dogs could not all comfortably fit into the shelters together and the doors allowing access were very small (3.4(b)-Shelter from the elements).
One particular outdoor pen which housed German Shepherds had large gaps in the wire used to form the fencing. The dogs were able to stick their entire heads, necks, and front legs through these holes in an attempt to get out as investigators walked by (3.6(a)(2)(x)-Primary enclosures).
Another row of outdoor pens housed a variety of small dog breeds, including several Pugs. These dogs were kept in large outdoor runs intended for large breed dogs. The dog doors in each pen which allowed the dogs access to an indoor kennel for shelter were too high up on the wall for the small dogs to reach easily. In some cases, a cement block was placed below the dog door for them to use in order to reach the door to come in and out on their own (3.4(b)-Shelter from the elements).
One outdoor pen contained at least five medium-sized dogs that appeared to be an older litter of Poodles. The pen was approximately 6 feet long and 2 feet wide and contained only one water dish and one self-feeder.
