AR-News: (US) Puppy mill lacked license

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http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&
display=rednews/2004/06/19/build/state/56-puppy-mill.inc

June 19, 2004

Puppy mill lacked license
Associated Press

GREAT FALLS (AP) - The owners of 119 dogs confiscated recently don't have a 
license to sell dogs commercially, federal officials said Friday.

The Animal Welfare Act allows people to sell their animals privately without 
a license, but it requires that anyone selling a dog through a pet store be 
licensed.

No charges have been filed against Bill and Jean Walker, the owners of the 
confiscated dogs. If charged and convicted of violating the USDA administrative 
law, the Walkers could face a fine of up to $2,750 per animal per day, said 
Jim Rogers of the USDA.

"We have a wide range of options from saying 'You need a license' to 
'Congratulations, you now have a huge fine,"' Rogers said.

Rogers said Jean Walker has applied for a Class A license to sell dogs 
commercially but no decision has been made whether to grant it.

Sheila Klepps, store manager at PetCetera in Great Falls, said in the past 
four years she's had no problems with puppies from the Walkers.

She clarified that her store didn't buy puppies but took them on consignment. 
But the USDA says the Walkers need a license to sell dogs on consignment 
through a pet store.

The dogs are being housed in Stanford. The group caring for the dogs is 
looking for volunteers to help nurse the dogs back to health.



Copyright © 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not 
be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


Copyright © The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises.

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