How Do You Stop Puppy Miller Like Kathy Jo Bauck?

Tonight, WCCO reported on our infamous Minnesota puppy miller, Kathy Jo Bauck. It seems that she has been very busy since she was last in trouble with the law.

Back in August 2008, Ms. Bauck, owner of Pick of the Litter Kennels, Puppies on Wheels and other business aliases, was arrested and charged with nine counts of felony animal cruelty, torture, and practicing veterinary medicine without a license after an undercover video was released by the Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS). Among the medical things she was alleged to have performed on the dogs she owned were:

– Spaying female dogs
– Performed ear croppings on puppies
– Performed tail docking on puppies
– Performed cesarian sections and hernia surgeries on dogs
– Removed dew claws on puppies

This doesn’t include the other things found wrong at Kathy Bauck’s facility, but you can see that in the CAPS video below.

In March of 2009, Ms. Bauck was acquitted of the two felony animal abuse charges leveled against her but convicted on four misdemeanor charges, one animal cruelty and three counts of torture.

So what did the iTeam at WCCO find out? (Go here to see the full report)

In the two years that Kathy Bauck’s license was terminated (terminated is not the same as revoked) by the USDA, she was not supposed to be selling pets wholesale to pet stores, yet according to the report, she was still selling puppies to pet stores in New York City and in Long Island, New York. In other words, she was not legally allowed to sell these dogs, but did so anyways.

According to the iTeam, she was also shipping dogs, mostly Huskies, to someplace called the “Canine Culture Center”. The address turned out to be an address in Chinatown. It was a meat market. She shipped to this location nearly a dozen times.

The iTeam report didn’t lead to these latest developments involving Kathy Bauck, but the work that AnimalFolksMN did to investigate her did. On September 14, 2011, her Animal Welfare Act (AWA) license was permanently revoked and she was disqualified from obtaining an AWA license ever again. All of her animals (except six dogs total) were required to be sold or donated by September 12, 2011.

I would love to be able to say “Good riddance Kathy Bauck”, but somehow I don’t think I can. Under the conditions of the Consent Decision, she was allowed to keep six dogs, three of which can be breeding females.

Nope. I don’t think we’ve heard the last of Ms. Bauck.

UPDATE:
AnimalFolksMN just posted the latest on Kathy Jo Bauck today (Warning: The update does include a graphic photo taken at her facility).

It’s good news for the most part, but I still have reservations given that Ms. Bauck was allowed to keep 6 of her dogs, including 3 breeding females. Given her history, it boggles the mind that they would allow her to own any breeding dogs at all doesn’t it?

Here is a summary:
On September 14, 2011, an agreement was reached (called a Consent Decision) between the USDA-APHIS and Kathy Bauck which specified:

• License revoked: Kathy Bauck’s Animal Welfare Act (AWA) license was revoked and she is permanently disqualified from obtaining an AWA license or registation. This order also applies to Allan Bauck (Kathy Bauck’s husband).

• Cease and Desist: Kathy and Allan Bauck shall cease and desist from violating the Animal Welfare Act, and stop any activity for which an AWA license is required.

• Donate/sell animals: Kathy and Allan Bauck were required to sell or donate the animals under their custody or control or on any of their premises. They are allowed to keep six dogs total (3 of which can be intact females). The animals needed to be sold or donated by September 12, 2011.

• $100,000 penalty: Kathy and Allan Bauck were assessed a civil penalty of $100,000, of which $5,000 was to be paid within 25 days of the Order and the remaining $95,000 would be held in abeyance — which means, if they do not comply with the Order, they will have to pay the $95,000.

• Enforcement: The Secretary of Agriculture retains jurisdiction of this matter to enforce the terms of this Consent Decision, and ensure compliance.

The above also applies to their corporation, Pine Lake Enterprises. A separate Consent Decision was reached with Corrine Peters and Janet Jesuit. They, too, are disqualified from ever holding an AWA license. As with Bauck, Corinne/Janet are allowed to have 6 dogs total, of which 3 can be intact females. (Unlike with Bauck’s Decision, their Decision states that “dogs” excludes any puppies less than 12 weeks of age.)

NOTE: Peggy Weise, another Minnesota dog breeder, was also included within the USDA’s Complaint. She, along with Bauck, sold dogs to New York pet stores. Her case was dismissed but it may be under appeal.

So where did Kathy Bauck’s puppies go? Click here to see a map detailing where her puppies were shipped and to see a list of locations that received puppies from Kathy Jo Bauck.

Additional Information on Kathy Bauck:
Puppy Miller, Kathy Bauck, Charged with Abuse & Torture Will Keep 1000+ Dogs
The Verdict on Kathy Bauck – MN Puppy Miller
A Profile on Kathy Bauck by AnimalFolksMN
WCCO iTeam Investigation
Recent Status on Kathy Jo Bauck