Breeder: Justin Knepp
Address: 10450 E 600 N
City, State, Zip: Loogootee, IN 47553
USDA License: unknown
Date of CAPS Investigation: 7/5/18
Time of CAPS Investigation: 12:27
Weather at time of investigation: 90°F and partly cloudy
Approximate number of dogs observed at time of investigation: four dogs
Breeds: Beagles, Weimaraners
Elevated outdoor wire cages with doggie-doors that appeared to lead to indoor parts of the enclosures were observed on the northern and eastern side of the northeastern structure on the property. The cages had wire walls and treated wire floorings, with rocks below them for feces collection.
Dogs observed
The northern cages were about four feet wide and long and about three feet tall. A Weimaraner had about a foot of space from the top of the dog’s head to the top of the enclosure and about enough space to take a single step forward before having to circle in the enclosure. I briefly saw another dog of unknown breed, about 80 pounds in weight, with short brown hair laying down in a northern cage.
Beagles were in the eastern enclosure, coming out in the heat briefly before appearing to walk through doggie-doors that were out of my view. The Beagles had enough space to take a couple steps in a direction before they had to circle around in their cages.
Conditions contradicting pet store claims
I visited American Dog Club in Bay Shore, NY on 5/17/18. An employee (Caucasian female, about 28 years old, 5’6”, 130 lbs, with long brown hair and dark-rimmed glasses, who said she normally works in the back of the store and not selling puppies) claimed most breeders’ dogs are not kept in cages at their kennels, and that many of the breeders had kennels that were nicer than the pet store. Dogs at Knepp’s kennel, who are living in wire cages with barely enough room to walk around in a circle, contradicts these claims.
