World Kennel USA Exposed

May 2, 2008 : 7:50 PM

Following a CBS news exposé, CA breeders bring dogs to shelter

World Kennel USA’s website, which has been taken down as of yesterday, claimed its puppies are “home raised.” Adorable puppies abounded both on the site and in the kennel’s puppy boutique in Koreatown. But what the owners call “home raised” was discovered to be a typical commercial kennel in—over 400 dogs living in wire cages or dog runs.

Based on initial investigations by Last Chance for Animals, CBS’ David Goldstein visited both the store and the kennel, located in Palmdale, CA. Last Chance had evidence that World Kennel USA was one of several breeders to supply Posh Puppy, the store they’ve been investigating since December last year. What Goldstein and his news crew found was anything but a few home-raised puppies. In fact, the conditions were so bad, the news station reported the kennel to Lancaster County. The county had inspected the kennel last October and gave it an “A” rating after the breeders corrected violations such as more than 24 hours of feces accumulation in cages, and contaminated water.

This time, the county gave the kennel a failing rating and cited World Kennel USA for having 402 dogs in cages on the property. The breeders are only allowed to have 100 dogs in the kennel. Yesterday evening after receiving the news from the county, the breeders began bringing dogs—all small breeds, including Yorkshire Terriers and Maltese, to the Lancaster County shelter and surrendering them there. So far, the breeders have dropped off more than 60 dogs at the shelter.

To watch the CBS investigation online, including footage of World Kennel USA, click here.

For news coverage of the breeders dropping off dogs at the shelter, click here.

What you can do:
The Lancaster County shelter is beyond full, especially now that they have received over 60 dogs in twenty-four hours. There is a desperate need for dogs already at the shelter to find placement in loving homes or with rescue groups. There are large and small dogs, purebreds and mixes (natural “designer” dogs!), and puppies waiting at the shelter. Adoption fee is $37.00, and all dogs are spayed or neutered before leaving the shelter.
To search all the dogs waiting at county shelters, visit their website: http://animalcare.lacounty.gov/AdoptSearch.asp

These dogs, and many more are available at the Lancaster County shelter:

Female Lhasa Apso: To learn more about her, click here.

Female Australian Shepherd mix: To learn more about her, click here.

Male Terrier mix: To learn more about him, click here.

Male Siberian Husky: To learn more about him, click here.

By Kelli Ohrtman: Best Friends Animal Society

Comments

May 4, 2008 at 1:42 AM
posted by: flyjengirl

Maybe it is about time Department of Agriculture needs to be put on investigation.

May 3, 2008 at 3:41 PM
posted by: ruthy92

This is why the puppy mill and breeder industry feel they have "friends" in the Department of Agriculture, and why they want the Department of Agriculture to regulate them.

They know that all too often the Department of Agriculture employees and inspectors (paid on OUR taxpayer dollar!) will let them get away with murder.

That inspector in Oct knew full well this breeder was in violation and also over limit. But they colluded with them so this operation could keep running, abusing dogs AND cheating on taxes because when they are only supposed to have 100, but instead have 400, they are not reporting all that income and paying taxes!

Too many Department of Agriculture authorities and employees are friends with the puppy mill breeders AND the puppy mill lobbyists. Look at some quotes from Department of Agriculture staff in your state, and you will hear the propaganda from the mill breeders.

Some of these Department of Agriculture people even harass rescues and shelters, on behalf of their breeder friends who perceive adoptions as "competition" to puppy mill & breeder dog sales!

The Department of Agriculture perceives its role as working FOR the puppy mill industry and breeder industry, and that is true on both a federal AND state level.

It is time for changes in the Department of Agriculture and close monitoring.