Watch CBS News

Wis. Puppy Mill Owner Faces 100+ Criminal Charges

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A western Wisconsin man faces almost 120 charges after authorizes seized dozens of malnourished Labrador Retrievers and found several dead ones on his property.

The Pierce County Attorney's Office says 68-year-old Stuart Earl West, of Elmwood, ran a puppy mill In El Paso Township.

He is charged with the following crimes:

  • 21 counts of improper animal shelter.
  • 47 counts of not providing proper indoor ventilation.
  • 47 counts of not providing proper food and drink to confined animals.
  • Someone reported the poor condition of the property after they adopted a dog there on March 28.

    Deputies and an animal inspector visited the property and recorded video that same day, and saw many cases of two or three dogs crammed into travel crates and barely able to move. Investigators say the property reeked of decomposing animals, urine, feces and dog hair.

    West admitted to deputies that he was not a licensed breeder, and his dogs were not vaccinated and registered. He claimed he didn't vaccinate because it "messes with the dog's hormones."

    Wisconsin Puppy Mill Raid
    (credit: ASPCA)

    He also told investigators that he feeds rotting deer and cattle carcasses to the dogs.

    Deputies, members of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the public health department searched the property on April 21.

    West told deputies during this visit that dogs liked to be put into cages together because they are "den animals."

    Deputies then discovered the bodies of 16 deceased dogs in a barn, and placed West under arrest. He told them that the "government" wants to take DNA samples of his dead dogs because "they" can make "a brand-new dog like no one has ever seen."

    Investigators searched the house on the property and found several leather hand whips which appeared to have dried blood on them.

    They said the rest of the house was also in terrible condition, and it appeared that a child was living there.

    The ASPCA brought 35 adult dogs and 13 puppies to the Animal Humane Society in Golden Valley.

    West is being held in the Pierce County Jail.

    View CBS News In
    CBS News App Open
    Chrome Safari Continue
    Be the first to know
    Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.