Latest news with #USDA-licensed
Axios
12-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Iowa breeders on list of problem puppy mills
A dozen Iowa dog breeders are in the most recent Humane Society "Horrible Hundred" report on problem puppy mills. The big picture: Although Iowa has recently led the nation in puppy mill violations, lawmakers have improved state regulations over the last several years, says Mindi Callison, founder of Bailing Out Benji, a local nonprofit that works to end puppy mills. A big problem, however, is a federal loophole that allows dog breeders to skirt state requirements, Callison says. Context: Puppy mills are commercial breeding facilities known for trying to quickly churn out dogs, sometimes in poor conditions. Businesses included on the Horrible Hundred list were accused of such violations as cramped conditions and injured and sickly dogs that did not receive vet care. State of play: The 2025 Horrible Hundred report lists 12 Iowa breeders. For comparison, Kansas had four and Minnesota had one. Yes, but: In Iowa, requirements for licensing breeders are stricter than in some other states, potentially making violations seem more severe, Callison says. Iowa requires breeders to obtain a state license if they have four or more breeding females. Indiana requires a license only if a breeder has 20 females, Callison says. Texas, which had only seven breeders in the 2025 report, previously required breeders to have a license if they had 11 females, but that changed to five in 2024. The state could see more violations because more Iowa breeders need licenses. State of play: Iowa has a USDA loophole that is causing problems, Callison says. In 2020, Iowa set new rules outlining minimum standards of care for state-licensed breeders. But USDA-licensed breeders are exempt, per Iowa Capital Dispatch (ICD). Federally licensed breeders typically sell animals over state lines or work with third-party companies to sell their dogs, such as a pet store. There are "stark" differences between Iowa and USDA rules, per ICD. For example, Iowa requires breeders to remove dogs from their cages at least twice in a 24-hour period for exercise. The USDA does not. Zoom in: Steve Kruse, a USDA-licensed dog breeder in West Point, this year made the Horrible Hundred list for the eighth time, according to the 2025 report. Federal inspectors have cited Kruse for numerous violations, and the USDA suspended his license for 21 days in 2015 after the agency said he threw a bag containing two dead puppies at an inspector, according to ICD. An animal rights group filed a lawsuit against the USDA last year alleging the agency violated the Animal Welfare Act by automatically renewing Kruse's license, despite repeated offenses, per ICD. The USDA filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit in February. What's next: State bills that would have closed the USDA loophole died in the last legislative session.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pet stores selling commercially raised puppies cause a world of hurt
USDA-licensed breeders can legally confine breeding dogs to stacked, wire cages only six inches larger than their bodies for their entire lives. Photo by Getty Images. An innocent look. A wag of a tail. It's kind of hard to resist the tug on your heart to buy the dog you see in a pet store window. The problem is that buying a pet shop puppy amounts to a direct investment in the cruel puppy mill industry, which treats parent dogs as breeding machines and puppies as mere products. Sad to say, public records show that the puppy mill-to-pet store pipeline is thriving in Minnesota. We've connected puppy stores in the state to puppy mill facilities cited by the United States Department of Agriculture or a state agency for numerous violations of animal welfare laws. There are likely more Minnesota puppy mills cited for violations and involved in-state sales to pet shops, but there are limits to what we can determine since Minnesota state inspection reports are not made public. Even so, the simple fact that pet shops are sourcing dogs from puppy mills with violations remains disturbing, not least because the bar for legal compliance is so incredibly low. USDA-licensed breeders can legally confine breeding dogs to stacked, wire cages only six inches larger than their bodies for their entire lives. They can repeatedly and excessively breed dogs without limits, and they can kill dogs they no longer want. In a disturbing appraisal of federal inspection activities, a new internal audit by the USDA's Inspector General documented major deficiencies in enforcement. The report stated that the pattern of continued noncompliance with Animal Welfare Act requirements by licensed dog breeders 'poses a threat to the well-being and safety of their dogs, leaving them vulnerable to neglect, mistreatment and suffering.' Here in Minnesota, the puppy mill issue got so bad in Winona County that the County Commission voted to pursue a permanent ban on new breeders. Luckily, the solution to the puppy store problem is simple. There is a bill in the Legislature, SF 1943/HF 2627, that would phase out the sale of puppies in pet shops, banning any new stores from selling puppies and holding existing stores accountable for their sourcing of animals. This legislation tackles puppy mill cruelty, but breeding conditions are just the first stop when it comes to welfare issues in the dismal puppy mill-to-pet shop pipeline. It gets worse. Weeks-old puppies endure grueling and often filthy transports, and they are so likely to be sick they are often pumped with antibiotics, which has led to antibiotic-resistant infections that have spread to humans. Far too often, too, families end up with sick puppies, steep veterinary bills and heartbreak. They can also fall victim to predatory lending schemes when they take out a loan to pay the exorbitant price that puppy stores charge — often paying thousands of dollars and high interest rates. In fact, several customers have told the Minnesota Senate their story about buying sick dogs from a local puppy store, with some accounts that end with the death of their cherished pets. In-store conditions are troubling too. Humane World for Animals — formally called the Humane Society of the United States — has conducted undercover puppy store investigations across the nation and nearly each time we have uncovered awful in-store conditions, sick puppies and connections to puppy mills. Our most recent investigation, released in January 2025, detailed a heartbreaking scene in a Nevada store: In the store's back room, a tiny brown-and-white Havanese puppy was vomiting and lethargic — and left entirely alone to suffer. Staff members failed to take the puppy to a veterinarian, and she later died. This is a common story at pet shops around the country — ailing puppies denied veterinary care and even a measure of human kindness. The massive animal welfare and consumer protection problems posed by puppy stores have led eight states and nearly 500 localities, including nine in Minnesota, to ban the sale of puppies in pet shops. Our state lawmakers should do the same. This is a commonsense policy because no Minnesotan needs a pet shop to find the pet of their choice. Shelters, rescues and responsible breeders who go to great lengths to care for their dogs and only sell puppies directly to consumers will remain great options for pet acquisition. We are lucky to have a wide network of responsible breeders in the region, including 37 breeders who refuse to sell their puppies to pet stores, and have signed a letter acknowledging that only a puppy mill would do so. Further, no pet shop needs to sell puppies to be profitable. According to the American Pet Products Association, Americans spent $147 billion on their pets in 2023, with food, treats and product spending dominating. Pet spending is predicted to have 'solid year-over-year growth through 2030.' Similarly, Morgan Stanley reported the pet industry is 'poised to nearly triple to $275 billion by 2030 thanks to a surge in new owners, favorable demographics and increased per-pet spending.' Any puppy store owner would be smart to transition away from the sale of puppies and towards a pet products and services model. Many have, including Angel's Pet World in Hudson, Wisconsin, whose owner stated in her testimony to the Minnesota Senate, 'some people ask me how that decision impacted my sales… within 2 years, our customer base grew about 70%.' SF1943/HF2627, led by Sens. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis and Jim Abeler, R-Anoak, and Reps. Matt Norris, Blaine, and Elliott Engen, R-White Bear Township, is a long overdue, bipartisan animal welfare and consumer protection measure that promises to bring genuine improvements in this area of concern. This issue is a matter of great public import and goes to the very heart of our duties of mercy and kindness toward animals.
Associated Press
30-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
UW-Stout Launches Online Cannabis Education Offerings with New, 9-Week Programs
'We are dedicated to preparing professionals for emerging workforce demands by offering relevant, accessible, and high-quality education.'— Beth Hein, Exec. Dir. of Educational Pathways and Outreach, UW-Stout MENOMONIE, WI, UNITED STATES, April 30, 2025 / / -- University of Wisconsin-Stout's Continuing Education & Conferences is excited to announce a new collaboration with Green Flower, a nationally recognized leader in cannabis workforce education. This partnership brings specialized, fully online certificate programs in cannabis cultivation, extraction, product development, and retail designed to equip professionals with knowledge and skills relevant to this highly-regulated and rapidly-evolving industry. Launching April 30, these new certificate offerings will provide learners with an opportunity to gain industry-specific expertise in compliance, operations, product development, and business practices—knowledge areas increasingly valued across various sectors, including Wisconsin's USDA-licensed legal hemp industry. 'We are dedicated to preparing professionals for emerging workforce demands by offering relevant, accessible, and high-quality education,' said Beth Hein, Executive Director of Educational Pathways and Outreach at UW-Stout. 'These certificates will provide individuals with foundational knowledge and industry insights necessary to navigate complex regulatory environments and contribute to a growing industry.' Each nine-week, fully online certificate program allows learners to study at their own pace, making it ideal for professionals looking to enhance their credentials. Courses are taught by industry experts and are designed to help students build applicable skills for career advancement. 'Green Flower is thrilled to partner with University of Wisconsin-Stout, renowned for their commitment to providing career-focused industry experiences, to offer our three cannabis workforce training programs designed to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive,' said Max Simon, CEO and Co-Founder of Green Flower. 'These programs are uniquely tailored to meet the demands of a highly regulated industry in a clear, thorough, and accessible manner for students in western Wisconsin and beyond.' Green Flower, a leader in cannabis education since 2014, collaborates with more than 60 universities and colleges nationwide to develop training programs that meet the needs of employers and professionals in regulated industries. For more information or to register, visit or contact [email protected]. Save $150 for a limited time using the code UWSTOUTFIRST at checkout. ### About UW Stout Continuing Education & Conferences at UW-Stout As part of Educational Pathways and Outreach, UW-Stout's Continuing Education & Conferences provides adult learners with flexible, high-quality education designed to enrich both their personal and professional lives. Our offerings span key areas such as leadership, artificial intelligence, and communications. In collaboration with Green Flower, we provide specialized courses and certifications to help you advance your career and achieve your goals. About Green Flower Founded in 2014, Green Flower is the industry leader in cannabis education, empowering thousands of consumers, regulators, and professionals with the knowledge they need to succeed in the emerging cannabis industry today. Green Flower's content and technology platform powers the cannabis programs of top universities and colleges across the country, provides customized learning and compliance solutions for cannabis businesses of all sizes, and equips individuals with the skills and credentials necessary to make an impact in the modern cannabis industry. Javan Pham UW-Stout Continuing Education & Conferences +1 715-232-2698 [email protected] Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Elanco Enters Agreement with Medgene to Commercialize Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Vaccine in Dairy Cattle
GREENFIELD, Ind., Feb. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Elanco Animal Health Incorporated (NYSE: ELAN) today announced it has entered into an agreement with South Dakota-based Medgene to leverage the company's innovative vaccine platform technology. The agreement includes commercialization of a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) vaccine for use in dairy cattle. Medgene reports the vaccine has met all requirements of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) platform technology guidelines and is in the final stages of review for conditional license approval. While the poultry industry has developed interventions and processes to reduce the spread or eradicate HPAI, those efforts have continued to be challenging as the current outbreak enters its fourth year. Dairy producers have worked quickly to protect their herds without the same tools and biosecurity options to tackle this devastating disease. The cross-species transmission of the disease into nearly 1,000 dairy herds across the U.S. since March 2024, along with zoonotic transmission to people, shows that more interventions are quickly needed. This virus is prevalent and predicted to persist over time, thus a cattle vaccine will be critical to slow virus spread between birds and cattle. "As egg prices soar and milk production wanes in infected dairies, the need for new solutions to curb disease spread is evident," says Jeff Simmons, President and CEO of Elanco Animal Health. "Elanco is pleased to partner with Medgene to bring customers options to fight this devastating disease and believes this product will become part of a routine vaccination protocol for the U.S. dairy industry. This partnership further strengthens our diverse dairy portfolio and advances our One Health platform of animal health solutions, not only benefitting our dairy customers, but helping curb disease spread for our poultry customers, and working to improve egg prices for consumers." "Medgene has an established reputation of supporting animal owners and their veterinarians with our USDA-licensed platform technology and bioinformatics software to design transformational vaccines. With our critically important H5N1 vaccine for dairy cattle in the final stages of approval, we're excited to partner with Elanco to quickly bring this much needed solution to U.S. dairies," said Mark Luecke, CEO of Medgene. The USDA previously approved Medgene's vaccine platform technology in cattle, allowing the company to accelerate H5N1 vaccine development. Medgene has existing vaccine manufacturing supply ready to deploy with the ability to support the U.S. dairy herd. ABOUT ELANCO Elanco Animal Health Incorporated (NYSE: ELAN) is a global leader in animal health dedicated to innovating and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets, creating value for farmers, pet owners, veterinarians, stakeholders and society as a whole. With 70 years of animal health heritage, we are committed to breaking boundaries and going beyond to help our customers improve the health of animals in their care, while also making a meaningful impact on our local and global communities. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our Elanco Healthy Purpose™ sustainability pillars – all to advance the health of animals, people, the planet and our enterprise. Learn more at Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including, without limitation, statements concerning product approvals and launches and expectations for contractual relationships. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, by their nature, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. As a result, our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include regional, national or global political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory conditions, including whether and when the USDA completes its review, the USDA's determination about any conditional approval, market acceptance of the vaccine, our ability to market and sell the vaccine, competition with other solutions to address highly pathogenic avian influenza and additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements described in the company's latest Form 10-K and Form 10-Qs filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We caution you against relying on any forward-looking statements, which should also be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included elsewhere in this press release. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release speaks only as of the date thereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or to revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law. Investor Contact: Tiffany Kanaga (765) 740-0314 Media Contact: Colleen Dekker (317) 989-7011 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Elanco Animal Health
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Iowa puppy mills again ranked among the biggest violators
This dog was photographed by USDA inspectors in January 2023 at a kennel operated by Wuanita Swedlund of Iowa. (USDA photo courtesy of Bailing Out Benji.) Eight Iowa dog breeders were cited for regulatory violations in the fourth quarter of 2023, with Iowa again ranked as one of the states with the highest number of violators. Between Oct. 1, 2024, and Dec. 31, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture cited eight Iowa breeders for violations of federal regulations, according to data compiled and analyzed by the Iowa animal-welfare organization Bailing Out Benji. The number of violators resulted in Iowa placing third among the states — behind Ohio and Wisconsin — that had the highest number of violators in the fourth quarter. According to the analysis by Bailing Out Benji, the No. 1 violation cited by USDA inspections, nationally, in the fourth quarter of 2024 pertained to veterinary care for dogs, which accounted for 48% of all violations cited. Among the 50 states, Iowa has the fourth-highest number of USDA-licensed pet breeders and brokers, with 263 such businesses now operating in the state. The Iowa breeders cited for violations in the fourth quarter of 2024 include: John and Orla Nisley of Rolling Organic Acres in Edgewood: This business was cited for a violation related to an attempted inspection on Oct. 30, 2024. The inspector arrived at the kennel at 10:45 a.m. and 'spoke to the licensee who stated they are not available for inspection today and no other facility representative is available. Failure to provide access to the facility, animals, and records for inspection is a serious violation of the Animal Welfare Act and regulations,' the inspector's report states. The inspector was able to gain entry on Nov. 12, 2024, after which Rolling Organic Acres was cited for four additional violations pertaining to records; cleaning, sanitizing, housekeeping and pest control, and veterinary care. At the time, the kennel's paperwork indicated it had 42 adult dogs on hand, but a count of the animals showed there were only 13 adult dogs, creating some uncertainty as to the whereabouts of the other 29 dogs. The inspector also noted that enclosures used to house 12 adult dogs had an excessive accumulation of hair and 'brown, dusty organic debris' coating the top of the enclosures, and two of the enclosures had a heavy buildup of cobwebs. The inspector also reported the kennel's attending veterinarian had not been to the kennel in the previous six months, as required, and was overdue for an on-site visit. In addition, six adult dogs did not have a complete physical examination by the attending veterinarian every 12 months as required. The dogs had last been examined in September 2023. At the time, the kennel had 13 dogs on hand. Rolling Organic Acres recently canceled its USDA license and has, to date, not procured another license. This same kennel was cited for violations in the first quarter of 2023. According to Bailing Out Benji, Rolling Organic Acres sells to a pet store in New Jersey. Wuanita and Glen Swedlund of Farmington: This kennel was cited for three noncritical violations during a routine inspection on Dec. 19, 2024. The violations were related to the attending veterinarian and inadequate veterinary care; watering of animals; and cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping and pest control. The inspector reported the kennel did not have the equipment on hand that was necessary to groom a recently acquired female bichon and stated that 'the dog has heavily matted fur on all four legs and tail … This breed of dog requires regular grooming, and although recently acquired by the licensee, the dog appears to not have been groomed for several months.' In one enclosure that was being used to house three adult dogs, there was an overturned water bowl and the dogs had no access to potable water. The inspector also reported that the sheltered portion of one animal enclosure was 'heavily contaminated with fecal material' covering 80% of the floor. At the time, the kennel had eight adult dogs on hand. The Swedlunds have a history of violations dating back to her licensing in 2023, including violations in the first quarter of 2024 and the fourth quarter of 2023. In December 2023, a USDA inspector visited a dog-breeding kennel located in the Van Buren County town of Cantril. The business was operating on property owned by Steve Kruse, one of Iowa's larger dog breeders, but was doing business under a license held by Wuanita Swedlund. The inspector reported that in November 2023, a French bulldog named Bethany gave birth to four puppies, three of which were found dead within days. Swedlund allegedly indicated to the inspector that 'the puppies must have gotten too cold and passed away.' Three other puppies, born to a rottweiler, were also found dead at the kennel, with Swedlund allegedly telling inspectors 'they must have gotten too cold and died.' In addition, a puppy born to Megan, a sheepdog, had to be euthanized after a dog in a nearby enclosure chewed through the wall into the puppy's enclosure and tore the flesh from one leg, leaving the bone exposed. A short time later, a sheepdog puppy from the same litter was determined to be missing. 'The licensee states they did find a single bone and assumed Megan ate her puppy,' the inspector reported. In February 2024, a state inspector from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship visited the facility and found additional violations related to inadequate veterinary care. A state inspector wrote in her report: 'Discussed the need to go down in dog numbers to adequately care for dogs on property.' Waunita Swedlund and IDALS later reached an agreement whereby she agreed to downsize her Cantril operation to no more than 30 adult dogs. Bailing Out Benji reports that it has records of the Swedlunds selling animals to pet stores in New York and Oregon. Heath Meyers of Century Farm Puppies in Grundy Center: At the time of this Oct. 22, 2024, inspection, Meyers was cited for a direct violation related to dog enclosures and for one noncritical violation pertaining to the method of identification of animals. The inspector identified one adult female bichon, named Frisky Snowball, that had two toes on her right rear foot stuck in the flooring of her cage. 'The dog was panting with tail wagging, the tail wagging stopped when the facility representative was removing the stuck toes,' the inspector reported. 'The dog was freed from the flooring by a facility representative approximately two minutes later. When the inspector examined the toes, the dog pulled back from the inspector's touch, likely due to tenderness… The dog had a mild limp and was bearing some weight on that foot.' A worker at the kennel told the inspector incidents of that kind occurred 'about two times a year,' with dogs' toes becoming trapped in the flooring. At the time of the inspection, Century Farm had 154 dogs and puppies on hand. Century Farm was also cited for violations in the first three quarters of 2024 and throughout 2023. Eli Schrock of Hillview Kennels in Drakesville: This kennel was cited for two noncritical violations during a routine inspection that took place on Oct. 24, 2024. The violations were tied to incompatible groupings of dogs and cleaning, sanitizing, housekeeping and pest control. The inspector reported that the indoor portion of two separate dog enclosures was 'heavily contaminated with fecal material.' In both enclosures, the fecal matter had been 'flattened and smeared across the floor when the dogs walked through it,' and the material was covering roughly half the floor in one enclosure and 80% of the floor in the other. At the time, Hillview Kennels had 40 dogs and puppies on hand. Hillview Kennels was last cited for violations in 2022. Floyd and Lisa Klocke of Floyd Klocke Farm in Coon Rapids: This kennel was cited for one noncritical violation during a Dec. 3, 2024, inspection. The inspector reported that five 10-week-old yellow labs had no water available to them in their enclosure. The puppies were reportedly given water at 9:30 a.m. that day, and at 1:30 p.m., the water bowl was observed to be upside down. The puppies were immediately given water, the inspector reported, adding that 'some did not drink while others drank normally.' At the time, Floyd Klocke Farms had 14 dogs and puppies on hand. Judy and Gale Dorothy of Stockport: This kennel was cited for one noncritical violation during a routine inspection on Nov. 21, 2024, pertaining to records that indicated a litter of kittens was sold in August 2024, despite there being no record of an adult cat on the premises at that time. There were 46 dogs and puppies on hand at the time of the inspection. Julie Krause of Buttercream Ranch in Algona: On Oct. 23, 2024, this kennel was cited for five noncritical violations during an inspection. The violations were tied to minimum-age requirements for animals sold, veterinary care and animal enclosures. The inspector reported that Buttercream Ranch sold 17 puppies from five litters and sent them home with their new owners before the puppies were eight weeks old, placing them at risk of health problems. Also, the kennel's attending veterinarian had not performed the required on-site visits, with the kennel having no record of any such visit since at least August 2023. In addition, 14 adult dogs had not had their required annual physical examination by the attending veterinarian, and Buttercream Ranch could not provide medical records for three dogs named Lottie, Otis and Dexter. At the time, the kennel had 19 dogs and puppies on hand. Ross and Valorie Craig of Dunroven Farms in Newell: On Oct. 2, 2024, this kennel was cited for four noncritical violations during a routine inspection. The violations were related to the attending veterinarian and inadequate veterinary care, dog enclosures, and cleaning, sanitization, housekeeping, and pest control. The inspector reported that a female cat named Poppyseed had a coat that was matted with fecal matter along her lower back, across her spine and around her tail. The inspector also reported that the staff at Dunroven Farms was checking on some of the cats every other day rather than a minimum of once daily. A cat named Snowy exhibited signs of a 'mild head tilt' — a potential sign of an underlying health issue that could result in the pain or distress — that had not been reported to the attending veterinarian. In addition, litter boxes were not being spot cleaned on a daily basis to remove excrement. At the time, the kennel had 36 cats and kittens on hand. Dunroven Farms was also cited for violations in the second quarter of 2024.
