Vermont's Backyard Breeder Problem
Posted: Feb 13, 2012 8:33 PM EST Updated: Feb 14, 2012 11:07 AM EST
FOX 44 News
Baltimore, Vermont- The moment we walked into a Baltimore, Vermont house with a hidden camera, we were overwhelmed by the smell of dog urine and feces, some of it visible on the floor and a lot of dogs.
The owner, Frank Kendall, told us he has been breeding dogs for almost 60 years, but he struggled to tell us how many dogs he had.
"I don't know count them," said Kendall.
The one thing Kendall seemed sure of was the condition of his animals.
"I would think my dogs are quite well taken care of, I am quite satisfied," he said.
No one was satisfied with the condition of these animals taken from an Orange County breeder late last year, especially the Humane Society.
"The problem of irresponsible breeding and backyard breeding, terms we use, are a lot bigger than most people think," said Joanne Bourbeau who works as the Northeastern Regional Director for The Humane Society of the United States.
How big?
The Humane Society says it identified 165 puppy sellers in Vermont last summer, but less than a third actually registered as puppy merchants.
That means that most are breeding dogs illegally.
"These dogs are being bred in people's backyards and in their basements and in their bedrooms."
And they're making money doing it.
Puppy sales are estimated to be as high as $4.7 million a year.
"I think in this economy especially, people are seeing this as an easy quick way to make money," said Bourbeau.
The reason most backyard breeders are getting away with it is because the industry is largely unregulated.
Vermont's existing breeding laws don't have any teeth.
That means authorities can't investigate a complaint about a breeder unless they have a search warrant or the breeder invites them in.
The current laws make it tough to bust bad breeders, and make it easier for them to become licensed.
Remember Frank Kendell who couldn't tell us how many dogs were running around inside his house?
He's a licensed breeder in the state of Vermont.
That's why Vermont State Representative Tony Klein introduced this bill last year to give the state's dog breeding laws more of a bite.
"If you are going to breed dogs and you're going to breed dogs for sale, do it right," said Klein.
Under Klein's bill, Frank Kendall could be out of business because it limits the number of dogs a breeder could have to 50.
And it isn't the first time a breeder bill has surfaced in Montpelier. Klein says he's been trying to get something like it passed for the last 10 years, and each time he says, it gets shot down in the House Agriculture Committee.
We wanted to know why, so we asked State Representative Carolyn Partridge.
"I'm not privy to the details," she said, which seems odd considering that Partridge is the chair of the House Agriculture Committee.
"I think the concern lies in regulation and not wanting the government to interfere," said Bourbreau.
Experts say there are a few steps you can take to make sure the breeder you buy from is legitimate.
Be wary if they advertise often, and advertise a lot of different breeds of dogs.
Be wary of breeders who want to meet you in a store parking lot to show you a puppy. They probably have something to hide. And always check to make sure the breeder is registered with the state.
http://www.fox44now.com/story/16927028/vermonts-backyard-breeder-problem
Vermont's Backyard Breeder Problem
Posted: Feb 13, 2012 8:33 PM EST Updated: Feb 14, 2012 11:07 AM EST
FOX 44 News
Baltimore, Vermont- The moment we walked into a Baltimore, Vermont house with a hidden camera, we were overwhelmed by the smell of dog urine and feces, some of it visible on the floor and a lot of dogs.
The owner, Frank Kendall, told us he has been breeding dogs for almost 60 years, but he struggled to tell us how many dogs he had.
"I don't know count them," said Kendall.
The one thing Kendall seemed sure of was the condition of his animals.
"I would think my dogs are quite well taken care of, I am quite satisfied," he said.
No one was satisfied with the condition of these animals taken from an Orange County breeder late last year, especially the Humane Society.
"The problem of irresponsible breeding and backyard breeding, terms we use, are a lot bigger than most people think," said Joanne Bourbeau who works as the Northeastern Regional Director for The Humane Society of the United States.
How big?
The Humane Society says it identified 165 puppy sellers in Vermont last summer, but less than a third actually registered as puppy merchants.
That means that most are breeding dogs illegally.
"These dogs are being bred in people's backyards and in their basements and in their bedrooms."
And they're making money doing it.
Puppy sales are estimated to be as high as $4.7 million a year.
"I think in this economy especially, people are seeing this as an easy quick way to make money," said Bourbeau.
The reason most backyard breeders are getting away with it is because the industry is largely unregulated.
Vermont's existing breeding laws don't have any teeth.
That means authorities can't investigate a complaint about a breeder unless they have a search warrant or the breeder invites them in.
The current laws make it tough to bust bad breeders, and make it easier for them to become licensed.
Remember Frank Kendell who couldn't tell us how many dogs were running around inside his house?
He's a licensed breeder in the state of Vermont.
That's why Vermont State Representative Tony Klein introduced this bill last year to give the state's dog breeding laws more of a bite.
"If you are going to breed dogs and you're going to breed dogs for sale, do it right," said Klein.
Under Klein's bill, Frank Kendall could be out of business because it limits the number of dogs a breeder could have to 50.
And it isn't the first time a breeder bill has surfaced in Montpelier. Klein says he's been trying to get something like it passed for the last 10 years, and each time he says, it gets shot down in the House Agriculture Committee.
We wanted to know why, so we asked State Representative Carolyn Partridge.
"I'm not privy to the details," she said, which seems odd considering that Partridge is the chair of the House Agriculture Committee.
"I think the concern lies in regulation and not wanting the government to interfere," said Bourbreau.
Experts say there are a few steps you can take to make sure the breeder you buy from is legitimate.
Be wary if they advertise often, and advertise a lot of different breeds of dogs.
Be wary of breeders who want to meet you in a store parking lot to show you a puppy. They probably have something to hide. And always check to make sure the breeder is registered with the state.
? Frank Kendall has been a saint to more than one left behind animal.
ReplyDeleteFox 44 = 44 public idiots
look at the reporter's face!
It's funny you can tell when he turns off the camera and says..
"Ah HA! Frank we got you with our secret hidden camera........
Nice clothes, did we catch you at a good time? Oh?, we're being rude and offending you?
So, you mean your just politely telling us to toss off by saying you don't know how many dogs you have here, right now, this particular second?
Can we have just another second to fim a closup of your dog poo on the floor?
It is o.k. we use the footage we shot right? YOU DO understand we will edit this to make you looke like an arse on t.v. and all over the internet too, right? Right?
Frank?
YOU UNDERSTAND DON'T YOU ?"
*****
don't worry
Frank, we know better.
and FOX 44 looks desperate for talent
whatever this idiot filmed is of a man who is better to his dogs than to himself. I have purchased 3 of his dogs over the years and they are still goin strong and now I'm looking for another one for my daughter with 4 kids. DO NOT find fault with this wonderful man
ReplyDeletePLEASE, ADOPT, DON'T SHOP. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF DOGS BEING KILLED EACH DAY DUE TO OVER CROWDING AT YOUR LOCAL SPCA OR COUNTY POUND. A RESCUED DOG NEVER FORGETS. AND YOU WILL SAVE A LIFE :) PLEASE EXCUSE THE CAPS, I AM VISUALLY IMPAIRED :)
Deletewhatever was filmed..it should show what a wonderful man Frank is. I have purchased 3 of his dogs over the yrs and now looking for a 4th for my daughter who has 4 kids. He is better to his dogs than to himself. He is the most caring breeder I know
ReplyDeleteMy father and I bought our Aussies from Frank 4 years ago and they are healthy happy dogs and we were thinking of getting another one from him because he is the nicest, most thorough breeder we've come across.
ReplyDeleteThe only reason they're healthy is because you got them as a puppy trust me i live next to him ive seen his dogs and they may look healthy but ive walked in front of his german Shepherd teddy. Teddy walked into me and he kept trying to get through. He has two others and those two are blind frank is a dog abuser my grandmother said that she caught him taking the tail off a puppy with nail clippers. Frank is a worthless asshole who has no love for animals
DeleteSame here - Got our Aussie from Frank and witnessed a very thoroughly run operation there. Frank did not gouge us (like other Aussie breeders would have) and instead we got a WONDERFUL pet for a reasonable price... THANK YOU FRANK! And the only reason I am reading this stuff is because I was looking to reconnect and get another puppy... What did we do before over-regulation, high taxes and imposed fees?
ReplyDeleteMy dog came from frank, I will say there are a lot of dogs there, but my dog is very healthy always,has been is 14 years young, purchased on October 15, known as Ebony....now Roo. But I must say best dog ever. Better than on I paid big bucks for with a heart condition from a breeder in Claremont, the dog from fancy broader died at 8 years old. He may have a lot of dogs but they are all healthy. Well fed and vetted.
ReplyDeleteIf Fox44 had done just a smidgen of investigation, they would surely have found a more useful (to them) smear victim than Frank Kendall. Jeez.
ReplyDelete