Cases:

ID: 5520
Date Submitted: 5/6/2008
Breed: Cock-a-poo
Date Purchased: 9/1/1993
Broker: Menning Enterprises Inc
Petshop: Petland #199
Details: Lenticular Sclerosis, Heart Murmur, Luxating Left Patella grade, questionable Valvular Disease, Endocarditis, Subluxation of right Ankle, and Torn Lateral Collateraligament of right Tarsal Joint, Recurring Staph infection on belly, Hip displaysia, Intervertebral Disc Disease. Upper respiratory infection when purchased from store. Sold before 8 weeks of age.

ID: 5020
Date Submitted: 3/29/2008
Breed: Pomeranian
Date Purchased: 3/26/2008
Broker: :Wensmann, Angie & Gerry
Petshop: Exotic Pet Warehouse
Details: Healthy.

ID: 1305
Date Submitted: 11/4/2006
Breed: Poodle (Miniature and Toy)
Date Purchased: 12/30/2005
Broker: Unknown
Petshop: Le Petit Puppy
Details: Dirty, conjunctivitis, parasites, bronchitis.

ID: 1160
Date Submitted: 10/11/2006
Breed: Pug
Date Purchased: 8/18/2006
Broker: unknown
Petshop: Lambs Farm
Details: Diarrhea

ID: 635
Date Submitted: 7/22/2006
Breed: Chihuahua
Date Purchased: 2/25/2004
Broker: Unknown
Petshop: Wizard of Claws
Details: URI; internal parasites.

ID: 572
Date Submitted: 7/10/2006
Breed: Poodle (Miniature and Toy)
Date Purchased: 7/17/2005
Broker: Unknown
Petshop: Pet Ranch
Details: Destructive behavior

ID: 516
Date Submitted: 7/1/2006
Breed: Poodle (Miniature and Toy)
Date Purchased: 5/27/2006
Broker: Unknown
Petshop: Pet Zone inc
Details: Puppy sold "as is" by pet store which stated the puppy might have future back and/or leg problems. It weighed 2.2 lbs. Had stomach virus, ear infection, and eye infection. No muscles in back legs, vet recommended and owner decided to euthanize puppy.

ID: 399
Date Submitted: 6/6/2006
Breed: Yorkshire Terrier
Date Purchased: 3/8/2004
Broker: Unknown
Petshop: Wizard of Claws
Details: Littermates purchased. Luxating patella's both legs on both dogs.

ID: -2248
Date Submitted: 12/6/2004
Breed: Chihuahua
Date Purchased: 10/16/2004
Broker: Unknown
Petshop: Pet-Go-Round
Details: Healthy

ID: -1846
Date Submitted: 9/28/2004
Breed: Bichon Frise
Date Purchased: 2/21/2004
Broker: Unknown
Petshop: New Start Aquarium
Details: ear infections; hip problems, a disc problem in his back, shoulder problems in his front left leg; arthritis in both hips; bone in elbow did not form all the way and does not connect to the elbow; abnormal shoulder, joint did not form correctly.

ID: -1027
Date Submitted: 12/11/2003
Breed: Maltese
Date Purchased: 8/10/2003
Broker: Unknown
Petshop: Wizard of Claws
Details: Healthy

Breeder:
Name: :Wensmann, Angie & Gerry
DBA: Highdarling Cattery
Address: 32358 305th Street
City: Melrose
County: Stearns
State: MN
Zip: 56352

USDA Inspections:
Description:
Date: 6/3/2009
Inspection File: 41-B-0155.pdf
Notes: The inspection date does not reflect the actual date of inspection, but instead the date in which our databases were updated with the most recent inspection. Normally this file will contain inspection records between 2006-2009.

Description: ROUTINE INSPECTION
Date: 9/15/2004
Inspection File: None Available
Notes: The one inch by two inch wire mesh flooring on the outside runs of the kennels on the hill are not coated and are less than 1/8 inch in diameter. This creates potential for comfort and health problems due to the dogs being on uncoated wire less than 1/8 inch in diameter.

These floors need to be coated or replaced with flooring that meets the requirements of this subsection. To be corrected by September 15, 2005.

The indoor raised runs in the kennel building on the hill have more than a day's worth of feces present. Facility staff said that the feces was last removed on Sept. 12th.

Animal waste needs to be removed on a daily basis as the presence of the waste creates potential for increased disease, pest and odor problems. These pens need to be cleaned daily. This affects 12 dogs. To be corrected by September 16, 2004.

Note: The facility was in the process of correcting the above item prior to the end of this inspection.-

ANIMAL INVENTORY:
Adult cats-30
Kittens-18
Adult dogs-200
Puppies-167

Description: ROUTINE INSPECTION
Date: 12/17/2003
Inspection File: None Available
Notes: Each dealer shall maintain programs of adequate veterinary care that include the use of appropriate methods to prevent, control, diagnose, and treat diseases and injuries.

There are two Chihuahuas (one adult female and one younger) that have a swollen area (cherry eye) in the lower corner of one eye. This could affect the health and well-being of the dog and the dogs need to be examined by the attending veterinarian to ensure that proper treatment is administered, if necessary. This condition needs to be addressed to ensure for the health and comfort of the dogs. This affects 2 dogs. Correct by 1/1/04.

Class ``B'' dealers shall identify all live dogs under his or her control by an official USDA tag or approved tattoo. There are 9 younger dogs kept for breeding stock that do not yet have individual identification. These include 2 Poodles, 3 Chihuahuas, and 4 King Charles Spaniels. These younger dogs are all over 16 weeks of age at which age they now require adult identification. The facility has approval to use tattooing as a means of identifying their dogs. These dogs need to be tattooed so that all dogs can be easily identified. This affects 9 dogs. Correct by 1/1/04.

Noncompliances identified on the previous inspection have been corrected.

Inventory:
Adult dogs-161
Puppies-87
Adult cats-45
Kittens-23
Last inspection: 7/16/03
Inspection conducted in the presence of Gregg Habiger, Kennel Manager.

Description: ROUTINE INSPECTION
Date: 7/16/2003
Inspection File: None Available
Notes: Each dealer shall maintain programs of adequate veterinary care that include the use of appropriate methods to prevent, control, diagnose, and treat diseases and injuries. There were two expired medical materials found during this inspection. These materials were Gentamicin Sulfate (expired 7/01) and Sulfamethoxazole & Trimethoprim (expired 6/03). The use of expired medical materials could affect the health of the animals and is not considered appropriate veterinary care. These items must be disposed of to ensure that no expired medical materials are being used. Correct by 7/21/03.

Each dealer shall maintain records that contain all required information concerning each dog, which includes the complete address and USDA license number or driver's and vehicle license numbers, if non-USDA licensed, of the person to whom dogs are acquired from. There were 5 adult dogs acquired on 4/7/03 and 5 puppies acquired on 2/12/03 for which the address and license numbers were not recorded. This information needs to be obtained when acquiring dogs and needs to be recorded on the Record of Dogs on Hand to ensure that records are complete and accurate. Correct by 8/16/03, if possible, and correct with all future acquisitions of dogs.

Each dealer shall allow APHIS officials to examine records required to be kept by the Act and the regulations in this part. The Program of Veterinary Care and Dog Exercise Plan were not available for inspection during this visit. These need to be made available for APHIS officials to examine to ensure that they are current and accurate. Correct immediately.

Primary enclosures must be maintained so that they have no sharp points or edges that could injure the dogs. The bottom of the dog doors in pens H-27 and H-39 are beginning to rust. The plastic covering the back wall of pen H-38 has been damaged so that there are sections ripped away and sharp edges are exposed. There is sharp rusty broken wires present in the back of the outdoor portion of pen H-33. All of these areas need to be repaired or replaced to protect the dogs from injury. The facility should develop a maintenance plan so that items in need of repair can be identified and corrected in a timely manner. This affects 15 adult dogs.

Water receptacles must be kept clean and sanitized. The water receptacles in the three outdoor dog runs need to be cleaned and sanitized as there is a buildup of algae along the sides of the containers. The presence of this contaminant could affect the health of the dogs. Water receptacles must be cleaned more frequently to reduce or prevent the presence of such contaminants as algae in order to provide for the overall health of the dogs. This affects 8 dogs. Correct by 7/18/03.

Inventory:
Adult cats-50
Kittens-29
Adult dogs-147
Puppies-56
Last inspection: 1/30/03
Inspection conducted in the presence of Gregg Habiger, Kennel Manager and Dr. Ellen Magid, SACS-AC.

Description:
Date: 7/16/2003
Inspection File: 41-B-0155_JUL-16-2003.pdf
Notes:

Inventory:
Date: 9/2/1999
Species: Puppy
Count: 53

Date: 9/2/1999
Species: Adult Dog
Count: 106

Date: 6/12/2008
Species: Puppy
Count: 52

Date: 6/12/2008
Species: Adult Dog
Count: 83

AKC Suspensions:I have no suspension information for this breeder.

Miscellaneous:Puppy Peddlers

It is a troubling string of puppy deaths due to a disease veterinarians thought they'd virtually wiped out. The FOX 9 Investigators followed the trail of sick dogs and grieving owners to a Minnesota breeder. FOX 9 bought a puppy from the breeder, a maltese. And experts said our undercover dog deal was full of warning signs.
For starters, the deal goes down in a gas station parking lot in Albany, Minnesota just off interstate 94.

The breeders are Angie and Gerald Wensmann. A FOX 9 producer asks to see where the puppy was living and was told by the Wensmanns that they were too busy to show us the kennel on this day.

We got vague answers when we ask about puppy's parents.

Dr. Melissa Shelton/Crow River Animal Hospital: "That's one of the red flags. If you can't see the parents and you can't see the facilities, run away. Run don't walk."

Ferdinand Peters/Wensmann's Attorney: "My clients have been advised by the humane officer and other vets to minimize disruptions in the area."

But how about how they say they'll send a booster vaccine home with the FOX 9 Producer.

Dr. Andrea Ellings/ University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center: "Not typical to give out booster shots, though perfectly legal. Most people aren't comfortable vaccinating their own dog."

And what about this? Angie Wensmann: "They hit them with shots they don't need. So trust me, if you have questions, call me."

Would a breeder actually discourage an owner from taking a dog to the vet? They might if four different vets had criticized them for selling sick puppies. As for the puppy we bought from the Wensmanns, as soon as we were done talking with them, we rushed our new puppy straight to the Small Animal Clinic at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Hospital in the Twin Cities.

The sales agreement we got from the Wensmanns says the dog's been seen by a vet and is healthy but she's got ear infections which the vet says are moderate to severe.

Ear infections aren't uncommon in puppies but the words ring ominously because we know about other dogs from the same breeder.. Dogs like Maddy, a shih tzue.

Jeff Grabow/Dog Owner: "We met in a parking lot, like an abandoned Dairy Queen parking lot outside of St. Cloud.

Jeff Grabow had seen the Wensmann's puppies for sale ads in the Minneapolis newspaper.

Jeff Grabow/Dog Owner: "They had a van full of dogs. They pulled out a few dogs. Picked which one I liked best, signed the papers on the hood of the car."

At first, Grabow says, Maddy was just a bit lethargic. A few days later she got what seemed like a cold. Within weeks, she was terribly ill. The Grabows tried for two months to keep her going, then had to put her down. Lab tests done before she died showed Maddy had distemper, a virus that can attack a dog's brain and immune system making them susceptible to serious infections,

Distemper is, for the most part, a thing of the past because the vaccine for it is so effective. That's why when the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Lab confirmed distemper during the examinations of a dozen dead puppies late last summer and fall, they became concerned.

Sources tell FOX 9 News that half of the confirmed distemper cases were in puppies sold by Gerald and Angie wensmann.

Lori Kling's family bought two puppies, Peeka and Boo. The Wensmanns showed the Klings the dogs from a van. The Klings had wanted to see the facility but didn't question it when the Wensemann's said:
Lori Kling/Dog Owner: "We'd be more than happy to meet you. That's a lot more convenient. You don't have to drive."

Lori Kling/Dog Owner: "I would never have done it. I don't support that kind of breeding and I just don't know how the dogs are cared for."

Peeka and Boo were sick from the beginning and kept getting sicker. Their vet suspected distemper. The Klings vet sent one of the puppies to the U of M labs. But what upset the Klings even more was that theirs was not the first dog from the Wensmanns that had tested positive for distemper

In fact, before the Klings bought Peeka and Boo last August, Jeff Grabow's Maddy had already gotten sick and had been diagnosed with distemper.

At the same time, a Maltese/Yorki Mix named Scrappy had gotten very sick. Scrappy died on August 5. By August 18th lab tests on scrappy revealed distemper also. By then, the Klings puppy was getting sick.

The Wensmenn's never told the Klings dogs from their kennel had distemper. Dr. Melissa Shelton/Crow River Animal Hospital: "I said, please stop selling puppies until I''ll come up. I'll figure this out with you. Nope, they totally declined."

In all cases, the Wensmanns blamed either the puppies new owners or the puppies' veterinarians.

Ferdinand Peters/Wensmanns' Attorney: "They were medicated by those vets when they shouldn't have been with vaccines and other items that they were warned by the breeder to not do those things because it stresses the puppy."

Dr. Melissa Shelton/Crow River Animal Hospital: "They were the only common denominator between all these puppies and they would blame it on heartworm pills or vaccinations that we gave."

The FOX 9 Investigators obtained letters from three different vets. All believe the Wensmenn's sold sick puppies. The Wensmanns never acknowledged there was a problem at their facility, not to the pet owners, their vets or to the FOX 9 Investigators.

Gerald Wensmann/Dog Breeder: "There's no distemper."
Reporter: "Do you know what's killing the dogs you sold in the metro area?"
Gerald Wensmann/Dog Breeder: "Veterinarians."
Reporter: "In what way?"
"Gerald Wensmann/Dog Breeder: "They're mistreating them."

The Wensmann's say a county humane officer inspected their kennel and found no distemper. Although distemper is not a disease a visual check of a bunch of animals would catch.

In federal government inspection reports, the kennel is cited for inadequate vaccination records and unclean conditions.

The most recent inspection, four months ago the inspector noticed discrepancies between a vet's written record of vaccination schedules and the Wensmann's version of what actually happened.

The inspector also found rusted pens, inadequate cleaning and a build up of food and waste on the underside of the pens for 150 dogs.

So what about the 3-month old Maltese the FOX 9 Investigators bought with the ear infections? We're treating her ear infections. She's eating well and growing. And, so far, no sign of any more serious underlying problems. We'll keep a close eye on her though.

According to their attorney, the Wensmanns have about 100 cats and 200 dogs at their kennel. But are talking about scaling back their operation to get ready for retirement.

Http://www.kmsp.com 2006

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CAPS Investigation:
http://www.caps-web.org/view_investigation_report.php?id=66

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