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issue > commercial breeders

 

Large-scale commercial dog and cat breeding is a business.

These businesses mass produce and sell puppies or kittens for profit. The fact that the "products" produced are living, sentient beings (as are the adult dogs and cats used for the breeding) makes this issue complicated and controversial.

An overview of some highlights of Minnesota commercial dog breeders is below; other data is found throughout this website. Our research focuses on the mass production of puppies, which is more prevalent than the mass production of kittens.

 

PROFILES: COMMERCIAL DOG BREEDERS

 

 

LICENSING

Dog breeders and brokers vary as to the type of license required based on size, number of animals produced, and who they sell the animals to, such as to consumers directly or wholesale (i.e., pet stores).

Some facilities require a federal license, administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA); some require a state license, administered by the Board of Animal Health (BAH); some require a local license or permit based on location; and some require no federal, state, or local license. Some Minnesota dog breeders have been operating for decades.

As of March 2023 per the USDA, there were 15 commercial dog breeders in Minnesota with a federal USDA Class A license (and 1 cat breeder); and 5 brokers (Class B federal license). Total state licenses for dog and cat breeding facilities were 122 as of fiscal year 2021, per MN Board of Animal Health (BAH). State licensing did not start until 2014. (Licensing definitions vary; scroll below for further descriptions.)

These federal and state licensed facilities only represent breeders who meet the definition of "commercial dog breeder." There are hundreds, if not thousands, of other smaller breeders located and operating throughout Minnesota — some are considered responsible in the care of their animals; others are not. For instance, in the 2016 BAH annual report, the agency reported that they had also "identified 458 other dog or cat breeders in the state who do not need a commercial breeder license because they have fewer than 10 animals or produce less than six litters of puppies or kittens per year." This data was not reported in prior or subsequent BAH annual reports.

Licensing does not suggest that the breeder or broker is qualified or professional in the care and welfare of animals; in fact, a federal or state license may falsely give a "stamp of approval" for facilities that mass produce puppies, often favoring the livelihood of the business rather than the welfare of the animals.

 

HIGHLIGHTS - OF INTEREST

• A.J.'s Angels, Morrison County

A.J.'s Angels is the largest commercial dog breeding facility in Minnesota. This facility is USDA-licensed (#41-A-0484) and state-licensed, and has a local permit (granted years ago for "the property.") In 2022, USDA inspection reports stated that this breeder had 885 dogs and puppies in their kennel. Per the October 2021 USDA inspection report, A.J.'s Angels had a total of 1,172 dogs and puppies. This facility was granted a federal license in March 2016 under the owner Angie McDuffee and with a new name: A.J.'s Angels.

This kennel was operating at this same location for decades under the name Clearwater Kennel. At one time, Clearwater Kennel had inventory counts as high as 1,700+ dogs and puppies. The owner of Clearwater Kennel was Wanda Kretzman, who is the mother-in-law of Angie McDuffee. The kennel cancelled its federal license in March 2016 and transferred the facility to Angie McDuffee after Kretzman had faced multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act; except for a small civil penalty, the USDA took no action in regard to the violations once the kennel was transferred. Read more: Clearwater Kennel.

 

• Valley View Kennel, Meeker County

Valley View Kennel, owned and operated by Paul and Sheila Haag, was (and may still be) the second largest commercial dog breeding facility in Minnesota with over 1,038 dogs and puppies as recorded on the October 2018 USDA inspection report. In August 2019, Paul Haag cancelled his federal license (#41-A-0281). This dog breeder still has a state license. The Haags also own and operate Amazen' Farmyard in Meeker County, which is a petting zoo and where puppies are sold. The Amazen' Farmyard website advertises puppies for sale and links to a Valley View Puppies website.

How can a dog breeder still operate without a federal license? USDA licensing requirements under the Animal Welfare Act (federal law) state that "anyone selling pets sight unseen at retail must be licensed." This includes facilities that sell their puppies wholesale (i.e., to pet stores or other breeders) or who sell to consumers online, sight unseen (i.e., click and ship). If a breeder only sells to consumers in person so the person can see and touch the animal, they do not require a federal license. In past years, Valley View Kennels sold to pet stores in Minnesota, such as to Four Paws and A Tail in Blaine, and other pet stores nationwide, including Washington, North Dakota, North Carolina, Iowa, and other states. The breeder cancelled his federal license in 2019 but maintained his state license, indicating that this breeding facility is selling all puppies directly to consumers where consumers have access to the animal prior to purchase.

NOTE: Other dog breeders who were formerly licensed by the USDA (federal government), have also cancelled their federal license and yet still operate in Minnesota. Example: Possehl Enterprises in Hartland, Minnesota (Freeborn County) had first obtained a federal USDA breeder license in 1996; final cancellation of its federal license was in 2012. Possehl Enterprises has a Minnesota state license; except for number of licensees, no data is provided to the public by the Board of Animal Health about licensed commercial dog or cat breeders.

 

• Country Pride Kennel, Cass County

Country Pride Kennel is a dog breeding facility owned by Deborah Rowell and operating in Cass County. This breeder was licensed by the USDA but cancelled her federal license in 2012. Due to multiple complaints submitted by Animal Folks, an investigation of this breeder was conducted by local law enforcement resulting in the seizure of all her dogs (over 100) at the facility. Rowell was convicted of animal cruelty in 2013. However, in 2015, the MN Board of Animal Health (BAH) granted this breeder a state license, in violation of the breeder law — showing inept managerial and procedural policies by the BAH. This breeder continues to breed and sell dogs to the public. This is another example illustrating why the Companion Animal Board (CAB) bill must be passed, and the enforcement of the breeder law must be transferred from the BAH to the CAB. Read more about the Rowell case.

 

• Dayna Bell, Dakota County

One of the most "successful" animal cruelty cases against a dog breeder is State of Minnesota v. Dayna Bell. For years, Bell was licensed by the USDA; however, she was convicted of 13 counts of felony animal cruelty per Minnesota law. Of interest: Bell appealed this verdict, arguing that her "breeding adult dogs" were livestock and not pet/companion animals. (In Minnesota, a felony penalty only applies to animals that meet the definition of pet and companion animal, service animals, and animals used in fighting.) Bell appealed the case to the Court of Appeals, who affirmed the jury's decision — agreeing that all dogs and puppies at the kennel met the definition of pets/companion animals. Bell also filed a petition with the MN Supreme Court who denied hearing the case. This case is critical to any discussion of care and welfare of adult breeding dogs in a breeding facility. Read more at Dayna Bell case.

 

• Fulton Enterprises, Freeborn County

Fulton Enterprises, owned by Patrick and Tammy Fulton, is one of the largest dog brokers in Minnesota, located in the city of Alden. It appears Fulton does not breed dogs (as some other brokers do) but instead focuses on buying puppies from other breeders and re-selling and shipping these puppies to pet stores nationwide. With no access to sales data, it is difficult to determine the volume of puppies flipped by this broker. Past export certificates show sales to multiple states, including Michigan, Connecticut, New York, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, and other states.

Fulton Enterprises first obtained a federal dog broker license in 1995 and cancelled this license in 1999. Another facility had been operating in the same location for years under the name Toenges Enterprises, who had obtained their license in 1960 (per USDA) and cancelled it in January 2010. Fulton Enterprises obtained a new federal license in March 2010 (#41-B-0262).

 

• Menning Enterprises, Pipestone County

Menning Enterprises is also one of the largest USDA-licensed brokers in Minnesota. This kennel has been operating for decades. Their current federal license is #41-B-0282. IN May 2023, this facility was reported to have 665 dogs and puppies *393 adult dogs and 272 puppies). In February 2021, the facility had an inventory count of 616 dogs (405 adult dogs and 210 puppies). In 2016, this facility was reported to have 897 dogs and puppies. For "inventory counts" from prior years, go to Broker Profiles.

Menning Enterprises is known for contracting with other local breeders in the area to buy and re-sell their puppies to pet stores in Minnesota and nationwide. Years ago, one Wisconsin pet store (Angel's Pet World) had purchased puppies from this breeder/broker; too often, the puppies were sick, costing the pet store owner thousands of dollars to medically treat the animals. Angel's Pet World severed all ties with this dog breeder and switched to become a humane pet store - no longer buying from puppy mills but instead working with animal rescue groups.

 

• Winona County commercial dog breeders

Winona County has the highest concentration of commercial dog breeders in Minnesota, with seven USDA-licensed facilities and 1 USDA-licensed broker. Other non-USDA-licensed facilities exist in this area. Animal Folks is working with Winona County residents to have a moratorium enacted in the county to study the dog breeding industry and compliance measures in Winona County. We are also working to ban future permitting of any more commercial dog breeding facilities in Winona County. Learn more at: speakupwinonacounty.org

 

• Lapse in USDA inspection reports

One area of concern is that several USDA-licensed facilities have not been inspected since 2019, even though they have active licenses. Animal Folks was told by a USDA supervisor that the agency is a bit behind due to COVID, and that a new licensing rule has slowed some processes down temporarily.

• Justin Sawyer/Foothill Farms, Cass County: Last inspected on 08/13/2019. At that time, the facility had 159 adult dogs and 82 puppies.

• Sherrye Swenson, Cass County: Last inspected on 06/11/2019. At that time, the facility had 45 adult dogs and 23 puppies.

• Jim Christian, Murray County. Last inspected on 12/06/2019. At that time, the facility had 31 adult dogs and 26 puppies.

• Bluewater Creek, Lyle Renner, Becker County: Last inspected on 11/05/2019.

• Michelle Sonnenberg/Sonnenberg Farms, Becker County. Last inspected on 09/10/2019.

• Dogs breeders, Becker County

Dog breeding facilities are located throughout the state of Minnesota. Some of these breeding facilities have been operating for decades. Two large commercial breeders, in particular, that have been mass producing puppies for many years are located in Becker County: Michelle Sonnenberg (photo below) and Lyle Renner (Bluewater Creek Kennel). Per 2019 USDA inspection reports, Sonnenberg was reported to have 152 adult dogs and 23 puppies. Renner was reported to have 115 adult dogs and 23 puppies.

 

• Revocation of license

In the past years, the USDA has revoked 5 breeder licenses. Some of these revocations happened after animal cruelty charges were filed by the community. Breeder names are below. Descriptions and documentation for some of these breeders are provided on this page (scroll below).

1. Kathy Bauck, federal license revoked in 2010

2. Dayna Bell, federal license revoked in 2013

3. Kenneth Schroeder, federal license revoked in 2014

4. Deloris and Dick Richards, federal license revoked in 2015

5. Ted Johnson, federal license revoked in 2015

NOTE: Years ago, Animal Folks filed a complaint against Kenneth Schroeder with the Board of Animal Health, who had licensed this facility under the kennel law (Schroeder bred and sold dogs to institutions primarily for medical experimentation); the MN Board of Animal Health took no action with his state license. The USDA proceeded with revocation.

There is no information about any enforcement actions taken by the Minnesota Board Animal Health in regard to revocation of state licenses. In its annual reports, the BAH lists a high-level summary of total correction orders, but offers no details as to type of violations or type of enforcement actions. The BAH's data retention policy for all data pertaining to commercial dog breeders under the breeder law is two years.

 

• LICENSING: Minnesota Board of Animal Health

Some commerical dog and cat breeders are required to be licensed and inspected by the State of Minnesota, as defined by the breeder law: Minn. Stat. sec. 347.57-.65. This program is administered by the MN Board of Animal Health (BAH), which is governed by livestock producers.

The state licensing requirements differ from federal licensing requirements. Under MN state law, a commercial breeder is defined as:

"a person who possesses or has an ownership interest in animals and is engaged in the business of breeding animals for sale or for exchange in return for consideration, and who possesses ten or more adult intact animals and whose animals produce more than five total litters of puppies or kittens per year."

The fee for licensure is $10 per adult intact animal (minimum of $100) up to a maximum of $250; with a one-time registration fee of $50. This means a kennel with over 700 intact dogs pays the same fee as one with 10 adult dogs. When the breeder bill was originally lobbied, a sliding scale was proposed to more accurately reflect kennel size and inspection costs but the BAH lobbied against a higher fee.

The following state licenses have been granted in the past years, as published in the BAH annual reports:

2014 - zero; law enacted

2015 - 37 (mandatory licensing began on July 1, 2015)

2016 - 115

2017 - 121

2018 - 125

2019 - 124

2020 - 119

2021 - 122

2024 - 107 (107 CDCB licensed; 8 new CDCB licensed)

The list of licensees can be found at: Licensed Minnesota Dog or Cat Breeders

The link above lists a count of 148 licenses as of 02-02-24. In April 22, the link had listed 160 licensees. Both differ from the counts in the BAH's annual report as noted above; the BAH has not explained why there is a difference per the online list and annual report.

The BAH does not disclose locations, breeder names, or any details about the licensees, including inspection reports, enforcement actions (specific violations), annual reports, inventory counts, or other matters pertaining to the breeder law. When the breeder bill was being lobbied years ago, the BAH and the Pet Breeders Association lobbied to have all data classified as private or nonpublic — not available for review by the public. This data privacy was included in the law (see subdivision 6b of Minn. Stat. sec. 13.643). As noted in the law (subd. 6c), however, the BAH can still provide data to any person or the public per language below. The BAH has chosen not to provide this data, as illustrated by denials of data requests filed by multiple individuals and organizations.

"(c) The Board of Animal Health may disclose data collected under paragraph (a) or (b) to any person, agency, or to the public if the board determines that the access will aid in the law enforcement process or the protection of public or animal health or safety."

Key concerns about the Board of Animal Health and its enforcement of the breeder law are a lack of transparency (disclosure of data), lack of oversight (BAH reports to no state department), lack of necessary expertise and skills for canine and feline mental and physical well-being (agricultural advisors as inspectors; livestock veterinarians establish process), and a philosophy of regulatory law that favors business (minimal enforcement action), rather than animal welfare, which influences how the breeder law is interpreted and enforced. This philosophy is similar to the USDA guiding principles, as reflected in audits: animal production and "the livelihood of the business" versus prioritizing the welfare of each animal. As stated in the BAH's annual reports:

The Board of Animal Health "strives to resolve violations with minimal enforcement action and within reasonable time limits set by the Board, minimize economic losses for producers and business to preserve their livelihood, and effectively utilize state resources to conserve time and state funds."

The above explains, in part, why the Companion Animal Board is needed, which, when passed, will enforce the dog and cat breeder law, among other duties.

The primary mission of the Board of Animal Health is the prevention and control of dangerous animal disease. Companion animal issues will never be the BAH's priority — nor should it be. Establishment of the Companion Animal Board will free up the BAH to more effectively fulfill its duty of animal disease control.

 

BREEDER PROFILES: Examples

Minnesota is home to some of the largest puppy mills in the United States.

Some of these facilities violated the Animal Welfare Act, as well as Minnesota animal cruelty laws. Animal Folks has profiled multiple kennels below; additional information will be provided for Johnson, Richards, and Schroeder - check back.

 

Wanda Kretzman, "Clearwater Kennels"

Deborah Rowell, "Country Pride Kennels"

Revoked USDA licenses for dog breeding:

Kathy Bauck, "Puppys on Wheels"

Dayna Bell, "Bell Kennels"

Ted Johnson

Deloris and Dick Richards

Kenneth Schroeder

Photo from Schroeder breeding facility; USDA license revoked in 2014.

 

RESPONSIBLE BREEDING

Responsible dog and cat breeding facilities do not tolerate animal suffering.

Their policies include meeting the person or family who will care for the animal, and placing each animal with a spay and neuter contract. They understand the enormous amount of time and money it takes to properly care for each animal.

If you are a breeder who has seen the harm inflicted by negligent breeders on animals, speak up. If you are a consumer, never buy from a breeder that does not meet the highest standards for the care of treatment of the adult animals or litters.

Read more about breeder ethics: Responsible breeders

 

 
 

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