NPPMWATCH
North Penn Puppy Mill Watch
Give Hope To The Mill Dogs – BOYCOTT Stores That Sell Puppies
MONTGOMERY COUNTY PET STORES
SELLING PUPPIES ACQUIRED FROM THE MILLS
Mark Arabia – Owner
Pets Plus, Planet Pets Plus &
Puppytown Pet Store Chain
Pets Plus/Planet Pets Plus/PuppyTown has EIGHT stores within the Delaware Valley at the following locations:
| Pets Plus USA K5 Licensed = allowed 251+ dog/year 555 South Broad Street Lansdale PA 19446 NO PA Pet Shop License on File Warned 3 Times by PA Dept of Ag |
Pets Plus K5 Licensed = allowed 251+ dog/year 200 Blair Mill Rd Horsham, PA 19044 2006 Inspection: Rabies Vaccinations Not on Premises for Several Dogs |
Planet Pets Plus K5 Licensed = allowed 251+ dog/year 117 S West End Blvd Quakertown, PA 18951 Report of Puppies Being Beaten |
Planet Pets Plus K5 Licensed = allowed 251+ dog/year 200 West Ridge Pike Conshohocken, PA 19428 Dogs without Rabies Shots and
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Pets Plus Pet Center K5 Licensed = allowed 251+ dog/year 9902 Roosevelt Blvd Philadelphia, PA 19115 Unsatisfactory Inspections for Maintenance, Water Resistance, Sanitization Flies, Gnats & Dirty Cages Noted in 2003/No 2004 or 2005 Reports |
PuppyTown – STORE CLOSED K5 Licensed = allowed 251+ dog/year 1420 Franklin Mills Circle Philadelphia, PA 19154 Inspection Reports for 2003 indicate several dogs placed on 72 hour vet checks |
Pets Plus Superstore K5 Licensed = allowed 251+ dog/year 151 Lincoln Highway Fairless Hills, PA 19030 Dogs without Rabies Shots Noted on Inspection Reports from 2003 & 2004 |
Pets Plus Lawrenceville, LLC and Pets Plus of Lawrence, Inc 111 Lawrenceville Rd Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 |
Pets Plus Delran, Inc. 1321A Fairview Blvd Delran, NJ 08075 |
|
PuppyTown – STORE CLOSED
K5 Licensed = allowed 251+ dog/year 500 W. Germantown Pike Plymouth Meeting Mall Plymouth Meeting, PA no inspection reports on file with |
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PAPER WORK, RECEIPTS & VET EXAMS
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COMPLAINTS AGAINST PETS PLUS
All consumer names, addresses and personal contact
information has been removed for privacy reasons.
COMPLAINT AGAINST PETS PLUS
When this Pets Plus customer purchased a $1,000 Shih Tzu from Pets Plus on September 07, 2008 they had no idea another $4,000.00 would be invested in vain in an attempt to save the puppy’s life; this young dog would die from Canine PARVO Virus.A highly contagious disease, Parvo is an insideous infection that attacks the entire digestive system of dogs making it virtually impossible to absorb nutrition. Unfortunately, and if not caught in time, the disease is almost always fatal.
Purchased by Pets Plus from Lancaster County breeder Amos W. Zimmerman, the kennel was inspected on September 25, 2008 and noted to have 372 dogs on the premises and, over the previous 12 months, 707 puppies had been sold. Sadly, this family barely got to know their new puppy over the course of four days as she continued to become sicker and sicker until she was placed in intensive care at a veterinary emergency hospital and ultimately succumbed to the disease days later.Read the Pets Plus puppy paperwork: CLICK HERE
Read inspection reports for Amos W. Zimmerman: CLICK HERE
WHO’S MY DOG’S BREEDER
This paperwork for a Jack Russell puppy purchased at Pets Plus on August 31, 2008 came to North Penn Puppy Mill Watch with the specific question: where did my dog come from? Using the sales paperwork provided by Pets Plus we had no difficulty finding the breeder, Hidden Acre Kennel in the PA Bureau of Dog Law inspection report data base. We couldn’t help but notice, however, that this puppy had been diagnosed with canine conjunctivitis, or “pink eye” that is usually caused by an infection; the store vet had prescribed Neopolydex, a steroid/antibiotic combination.The kennel, Hidden Acre in Lancaster County, PA was last inspected in June, 2008 and was warned for breaking Dog Law regulations
about maintenance, water resistance, housekeeping/pests and record keeping. Inspected three times in 2008, this kennel was issued a warning and ultimately citations for an assortment of problems including one inspection where the owner was ordered to obtain veterinary care for the breeder dogs.Read the Pets Plus puppy paperwork: CLICK HERE
Read inspection reports for Hidden Acre Kennel – CLICK HERE
COMPLAINT AGAINST PETS PLUS
In an assortment of newspaper articles, Mark Arabia, owner of the Pets Plus chain, has claimed his dogs come from ‘reputable LOCAL breeders.’ Where, exactly, do some of his dogs come from? Have a look at ‘reputable’ breeder Leonard Moos:NOTORIOUS PUPPY MILLER LEONARD MOOS OF
BISMARK, NORTH DAKOTA CLOSED BY
THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
March, 2007 — USDA CLOSES APPLE CREEK KENNEL More than 83 dogs were removed from the care of Leonard Moos, owner of Apple Creek Kennel, who sold his dogs by way of LAMBRIAR, a well known dog broker that sells puppies from the mills to pet stores across the nation. Read the news article – click HERE
Purchased from Pets Plus on May 6, 2007 at FIVE MONTHS OF AGE, this new dog owner set out to find the origin of the new family pet. Little did they know their pup had come from one of the worst mills in North Dakota. Now exhibiting behavioral issues that may be attributed to both in-breeding and being forced to live the first five months of her life in a cage at the Quakertown, PA Pets Plus store, this puppy is actually one of the lucky ones…. her family has made a lifetime commitment and will not turn their backs on her. The family is determined to rehabilitate their four-legged best friend, implement behavioral strategies and incorporate daily walks and the training she needs to become a balanced, healthy and happy canine. Other dogs are not as fortunate and are frequently turned in to rescues and shelters where, if not adopted within 72 hours of surrender are often euthanized.
View the PetsPlus Acceptance of Condition of Sale document: “WE CANNOT GUARANTEE THE PUPPIES WE SELL TO BE BREEDERS OR OF SHOW QUALITY” In fact, Pets Plus doesn’t guarantee much about any dog it sells; they DON’T KNOW the breeder and deal primarily with DOG BROKERS. Note the name of the breeder: LEONARD MOOS of Bismark, North Dakota, in the lower left hand portion of the form – Click HERE
View the Broker’s (LAMBRIAR) Certificate: Click HERE
View the Pets Plus Veterinarian Health Certificate and note that this puppy was examined on 03/15/2007 and 04/12/2007. Supposedly born on 12/06/2006, this puppy SHOULD HAVE received a rabies vaccination no later than March but none, according to the paperwork was ever given. PA law states that dogs must have their rabies vaccination after 3 months of age. We have only provided a copy of the 03/15/07 vet certificate because the 04/12/07 certificate, with the exception of the date and the vet’s signature, is otherwise blank. Click HEREView the Pets Plus “Guarantee of Good Health” and note that the guarantee DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE DOG HAS BEEN EXAMINED BY A VETERINARIAN…… that’s some guarantee, isn’t it? Click HERE
COMPLAINT AGAINST PETS PLUS
DEAF DACHSHUND SOLD TO
LOCAL CONSUMER BY PETS PLUS IN
QUAKERTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
Purchased from the Pets Plus Quakertown, PA store on August 17, 2006, this family had hoped the new addition of a dachshund puppy would bring joy and happiness to their already happy family….. little did they know they would never be able to have a “normal” relationship with their pup. Why? Because this young boy is DEAF. Secured from a puppy mill in Hull, Iowa, this pup passed multiple vet exams wherein no doctor ever noticed this little fellow had no ability to hear what was going on around him. Yanked from his mother at eight weeks of age, or less, and more than likely transported in the back of a tractor trailer or, worse, the hull of an airplane, this puppy had no idea what was happening to him and is fortunate to have ended up in a loving home. But what of his brothers and sisters? Are they deaf? Does anyone even know where they are? Will the mother or father who passed this genetic defect on to their pups be bred yet again? In this specific case Pets Plus “generously” coughed up a whopping $200.00 to compensate for the defect – a small amount considering the family paid $900.00 (plus $54.00 PA state tax) for their new companion who will need a lifetime of extra attention.
View the Veterinarian’s Evaluation of this Puppy: Taken to the family vet when the family realized something wasn’t quite right with their new puppy, see what this qualified diagnostician found – Click HERE
View Where this Puppy Came From & Acceptance of Condition of Sale document: “WE CANNOT GUARANTEE THE PUPPIES WE SELL TO BE BREEDERS OR OF SHOW QUALITY” In fact, Pets Plus doesn’t guarantee much about any dog it sells; they DON’T KNOW the breeder and deal primarily with DOG BROKERS. Note the name of the breeder: Helen Ketelsen of Hull, Iowa, in the lower left hand portion of the form – Click HERE
View the Pets Plus Intake Form: More than likely completed when the puppies are delivered to the store, this form reflects absolutely no information about ANY dog yet this was provided to the customer. Note the puppy to have NO hearing deficit at all – Click HERE
View the Pets Plus ‘What To Do’ Form: Explaining some of the many, many problems pet shop puppies are known for, pay particular attention to paragraph four that explains if your puppy is very, very sick and you choose to do the right thing by your puppy to save his life, Pets Plus will only reimburse you up to the amount of purchase thereby assuming NO RESPONSIBILITY for the puppies they sell. Instead, Pets Plus asks you to bring the puppy back to the store to allow one of THEIR vets to examine and treat any conditions. Would this be the same vet who found this puppy’s hearing to be intact on the Intake Form above? – Click HERE
COMPLAINT AGAINST PETS PLUS
In 2001, according to The Morning Call newspaper, a puppy was purchased at the Quakertown Pets Plus and, shortly afterwards became ill. The treating veterinarian requested the owner to obtain the family history of the dog but when Pets Plus was contacted they refused to provide any information regarding the puppy’s history. Finally, after several telephone calls, Pets Plus provided the owner with the name of the mother, the father, the litter number and the birth date. Not long afterwards, when the actual ‘papers’ finally arrived, SURPRISE, all of the history was different than what the owner was originally told and he did not feel he could register the dog in good conscience without perpetuating a fraud. Ultimately, he ended up suing Pets Plus and the case aired on the televised Peoples Court program where Pets Plus was found guilty for not providing the dog’s papers within the state’s 120 day prescribed time frame. According to the final paperwork the dog’s owner received, the puppy was born and purchased by way of a broker working on behalf of the Conodoguinet Creek Kennel owned by Betty and Michael Kauffman. At the time, neither the puppy mill nor the broker were licensed to sell dogs to pet stores and the kennel had received violations after recently being inspected.COMPLAINT AGAINST PETS PLUS
Purchased on July 24, 1996 from the Lawrenceville Pets Plus, an ACA Dachshund bred by Helen and Scott Ketelsen (the same breeders of the deaf Dachshund described above) of 3230 Ibex Avenue in Hull, IL (USDA #42-A-0736) was sold for $900.00. The date of birth placed the puppy at exactly eight (8) weeks of age – clearly having been taken from its mother far too young – was diagnosed with Kennel Cough, Hookworms, Pneumonia and Anorexia. Veterinary bills totaled in excess of $1,485.00.
COMPLAINT AGAINST PETS PLUS
On November 20, 2004, a cairn terrier (born on July 2, 2004) was purchased for $600.00 at the Pets Plus Delran location. The puppy became ill shortly thereafter, was taken to a veterinarian and diagnosed with Leptospirosis and Giardia. Both of these illnesses are considered dangerous zoonotic diseases that are transmittable to humans. Additionally, the puppy had one undescended testicle that was thought to be genetic. Veterinary bills totaled $485.00. Investigation revealed that the puppy was originally procured from the Hekapatch Kennel (USDA License #31-A-0103) located in Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio and owned by commercial breeder Wayne Yoder.COMPLAINT AGAINST PETS PLUS
In 2006, according to RipOffReport.com a woman purchased an Italian Grey Hound from the Delran Pets Plus. Within two days the dog began coughing and exhibiting signs of Kennel Cough. Pets Plus Delran attempted to treat the dog but the illness persisted. Kennel Cough is spread among dogs and, no doubt, this pup was sick at the time of purchase and the new owner was never informed. After additional treatments by Pets Plus Delran, the woman took the dog to her private veterinarian and incurred substantial medical bills. The owner in this case is contemplating a lawsuit against Pets Plus.COMPLAINT AGAINST PETS PLUS
In 2005 a male Bichon Frise/Poodle mixed breed puppy was purchased from the Planet Pets Plus in Conshohocken, PA on March 25. The puppy, supposedly born on January 17, 2005 and obtained from commercial breeder Samuel Fisher in Logantown, PA, began experiencing difficulty seeing at approximately 12 months. Now, at 2 years of age and with both eyes entirely clouded over, the dog has been diagnosed with congenital cataracts (a hereditary condition passed from the parents to the puppy) in both eyes leaving the owner with no choice but to seek invasive ophthalmologic surgery if she is to prevent her dog from going entirely blind. At the time of purchase, the owner was advised that this dog’s sister was at another Pets Plus store and, after learning about the congenital defect, attempted to contact Pets Plus to (a) obtain additional information about the dog’s parents and (b) to inquire about other dogs from the same litter; her calls were never returned.
COMPLAINT AGAINST PETS PLUS
In June of 2005 a female beagle puppy was purchased from the PuppyTown/Pets Plus located at the Franklin Mills Mall. When purchased, the puppy exhibited symptoms of an upper respiratory infection that eventually led to almost $1,000.00 in veterinary bills. The family’s veterinarian also discovered that the puppy was never fully wormed and was infected with not one – but two – types of parasites: round and tape worms. Pursuant to the PA Puppy Lemon Law the buyer had the option to return the dog for a full refund – something no pet lover is EVER prepared to do – or accept a partial refund. Opting for the partial refund, this family was cheated yet again when PuppyTown/Pets Plus failed to fully refund the amount of money due the buyer.
If you have purchased a dog from Pets Plus that was ill, became ill, or died shortly after purchase, and would like to add your story to this litany of misery for profit proof, please click HERE.
Upon opening the Lansdale Pets Plus, the newest store in this chain of misery for profit, a journalist from The Reporter noted dogs tagged as being from Newburg, PA, home to four puppy mills. Mark Arabia states he only buys dogs from PA Dept. of Agriculture licensed breeders and the only ones to hold licenses in Newburg, Pennsylvania are:
| Betty & Michael Kauffman’s Conodoguinet Creek Kennel – K5 31 Quigley Road Newburg PA 17240 K5 = 251 or more Dogs |
Emanuel Kauffman’s Quigley Kennel – K5 20 Quigley Road Newburg PA 17240 K5 = 251 or more Dogs
|
| Oak Bend Road Kennel – K3 34 Oak Bend Road Newburg PA 17240 K3 = 101 to 150 Dogs |
Joseph & Emma Yoder’s Yoder’s Kennel – K5 105 Enola Road Newburg PA 17240 K5 = 251 or more Dogs |
and every single one, make no mistake about it, is a puppy mill. Michael Kauffman is, in addition to a mass breeder, a dog broker and sells parcels of puppies on a regular basis to pet stores and/or other mills on a regular basis.
COMPLAINTS AGAINST BREEDERS USED BY PETS PLUS
CONODOGUINET CREEK KENNEL CITED BY USDA
The Conodoguinet Creek Kennel has received several violations over the years when inspected. On May 11, 2004 David Oelberg, DVM, USDA APHIS Veterinary Medical Officer (Inspector ID 1043) cited the kennel for the following violations:
2.40 (b)
ATTENDING VETERINARIAN AND ADEQUATE VETERINARY CARE
Each dealer shall establish and maintain programs of adequate veterinary care that include: The use of appropriate methods to prevent, control, diagnose, and treat diseases and injuries.The written Program of Veterinary Care (PVC) was last signed 21 May 2002 and did not include complete information on the disease prevention and control methods. Distemper vaccine with expiration date of February 2004, and Rabies vaccine with expiration date April 2004 were present at the facility. The methods of disease control and prevention must be outlined by the veterinarian and followed to assure that animals do not become or remain sick. Use of expired biologics is not considered appropriate and could fail to prevent or cure disease.
2.75 (a) (1)
RECORDS: DEALER AND EXHIBITORSEach dealer shall make, keep, and maintain records or forms which fully and correctly disclose the following information concerning each dog purchased or otherwise acquired, owned, held, or otherwise in his or her possession or under his or her control, or which is transported, euthanized, sold, or otherwise disposed of by that dealer or exhibitor. The records shall include any offspring born of any animal while in his or her possession or under his or her control.
(i) The name and address of the person from whom a dog was purchased
(ii) The USDA license or registration number of the person if he or she is licensed or registered under the Act;
(iii) The vehicle license number and state, and the driver’s license number and state of the person, if he or she is not licensed or registered under the Act;
(iv) The name and address of the person to whom a dog was sold or given and that person’s license or registration number if he or she is licensed or registered under the Act;
(v) The date a dog was acquired or disposed of, including by euthanasia;
(vi) The official USDA tag number or tattoo assigned to a dog under Secs. 2.50 and 2.54;
(vii) A description of each dog which shall include:(A) The species and breed or type; (B) The sex; (C) The date of birth or approximate age; and (D) The color and any distinctive markings;
(viii) The method of transportation including the name of the initial carrier or intermediate handler or, if a privately owned vehicle is used to transport a dog or cat, the name of the owner of the privately owned vehicle;
(ix) The date and method of disposition of a dog or cat, e.g.,sale, death, euthanasia, or donation.
Twenty-one (21) animals were not recorded on records with their microchip number as required (vi). Date of disposition and complete information were not recorded for many transactions (i) (ii) (iii) (iv). All of the required information must be recorded to assure accurate tracking of the animals.
YODER’S KENNEL CITED BY USDAOn March 17, 2004, Yoder’s Kennel, located at 105 Enola Road in Newburg, PA, was inspected by David Oelberg, DVM, USDA, APHIS, Animal Care acting in his capacity of Veterinary Medical Officer (Inspector ID: 1043), and cited Yoder’s Kennel for violation of Section 3.6 (a)(2)(x) with regard to PRIMARY ENCLOSURES.
Primary enclosures must be constructed and maintained so that they: have floors that are constructed in a manner that protects the dogs’ and cats’ feet and legs from injury.
The outdoor raised kennel to the east had a wire floor with coating worn off in spots and a gap at the resting board that could cause injury to the dogs. A single large male mastiff had a sore and multiple calluses that would benefit from softer flooring. Floors need to be maintained to prevent injury.
LEONARD MOOS/APPLE CREEK KENNEL CLOSED BY USDA
March, 2007 — USDA CLOSES APPLE CREEK KENNEL More than 83 dogs were removed from the care of Leonard Moos, owner of Apple Creek Kennel, sold his dogs by way of LAMBRIAR, a well known dog broker that sells puppies from the mills to pet stores across the nation. Read the news article – click HERE
Pets Plus, Planet Pets Plus and PuppyTown claim their dogs are hand picked from private breeders – we say show us. Demonstrators at the Lansdale Pets Plus asked owner, Mark Arabia, for the names of the breeders, the locations of the kennels and a copy of his ‘forever return policy’ all of which he refused to provide. If these dogs really came from reputable breeders (a) they wouldn’t be hiding behind Mark Arabia/Pets Plus and (b) they’d never sell their dogs by way of a pet store.
Playful Pets – Licensed K5
115 West Ridge Pike
Conshohocken PA 19428
The Pet Shop, Inc. – Licensed K5 – STORE CLOSED!
170 Montgomery Mall
North Wales PA 19454
Tom’s Pet Outlet – Licensed K5
2609 Egypt Road
Norristown PA 19403
Zimmer’s Pets 2 – Licensed K3
Zimmer’s Pets – STORE CLOSED!!
There were TWO Zimmer’s Pets Stores:
In 2008, one closed: Zimmer’s Pets
Zimmer’s Pets 2 Remains OPEN
1065 East Philadelphia Avenue
Gilbertsville PA 19525
Suzanne Newman’s Massage Therapy And Whole Health 