Breeder: Raymond Lawson
Address: 40839 Dirt Road
City, State, Zip: Clifton Hill, MO 65244
USDA License: 43-A-5385
Date of CAPS Investigation: 11/13/19
Time of CAPS Investigation: 10:00
Weather at time of investigation: 27°F and sunny
Approximate number of dogs observed at time of investigation: 5
Breeds: Akita, Shiba Inu, English Bulldog, German Shepherd
I observed a variety of kennel structures located east of the Lawson residence. The structures were situated in a disorganized manner, and not all of them were occupied by dogs. The easternmost structure was a row of elevated outdoor cages which led into a building, though it was unclear if the cages had indoor portions or simply went into darkness under roofs extending over their outdoor potions. The outdoor, roofed cages were 12’ long x 3’ wide x 5’ tall, and were covered by a roof extending from a building that contained the inner areas. The walls were made with thick-gauge plastic wire, resembling hog paneling, over galvanized mesh. The plastic severely limited dogs’ views out the sides of their cages, reducing their vision to the eastern ends only, which were made of galvanized mesh. I observed a single English Bulldog and a single Akita or Shiba Inu briefly in several cages. I did not observe dogs in all cages, though this could have been due to the cold temperature.
I observed a virtually identical structure to the west, located closest to the residence. However, it had outdoor cages on its east and west sides that were connected to a building with solid walls on the east and west, indicating indoor cages for the enclosures existed.
Between the two kennel buildings were five outdoor pens, and a row of six elevated indoor/outdoor cages. Four of the outdoor pens were approximately 5’ wide x 8’ long, with dog houses and wire walls covering them on all sides and curving over their tops from east to west like domes. I observed a German Shepherd in one of the pens; no dogs were evident in the others. The fifth pen was about 5’ wide x 5’ long and had chain link walls around a doghouse. The elevated cages were each about 3’ long x 2’ wide x 2’ tall, with metal doggie-doors for accessing their indoor portions. Their outer walls facing south had doors that were all unlatched and slightly ajar, though I was not able to see dogs in any cages.
Evidence contradicting pet store claims:
- I investigated Breeder’s Pick Orlando Inc. in Orlando, FL, on 2/10/18. I saw paperwork for a Boston Terrier puppy listing its breeder as Raymond Lawson. A store employee told me that the store’s breeders do not keep dogs in cages, but rather “let them run.” This statement is contradicted by my observations of Lawson’s facility, where dogs were kept in elevated wire cages and an outdoor pen surrounded by wire walls in 27°F weather.
Breeder is connected to the following stores:
- Breeder’s Pick, FL (store visit 2/10/18)
- Lil Rascals, FL (CVI 2016)
- Breeder’s Pick, FL (CVI 2017)
- Gorgeous Puppies and Kittens, FL (CVI 2017)
- Nessy’s Puppies of Kendall, FL (store visit 2/13/18)
- Northern Aquarium & Pets Corp, Flushing, NY (CVI date unknown)
- Bow Wow Babies, Huntington, NY (CVI 2018)
- ZooRama (closed), Elmont, NY (CVI date unknown)
