Breeder: Theresa Martin
Kennel Name: Loveable Pets
Address: 10405 CR 2030
City, State, Zip: Clyde, TX 79510
USDA License: none found
Date and time of CAPS investigation: 10/21/20, 1704
Weather at time of investigation: 86°F and sunny
Approximate number of dogs and puppies observed at time of investigation: 30
Breeds: Yorkshire Terriers, Shih Tzu, Poodles, Pomeranians, Dachshunds, Shih-Poo, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Cocker Spaniels, Boston Terrier
Theresa Martin (Caucasian female, about 60 years old, 5’4”, 130 lbs., with long grey hair and glasses) identified herself by name to me, and told me her phone number is (325) 660-9527, which matches the phone number on her puppyfind.com ads. Her kennel was at the northeast side of her property, and visible from CR 2030. The kennel consisted of three buildings with outdoor dog runs attached to them, and a set of outdoor runs south of them.
Each building was a metal structure about 15 feet long and 10 feet wide, and each had a dog pen about 10’ wide and long located on the buildings’ north and south sides. The pens all had chain link walls and concrete floorings, with plastic water dishes in them. Doggie-doors allowed access inside the building, and Theresa told me that a Boston Terrier was nursing puppies in her building.
The northernmost pen had four dogs, including two Bichons that had mats covering their fur, as well as yellow and brown stains on their legs and undersides, indicating they were lying in manure and urine (3.1 Housing facilities, general (c) Surfaces (3) Cleaning). A blue plastic water dish, that appeared to be able to hold 10 gallons of water, was chewed and jagged along its top edge (3.1 Housing facilities, general (c) Surfaces (2) Maintenance and replacement of surfaces). A pen on the other side of the building had a wooden ramp for dogs to access the inside of the building. The wooden ramp was worn and appeared to be chewed on all sides, and was worn enough on its bottom side that several inches of wood were missing from one corner 3.1 Housing facilities, general (c) Surfaces (2) Maintenance and replacement of surfaces).
The southern dog runs were about 10 feet long and six feet wide. The pens had a metal roof covering about a third of each pen. The pens had chain link walls, concrete floorings and plastic water dishes. Inside each pen were two plastic igloo-style dog houses that had metal dishes. There were no windbreaks (3.4 Outdoor housing facilities (b) Shelter from the elements (3)). The southernmost run had three Dachshunds in it, the middle pen had two Cocker Spaniels, and the northernmost pen had a Shih Tzu, Shi-Poo, and Poodle.
I observed about 30 dogs at the kennel, though Theresa said she has 45 dogs in total.
Theresa told me about her breeding business, stating, “I make Yorkies, and I make Chihuahuas, and Chorkies, and Yorkies, and Dachshunds, and Chiweenies,” and other breeds (2.1 Requirements and application (a)(1)). She told me, “But I’m not a puppy farm.” She later said, “I got a good little crop.” She said she has bred dogs for 28 years, “since before the license come into effect,” and said, “I send them all over the country.” She claimed to be inspected by the AKC twice a year even though she now only has her dogs CKC registered. She mentioned a Texas breeding license costs $600 a year. She complained about having to charge tax on her puppies, and so she said that she includes tax into the price she has set for a puppy, saying, ‘And then they want you to tax the dog. They want the person to pay taxes on the dog they buy. So, you know what I do? I just put it in the price. And then back it back out. People look at you real funny when you tell them, “Well, you got to pay the taxes on this.” You know, those Cavaliers, they’re twenty-five hundred a pup.’ She then added, “I don’t report everything, either.” She mentioned she sells miniature Dachshund puppies for $900 each, and Pomeranian puppies for $800 each.
This breeder is an internet seller. She sells puppies on puppyfind.com through the name Loveable Pets.
The Animal Welfare Act sets general standards for humane care and treatment of animals who are sold sight unseen (internet sales). Breeders – those with at least five breeding females – who are selling online must have a federal license (2.1 (a) Requirements and application).
