Breeder: Chrissie Yoder
Address: 4646 Hwy Y
City, State, Zip: Clark, MO 65243
USDA License: 43-A-6039
Date of CAPS Investigation: 11/10/19
Time of CAPS Investigation: 09:33
Weather at time of investigation: 56°F and sunny
Approximate number of dogs observed at time of investigation: 6 (not all dogs were observed, as the view to
the dogs was partially blocked by fences around the kennels)
Breeds: Beagle, Poodle
I observed two kennel areas on the west end of the property. One was a building with elevated indoor/outdoor wire cages on the building’s east side. The outdoor portions were about 6’ long x 3’ wide, with six total. I could hear dogs going through doggie-doors to enter the indoor portions of the enclosures, but my view was limited to looking over and through the slats of a wooden fence set about 2’ in front of the cages and as high as their side walls. Dogs’ views were limited to the fence and the sky above them. The north and south sides of the cage row had what appeared to be white plastic paneling across the cages, blocking the view into and out of the cages. The cages had no roofs over them, and I observed two Poodles jumping up and looking east over the wooden fence in front of them. I observed as one poodle climbed a cage wall and stood balanced on it for several seconds before falling back down into its cage (3.1 – Housing facilities, general. (a) Structure; construction. Housing facilities for dogs must be designed and constructed so that they are structurally sound. They must be kept in good repair, and they must protect the animals from injury, contain the animals securely, and restrict other animals from entering.)
The second kennel area was about 150 feet east of the other kennel building, and down a hill that sloped away from all other structures on the property. The area was about 40’ long x 30’ wide, with a solid metal wall about 5’ high making a rectangle around it and limiting dogs’ views out of the kennel area. The wall, combined with a tree growing in the enclosed area, limited my ability to view the inside of the dog enclosures. I observed walls of galvanized mesh wiring on two sides of the area, about 6’ from the metal walls, as well as running perpendicular to them at two points inside. There were no ceilings on the pens. The only thing resembling a dog house was what appeared to be a wooden or plastic structure in the northwest corner of the area that was heavily blocked from view. The placement of the kennel area seems counterintuitive to reducing rain run-off, and the area is placed downhill from a retention pond between it and the other kennel structure described above. It seems evident that rain causing an overflow from the retention pond would cause it to run into the downhill kennel area. On the other hand, if the metal wall reduces water from flowing into it, it would also reduce water flowing out of it. (3.1 – Housing facilities, general. (a) Structure; construction. Housing facilities for dogs must be designed and constructed so that they are structurally sound. They must be kept in good repair, and they must protect the animals from injury.)
Evidence contradicting pet store claims:
I investigated A to Z Pet Shop in Orange, CT on 4/22/19, where I saw Chrissie Yoder’s name, address, and USDA number on paperwork posted on a puppy’s enclosure. An employee said that the store’s breeders’ puppies interact with farm animals and children, and that “they run around.” Dogs in wire cages and runs with their view to their surroundings blocked by solid walls contradicts the employee’s claim.
Breeder is connected to the following stores:
- A to Z Pet Shop, CT (store investigation conducted by CAPS on 4/22/19)
