BEWARE OF JULIE MARTINEZ AND GRANT SMITH OF MITTELWEST - Page 3

I know nothing of this situation personally. I do question that the only report sumitted said no abuse but you say the final report says differently, yet the investigation is not completed. Before we destroy someone’s reputation and livelyhood, you should present proof. Yes, I can get the final report once completed, but the damage will be done even if the report disproves your allegations.

Fair enough. This post was mainly to warn others of the current parvo outbreak and what is going on behind closed doors and to take caution when dealing with puppies or training currently on premises. For the sake of your puppies or doggies for those who are local, please reschedule your visit days. Training for the past few Saturdays have been cancelled. I will no longer make any more comments in regards to this issue, but to advise anyone and everyone to do your research before making any planning or decisions.

FOIA will be filed for MCAC and once the report is received (48-72 business hours), results will be posted.

I do think that until/unless the photos can be verified as having been taken at that kennel, they ought to be removed.

I keep thinking back to my old hunter days when training, lessons events would be cancelled and barns quarantined for strangles. Why isn't this happening here? Parvo on the premises is nothing to be ashamed of, it can happen to anyone but I think they should be letting people know about it. It's highly contageous! Another thing when I looked at Mittlewest's website some time ago I didn't see a whole lot there that turned me on or would make me want to buy a puppy from them. I looked at it again a few minutes ago and it's just chock full of things about how their dogs are the best, prettiest, most gorgeous, beuatiful, blah blah blah in the world. Yes they are pretty but it was nauseating. With a list of 44 breeding bitches, 6 studs, and dozens of litters on the ground or being planned this spring, that's a lot of dogs. Not counting their retired dogs, nonbreeding stock, leased bitches, youngsters held back or boarders! I hope they're practicing good sanitation and have a plan in place.

The person who took the pictures of the dead puppies is now afraid to come forward so they will be removed.

Due to the escalation of the situation and out of respect for the admin and community of PDB, I will request to remove the photos of the dead puppies. The purpose of the post was to inform the public of the situation. Those who want any updates on the current report with the Dept of Ag can obtain the information once it is closed because it is public information. I just want to note that it is very important to do your research and take caution as parvo as we all know is deadly and caustic. Information that is done from investigations will be available and chose your sources of information wisely.

As far as the pictures- due to the source of the pictures wanting to remain anonymous, I will not be able to disclose who took the actual pictures themselves. I can say that I know for certain those were taken on premises as I have been on the premises multiple times and know where they were taken.

If you have any questions or concerns, I would advise contacting Animal Control or IL Department of Ag to inquire for the true detail. Thank you.

This would be a good time to point some things out:

If someone is going to take photographs to document a situation, it’s imperative to ensure the camera used is set to digitally stamp the images with the time, date and GPS location to establish when and where they were taken. Without that, it’s as if the pictures don’t exist, because they could have come from anywhere or anytime.

The treatment protocol that was posted, to my eyes as a vet tech, is no different than what would be done for puppies with parvovirus which are admitted to a veterinary hospital to be treated. It is not unusual for a vet to have the owner administer the treatment at home, if they feel the owner is capable of following the directions of the vet—it is easier on the sick animals, and reduces the potential for spread of the disease, so there’s nothing negative to be construed by that information. There’s nothing on that document that indicates who those instructions were issued to, or when they were issued, and letterhead is easily manufactured or manipulated, so again this is information that could have come from anywhere and at anytime.

At the moment, then, there’s an inspection record that indicates no issues were found at this facility, and confirmation that two complaints had been phoned in anonymously. That tells us exactly one thing: one should use common sense and due diligence whenever visiting any breeder, or anyplace where dogs may be exposed to a pathogen shed by a sick dog (the vet, dog shows & trials, dog parks, training classes or groups, even places like Home Depot, Petsmart & farm supply stores).

Diseases such as parvovirus and distemper are still with us, and now we have two strains of canine influenza to watch for as well. An outbreak of any of these can occur in any kennel, and isn’t an indication of other than the fact that there are susceptible dogs (puppies & seniors, typically) at that location.

there is a simple solution to this issue. If it is true the Dept of Agriculture should be able to issue a National warning. There are only a handful of transporters to and from Germany and they should be flagged at every point of entry in the US to be examined by Customs and the Dept of Agriculture. Anything less is either untrue or a lapse of US Dept of Agriculture protocol. End of story.

Well said, both Hexe and Momma.

 

I would like to suggest, though, that where ANY contagious disease, whether imported with the dogs or not, whether being adequately medically treated or not, rears its ugly head in any commercial kennel, the kennel owners really ought to make that fact* public; and shut down food & peripherals sales, boarding/grooming access, training classes, and anything else they are running which involves other people and their dogs coming onto the property, until there is an all-clear. Placing sick dogs in an 'isolation unit' (however well accomodated), and scrubbing floors, really isn't enough. This honest preventative approach is no more than we should rightly expect from the small 'hobby breeder'; IMO there's no reason not to expect a commercial kennel to comply in the same way.  Profit isn't inviolate.  What do others think ?

 

*@ the OP: I don't see a need to go into numbers affected, or the toll of how many pups have died, for this warning to be given.