Pet shops that sell puppies in New Jersey were linked to 53 out-of-state "puppy mill" breeders cited for animal welfare violations.
TRENTON -- An undercover investigation into New Jersey dog-selling pet shops revealed their suppliers were frequently puppy mills cited by federal authorities for medical neglect and mistreatment, and the animals themselves were subjected to "demonstrably inhumane" conditions in a handful of stores, the Humane Society announced Monday.
Investigators visited the 29 pet shops across the state in July and August to check the condition of the dogs, and to determine whether store owners were complying with the year-old Pet Purchase Protection Act. Considered the strictest consumer law on pet purchasing in the nation, the act requires store owners post breeder information on puppies' cages, and refrain from using breeders that have committed federal animal welfare violations within the two preceding years.
The Humane Society also examined the local records of 1,400 shipments of puppies into the state from breeders in 2015 and 2016.
- 14 pet shops used breeders with a multiple animal welfare violations. One Oklahoma breeder was cited for allowing three Shiba Inus to be "heavily infested with ticks that the ticks could be seen all over their "face[s], ears and in between the toes of their feet."
- 53 breeders listed on the Humane Society's annual "Horrible Hundred" list had shipped puppies to the state. One breeder in Iowa had been cited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for listing "gunshot in brain at close range" as a routine method of euthanasia.
- 6 pet shop failed to post breeder information on each dog's cage.
- 4 pet shops subjected the dogs "demonstrable inhumane" conditions. Some puppies seemed "starved for human attention" and confined to filthy, rusted cages so small, "they could do little more than turn around."
"We've always warned pet buyers not to shop at pet stores that sell puppies, and this investigation proves once again that there are valid reasons for that counsel," according to a statement from Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States.
"Pet stores tell buyers that all their dogs are 'from USDA licensed breeders' or are 'AKC registered' as if these declarations are stamps of quality, but our investigations of licensed puppy mills and the AKC have proven in the past that their assurances are hollow and provide no guarantees of humane treatment," Pacelle's statement said.
Mike Bober, president and CEO of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council, slammed the report, pointing out "several exaggerations and misrepresentations that call the accuracy of the document into question."
The report is a "marketing piece" to push for a restrictive law that would all but ban many breeders outright, he said.
Bober also pointed to a passage in the report that says: "many pet stores in New Jersey appear not to be violating any laws, and some are buying from breeders without recent Animal Welfare Act violations. The fact is that many USDA-licensed breeders without AWA violations can still be considered puppy mills."
"This demonstrates that the report is intentionally sensational in its approach to the subject matter in an effort to rally support for an outright sales ban despite the successes achieved by current state law," Bober said.
The animal welfare organization issued the report to also raise public awareness about a pending bill in the Legislature (S63), that would prevent pet shops from doing business in the state if they violate state law and do not disclose breeder information to the potential buyer. The state Senate passed the bill in June.
N.J. files complaint against 'Just Pups' owner
Humane Society investigators decided to visit the pets stores after local and state health officials shut down the Just Pups pet stores in East Brunswick, East Hanover, Emerson and Paramus.
The owners, Vincent LoSacco, 50, and his brother Leonard LoSacco, 51, were accused earlier this year with animal cruelty after police on April 4 said they found more than 60 puppies left unattended in small crates inside a cold van at the Route 17 pet store in Paramus.
The state Division of Consumer Affairs filed a complaint in July seeking to permanently bar the LoSaccos from selling animals in New Jersey.
Some pet shop owners responded to the report with a mix of surprise and suspicion, and questioned the findings. Most did not return calls seeking comment.
Cindy Knowles of Furrylicious in Whitehouse Station called the report "biased...given the Humane Society's public stance and opposition to retail pet sales and breeding purebred dogs."
"We are constantly working to check our breeders and comply with New Jersey state Laws," Knowles added. "Furrylicious has hundreds of very happy customers and we are constantly working to improve."
The report singled out some shops for the troubling conditions of their dogs, such as Passaic Pets in Passaic, and D & G's Petite Pups in Paterson. Conditions "were so troubling that our staff reported them to local law enforcement agencies for review," according to the report.
A man identifying himself as a manager at Passaic Pets said he has stopped selling dogs after "city hall" contacted him with concerns.
Gary Hager, owner of Bark Avenue in Red Bank, said in a voicemail message that he had acquired only one dog from Judy Maassin, the Iowa breeder that according to the report shot animals in the head. "That was before we knew which breeders were really suspect.
"We have a substandard list (of breeders we will not use and) we adhere to stringently," Hager said.
D & G's owner did not return calls seeking comment.
Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.