Jefferson City, MO – In an out of court settlement with the Nashville, TN Metro Public Health Department, Missouri-based Do Bo Tri Kennels agreed to relinquish custody of the 147 puppies who were recently involved in a transportation incident that left four puppies dead and hundreds others fighting to stay alive. Metro attorneys agreed to drop cruelty charges against the driver, Curtis Baker, 19, in spite of the negligence and callous disregard for the health and well being of the puppies destined for pet stores in Tennessee and beyond.

The vehicle used to transport the puppies had experienced mechanical difficulties that required maintenance and was left at a local garage for repairs. Workers where the vehicle had been left the night before had to bathe some of the puppies and soak others in wet towels to lower body temperatures. Out of 147 puppies being transported, four died and one tested positive to the highly infectious parvovirus.

"I am absolutely stunned at the outcome of this matter that I believe warranted the harshest punishment allowed by Tennessee law. This was not the first shipping incident for Do Bo Tri Kennels and I am disappointed that the gravity of the incident was either ignored or simply just not understood by Nashville authorities," said Marshall Smith, Director of Investigations for IDA.

"Dealers" such as Do Bo Tri Kennels and their puppy mill suppliers are licensed and inspected by the USDA's "Animal Care" unit, which is a division of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Since Animal Care is only responsible for activities pursuant to the Animal Welfare Act and corresponding regulations, it is a relatively small division.

"It is inconceivable to me as to why the USDA continues to allow millions of puppies and breeder dogs to be housed, raised, and shipped under such horribly abusive conditions," said Gretchen Hersman of IDA's Midwest Regional Office. "Is non-enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act the true intent of Congress?"

A recent Dateline NBC expose focused on the commercial pet trade and the puppy mills that supply puppies to pet stores through "dealers" such as Do Bo Tri Kennels. Throughout the year, thousands of puppies are shipped out of facilities operated by Do Bo Tri Kennels to pet stores in the United States, Mexico and Spain.

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Background information about IDA's Puppy Mill investigations and research