PuppyFind Puppy Mill Case: A Buyer Complaint That Led to a Rescue.

In 2019, a family contacted Stop Online Puppy Mills after purchasing a dog through PuppyFind.com. Their complaint helped uncover a breeder using multiple aliases and locations to sell dogs online. The investigation ultimately contributed to a 2020 raid in which hundreds of dogs and puppies were removed from the property.

Unmasking a Puppy Mill—A Family’s Story

The Initial Contact

On November 4, 2019, Stop Online Puppy Mills received a distressing email from a woman who had purchased a puppy online via PuppyFind.com. She arranged to meet the breeder in a parking lot to finalize the transaction. However, when she saw the dog, she immediately realized it wasn’t the puppy she thought she was buying.

The puppy appeared much older than expected, and when she asked the breeder if there had been a mix-up, he assured her there was no confusion. The dog, described as “smelling like death,” was in visibly poor condition. Reluctant to leave the puppy in the man’s care, she paid for the dog and took it home.

Veterinary Findings

The woman brought the puppy to her veterinarian, where more alarming discoveries were made:

The puppy was closer to eight months old, with a full set of adult teeth.

The provided vaccination and shot records were fake and did not match the puppy’s age.

The puppy had been neutered, but not through proper veterinary methods, raising serious concerns about its origins.

Connecting the Dots

Angered by the situation, the woman began to investigation. She monitored the breeder’s PuppyFind.com page and conducted online research, including searches on the Better Business Bureau and social media platforms. Her efforts uncovered a disturbing pattern:

Other families shared similar stories, reporting fake paperwork, improper neutering, and puppies that didn’t match their descriptions.

The breeder used multiple aliases and listed different towns as his location.

The same photos of puppies were reposted with altered names and ages to attract buyers.

In one instance, the woman found a photo of the exact dog she had purchased being advertised again, confirming the breeder’s deceptive practices.

Uncovering the Breeder’s Identity

Through further digging, the woman discovered the breeder’s real name and his connection to two women previously charged with animal cruelty and banned from owning animals. This trio was using PuppyFind.com to sell dogs under false pretenses, operating a covert puppy mill.

Stop Online Puppy Mills Steps In

After reaching out to several national animal organizations with no response, the woman contacted Stop Online Puppy Mills. Stop Online Puppy Mills immediately took action, collaborating with the woman and Guardians of Rescue to build a case against the breeder. Together, they:

Gathered testimonies from victims who shared consistent stories of fraud and cruelty.

Investigated the breeder’s operation, which included a additional website selling “Rare Miniature Dachshunds.”

Discovered the breeder had been listed on the Humane Society’s 2017 Horrible Hundred list of problem puppy mills.

Building the Case

As the investigation unfolded, the team:

Identified the breeder’s property, where neighbors complained of unbearable stench and constant noise from the dogs.

Documented instances of Miniature Dachshunds being found abandoned in nearby counties, all in terrible condition.

Collected mounting evidence of animal cruelty and fraudulent practices.

Despite Tennessee’s weak animal cruelty laws, the Guardians of Rescue worked tirelessly with local law enforcement to provide the necessary evidence for a search warrant.

The Raid and Rescue

On June 20, 2020, after seven months of relentless efforts, the sheriff obtained a search warrant and raided the breeder’s property. The findings were shocking:

Over 600 dogs and puppies were discovered living in deplorable and inhumane conditions.

The animals were confined to filthy, overcrowded spaces, suffering from neglect and abuse.

The Outcome

This case highlights the importance of buyer vigilance and the power of collaboration between organizations and individuals. By taking swift action, Stop Online Puppy Mills and the Guardians of Rescue were able to dismantle a large-scale puppy mill and rescue hundreds of dogs from a life of misery.

Puppyfind.com has been renamed Puppies.com.

How You Can Help

To avoid supporting puppy mills and their cruel practices:

Never buy a puppy online, sight unseen.

Always meet the mother dog to see her mental and physical conditions and visit the breeder’s facility.

Research breeders thoroughly using resources like the Better Business Bureau and online reviews sites. Google the breeder’s email and phone numbers.

Learn how to identify red flags and how puppy mills sell online. Read more stories about online puppy purchases

Together, we can work to end the suffering caused by puppy mills and ensure a better future for all dogs.