Tulsa World: Puppy Showcase

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Puppy Showcase

Dr. Layne Holmes inoculates a Yorkshire terrier puppy this month at the Hunte Corp. in Goodman, Mo. SHERRY BROWN / Tulsa World

By OMER GILLHAM World Staff Writer
Published: 11/18/2007 1:47 AM
Last Modified: 11/18/2007 1:47 AM

Read stories from the Tulsa World’s investigation into the Oklahoma dog-breeding industry, including a database of inspection reports, related documents, photos and videos.

Hunte opens doors to huge facility

GOODMAN, Mo. -- Steve Rook is the president of a company that buys and sells 90,000 puppies each year, but he would never think of replacing "Jake," his 18-year-old dachshund.

As president of the Hunte Corp., Rook literally could have the pick of the litter.

Hunte is one of the largest puppy distributors in the world. Located in Goodman, Mo., just across the Oklahoma state line, Hunte buys and sells purebred puppies for markets in 30 states that include Ohio, Illinois and Florida.

A significant number of the puppies come from licensed breeders in Oklahoma, the second-largest puppy-producing state in the nation behind Missouri. The breeders are licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"Jake is my $20,000 dog," Rook said. "He's had two back surgeries and he gets acupuncture treatment but he still gets around. I made a commitment to take care of him no matter what."

A recent World investigation revealed that unlicensed breeders in Oklahoma are dodging federal regulations by selling large numbers of puppies directly to the public through the Internet, newspapers and street corners. Many of the animals come with health problems that require the owner to spend thousands of dollars to treat.

Currently, Oklahoma lawmakers are putting together a puppy-mill bill that would require anyone selling or giving away 25 or more animals each year to be licensed by the state. A puppy mill typically involves an unlicensed breeder raising a large number of small-breed animals in unsanitary conditions and without adequate veterinarian care.

After seeing the World investigation, Hunte founder Andrew Hunte invited a World reporter and photographer to tour his facility, which is situated in a Missouri town of 1,257 people.

Hunte, 62, discussed his philosophy, company operations and Hunte's focus on working with breeders to produce quality pets for customers. He also discussed his faith in God.

''When we started 16 years ago, we saw a niche to improve standards and practices and we remain focused on that philosophy,'' Hunte said. ''We also founded the company for God and to carry God's word.''

In addition to religious faith, the centerpiece of Hunte's philosophy and competitive edge can be seen in its facility, a massive, block-long structure measuring 200,000 square feet.

In addition to business offices, the $10 million facility houses climate-controlled kennels, a surgery room, grooming shop, examination room, trucking bays, a warehouse and a retail pet store that showcases purebred dogs that sell for up to $1,000 each.

The kennel section is a state-of-the-art building with hospital-like cleanliness. The section features 13 large kennel rooms that are steamed, scrubbed and disinfected each week by Hunte employees. Each room is virtually odorless and has its own air source to keep out germs or viruses that might affect the puppies.

''Cleanliness is next to godliness, and godliness is next to doing what is right and striving to continually improve on what you know and do,'' Rook said.

Rook said Hunte buys purebred puppies from licensed USDA breeders and from hobby breeders who qualify for a USDA exemption by keeping three or fewer breeding females on their premises.

''We spend a lot of time educating and reaching out to the breeders at our annual breeders' conference,'' Rook said. ''When Andrew began the company, he probably rejected 30 percent of the puppies brought to him because of the quality, but that is less than 10 percent now.''

Hunte's breeder conference in September attracted about 2,000 breeders, brokers and industry officials, Rook said.

Meanwhile, as hard as Hunte tries to deliver healthy puppies, there can still be complaints of diseases and congenital defects at the retail level.

The World investigation revealed that customers have filed several complaints against Petland Inc., a chain of pet stores that buy and sell Hunte puppies. Headquartered in Chillicothe, Ohio, Petland has 191 stores in the United States and Canada, said Petland spokeswoman Julie Washburn.

Petland customer Amanda Adams said she bought a miniature dachshund from a Petland in Columbus, Ohio.

Documents provided by Adams reveal that the dog was born Jan. 8 at a kennel in Keota, Okla. Hunte purchased the puppy and sold it to Petland.

Adams said she paid $500 for the puppy in May. After owning the animal for several weeks and noticing that he was occasionally lethargic and shaky, the puppy had a seizure and became nonresponsive in late June.

An examination revealed that the puppy had a liver shunt that essentially poisoned his system with toxins, veterinary records show. The animal also has a persistent heart murmur.

''He almost died,'' Adams said. ''He was lethargic sometimes and he didn't seem to put on weight, but I had no idea what was going on with him.''

Adams said she has paid about $4,500 in veterinarian and surgical bills to correct the puppy's medical problems.

Washburn said Petland offered to pay Adams' original claim of $2,695. After initially agreeing to accept that amount, Adams reportedly changed her mind, Washburn said.

Adams said: ''I refused it because there could be ongoing expenses and because I believe they defrauded me,'' Adams said. ''They sold me a neutered puppy and they used the neutering as a selling point, but why would they neuter a puppy unless something was wrong? I feel like Petland knew that something was wrong all along.''

Records show that Hunte neutered Adams' puppy on March 8 before sending it to Petland. Hunte neutered the animal because one of its testicles had not dropped down from inside, which made it a candidate for potential problems later, Rook said.

''We do these procedures because it is the right thing to do for the customer and for the breed,'' Rook said.

Additionally, Rook said that Hunte neuters or spays puppies with potentially problematic defects such as multiple hernias. However, less than 2 percent of Hunte puppies require such procedures, Rook said.

Hunte offers a 3-year guarantee to its retailers, which involves refunding the retailer its cost of a puppy if the dog has a congenital defect, Rook said. The retailer is responsible for all other costs.

Hunte is licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is subject to unannounced inspections. Additionally, there are state regulations overseeing breeders, dealers, pet stores and anyone else handling a large number of animals, said Dr. Jerry Eber, director of Animal Care Facilities Act Program for the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

''Hunte has a state-of-the-art facility with standards that you like to see in this kind of business,'' Eber said.

Hunte employs 300 workers that include seven veterinarians, 25 veterinary techs and 16 dog groomers. Each puppy purchased by Hunte undergoes two veterinarian examinations, receives a booster shot, grooming and a microchip for identification.

While the Hunte facility is comprehensive and modern, the facility has an additional feature that is unique, but which fits with the Hunte philosophy.

The facility features a chapel for worship services, which are held each Tuesday and Thursday. The chapel can seat 250 people and comes with a worship band. Hunte employees can use the chapel without having to clock out from work, Rook said.

Hunte said: ‘‘Many lives have been changed due to our focus on God’s word and plan.’’

Tale of puppies for sale

How the Hunte Corp. processes puppies

1. Eight-week-old puppy sold to Hunte Corp.

2. Hunte performs veterinarian check, gives booster shot.

3. Grooming and/or minor surgery if needed.

4. One- to five-day stay at Hunte.

5. Second veterinarian check. Shipped by semitrailer to pet stores

6. Arrive at pet store.

Omer Gillham 581-8301
omer.gillham@tulsaworld.com

By OMER GILLHAM World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment Mary O'Connor-Shaver, Lewis Center (11/18/2007 8:31:21 AM) I read with great interest your article, "Puppy Showcase - Hunte Opens Doors to Huge Facility," in today's issue of Tulsa World. The sad truth behind the friendly facade of pet stores whose dogs are supplied by the Hunte Corporation is that there often lies a puppy mill. The documented problems of these mass breeding facilities include overbreeding, inbreeding, minimal veterinary care, poor quality of food and shelter, lack of socialization with humans, overcrowded cages, and the killing of unwanted animals. To the unwitting consumer, this situation frequently means buying a puppy facing an array of immediate veterinary problems or harboring genetically borne diseases that do not appear until years later. Consumer demand for purebred puppies, more than any other factor, perpetuates the misery of puppy mills. Unfortunately, a dog's lifespan is often longer than a consumer's desire to maintain their "product." As a result, millions of purebred dogs are sent to animal shelters every year, where roughly half will be euthanized. Take a look at the financial impact of Columbus Petland stores ( a major purchaser of dogs from the Hunte Corporation) on Franklin County (statistics provided by the Director of Franklin County Animal Shelter, Lisa Wahoff, in November, 2006): 7-10 Petland dogs per day are admitted to the shelter. 80% of those dogs are: not spayed/neutered are in very poor health and/or mental state have no microchip reigstered to anyone other than the broker, and no owner can be tracked. Petland takes no responsibility. are not an appropriate match to the owner, resulting in owner release within one year of the purchase The Results? A low-end average of $30 per day for each Petland dog (if the dog is healthy) X 7-10 dogs = $210-$300 per day! It is my firm belief that until the public truly understands and appreciates the cruel aspect - not to mention the consumer fraud - connected with "dealing dogs", Hunte Corporation will continue to generate millions of dollars for their breeders and retailers.
	Report Comment Linda Schmoldt, (11/18/2007 8:40:00 AM) Good pets do not need to be "produced." There are millions at pet shelters, waiting to be euthanized. How many started out at Hunte? He makes the money but the local taxpayers pay the bill, both monetarily and emotionally. Is that all part of God's plan too?
	Report Comment God Propaganda, (11/18/2007 9:09:21 AM) A life-long Presbyterian and animal lover; I always avoid those business in the yellow pages that say they're Christian, and people like Rook who say it at the very beginning. To me it's their marketing plan. You hook 'em and then close them with "God" just like this story. Secondly, Amanda Adams said. ''They sold me a neutered puppy and they used the neutering as a selling point, but why would they neuter a puppy unless something was wrong?" >>Hello?? They neuter a puppy to stop the insanity of people (like you) who feel an expensive pure-breed from a box store is the only way to buy a canine. Then she said: "I feel like Petland knew that something was wrong all along.'' >>Sounds like buyer's remorse to me; your inner guilt was saying "You should have gone to a generic rescue group or the mini-dachshund rescue league!" Man, the Tulsa World is starting to be like Faux News.
	Report Comment Why "Showcase" ?, (11/18/2007 9:19:44 AM) Why is this called "Puppy SHOWCASE?" To copy from Merriam-Webster: "exhibiting something or someone especially in an attractive or favorable aspect". Of course it looked and smelled attractive, the guy INVITED you in on his terms. Plant undercovers in there to get the real picture. There is NOTHING attractive about the puppy industry except the puppy themselves. But after the first month of cute initial puppiness they spend the next 18 months chewing your shoes, Nintendo cables, carpet binding, coffee table legs, and having accidents. Remember, it's YOUR fault for not crate training and socializing them.
	Report Comment Ex Petland Employee, Ann Arbor (11/18/2007 9:50:43 AM) Some interesting facts about Hunte and his Corporation: 1. Steve Cook is married to Hunte's daughter Jessica and part of Hunte's game of hiding companies behind other companies. Like JessAnd (Jessica/Andrew) and JesStevAnd and JesSteve - all incorporated in Missouri and at different times, owners of the Petlands in the Kansas City area, Joplin and the new Springfield Missouri Petland. 2. Here are just some of the companies that Hunte owns, according to the Missouri Secretary of State. Find my perfect puppy, Inc. Hunte Kennel Systems and Animal Care, Inc. My Little Puppy, Inc. Jessica Hunte, Inc. (Steve Rook and Jessica Rook (formerly Hunte)) Paws Veterinary Clinic, Inc. (Formerly Kenton Beard Veterinary Clinic) Andrew Hunte is president The Puppy Corner, Inc. World of Pups, Inc. (dissolved 7/2006) Jessand, Inc. (Jessica and Andrew Hunte) Jessteve, Inc. (Jessica and Steve Rook, and Andrew Hunte - 13 Wildwood Dr. in Joplin, Hunte's house) "To conduct business as a pet store" Jessteveand, Inc. (Jessica and Steve Rook, Andrew Hunte) Just formed 6/28/07 Article of Inc. states "to conduct business as a retail pet store." (See Petland-Springfield below) Pet Financing, Inc. (Andrew Hunte and JB Hunt are the Board of Directors) Hunte Delivery System - Fictitious Name Hunte Delivery System, Inc. H & H Pets (fictitious name) The Hunte Corporation The Hunte Benevolence Ministry, Inc. (non profit) Petland (fictitious name) Jessica Hunte (Hunte. Corp. address) Petland - Springfield (ficticious name) Created 6/28/07 - JesSteveAnd, Inc. 13 Wildwood Dr. Joplin. 100% owners.
	Report Comment Animals are NOT property, Wichita (11/18/2007 11:06:32 PM) So, my question is this..If you're truely worried about Godliness, Mr. Hunte, and doing the "right thing", then why are you breeding, and buying pups and other animals from breeders??? Do you not know at your senile old age, what the statistics are for animals right now? Do you not understand that what you're doing is making the situation worse for all animals, not just those you deal with?? I don't care how much "God" (whom I love) you throw in there. What you have said here is a LIE. You don't care about the animals at all. You're just a cleaner backyard breeder than most. I don't care how much you "worship", if you continue to sin, the sin is not forgiven when you repent, Sir. You should stop using God as your cover, and just spit the truth for once. You have a nice fat wallet, your family wants/needs for nothing, and you're just fine and dandy with how it affects these animals and all the others that die daily because your dog is great. People like you make me physically sick!
	Report Comment CL, (11/18/2007 11:19:49 PM) I have said it before, but it bears repeating - I hope this series of articles causes more people to turn to animal shelters and rescue groups for their Christmas pets. If you buy a puppy and you do not see where and how the parent dogs live, you risk supporting a large scale breeding operation in which the parent dogs will be condemned to live their entire lives in a small enclosure, breeding again and again as long as they are able.
	Report Comment Robin, Sand Springs (11/18/2007 11:37:24 PM) I seem to remember the Tulsa World doing a series over the summer which led me to believe they cared about animals. I think I was mistaken about that. If you are looking for a puppy, there are always tons of cute ones at the animal shelter or in the classifieds, even in the grocery store parking lot, or running stray after being dumped by their owners- all those free and unwanted puppies. Or if you like a pedigree or a specific breed then look for a responsible breeder or rescue group where the puppies poor parents are not living their entire lives stuck in a cage. ( I don't think that is how GOD would want those creatures treated.)
	Report Comment KATRINA COTTRELL, STILWELL,OK. (11/19/2007 12:24:20 AM) YES I KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT HAVE BAD CONDITIONS , DO NOT TREAT THEIR ANIMALS RIGHT, BUT THEN AGAIN THERE ARE PEOPLE LIKE ME THAT POUR THEIR HEART AND SOUL INTO THEIR ANIMALS AND SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH THEM EVERYDAY,, SOMETIMES ALL DAY LONG... NOT FOR THE MONEY IN GENERAL BUT JUST BECAUSE YOU LOVE YOUR DOGS. ME AND MY CHILDREN SPEND ALL OUR EXTRA TIME WITH OURS, AND I POUR 95% OF THE MONEY I MAKE FROM SALES RIGHT BACK INTO MINE TO GIVE THEM THE BEST FOOD , VET TREATMENT , HOUSING AND CARE I CAN. DON'T PUT US ALL IN THE SAME POT. I HAVE MET MR. HUNTE AND PERSONALLY BEVLIEVE HE IS DOING ALL HE CAN TO DO THE SAME AND ENCOURAGES US TO DO THE SAME. AND I BELIEVE IN HIS FAITH IN GOD! IF YOU WERE TO MEET HIM YOU WOULD TO. I'M NOT THE SAME RELIGION AND I DO NOT EVEN SALE TO HIM . I ONLY DO PERSONAL BUSINESS AND KEEP INTOUCH WITH ALL OF MY CUSTOMERS AND PUPPIES AS LONG AS THE CUSTOMER WILL ME. I DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM BEING USDA LISENCED ,BUT NOT REGULATED BY ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVEIST! YOU PEOPLE WILL DO AWAY WITH FISHING HUNTING AND FARMS IF YOU HAVE YOUR WAY. WHY DON'T YOU GO TO THE CHICKEN PLANTS THAT PRODUCE ALL THE CHICKENS WITH STEROIDS AND THE NASTINESS OF THOSE PLACES.
	Report Comment Ann Garbarino, Rutherglen (11/19/2007 8:23:32 AM) Sure God has a special place for these people that live off a poor Bitch's bodies, then rationalize what good they are doing. For who, or is it called Money. The place is called Hell and may you have some of it on earth. Get turned of by people professing that they have God, in their lives and do what they do. Like murderers in prison. We all look at things differently thank goodness I do not think or make my living like Mr. Hunte.
	Report Comment Evelyn G, (11/19/2007 8:23:41 AM) "Responsible" and "breeder" don't go together. Breeding = misery. Misery for the original breeding animals, misery for offspring that are sold to be breeders, misery for surplus animals, misery for animal rescue volunteers (I'm one) and for public shelter employees. While some facilities themselves are well-run and a few of the animals get good homes, the whole business is sordid. Hiding behind God only makes it worse. Of course, there wouldn't be so many breeders if the public didn't make it profitable.
	Report Comment Jane O'Neil, East Tawas, Michigan 48730 (11/19/2007 10:51:13 AM) Gee Mr Hunte..Why are you hiding behind God for your horrendous deeds? God would never take away babies from their mothers at three to four weeks, ship them to a wharehouse, then on to puppy stores..sick, scared and barely able to eat on their own. Why are you purchasing wholesale from puppymills where the adults are beeeded until they are no longer able to do so then used for field fertilizer?? You are a very wealthy man..Shame on you for making all this money on helpless defenseless dogs?? I have fostered some of your "wholesale auction" pups...They are a mess, skinny, scared silly, unsocialized, rotten teeth, jaws that have decayed due to lack of veterinarian care. Broken legs, feet raw from the wires they are forced to walk on all of their lives..I could go on and on, but you already know the medical issues these babies have Don't try to sell me your "crock"...You will receive your just dues by the God you claim to serve.
	Report Comment Lisa Sauers, Taylor Mill, KY (11/19/2007 11:31:38 AM) Mr. Hunte and all the others just like Mr. Hunte, there is only one Judge and judge maker. When Judgement day comes, I would be concerned, very concerned, if I were you.
	Report Comment Kevin, Tulsa (11/19/2007 1:09:12 PM) ''We also founded the company for God and to carry God's word.'' What a pile of BS. I personally have never seen the quote from God that says to breed these little creatures over and over, then house them in cages and sell them for profit. I kind of think that any decent God would rather you help the many homeless animals in shelters and encourage people to adopt them instead of selling them for profit. Folks, adopt your pets from shelters, help drive these sort of sorry knuckleheads and puppy millers out of business and also save a dog or cats life.
	Report Comment Robin, Sand Springs (11/19/2007 1:45:56 PM) #9 (ALL CAPS PERSON) Like I said there ARE responsible breeders, so if you fit that mold good for you. So you do not sell to Mr Hunte but you just randomly met and talked to him? And by the way, I don't have a problem with eating chickens, hunting or fishing It is not the same thing at all as creating tens of thousands of puppies a year just to line you pocket with some $$ while those mill dog parents live a horrid life in a cage with ZERO love or affection from any human.
	Report Comment RK, OKC (11/19/2007 4:00:26 PM) This article makes me want to vomit. So is the Tulsa paper really wanting to promote puppy mills? I guess so because they just interviewed the biggest one of all. What does God have to do with his business? What a total loser!
	Report Comment N. Carlisle, Tahlequah (11/19/2007 4:49:56 PM) Thanks for the reporting. The contradiction in terms of "reputable breeders" is becoming clearer and clearer as you keep these kinds of activities front and center for your readers. I really like this guy, hiding behind "God" to lend his self-interest a virtuous veneer.
	Report Comment take responsibility, tulsa (11/19/2007 10:32:24 PM) I have a suggestion for the Hunte Corp. For every puppy that they sale to a pet store they need to have a disclosure that states that they will "take responsibility" for that puppy when the new owner doesn't want "it" (the puppy or dog) anymore. Basically, I want them to see the other side of what they are supplying......the shelters. Start a rescue group!!! I'm sorry to say that you won't get rich off of a rescue group.
	Report Comment Ted, (11/20/2007 7:12:28 AM) Hunte put on a sideshow to con a reporter. I would hope that reporter now understands how badly they were conned, and does some true investigative reporting and research.
	Report Comment Ted, (11/20/2007 7:30:14 AM) There is a REASON the reporter did not get to see the HORRIFIC PUPPY MILLS (in other words, Hunte's actual breeders) Because the reporter would have been horrified at where Mr Hunte gets those puppies and the actual condition of those animals- the abuse, the disease, the crippling genetic problems, the lack of vet treatment, the horrific conditions. (By the way, did Mr Hunte talk about the discovery of massive quantities of dead dog and puppy corpses on his property? Or the puppies who have died/ burned to death on his trucks? Or the fact that he is importing puppy mill puppies from horrific puppy mills in Hungary?) I thought that reporters were supposed to be savvy about getting conned.
	Report Comment sniffydogs, (11/20/2007 8:17:22 AM) Like anyone believes this. The best part are the comments. When the Huntes stand before God, they will be judged on all the misery and heartbreak they are reponsible for.
	Report Comment Darbye, Michigan Center MI (11/20/2007 8:22:52 AM) I'm sorry to see that a quality newspaper would write and publish an article of the Enquirer standards. Puppy mills are wrong no matter the size. Everyone should try volinteering at their local shelter for a week. Then determine their opinion of people like Hunte. They are vultures, picking their living off defenseless animals and braying that it is in Gods name. Not my God anyway, and never will be.
	Report Comment Cathy Murch, (11/20/2007 1:19:31 PM) As a exhibitor and hobby breeder of AKC dogs, Mr. Hunte is nothing but the biggest "Puppy Mill" in the country. He buys from USDA Puppy Mills, big deal,most of the USDA Breeders have deplorable conditions and do not test for genetic problems in the breeds. A good hobby breeder put their love, heart and soul into their breed. They spend a lot of money testing for any possible genetric problems that might be known in the breed, such as OFA for hips, CERF for eyes and other tests now available. They breed to improve the breed and not just for the sake of breeding. The so call USDA Breedes that Mr. Hunte deals with do none of this. Good breeders screen potential buyers, if they fell that their breed will not fit into your families life style they will not sell you a puppy. Good breeders have contracts stating that if the puppy can not be kept by you during their lifetime, they must be returned to the breeder. Does Hunte or Petland give you this? The problem is that if someone is turned down by a breeder,they will go to a Pet Store, but the puppy of their choice, no questions asked, lay down a credit card and leave. The store does not care about the puppy, they just want your money. Unfortunately, the American public will never learn and as long as the go to Pet Stores and buy these puppies, their will always be "Puppy Mills" and businesses like Mr. Hunte's. My Kennel Club had a Code of Ethics, which all members must sign in order to be a member of our AKC Club and it contains that they can not sell puppies to wholesalers (Hunte Corp.), retailers (Petland) or research labs.
	Report Comment Barbara Wunder, Orlando, FL (11/20/2007 2:52:27 PM) I always get animals from rescue groups. Really, if everyone did that, then the "mills" would go under and we wouldn't have this problem. There will always be enough accidental dogs to go around - and they are nice dogs, just not so-called purebreds.
	Report Comment Ted, (11/20/2007 4:50:47 PM) Mr. Hunte also talked about the "product" (the puppies) But not a word about the PARENT DOGS- kept in tiny cages for their entire lives, often outdoors, literally getting bred to death By people who have literally said that "God" told them it was ok to abuse and kill animals. The big problems are not at Hunte's temporary facility. The problems are at the BREEDERS that he would not show the reporter. The USDA has failed miserably, by its OWN INSPECTORS' admissions, to properly regulate these breeders. And thanks to pressure from people like Mr Hunte, the state of Missouri has lax laws that aren't enfoced. These breeders get away with murder, and the Missouri Dept of Agriculture is a slave to their whims.

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