(C) Iowa Capital Dispatch
This story was originally published by Iowa Capital Dispatch and is unaltered.
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State suggests that breeder cited for dog deaths downsize her business [1]
['Clark Kauffman', 'More From Author', '- February']
Date: 2024-02-16
State regulators are recommending that an Iowa breeder downsize her operation in the wake of several of her dogs dying due to the cold.
In December, a federal inspector from the U.S. Department of Agriculture visited a dog-breeding kennel, located in the Van Buren County town of Cantril. The business operates on property owned by Steve Kruse, one of Iowa’s larger dog breeders, but it is operating under a license held by Wuanita Swedlund.
The federal inspector reported that in November, a French bulldog named Bethany gave birth to four puppies, three of which were found dead within days. Swedlund allegedly indicated “the puppies must have gotten too cold and passed away,” the inspector reported.
Three other puppies, born to a rottweiler, were also found dead at the kennel, with Swedlund allegedly telling inspectors “they must have gotten too cold and died.”
In addition, a puppy born to Megan, a sheepdog, had to be euthanized after a dog in a nearby enclosure chewed through the wall into the puppy’s enclosure and tore the flesh from one leg, leaving the bone exposed. A short time later, a sheepdog puppy from the same litter was determined to be missing. “The licensee states they did find a single bone and assumed Megan ate her puppy,” the inspector reported.
At the time, inspectors indicated they’d be returning to the business on Feb. 1 to conduct a follow-up inspection.
State records indicate that an Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship inspector visited the facility on Feb. 1 and, despite the advance notice, found additional violations related to inadequate veterinary care.
A male pug had some form of unspecified “discharge from both eyes.” A French bulldog had sores on its neck and around one eye; a dog named Snowball had a chronic history of skin issues; other dogs had suspected ear infections or sores between their toes; and a majority of the dogs had long nails needed trimming. Several other dogs were noted to have matted hair.
The IDALS inspector wrote in her report: “Discussed the need to go down in dog numbers to adequately care for dogs on property. Licensee indicated some dogs will be rehomed in the very near future. Additional personnel should be obtained or dog numbers should be decreased. Continued non-compliance may result in IDALS limiting the number of dogs allowed in housing facility.”
State and federal records indicate the number of dogs at Swedlund’s kennel has actually increased – from 157 dogs and puppies at the time of the Dec. 21, 2023, inspection to 159 dogs and puppies on Feb. 1.
Representatives of the Iowa-based animal-welfare organization Bailing Out Benji have filed a complaint about Swedlund’s operations with the Van Buren County sheriff and county attorney. To date, no charges have been filed in the case.
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