Breeder: Gonnella, Jeffrey Boston and Gail
Address: 39 Swinging Bridges Rd.
City, State Zip: Brumley, MO 65017
Year: 2006
USDA License: 43-A-4115
Date of CAPS Investigation: 2006-06-12
Time of CAPS Investigation: 16:43
Breeds: Chihuahuas, Bichon Frises, Maltese, Brussels Griffons, Papillons
Two trailers on the property had elevated indoor/outdoor pens built on to them to serve as to dog kennels. Each cage was about two feet wide, two feet long, and and two feet high. They had treated wire floorings and untreated, rusting wire walls (3.1(c)(1)(i)-Surfaces). A metal doggie-door allowed access between the indoor and outdoor parts of each pen. There were two to five dogs per cage and many of the dogs were about 12 to 20 inches long from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail (3.6(c)(1)(i)-Primary enclosures).
Several days’ accumulation of feces was plastic sheeting several feet below the indoor and outdoor cage floorings (3.11(a)-Cleaning of primary enclosures). The sheeting was also covered in fecal stains and flies (3.11(d)-Pest control).
First trailer
One trailer had cages on three of its sides. One of the two shorter sides had five cages: three indoor/outdoor enclosures below two whelping cages. The two longer sides of the trailer each had six indoor/outdoor enclosures with three whelping cages above them. The whelping cages were two feet wide, four feet long, and two feet high, and each contained a nursing mother and puppies.
The plastic back walls and metal doggie-doors of the pens were covered in a dirty build-up (3.1(c)(3)-Surfaces).
Food and water dishes on the indoor floorings were not placed to minimize contamination by excreta (3.9(b)-Feeding).
A very strong ammonia odor was present inside the trailer (3.2(b)-Ventilation).
The untreated, rusty wire walls were flimsy and in disrepair. The corners of the wire door on two cages could easily be pushed away from the cage wall (3.1(a)-Structure; construction).
One of these cages housed three Shih Tzu and another housed five Bichons. Two bottom cages in a corner furthest from the door of this trailer were so dark that the dogs inside – three Papillions pressing themselves against the indoor cage doors – could barely be seen (3.2(c)-Lighting).
One cage contained a single male Shih Tzu that was severely emaciated; his stomach was sucked in and ribs were clearly visible beneath his shaved coat (2.40-Vet care).
Two plastic bags of trash were hanging in front of one cage opposite the trailer doorway. In front of the doorway and inside the trailer was a three-foot stack of supplies and carpet mats (3.1(b)-Condition and site).
Second trailer
The other trailer had six breeder cages along one shorter wall: three stacked above the other three. Two rows each of three whelping cages, one row above the other, were placed against the wall opposite the trailer doorway. Two rows each of seven whelping and breeder cages, one row above the other, were against the opposite wall. Many of the breeder cages housed three to five dogs measuring 12 to 20 inches from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail (3.6(c)(1)(i)-Primary enclosures).
Food and water dishes on the indoor cage floorings were not placed in a manner that would minimize contamination by excreta (3.9(b)-Feeding).
Dirty build-up covered the plastic doggie-door walls and the metal doggie-doors in each cage (3.1(c)(3)-Cleaning).
Spare food dishes were stored on top of the cages. Two tables at the wall of the trailer furthest from the doorway stored cleaning and medicinal supplies. Near the tables were a vacuum cleaner, chair, and grooming supplies. Shaved fur covered the floor (3.1(b)-Condition and site).
Similar to the first kennel building, a strong ammonia odor was present in the second trailer (3.2(b)-Ventilation).
