Ban Puppy Mills

By Lynn Thompson
Times Snohomish County Reporter

When Ruth Brumbaugh answered an ad in the Little Nickel Classifieds for a Yorkshire terrier, she envisioned a companion dog who would alert her to strangers.

What the elderly widow got was almost $1,200 in veterinary bills for a dog that was deaf, couldn't bark and within six weeks had to undergo a Caesarean section to deliver two stillborn puppies.

The bill of sale, signed by Snohomish kennel owner Renee Roske, said the 7-year-old female was spayed.

Now, officials are investigating Roske's role in what they allege is an illegal puppy mill that netted millions of dollars in the past decade. Last month, sheriff's deputies seized hundreds of sick and diseased dogs at homes in Snohomish and Skagit counties owned by Roske's parents and sister. Her parents and another couple have been charged with felony animal cruelty.

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The ASPCA’s best and brightest are currently on the ground in White County, TN, managing operations of a puppy mill raid that began Wednesday morning, February 11. Our forensic cruelty investigation team, led by Dr. Melinda Merck, ASPCA Senior Director of Veterinary Forensics, is evaluating dogs and collecting evidence for the future criminal prosecution of the puppy mill’s owners. Members of the ASPCA Disaster Response team and several of our legislative professionals are also assisting at the site.

More than 250 small-breed dogs—including Boston and Jack Russell terriers, Pomeranians, shih tzus, Chihuahuas, poodles, miniature pinschers and schnauzers—were recovered from multiple buildings on the raided property. According to Dr. Merck, the dogs are suffering from a general lack of basic care, such as little to no food or water, feces-encrusted pens and lack of proper ventilation in enclosed areas. Conditions such as matting, sores, mange, poor teeth and abscesses are widespread. Dogs in critical condition were examined immediately on the scene and in the Mobile Animal CSI Unit, and those needing emergency care were transferred to local veterinarians who have volunteered their services.

Local officials became concerned about this particular puppy mill last September after a visitor to the property—someone who had intended to purchase a dog—alerted the White County Humane Society to the poor conditions of the animals. The White County Sheriff’s Department began a formal investigation, ultimately enlisting the ASPCA’s support for this week’s raid. Other parties assisting in the rescue include American Humane Association, Nashville Humane Association, several local veterinarians and PetSmart? Charities, which provided the majority of sheltering supplies and an emergency relief vehicle.

Back in June, the ASPCA assisted in the raid of a puppy mill in Lyles, TN—the state’s largest raid to date. Thankfully, the Tennessee General Assembly is taking action to address the state’s puppy mill problem—last week, a consumer protection bill addressing large-scale commercial breeders was introduced in the Senate; introduction of a House companion bill is expected soon.

How can you help to ensure a safe future for dogs like these? When you donate today, you will help us in all of our life-saving efforts, including ones like the puppy mill raid in Tennessee.

To learn more about the White County raid, please visit our blog to see pictures of the puppies we rescued.

Everytime I visit their site to look at the rankings I am sickened to see the number of internet puppy mills who have high ranking sites. Reputable breeders don't need the internet to sell puppies. If you are selling online you do it for profit. I'm so disgusted by the sheer number of breeders on the Top100 that I always consider removing my site from the directory. My site is buried in the ranks anyway. I'm not motivated by money so I don't work to increase my rankings. Hell I don't even know HOW to do that. I am curious what other people think? Top100 has no moral standards or code of ethics, they exist to make money as well so I doubt they really give a shit what true animal lovers think about promoting puppy mills.