Tag Archives: CAPS

In the ongoing fight against pet shops and puppy mills, 2024 presented many challenges. But thanks to the generous support of our donors, CAPS scored major victories at every level: local, state, and national. Our undercover investigators went to pet shops and hard-to-infiltrate puppy mills…Read more

Host Duncan Strauss Interviewed Howard about CAPS’  Internet Puppy Sales, Shelter Reform and Spay/Neuter Outreach Campaigns On April 3, 2024, CAPS President Deborah Howard appeared on Talking Animals on NPR affiliate WMNF in Tampa, Florida. Host Duncan Strauss interviewed Ms. Howard as a follow up…Read more

Host Duncan Strauss Interviewed Howard about CAPS' Pet Shop and Puppy Mill Work On January 31, 2024, CAPS President Deborah Howard appeared on Talking Animals on NPR affiliate WMNF in Tampa, Florida. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time to discuss CAPS' expanded mission. CAPS' mission now…Read more

In the ongoing, critical fight against pet shops and puppy mills, 2023 presented many new challenges. But thanks to the generous support of our donors, CAPS once again scored major victories at every level: local, state, and national. Our undercover investigators went to numerous pet…Read more

Help CAPS Gather Information to Work Toward a State Law Regulating Shelters As many of you already know, CAPS has been helping to save at-risk dogs from Kern County Animal Services in Bakersfield, California. Since mid-February of 2022, we have saved well over 200 dogs,…Read more

Ban on the Retail Sale of Dogs, Cats and Rabbits Takes Effect on 12-15-2024 On December 15, 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Puppy Pipeline Bill (S.1130/A.4283) to ban the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits. This legislation will take effect in 2024 and…Read more

National Nonprofit Develops Plan for Kern County Animal Services in Bakersfield, California Onyx, a sweet, 8-year-old black and white Pit Bull, could barely walk down the street. Beaten and starving, his face covered in dog bites, he had been adopted out for free by Kern…Read more

CAPS Pursued Every Route to try to Rescue the Animals and Send Them to a Forever Home at The Gentle Barn In late May, while investigating puppy mills, CAPS’ lead investigator discovered a property, owned by Virgil Vesterberg, in Miltonvale, Kansas (pop. 539) on which…Read more

Animals not Seized Despite Horrific Cruelty Uncovered by CAPS and Sheriff The Ottawa County Attorney’s Office charged Kevin Daniel Vesterberg with 10 counts of animal cruelty on June 4, 2021. At his preliminary hearing on June 15, the court granted Vesterberg a continuance until July…Read more

Dear CAPS Supporters: My name is Bentley. I am a 3-year-old Basset Hound who is CAPS' new canine spokesmodel. CAPS Spokesmodel Beatrice, whom CAPS rescued from a South Dakota puppy with her mother and grandmother in 2003, was quite…Read more