Attorney General's News Release

March 28, 2008

Nixon obtains order to stop Gasconade County kennel that sold dogs with parvovirus from shipping or selling any dogs

Hermann, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon today obtained a court order to stop the owner of a kennel in Gasconade County who sold sick dogs from selling or shipping any more dogs. Nixon filed the lawsuit against Jodie Craft, who does business as Safe Haven Puppy Rescue and Rise-N-Shine Kennels, after inspectors from the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) determined that Craft had recently sold and shipped three dogs that were diagnosed with parvovirus, a highly contagious viral disease. Craft’s business is located at 1151 Highway Y in Bland.

An MDA inspection on Feb. 22, 2008 found that Craft’s animal facilities failed to meet minimum health and operating standards under the state’s Animal Care Facilities Act. She was ordered to rectify those deficiencies.

In mid-March, Craft reported parvovirus-like symptoms among dogs at her facility to one of the kennel’s attending veterinarians. Three individuals who had purchased dogs from Craft in March took the dogs to veterinarians where they were diagnosed with the disease. Craft reported that seven other dogs at her kennel had been sold and were awaiting shipment.

When MDA inspectors went to Craft’s facility on March 21 and asked her for medical records, they witnessed her removing labels from several vials and applying those labels to records – make it impossible to determine with any certainty the true health records of any of the dogs in her possession or control.

“This owner has not properly quarantined sick dogs at her kennel, and continues to put more animals at risk,” Nixon said. “This temporary restraining order is necessary for the health and welfare of not only the dogs in her possession, but also other dogs across the country that might come in contact with the sick dogs if they are sold and shipped.”

Nixon said that since mid-2006, the Better Business Bureau that covers eastern Missouri had received nine complaints from consumers across the country who had purchased animals from Craft and either received sick dogs or had not received any dogs at all.

Nixon is seeking preliminary and permanent injunctions from the Gasconade County Circuit Court against Craft to prevent future violations of the law.

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Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

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