©The Humane Society of the United States, May 2014 | 101 Problem Puppy Mills
• Irene Finley, Herington, KS – Failed to correct safety issue after five citations. In May 2013, a USDA
veterinary medical officer found a German shepherd dog with a “pink, moist” wound behind his ear and
a “thick, creamy discharge” oozing from his ear that hadn’t been treated. The licensee was warned
during five different inspections over a two-year period about sharp points and edges that could injure
the dogs, but federal inspection reports show she did not correct the problem (August 2012, Nov. 2012,
May 2013, February 2013, Nov. 2013). Some of the sharp points were noted more than once in the
enclosure housing a German shepherd dog, possibly the same dog found in May 2013 with the injury.
Inspectors also noted dirty water and rusty water receptacles (Nov. 2012), dirty conditions, and other
problems. In April 2013, The USDA gave Finley an official warning for a repeated failure to maintain
surfaces free of rust and a repeated failure to correct the sharp points and edges that “could injure the
animals.” USDA #48-A-1460/7739.
• Shelli Kershner, Walnut Creek Kennel, Rush Center, KS – Received official warning from USDA. In
August 2013, The USDA gave Kershner an official warning for a repeated failure to provide adequate
veterinary care and a repeated failure to provide safe housing for her breeding dogs. But even after this
warning, in October 2013, a USDA inspector found a shih-tzu with her eye crusted shut and a “pink,
fleshy protrusion” in the center of the eye. There was another incident earlier in the year when a dog
was found with “long toenails and reddened, bloody gums.” In August 2012, the USDA found 109 dogs
at the kennel when its official records listed only 64, indicating that this B dealer was getting dogs from
undocumented sources, which could include unlicensed puppy mills. When the USDA returned in
February 2014 to check on the kennel, they were not given access, which is a violation. USDA # 48-B-
0311.
• Michelle Miller, Plum Crazy Kennel, Elk City, KS – Six dogs in need of veterinary care; received warning
from state. Plum Crazy Kennel, a breeder of at least nine different breeds including chows, bulldogs and
cocker spaniels, received a warning letter from the Kansas Animal Health Department in December 2013
for failing two consecutive inspections. Eight different noncompliant items were found in a January 2013
inspection, and five of them had still not been corrected as of December 2013. Issues found included
filthy conditions, dogs housed in rusty cages and standing on uncoated wire flooring that could hurt
their feet, dogs without enough protection from the cold and wind and six dogs in need of veterinary
care, including some who were underweight with prominent hip bones and ribs. Lic # CB000U5L.
• Peggy Pierce, Pierce’s Kennels, Narka, KS – Dogs with hair loss and scabs, crawling with fleas; failed six
consecutive USDA inspections. Between April 2011 and March 2014, Pierce’s Kennels failed six
consecutive USDA inspections. USDA inspectors found multiple issues at each visit, including dogs with
hair loss and scabs who were crawling with fleas (September 2013), medication kept for use on the dogs
which had expired almost five years earlier (March 2014), unsafe housing, unclean food and water,
unsanitary conditions and dogs and puppies who did not have enough protection from the cold when
the overnight temperatures had been as low as 27 degrees. When the USDA returned to the kennels in
December 2013 to check on conditions, they were unable to access the premises, which is a violation.
USDA # 48-B-0273.
• Wayne and Yvonne Sellin, Sellin Kennel, Chapman, KS – Official USDA warning for failure to provide
adequate veterinary care. In February 2014, The USDA gave the Sellins an official warning for a
repeated failure to provide adequate veterinary care and a repeated failure to make the premises
available for inspection. Issues included dogs with signs of dental disease, including one whose jaw was
apparently broken or had disintegrated to the point that it was positioned at an odd angle and moved
“freely from side to side.” Other violations noted included excessive feces and unsafe housing. USDA
#48-A-0388.
• Marilyn Soukup, Wilson, KS – Puppies in temperatures below freezing. Since March 2011, this facility
has failed seven times to give access to USDA inspectors as required by law. On the occasions that
inspectors were able to access the facility between 2011 and 2014, Soukup was cited at every inspection
for multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act (Jan. 2014, Oct. 2013, Sept. 2012, May 2012, Sept.
2011, and March 2011). In January 2014, USDA inspectors found below-freezing temperatures in the