Virginia Breeders Under Siege

There have been so many stories on this HSUS report we are a little overwhelmed to try to evaluate each one as the story has taken on several twists and turns and as with the original carefully crafted report offered by the HSUS, exposes several issues that are in fact truthful but also leads us to ask questions about the validity of the undercover investigation.

A little ground work needs to be established for the reader first.

Fact:
1. There are all types of kennels in the United States some good some not so good and some terrible.
2. Virginia does not have a State kennel license program, there are some counties with kennel zoning laws.
3. People who raise dogs for resale into the commercial stream, IE: Pet Stores or to Brokers fall under the jurisdiction of the USDA APHIS division who are empowered by Congress to force compliance.
4. The USDA has very few if any inspectors in Virginia.
5. The HSUS is not a legal entity, and has no authority of any kind in any legal jurisdiction in the United States. Although their people carry badges, they have no legal bearing.
6. The Patriot Act protects breeders of any animals from harassment or interference under "Homeland Domestic Terror".

7. First and foremost the HSUS has no legal authority to conduct any undercover investigation of anyone anywhere, Any such conduct by any US citizen can be construed as trespassing, stalking, harassment, homeland terror and or assault in various jurisdictions nationwide.

8. The provisions of the United State Animal Welfare Act provides a reporting system for those to use and report violations that are suspected. The United States Congress Mandates a follow-up investigation of each report filed. In other words you have the right to report any suspected violations, however because the law exists you do not have the right to trespass and or interfere with anyone. Within the same law there are provisions for the protection of breeders against those who would file false un founded claims.

In review of the initial report, it simply states the USDA has failed in its mission statement to enforce the law in the state of Virginia. Unless I mis read the report they make no mention of filing the complaints with the USDA.

The story goes on until we arrive at Junior Horton and his surrender of about 1000 dogs to the HSUS. But they do not tell us why he gave them the dogs. Makes a person wonder why someone would willingly give anyone over $500,000.00 in property.
Even if he were to be charged with operating without a license it would normally be a fine of much less than half a million dollars.

The report on Horten's said the puppies or dogs were maintained in long rows of pens, well I suspect so that many dogs would require a long row, but it is not against the law, the report failed to mention if the facilities were undersized or failed to meet federal standards. In review of some video if the video was in fact from Horton's, it appears there may be some violations in the selection of the material, being not painted and sealed wood surfaces, but nothing beyond that was noted.

The dogs that were so called "Rescued" were snapped up and sold as fast as they arrived at shelters all across the east coast. If the dogs were in dire straits they would not have been sound or healthy enough to place with adoptions. So it appears the HSUS took his healthy well cared for dogs and sold them at great financial gain.

We contacted several of the destination shelters and without exception were told the dogs were in fine condition with the exception of needing better social skills with people. We should point out no federal laws have been violated by the Horton's if this is in fact the truth as reported by the shelters.

Read the articles and judge for yourself.