Puppy Mills: In the News

These cases call attention to the complete lack of federal and state regulation for breeders that sell animals directly to the public. This lack of regulation must be addressed to ensure appropriate care of these animals.

Justice For All

The lack of state regulation for breeders must be addressed in order to help protect puppies from neglect.

August 2006 (Oxford, PA) Puppy mill operators Michael Wolf, Gordon Trottier, and Margaret Hills each pleaded guilty to 60 counts of animal cruelty after 333 dogs were seized from Wolf’s kennel in Oxford, Pennsylvania. The defendants accepted a plea bargain to receive reduced sentences, which the judge handed down on June 19, 2006. Miller was fined over $6,000 for his multiple criminal violations, ordered to pay $122,157 in restitution to cover the care of his confiscated dogs and court costs, and placed on 15 years probation, during which he is not allowed to own any animals. Once the case was concluded, the Chester County SPCA held two rounds of adoptions in which almost all of the dogs were placed in new homes

Suspected Puppy Mill Owners Plead Guilty to Misdemeanor Charges Only

February 2006 (Orange Co., CA) -- Rather than stand trial for 14 felony counts of animal cruelty, Mark Bock, 37, and Jeffrey Worley, 38, owners of Pearlie's House of Pomeranians, instead pled guilty to five misdemeanor charges in connection with selling neglected and sick Pomeranian puppies. Superior Court Judge Susanne Shaw placed the men on three years informal probation, ordered them to perform 30 days of community service and pay restitution to a center that nursed the sick puppies to health, incurring “significant” expenses in the process.

Prosecutors said 39 puppies were found in a secret room in the pair's attic in January, and two dead puppies were in the freezer. One buyer claims to have paid $6,700 for a puppy who died within 10 days. Another buyer paid $2,000 for a puppy who soon began vomiting and had blood in its stool.

Unfortunately the two men have relocated outside Kansas City, Mo., where they operate a kennel. DDAL will continue to monitor the situation.

Springer Spaniels Seized from Breeder's Home

January 2006 - Last year, 92 English springer spaniels were seized from the home of Maine dog breeder Mark Hagelin. Hagelin was selling dogs directly to the public through newspaper ads. State animal welfare agents reported that the dogs were living in unsanitary conditions without food or water and many were in need of medical treatment. Hagelin faces animal cruelty charges and awaits trial. At a hearing to determine whether or not to return the dogs to Hagelin's cusody, the judge ruled in favor of the state and released the dogs for adoption. According to the local humane society caring for the dogs, they will be spayed or neutered and placed in loving homes.

Judge Sentences Siliski to 10 Days in Jail

February 16, 2005 (Williamson County, TN) --Jennifer Siliski will spend at least 10 days in jail for violating a court order to cease breeding animals. Circuit Judge R.E. Lee Davies, who convicted Siliski on 11 counts of animal cruelty in October and banned her from breeding, said he found her defense "unbelievable."

Reputing claims that she purposely bred and sold puppies, Siliski claimed one of her dogs became accidentally pregnant and subsequently stolen from her home along with the puppies. In the past Davies has accused Siliski of making a "mockery" of the justice system.

Siliski, was convicted on eleven counts of animal cruelty, sentenced to 10 days in jail and banned from trading or selling dogs in the future. She was selling dogs directly from her home and via the internet.

A veterinarian testified that some female dogs had large tumors yet were still being bred. Some dogs were so dehydrated they couldn't stand, while others suffered from ear and uterine infections. At least three dogs were over age 13 and still being bred, despite blindness, dental disease and mange.