Dog Breeder Churns Out Deformed Puppies and Racks Up Animal Welfare Violations; PETA Calls For Shutdown
For Immediate Release:
May 7, 2024
Contact:
Maddy Missett 202-483-7382
After learning that local breeder Lois Baker, owner of Louie’s Miniature Dachshunds, churns out dogs with physical deformities that are highly likely to cause painful medical conditions and lifelong suffering, PETA fired off a letter today to the puppy mill’s operator urging her to shut down the shameful facility. PETA also points out that Baker misleads members of the public by falsely claiming on her website that her operation has “always been found to be fully compliant,” even though the group uncovered that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has cited it for a slew of federal animal welfare violations—including for an underweight dog, multiple dogs with dental disease, and a dog whose toenails were so long they were “causing her toes to deviate.”
Due to their intentionally bred deformities, dachshunds have a higher risk of developing lifelong spinal, knee, and other joint problems and up to a quarter of them suffer from painful intervertebral disc disease. Germany recently proposed a ban on breeding dachshunds—a national symbol in the country—and other dogs with “skeletal anomalies” that cause serious health problems, who are victims of what the legislation refers to as “torture breeding.” Breeding any dog also contributes to the companion animal overpopulation crisis, in which around 70 million cats and dogs are homeless in the U.S. at any given time.
“Pumping out hundreds of deliberately deformed puppies while millions of dogs in shelters are desperate for loving homes is reprehensible,” says PETA Vice President of Evidence Analysis Daniel Paden. “PETA urges Lois Baker to give up all these dogs immediately and reminds everyone never to buy any animal from a breeder or a pet store.”
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
PETA’s letter to Baker follows.
May 7, 2024
Lois Baker
Owner
Dear Ms. Baker:
In light of your operation’s remarkable history of failing to meet the bare minimum requirements of the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA)—and dachshunds’ painful deformities—I’m writing to urge you to stop breeding these animals. We understand that this would be a radical step, but please consider the following with an open mind—and realize that you could set an inspiring, humane example for your colleagues around the world.
Contrary to your claim to “have always been found to be fully compliant” with the AWA, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) records reveal that inspectors have cited you for at least 17 alleged violations. Last December, a USDA veterinarian found that one of your dogs was “very thin … her vertebrae and ribs [were] easily palpated with very little fat observed around her abdomen.” The dog also had “a large accumulation of gray colored material on her upper and lower teeth.” In May 2023, this veterinarian found two other dogs at your operation with “moderate to severe tartar primarily on their canines.” In July 2021, the veterinarian found two of your dogs with “severe” and “extensive tartar” on their teeth; the second dog also had overgrown toenails, which were “causing her toes to deviate” and might “result in lameness.”
The long spine and stubby legs dachshund breeders select for often cause these dogs to suffer from herniated and malformed discs and joint pain. Due to these painful deformities, Germany has proposed banning breeding the dogs. A Cornell University veterinarian recently said that “the miniature dachshund is the most likely breed to have an intervertebral disc displacement and … multiple [dachshunds] com[e] in for surgery every week.” Breeding these dogs causes immense suffering throughout their lifetime, and they often need costly medical care that your customers may not be aware of or cannot afford. These surgeries aren’t just costly—they’re dangerous, extremely painful, and traumatic for dogs and their human families. These deformities compromise the dogs’ health, quality of life, and emotional welfare.
Breeders are largely responsible for the homeless companion animal crisis, and there are around 70 million homeless dogs and cats in the U.S. at any given time. Times are changing, and these issues cannot be ignored. Please stop exploiting these dogs and perpetuating the myth that their deformities are something to celebrate. Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Elise Fisher
Evidence Analyst
Cruelty Investigations Department
PETA
