Photographs and Videos of IOWA Puppy Mills

CAPS Videos

These videos (links below) are from investigations of IOWA kennels conducted by Companion Animal Protection Society .

1) Kennel in West Point, IA	2) Kennel in West Point, IA	3) Kennel in Salem, IA
4) Kennel in Salem, IA	5) Kennel in Salem, IA

Photographs

Click on the small thumbnail images on the right and left to view more pictures.

This is where these dogs live all day, every day of their entire life. They appear to be provided 6 inches of cage height, the bare minimum required per the Animal Welfare Act. Note also the heat lamps - a tremendous fire hazard in this dark, dusty out-building.

Their feet never touch the ground. These aren't pets. They're livestock.

This is a picture of a dog rescued from an Iowa puppy mill where 2 conditions are displayed; atrophy of the legs due to being housed in a cage in which the dog was unable to stand normally, and splaying of the feet caused by standing on a wire-bottomed cage, most likely for its entire life.

The small, longhaired breeds often fare the worst. Heavy matting due to lack of proper grooming often results in skin, ear and eye infections. Unfortunately the small, longhaired puppies are among the most sought after so these adult breeding dogs exist in puppy mills in large numbers.

Fires in kennels are sometimes attributed to faulty and slipshod wiring.

Multiple dogs housed together in a small space under conditions of stress often leads to fighting among cage mates. One kennel was cited for caging incompatible breeds together where 16 dogs died in one year due to fighting.

Many USDA inspection reports cite breeders for not providing adequate shelter from the winter cold or summer sun.

Stressed, abused, unhealthy adult dogs can still produce cute, cuddly puppies. Unfortunately many puppies contract bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases from their parents and environment. And those who purchase them don't realize the puppies have health issues until after they've fallen in love with the puppy. Most <i>'guarantees'</i> do little more than offer to replace a pup if the original puppy dies. Vet expenses incurred aren't typically reimbursed, unless one gets the media involved. Many have found that works wonders!

One of the most common problems plaguing adult dogs rescued from mills is dental and periodontal disease. One veterinarian shared a story of finding a dog with such bad tooth decay that the central core of an upper tooth was gone… leaving a canal which, when the dog ate or drank, emptied into the nasal passages causing the dog to sneeze uncontrollably.

We've tinkered with canine genetics to produce the kind of dogs we have today… dogs that desire human contact. Many mill dogs exhibit bizarre behavior, such as spinning uncontrollably, which many animal behaviorists claim is a sign of psychological impairment resulting from constant captivity.

Undernourished and neglected with little to no veterinary care. That is how these dogs live until they can no longer reproduce. Then, if they're lucky they may be surrendered to a shelter or rescue. But some USDA inspection reports reveal that some are shot and killed. A violation to the Animal Welfare Act and to most peoples' conscience.

The stench of dog urine and feces is prevalent at many kennels, as cited in USDA inspection reports. Some reports document that the stench <i>'burns the eyes and nose'</i> of the inspector. Lung and eye damage from long-term exposure to high levels of ammonia are often seen in dogs rescued from mills.

Animal Welfare Act standards provide the bare minimum of comfort measures. It is acceptable to provide nothing more than plastic coated wire as flooring. Over time the dogs exhibit splayed feet, a condition where the toes spread out in a feeble attempt to distribute body weight. Some states have passed laws requiring that dogs be allotted a solid surface along with the wire. Isn't that the least we can do??

Trapped inside wire cages for their entire life, these dogs don't know what the grass or the ground feels like under their feet.

What more is there to say. This just isn't right. No matter how you try to justify it.

It just isn't right.