ARTICLES

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Thanks to residents below who have written letters. Want to write a letter to the editor? Learn more at ​ACTION.
August 2, 2023
Time for action is now on puppy mills — Karin Raile

For many years, the issue of puppy mills has been discussed at the county level. To give voice to our concerns, we have sent emails and made phone calls to county board members and the planning commission, testified at meetings, and prepared and sent pages upon pages of data explaining the problem.

Over 600 Winona County residents have signed a petition opposing puppy mills and supporting action by the county. (Sign the petition at www.speakupwinonacounty.org.)

Some within the county “get it,” and some don’t. Some have chosen to take action to protect dogs in puppy mills, while others are still caught in an old view that places profits first.

In a May meeting, the County Board chose to keep the puppy mill discussion moving forward. They also discussed a potential ban on permits for future large-scale, dog breeding facilities. Kudos to the three county board members who chose the humane path: Commissioners Meyer, Olson, and Voegeli.

The discussion is not over yet, but we can’t continue to wait more months and years. I realize staff and elected officials come and go, but it’s time to make puppy mills a priority. It’s time to act to stop this cruel business model from continuing to mass produce puppies under the “blessing” of local permits.

Thank you, County Board members, for listening to our concerns. Please place it on the agenda for a final vote.


June 28, 2021
How much more proof is needed? — Anne Joria

Canine commercial breeding establishments (CBEs), also known as “puppy mills,” have often been regarded as harmful to a canine’s well-being. Skeptics sometimes counter that any supporting evidence is merely anecdotal.

A comprehensive study published in the November 2011 issue of the journal Applied Animal Science Behavior set out to determine whether these “anecdotes” could be established empirically. The authors (McMillan, Duffy, and Serpell) studied 1,169 former CBE dogs and compared their behavior to similar, non-CBE pets. 

Their study demonstrated that “dogs maintained in these [CBE] environments develop extreme and persistent fears and phobias, possible learning deficits as evidenced by lower trainability, and often show difficulty in coping successfully with normal existence... [T]his study provides the first quantitative evidence that the conditions prevailing in CBEs are injurious to the mental health and welfare of dogs.” 

The harm to dogs and puppies from these facilities is well-documented through published studies as well as real-life stories from pet owners and animal rescue organizations, and yet Winona County continues to grant permits to these businesses. The mass production of puppies all starts with a local permit. Once kennels have a permit, they can then obtain a state or federal license to operate fully and sell to pet stores or brokers.

CBEs are based on an unethical business model, designed to economically benefit the few at the expense of the health and well-being of the dogs and puppies. The Winona County board needs to prioritize the health and welfare of dogs in our county and ban future permits for large-scale dog breeding facilities.

Learn more and sign petition at www.speakupwinonacounty.org.


October 19, 2022
Winona County Board to discuss puppy mills — Anne Joria

The issue of puppy mills in Winona County is heating up. The County Board will be discussing and voting on actions to address puppy mills at the October 25 board meeting. Please attend this meeting at 7 p.m., 202 West Third Street. Make your voice heard. Can't attend? Contact your commissioner, and voice your opinion. Find details at www.speakupwinonacounty.org.


September 10, 2022 - WINONA DAILY NEWS
Speak up for dogs and against puppy mills — Anna Gosling

I am a student. I moved here in 2018 to go to college and love living in Winona.

But there is one thing that I learned about Winona County that disappoints me greatly. This county has multiple puppy mills — more than any other county in the state. For years the county has granted local permits to these large breeding facilities to mass produce puppies.

There is so much data, including countless stories, about the harm to the dogs and puppies who are confined in these kennels for years and bred over and over again until their bodies wear out — all so that the puppies can be sold to pet stores nationwide.

It is time for Winona County to do something about this horrible practice — and it looks like action may finally be taken.

At the Winona County Board meeting held August 23, Commissioners Greg Olson, Marie Kovecsi, and Chris Meyer voted to move the discussion of dog breeding facilities forward. They directed the county attorney's office to present options for an interim ordinance (moratorium) and parameters for a study on the dog breeding industry at the September 27 board meeting.

Please attend the September 27 meeting* as we all need to be there to make sure that we, as the public, are allowed to join in the discussion. This is not just a land use or staff issue. This goes to our core values. Does Winona County care about the welfare of dogs? What do we value? Are we willing to learn and change?

Learn more at www.speakupwinonacounty.org.

*NOTE: Issue was to be discussed on September 27; it has been rescheduled for the October 25 board meeting.
August 20, 2022 - WINONA DAILY NEWS & LA CROSSE TRIBUNE
Request moratorium on puppy mills​ - Anne Joria

I'm concerned about the physical and psychological welfare of dogs in large-scale breeding facilities, where quality of life can be poor, here in Winona County.

Being held in a cage or pen for years and raised to produce as many puppies as possible can result in severe psychological harm to these animals. Without proper socialization, exercise, veterinary care and love, these dogs may develop lifelong behavior problems. Play matters. Being able to play with a ball, take long walks, or curl up in the sun for a nap all contribute to a well-adjusted, happy dog. The welfare of a dog is not just about food and water.

The County Board will be discussing the issue of large-scale dog breeding facilities in Winona County at the August 23 board meeting. If you're concerned about the number of puppy mills in our county as well as the lack of oversight, let your voice be heard.

Contact the commissioners. Request that a moratorium on new permits be established to allow time to discuss and understand the issue and that discussions include input from animal health experts and the public. Please go to www.speakupwinonacounty.org to learn more.

August 17, 2022 - Winona Post
Finally, we have a voice - Karin Raile

Many thanks to the Winona County Board, which, on August 9, voted yes (unanimously) to discuss the issue of dog breeding facilities in our county.

The "issue" is about the mass production of puppies by industrial breeding facilities, also known as puppy mills. Concern for the welfare of the dogs confined in these kennels and the puppies sold to brokers and pet stores has been around for many years. In the past months, 370 petitions opposing puppy mills have been submitted to the board by Winona County residents.

By allowing discussion, the dogs will finally have a voice — as will all of us who live here and care about the treatment of animals.

Please contact all county commissioners and thank them for their vote, and also ask that they allow the public, with experts in canine health, to participate in any discussion.

Please learn more at www.speakupwinonacounty.org.

August 17, 2022 - Winona Post
Now is the time to act on puppy mills - Rita Jessen

A discussion about puppy mills in Winona County will happen! Now let's make sure the public and experts in canine health are allowed to participate in the discussion.

Commissioner Greg Olson had made a request to bring forward a discussion about dog breeding facilities in Winona County. At the August 9 board meeting, the entire voted yes to discuss this issue!

Due to local permits being granted to industrial dog breeding facilities, Winona County is now known as the puppy mill capitol of Minnesota. These kennel mass-produce puppies. Numerous studies and stories from animal rescues and shelters show the stress and harm to these animals in these facilities — especially the adult dogs who, after years of excessive confinement and breeding, are "used up."

What does the county know about the dog breeding industry and canine health? Why do permit conditions vary so widely? What are the county's compliance measures? Why does the staff continue to defer all animal welfare to the state and federal governments, which have been proven to be ineffective?

It's time to ask and answere these questions.

Please learn more and how you can help at ww.speakupwinonacounty.org. You can find you district and your commissioner at this website. Ask commissioners to consider a moratorium on further permits for these kennels, which would allow a full discussion of the dog breeding industry and include the public in this discussion.

Dec. 9, 2021, WINONA POST
Animal welfare should be part of the discussion - Angie Einsman
As a longtime animal lover who has worked closely with shelters and rescues in Florida and Minnesota, I was shocked and appalled when I recently found out that Winona County has the most puppy mills in the state of Minnesota. I was also deeply disturbed to find out that Winona County does not do any oversight related to animal welfare at the numerous large-scale dog breeding facilities otherwise known as puppy mills. County officials have been adamant that animal welfare should be left up to the state. The fact that some of these facilities were in full operation before the permits were issued is also a major concern. 

"If Winona County does not have the time or resources to follow up with animal welfare, then why are permits being granted in the first place?"
I have seen dogs who end up in shelters or at rescues who have not been socialized properly, resulting in the dogs not being able to bond with their owners or other pets. Often these dogs are returned multiple times to shelters due to socialization issues. They have anxiety and other health problems due to overbreeding and inbreeding. It is a challenge to potty-train them as they have lived in cages or kennels their whole lives. Dogs need to be cared for mentally, socially, and physically so they don’t end up with behavioral issues and illness. 

This is why the Winona County Board needs to discuss animal welfare at these large-scale dog breeding facilities. How are the animals being treated? What happens to the female dogs when they can no longer be bred? How often does the vet examine each animal? What is the fate of a defective puppy? These questions and more should all be getting discussed by the Winona County Board. If Winona County does not have the time or resources to follow up with animal welfare, then why are permits being granted in the first place? I believe puppy mills are a horrible business that harms animals for the sake of money. I support a ban on future permits for puppy mills in Winona County.


Nov. 3, 2021, WINONA POST
Please say no to puppy mills - Gayle B. Goetzman-Stolpa
"Dear Winona County Commissioners, I vote to stop permits allowing further building of multiple breeding facilities, publicly known as puppy mills. Once these huge breeding areas are approved or even monitored, whether chicken, hog or dairy cattle with many non-compliances, they are rarely ever shut down. 

As a young 10-year-old farm girl, I well understood the time, education, and energy it took to socialize a family animal. Many of us have experienced that joy. We know that more than one or two puppies can be a challenge. My mother purchased a brown, terrier-mix, five-year-old male dog we named Tony from a puppy mill that no longer valued him. We were told to keep him in a kennel cage because he was blind in one eye and going blind in the other. He was afraid to come out into the light because he wasn’t used to it and may get lost. When we held him, he was frightened and shaking. He’d tremble and shiver when we spoke to him but he never growled or bit. Tony never became completely socialized. This dog had limited exercise and mental, physical, and behavioral problems that lasted his entire short lifetime. Now, consider what the female dogs endure when all their worth is how many sellable puppies they are forced to produce during each and every cycle of their short life. Their only value is in the profit they produce for their owners.

Yes, animals are considered property by human laws, but in our hearts they are family. Populations must be limited to encourage proper human care.
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I vote to limit further mass production via puppy mills and factory farms. If you feel strongly, as I do, you may leave your name and phone number on my answering machine, 507-454-3305.
 

Oct. 13, 2021, WINONA POST
Winona County has a puppy mill problem - Casey Mundt, Utica
"My family lives in the epicenter of the puppy mills in Winona county. We live south of Utica, where, along with St. Charles, most of these big breeders are located and operating. In 2016, other neighbors attended the County Board meeting when the board was debating where or not to grant permits for seven dog breeding operations. These kennels were already in full operation. These breeders did not bother to get the necessary permit beforehand, but that didn’t seem to matter to the county (or at least three of the five board members who voted for the permits).

"My family lives in the epicenter of the puppy mills in Winona county... We testified against these breeding facility’s because it impacts our home and quality of life. One breeder is about 1,000 yards west of my house, and we hear barking in the kennel."
We testified against these breeding facility’s because it impacts our home and quality of life. One breeder is about 1,000 yards west of my house, and we hear barking in the kennel. At certain times we can’t open the windows or have a calm night outside because the noise is such an annoyance. A few months ago the County Board gave a permit to another puppy mill 500 yards east of my house on the opposite side. In 2016 one commissioner stated that a dog barking is no more bothersome than cows mooing. Really?! We have beef cows across the road, and this is definitely not the case. At least these cattle get to roam around a small pasture. We never see any dogs out getting walked or playing outside. We have two dogs ourselves and know how much time and attention they need.

Certain commissioners have obviously never lived by a dog breeding kennel and don’t seem to care. We oppose these puppy mills and further permits, as do many of our neighbors. I support a moratorium on further permits and a full discussion on what is happening."


Oct. 13, 2021, WINONA POST
Dogs are family, not products - Marylou Hurley, Winona
"Dogs have always been very much a part of our family. My husband and I both grew up with them. I feel that dogs are so very vulnerable and subject to how people treat them. All they want is love, a forever home, food to eat, and a warm place to be. They need exercise and someone to play with them. Puppy mills are cruel because they treat puppies as products. Dogs are pets and meant to be treated as pets, not products. Our County Board needs to stop the growth of puppy mills in Winona County."


Oct. 8, 2021, WINONA POST
Bravo to board members willing to discuss dog breeding - Rita J. Jessen, Winona
"The County Board should have a thorough and informed discussion of Winona County’s dog breeding ordinance and the dog breeding industry. I was pleased to read last week that some commissioners are in favor of doing that. I say, “Bravo to those commissioners!” The County Board should have a better understanding of how their actions have contributed to the overgrowth of puppy mills in Winona County. 

For years, people from the community have told commissioners that puppy mills are a problem. We don’t want Winona County to be known for this inhumane treatment of dogs; and yet the board has continued to grant permits to these large breeding facilities — so more and more puppies can be mass-produced. It is inhumane to leave dogs caged for life and bred repeatedly in these facilities.

Further, it appears that the county does not have the resources to ensure compliance once the permits are granted and is also passing off anything related to animal welfare to the state. Commissioner Olson said in a recent Winona Post article that “I think if we issue a permit, we have a responsibility to verify that those conditions have been met.” I agree! Good governance is about responsibility and accountability. I appreciate that some commissioners know this and welcome a long-overdue, in-depth discussion about puppy mills and the role of the county. This indeed is a step in the right direction."

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Oct. 8, 2021, WINONA POST
County needs to act on dog kennels — Karin Raile, Winona
"Why aren’t we known as the humane capitol of Minnesota? I read the recent article about dog breeding kennels in Winona County and that a moratorium is still “on the table.” Wonderful! I support a moratorium on further permits of dog breeding kennels that will allow real discussion.

I have lived in Winona County for over 20 years. For as long as I can remember, I have supported animals. I care about how animals are treated; that includes how businesses treat animals, too. I have followed this issue for many years, including back in 2016 when the County Board gave permits to seven of these puppy mills. It still continues. I testified at one of the recent board meetings in August and expressed my concern about these kennels. I am happy to see that the County Board is willing to discuss the permits, the conditions, and (hopefully) the treatment of the animals. 

These mills are not producing lumber or flowers — they’re keeping adult dogs for years in cages and pens and mass breeding them to create multiple puppies to be shipped to brokers and pet stores. I do not support this mass production of puppies. 

One commissioner said that she thinks discussion of animal health and welfare is micromanaging. It is not. It is the board’s role to govern responsibly and to reflect our values in the county. If the County Board (with recommendations by county staff) is granting permits with conditions but not following up to ensure compliance, that is not good governance. Yes, that can take time and effort. But why grant a permit if you’re not going to check it? Especially when it involves the production of living, breathing dogs and puppies. Dogs in these kennels are not the same as dogs on a “city block,” as she suggests. Dogs in homes get walks and playtime, and love and attention. They are part of the family. Dogs and puppies in these breeding kennels are seen as inventory and products to be sold; the less labor and energy spent with the animals, the more profit for the kennels. It’s about making money at the expense of the dogs’ health and wellbeing. 

This issue can no longer be pushed under the rug. The County Board needs to step up and make changes — for the community and for the animals. Winona County should be known as the humane capitol of Minnesota, not the puppy mill capitol of Minnesota."

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