Laws for Paws e-Newsletter
SEPTEMBER 2021
CRUEL BREEDER SURRENDERS STATE LICENSE
"The newspaper bedding was soiled with urine and feces. It appears a new layer of newspapers was layered over the soiled layer." -MDA report
Deanna Brundage, a notorious puppy miller from Mercer, Missouri, had her USDA license revoked in 2008 due to a myriad of horrors including deceased dogs and puppies, emaciated dogs, and seven dogs who had been found to be shot in the head.

The dogs had been shot for reasons such as being underweight, giving birth to stillborn puppies, or having hair loss or tumors, the breeder told USDA. Dead puppies were also found at Brundage’s property after they had apparently been left in the cold when the overnight temperatures were in the 20s, among other horrific violations.
Pleading for help.
After failing two pre-licensing inspections carried out by the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA), Brundage finally passed one in November of 2020 and shortly after received her MDA breeding license. Only two months after receiving her MDA license, Brundage received an official letter of warning from the Department due to the substandard conditions of her facility.

As the months progressed MDA was persistent in their inspections and re-inspections of the facility. Brundage received violations for:
  • dogs in the outdoor enclosure not being provided bedding when it was expected to get down to 23 degrees that night,
  • excessive feces,
  • sharp wire points in the outdoor enclosures; a poodle had an injured foot and was bleeding during inspection,
  • inadequate space,
  • contaminated water and lack of continuous access to water,
  • chewed insulation and rodent droppings,
  • incomplete medical records,
  • violation of Program of Veterinary Care,
  • poison on the floor of the sheltered building,
  • and more.

This continued until finally on August 8th, 2021, when Brundage reluctantly surrendered her license due to mounting pressure from MDA.
As of 8/30/2021 Brundage was still in possession of six breeding females, meaning she does not apply for exempt status. She has stated she will meet exempt status within 30 days. Seeing as Brundage has been suspected of breeding without a license in the past we will continue to stay on this matter and request that MDA periodically check in to ensure that this cruel breeder is not breeding illegally.

Although we would have preferred for Brundage to never have received an MDA license, we are grateful for MDA's oversight of this horrendous facility and their actions towards closing it down.

We are heartened that the Alliance's victories with the Animal Care Facilities Act and Canine Cruelty Prevention Act continue to lead to closures of cruel puppy mills.
REMINDER
PLEASE CONTACT THE UNIVERSITY IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO ALREADY

University of Missouri Professor Encourages Dog Breeders to Cruelly “Ram” Insemination Instrument into Dogs
College of Veterinary Medicine Continues its Refusal to Publicly Condemn or Correct the Conduct of Dr. Volkmann
 
Please contact the President of the University and request that the University condemn this practice and to severely restrict and closely monitor this professor regarding future contacts with veterinary students and ask President Choi to take the appropriate action towards instilling a humane attitude within the College of Veterinary Medicine and instruct that the College makes the welfare of the animals a priority in all of its classes.  
 
Mun Choi, Ph.D.
Office of the President
University of Missouri
1520 East Rollins
Columbia, MO 65211
 
 
(573) 882-1288
 
PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR VETERINARIAN AND ASK THAT THEY REACH OUT TO PRESIDENT CHOI AS THIS REFLECTS ON EVERY GRADUATE OF THE SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
 
Dr. Dietrich Volkmann, a teaching professor of reproductive medicine, at the College of Veterinary Medicine, gave a presentation on artificial insemination on July 30 at the annual Canine Care Workshop sponsored by the USDA and the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Dr. Volkmann shockingly instructed the approximately 75 commercial dog breeders in attendance that the breeder should “ram” the pipette into the dog’s vagina when performing artificial insemination. Dr. Volkmann even made a violent gesture with his arm to demonstrate the intensity the breeder should use to force the instrument into the dog’s body.  He then mimicked the yelping noise that a dog makes when he assaults the animal in this manner. 

Dr. Volkmann’s entire presentation demonstrated a strong disdain towards animals. He started by describing the daily routine of a veterinarian and lamented that often the first thing a veterinarian must do in the morning is to have to perform surgery on a “frigging bitch.”  

Appallingly, Dr. Volkmann’s presentation affirmed that it is acceptable to treat animals as inanimate objects with no regard for the gratuitous pain inflicted upon them. Even worse, Dr. Volkmann instructed breeders at the workshop to do likewise, and he undoubtedly communicates this same message to students at the College of Veterinary Medicine – our future veterinarians.  
Dr. Volkmann teaching visiting school groups

Dr. Volkmann’s presentation was repulsive on many levels, including its sexual and misogynistic tone. Attached is a copy of the Alliance letter sent to Dean Henry fully explaining our concerns. Please be forewarned that it is disturbing.


WE WERE RECENTLY INFORMED THAT THE UNIVERSITY HAS REFUSED THE ALLIANCE'S REQUEST TO PUBLICLY RELEASE DR. VOLKMANN'S POWER POINT PRESENTATION AT THE CANINE CARE WORKSHOP. 

PLEASE ASK PRESIDENT CHOI NOT TO COVER-UP THIS INCIDENT BUT RATHER TO PUBLICLY CONDEMN THIS PRESENTATION AND TAKE ACTION TO ENSURE AN HUMANE ENVIRONMENT AT THE COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Thank you to our wonderful volunteers who staffed last weekend's Greentree Festival! You all did a wonderful job educating the public on the life-saving work of the Alliance.

We are currently recruiting volunteers for Midwest Soul Vegfest in Kansas City on October 9th and St. Louis VegFest on October 24th.

We can't wait to see you!
Remember the Alliance in Your Estate Planning
Leaving money to the Alliance through your will or trust is a profound way to create a legacy of compassion and ensure positive change for animals. An even easier way is to name the Alliance as the beneficiary of an IRA or other retirement plan. In any event, we are grateful to be considered as a beneficiary of your overall estate plans. Want to learn more? Email us!
HELPING ANIMALS!

If you find yourself in a situation where you question the treatment of an animal, or the conditions, or maybe you're wondering about helping wildlife or assisting in a rescue, or you have witnessed something that needs to be reported - go to our website because chances are you will find a number and/or a link that can help address it.
A Great Way to Support the Alliance
With so many people shopping online these days, you can now support the Alliance each time you make a purchase on Amazon. Click here or on the icon. Once you've identified "Missouri Alliance for Animals" as your charitable organization of choice, a portion of your purchase will be donated by Amazon to the Alliance each time you shop on Amazon! What a great way to contribute!