Puppy Sale Sparks Controversy

By: Sara Stewart, Reporter

Tools

By Claire Kellett

Story Created: Nov 22, 2008 at 7:27 PM CST

Story Updated: Nov 22, 2008 at 8:14 PM CST

KALONA - A puppy sale in Kalona Saturday sparked controversy but not a lot of puppy sales. Protesters say the dogs are from puppy mills.

At one point in the day, there were 32 breeders showing off 300 dogs at the Pathway Christian school in Kalona. Several people showed up to look, but very few dogs went to a new home. Both the breeders and the organizers say that's because of the negative press.

KCRG TV9 News talked with some lookers who say they saw nothing wrong with the puppies. However, one breeder showing just two dogs left, saying she didn't belong. Some breeders wouldn't let TV9 film their dogs. The other breeders insist they don't run a puppy mill.

"No I don't. I love my dogs. They all have adequate space to live in. A puppy mill is where they crowd them all together, and they don't take good care of them. We do as breeders," says Maryellen Deutschle, a breeder.

Deutschle sold only one dog and bought two others to breed. She says she has 30 puppies for sale and 50 adults in 12 different breeds.

The sale's organizer says these dogs are up to date on their shots. and that they have weeded out any possible troublesome breeders.

However, TV9 News spoke with the director of Animal Welfare in Iowa City who also went to the sale. She says she saw a several dogs there with health problems.

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