Michigan Cracks Down On 'Inhumane' Puppy Mill

MICHIGAN — A business allegedly running an inhumane and unsanitary puppy-peddling operation in Hillsdale County has been put on notice by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. This is the first legal action Nessel’s Corporate Oversight Division has taken against a puppy mill since she announced her crackdown on puppy scams in April.

Nessel's office said she learned of the inhumane operation through complaints referred to the department by Monroe County Animal Control and the Humane Society of the United States. The complaints said puppy mill owner Paul Steury and his associate, Peter Miller, were selling sick puppies and adult dogs to consumers and providing false documentation of the breed, age, health and vaccination records. Providing false or misleading information in connection with the sale of goods is a violation of the state’s Consumer Protection Act.

“For many Michiganders, pets are an extension of their family,” Nessel said. “These puppy-mill operators appear to be brazenly taking advantage of Michigan consumers and their love for animals with zero regard for the health or welfare of the dogs they’re selling.”

Each year, U.S. consumers spend more than $1 billion buying puppies without realizing they might be doing business with scammers, puppy-mill operators or both, Nessel's office said.

"Puppy mills are inhumane, dog breeding operations that keep dogs in overcrowded and unhealthy conditions and are not regulated by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development," her office said in a statement. "Breeders hide their poor conditions by meeting buyers at offsite locations or selling through pet stores or online."

In addition, Nessel’s office asked the Hillsdale County Circuit Court for investigative subpoenas to gather more information about the operation. Nessel's office said it believes the business is engaged in several unfair and deceptive trade practices made unlawful by the Michigan Consumer Protection Act, including:

• Representing that goods or services are of a particular standard, quality, or grade, or that goods are of a particular style or model, if they are of another.
• Failing to reveal a material fact, the omission of which tends to mislead or deceive the consumer, and which fact could not reasonably be known by the consumer.
• Making a representation of fact or statement of fact material to the transaction such that a person reasonably believes the represented or suggested state of affairs to be other than it actually is.
• Failing to reveal facts that are material to the transaction in light of representations of fact made in a positive manner.

“While every dog deserves a loving home, my office will make it a priority to protect Michigan residents from unscrupulous exploiters of pets who violate our state’s consumer protection laws in an effort to line their pockets at the expense of animal welfare,” Nessel added.

Steury and Miller have 10 days to provide Nessel's office with assurances they will stop their illegal practices. A copy of Nessel's action against the business can be read here.

In addition, Nessel's Consumer Protection Division today published a consumer alert to help dog lovers spot and stop illegal puppy-mill operations. The first step consumers should take is demanding to see the mother of the puppy and the premises where the puppy is being cared for.