Florida Included In 'Horrible Hundred' Puppy Mill Report

NAPLES, FL —Florida earned a notorious mention on the “Horrible Hundred” list of 100 problem puppy mills and puppy brokers released Monday by the Humane Society of the United States. The report, released every May, details the often-filthy, unhealthy conditions dogs and their offspring are kept in at high-volume breeding operations.

Missouri had the highest number of problem puppy mills for the eighth consecutive year, with 30 noted on the list, followed by Ohio with nine, Kansas and Wisconsin with eight each, Georgia with seven and Pennsylvania with six.

The Humane Society said puppy mills sell to pet stores across the country and through their websites, which means puppies from breeders could end up anywhere in the United States.

This year, the Humane Society’s Horrible Hundred report includes the full list of kennel names and license numbers. Since 2017, some kennel names have been unavailable and were available only by city and state. However, Congress required the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which licenses and regulates puppy breeding facilities, to restore unredacted inspection reports to its online database beginning in February 2020.

The Humane Society of the United States reports there are two Florida dealers on the Horrible Hundred report. Ryan T. Handly who is based out of Grand Island, Florida, and operates Florida Puppies, LLC is listed as a repeat offender in the report. Handly moved to Florida after the state of Wisconsin voided his dog breeder license in 2019 following years of violations that included very dirty water containers coated with a dark residue, a shih-tzu with severe matting which would likely cause discomfort and pain, puppies on 1 x 1-inch wire flooring that could allow their feet to fall through and other violations. However, he is still associated with the puppy-selling website, Wisconsin Puppies.

The Humane Society Report says that a review of the USDA's searchable database on April 13, 2020, found no licenses under the name of Ryan Handly in Wisconsin or Florida. There were also no USDA licenses found under the names "Wisconsin Puppies" or "Puppies Florida." Federal regulations state that puppy sellers that ship puppies to buyers that they do not meet in person are required to have a USDA license.

This is Handly's third time listed in this report, according to the Humane Society. Other past issues that date back to 2015 with Handly's operations include citations for failing to provide the proper health certificates with dogs, keeping dogs in cages that were too small, sanitation issues and other animal care violations.

Patch reached out to Handly at the phone number listed on the Puppies Florida website. He has not yet responded to a voicemail with request for comment.

The second dealer listed on the report is Nathan Bazler, operator of Florida Puppies Online, based out of Naples, Fla. He is also listed as a repeat offender. According to the information obtained by Humane Society of the United States from the Department of Animal Services in Collier County, Fla., as of early March 2020, at least 14 puppies had died at the Florida Puppies Online operation in 2019 and early 2020 alone. The total number of puppies who died between 2017 and early March 2020 was at least 26. Some causes listed of death in the records were parvovirus, hypoglycemia, parasites and respiratory infections.

The report states that there was no USDA license found for Florida Puppies Online that allows them to ship sight-unseen from Florida, although it is linked to a business in Ohio that Bazler owns called Little Puppies Online, and it does hold a USDA license. Bazler is connected to another puppy selling site in Maryland called Maryland Puppies Online that offers puppy deliveries to multiple states.

During a July 2016 USDA inspection, Little Puppies Online was cited with the most serious violation, Direct Noncompliant Item by an inspector who discovered that most of its 37 puppy enclosures at its facility were overcrowded. The inspector noted that puppies there were sick, and that recent past medical issues there could be caused by containing animals below the minimum space requirements.

Bazler is also known to sell puppies on Next Day Pets and its Florida Puppies Online Facebook Page, where the massive operation says it's a "family owned small business." Bazler still has an active dealer license in Ohio. This is his second time being listed in the report for violations.

Patch reached out to Bazler at his Naples operation, and he has not returned our phone call.

In its review of inspection reports for puppy mills nationwide, the Humane Society said its researchers uncovered citations for injured and emaciated dogs, dogs and puppies exposed to extreme cold or heat without adequate housing, and dogs living in such filthy conditions their fur was matted with their own waste.

Some breeders admitted to shooting dogs and puppies they no longer wanted, the report said.

The coronavirus pandemic increases the peril for dogs in problem puppy mills because many inspection programs have been put on hold and “dogs rely more than ever on the public to vote with their dollar,” John Goodwin, who heads the Humane Society’s Stop Puppy Mills campaign, said in a news release.

“Dog lovers can help by refusing to buy a puppy or any supplies from pet stores that sell puppies,” Goodwin said. “In addition, it’s critical for pet lovers everywhere to contact their public officials and let them know they support stronger laws and enforcement.”

Instead of buying a dog from a breeder or pet store, the Humane Society suggests adopting a pet from a shelter or rescue organization. Please note that a lot of shelters around Florida have temporarily closed their shelters do the coronavirus pandemic. Check with an adoption shelter before driving out to see if they are open or are accepting adoption visits by appointment only. Below are several adoption organizations in Florida:

SPCA Florida

The National Humane Society

The Florida Humane Society

The Animal League