ACTION ALERT:
Contact:
Dr. Robert Gibbens
Director, Animal Welfare Operations, USDA-APHIS
[email protected]
[email protected]
Please levy the MAXIMUM FINE against Envigo RMS LLC for their blatant
disregard of the Animal Welfare Act when their negligence allowed hundreds
of puppies to die without discovering a cause of death. Many of the puppies
bodies could not be examined by a veterinarian because they had begun to
decompose. Adult dogs were injured in fights due to faulty enclosures. Their
behavior should NOT be tolerated and MUST be punished to the fullest extent
of the law.
Envigo's Breeder license must be revoked and this company must also receive
the maximum fine allowable under the Animal Welfare Act $10,000 per
infraction/per animal.
New images show jarring conditions inside Virginia dog breeding facility
From Ben Dennis, WRIC.com, March 7, 2022
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — New video unearthed amid a federal investigation
into a Cumberland dog breeding facility shows puppies lying in feces and in
excessive heat, while others show dogs with tooth decay, and desperately
trying to reach food.
Animal welfare organization “Stop Animal Exploitation Now!” shared the
jarring findings of a July 2021 inspection by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) at the Envigo dog breeding facility. 8News has
investigated allegations of animal mistreatment at the facility for two
years; detailing the USDA’s animal welfare violation citations last fall.
The images, never before seen by the public, show the living conditions for
dogs there — at the time, in excess of 1,600, according to an Envigo
spokesperson.
Over 400 adult dogs, and 700 puppies were housed in excessive heat for
hours, ranging from 85 to 92 degrees in multiple rooms, according to the
USDA report.
SAEN Co-Founder Michael Budkie said, “this is quite easily one of the worst
facilities for which I have ever received information.”
In one video, a female dog nursing puppies can be seen desperately trying to
access food through her cage, while other images show dogs with rotting
teeth, bruises and abrasions as well as troughs of piling feces.
“When the violations are so numerous and so egregious, we believe that they
simply should not be allowed to have animals in their possession,” Budkie
said.
Several bills that would crack down on breeding facilities advanced through
the General Assembly Monday, inching closer to Governor Youngkin’s desk for
approval.
Mark Hubbard, an Envigo spokesperson, responded to 8News’ request for
comment after the July inspection photos and videos were discovered, saying,
“The story is not new. There have been documented issues at the facility and
Envigo is taking the necessary actions to address those issues. These are
not issues that can be solved in days or weeks. It takes time and Envigo is
working as fast as possible to resolve.”
After the USDA’s findings last summer, Hubbard shared a list of how facility
operators would step in, including adding fans for cooling the facility, as
well as adopting dogs out and donating dogs to medical researchers.
“These steps are aimed at avoiding euthanization of Envigo animals and
either ensuring they are utilized for necessary research or can be placed in
a safe and loving home,” the statement read.
Hubbard also said the facility would receive better cleaning, dogs have
received veterinary service and additional hires would help decrease the
total staff-to-dog responsibility of care.