Puppy Mill Abuse: Feds Vow Crackdown on Abusive Dog Breeders

(May 26) -- The government vowed to crack down on abusive dog breeders following a report that showed shocking conditions at many puppy mills, with some animals engaging in cannibalism, living in their own feces and infested with ticks.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack promised stronger enforcement of animal welfare laws, with tougher penalties for repeat offenders.

"The issues raised about the regulation of problematic dog dealers are very troubling," Vilsack said, according to The Oklahoman newspaper. "USDA will reinforce its efforts under its animal welfare responsibilities."

Dogs at a West Virginia kennel where 1,000 dogs were rescued after a 2008 puppy mill bust.

Carol Guzy, The Washington Post / Getty Images

A report on terrible conditions at many puppy mills has prompted the federal Agriculture Department to promise tougher enforcement of animal welfare laws. Above are two dogs that were among 1,000 rescued in the 2008 bust of a puppy mill in West Virginia.

The investigation, carried out from 2006 to 2008, showed that more than half of the large dog breeding kennels were repeat offenders, breaking the rules even after they had been cited for flouting the law.

At one kennel in Oklahoma, inspectors failed to revoke a kennel's license despite finding five dead dogs and other animals that were so hungry they were resorting to cannibalism. The surviving animals were not confiscated, and 22 more died before action was taken, according to The Oklahoman.

In another Oklahoma case, a kennel was found to be infested with ticks in 2008; one animal was completely covered in them. Still, the USDA took no action, the report said.

The report recommends that the USDA's animal care unit confiscate animals that are dying or in serious pain, The Associated Press reported. It also recommended that inspectors receive better training so they can document, report and punish abuse.

The investigators visited 68 dog breeders and dog brokers, and found that first-time violators were rarely penalized, even when committing serious offenses. The agency also allowed breeders time to correct their actions before moving to seize the abused animals, despite encountering dying or suffering animals at their facilities, according to the AP.

Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States, said the report confirms what animal welfare advocates have been saying for years.

"Enforcement is flaccid, the laws are weak, and reform needs to happen," he told the AP. "We have long criticized having the animal welfare enforcement functions within a bureaucracy dedicated to promoting American agriculture. There's a built-in conflict of interest."

Vilsack vowed greater enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act in the future to prevent further abuse.

"We are taking immediate actions to strengthen our enforcement of the AWA," Vilsack said, according to The Oklahoman. "I am committed to work with Congress to make resources available to carry out this plan and am confident that the changes we are making will significantly strengthen our animal welfare program."