THE LIMESTONE KENNELS RAID: BEHIND THE SCENES WITH OFFICER ASHLEY MUTCH

Humane Law Enforcement Office Ashley Mutch followed the lead that led to the warrant and raid of Limestone Kennels, one of the largest puppy mills in operation. Find out what she has to say about the horrifying conditions at puppy mills, how the Limestone situation first came to her attention, what happened behind the scenes during the raid, and what is being done to eradicate puppy mill practices.

Q: What defines a puppy mill?

A: Office Ashley Mutch: Puppy mills are defined by the number of puppies produced yearly. Puppy mills indicate that an individual is breeding mass amounts of puppies for profit, which ends up being a huge part of the poor conditions the animals have to live in. Puppy mills are also defined by the actual behavior and treatment of the animals while in the care of the breeder. There is little (to) no socialization for the animals – most live their lives on wire in rabbit hutches that are overpacked, filthy, and dangerous. Most become ill and may even die from lack of veterinary care (as a result of contracting) upper respiratory infections and other health issues that under normal circumstances could be remedied, but because of the neglect oftentimes the only way the breeder knows the animal was sick is after it is too late. Puppy mills are also predominantly found in rural areas where there is large space to have a barn or other building that can house the hundreds of puppies that are produced.

Q: Why are puppy mills so predominant in Pennsylvania?

AM: I believe (this is) due to the land that is available (in this area) to be able to house such a mass production. Puppy mills are also predominant in Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, and have been reported to be in California (as well). Although people breed all over the United States, Pennsylvania – specifically Lancaster County - has been dubbed the puppy mill capital.

Q: How did the situation at Limestone Kennels first come to the attention of Humane Law Enforcement?

AM: I had received 9 adult dogs (in poor condition from an informant) that were examined by Dr. Rachel Lee here at the PSPCA. They suffered from dental disease, eye conditions, debarked, and overall poor health. They were clearly walking on solid ground for the first time in their lives once they reached the PSPCA because they were walking with splayed toes, low to the ground, very nervous and uneasy. The informant also stated that the rest of the animals (at the puppy mill) were living in unsanitary conditions and needed vet care.

Q: What types of preparations were made before the raid, and what were your greatest concerns and fears before going into the situation?

AM: Before going into this situation my greatest concerns --as they are with all the puppy mills I have investigated--has been that they will somehow receive a tip and get rid of the dogs any way they can before we arrive there.  They could exterminate the dogs by shooting them, but it has also been known that dogs are put into gas chambers, drowned, or burned. Preparation before the raid was key because we were going into the situation looking at it as if we would be taking all the animals in the property, which was approximately (around) 100. The kennel staff and management had to make sure we had the appropriate number of cages and staff to care for these dogs as long as need be--especially if we were going to be looking at a court case.

Q: You first arrived at Limestone undercover – what were some of your first impressions?

AM: I immediately heard several dogs barking towards the rear of the property. It was an Amish farm that also housed cows, horses, and birds--typical of a running farm. I was brought to the area with the puppies by the owner and shown what he had to offer and what I observed were several puppies in unsanitary conditions, (living) in their own feces and urine, puppies separated from their mothers at too young of an age, puppies with their legs falling through the wire bottoms, matted coats, and thin dogs. The thing that sealed the deal on this puppy mill was when the owner, John Blank, sold me a 3-week-old yorkie poo pup that was lethargic and almost dead when we made the transaction. He told me he didn't know if the puppy would really make it for the 10 minutes it took me to run to the ATM to get out cash. He sold me the puppy for $30 and threw it in my canvas bag and I left. After that first impression, I was ready to take him down.

Q: Can you tell us about the day of the actual raid? Was there a particular strategy discussed or anything that went on behind the scenes? How many dogs were rescued? What became of owner John Blank, and what is the current state of Limestone today?

AM: Just about an hour before the raid, all of the humane law enforcement team gathered at a nearby parking lot to discuss how exactly it was going to go down. I was the lead officer and I just let everyone know the game plan--basically, I would enter the property, serve the search warrant, and arrest John Blank for a misdemeanor charge for the 3 week old puppy he had sold to me that died within 24 hours. We were accompanied by state police.

After that we did a walk through documenting everything as it originally was, then collected evidence and removed the dogs. We took approximately 30 dogs the first day and removed approximately 50 the next day. John Blank pled guilty to 8 summary citations and received a conviction of cruelty to animals, which means he will not be allowed to operate a kennel. Currently, Limestone is (no longer) in the business of breeding puppies.

Q: Are there any laws in place to prevent puppy mills from operating, or to regulate the conditions at kennels? Does this vary from state to state?

AM: The USDA is responsible for licensing kennels based upon their size and the number of puppies and dogs that are produced and kept on the property at one time in a given year. They are also responsible for checking on the overall conditions that these kennels operate under. State to state, there are different regulations for owning and operating kennels, but the ultimate goal is to house animals in clean, safe, and healthy environments.

Q: What can someone do to help prevent puppy mills from operating?

AM: Stop buying puppies from backyard breeders, pet shops, and kennels. There are so many dogs in local shelters that are just waiting to be adopted into loving homes--and at a shelter it is not solely 'mutts' or mixed breeds, many pure bred dogs come into shelters--poodles, golden retrievers, german shepherds, cocker spaniels, siberian huskies, (and) great danes, just to name a few. As long as there is a demand in pet shops for animals, puppy mills will continue to produce in the terrible conditions hidden behind the walls of these properties that appear picturesque from a distance.

Related Links:
Quiz: Spot the Puppy Mill Scams 

Video: Learn how to identify reputable breeders

Adopt a Dog at Petfinder.

Donate to help Stop Puppy Mills

Visit the PSPCA Website.