Hillsville breeder gives up pups
From the Galax (VA) Gazette
Hillsville breeder gives up pups
Photo by Christopher Brooke
Junior Horton (left), owner of Horton's Pups in Hillsville, and his manager, Timmy Bullion, want to keep raising Yorkies after agreeing to surrender most of their dogs. The dog breeder recently became the focus of a Humane Society puppy mill probe in Virginia. Horton hopes that he can keep 100 to 200 Yorkies.
By Christopher Brooke
HILLSVILLE — A Hillsville dog breeder caught up in the Humane Society probe of puppy mills in Virginia feels his operation is different from the horror stories that the animal advocacy group found in other localities.
Junior Horton, owner of Horton’s Pups off Kaitlyn Drive, near Howlett Street, sees himself as an animal lover and a businessman who runs a tight ship.
Humane Society members visited breeders across Virginia and took undercover video in the span of five months, and the group found some operations with dogs living in crowded unsanitary conditions.
When it came to the Hillsville business, the Humane Society noted that Horton kept 500 to 700 animals for breeding.
Horton’s Pups supplied dogs to at least one pet store, though it did not have the required licensing from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to do so.
Humane Society representatives also objected to breeders at the Hillsville operation keeping dogs in cages all the time to produce more puppy litters.
In an interview with The Gazette, Horton said he had nothing to hide.
“I think it was just the Humane Society targeting dog breeders in the state of Virginia,” Horton said about the situation. “Some of them need to be targeted, I agree.”
Though cooperative with Carroll County and Hillsville authorities — he agreed to surrender about 1,000 dogs — Horton’s attitude by Tuesday was that his puppies were being “dognapped.”
Horton’s Pups bred and offered for sale several lines of small purebred and hybrid dogs, mostly to private individuals. It had several kinds of terriers, like Yorkshires and Jack Russells, miniature Schnauzers, Shih Tzus, Lhasa Apsos, toy poodles and others.
He didn’t object strongly to the assertion that he had between 500 to 700 dogs, but indicated he felt the situation was being exaggerated.
He may have had a lot of dogs, Horton said, but they were properly cared for.
Horton’s Pups employed three men to look after the dogs on a daily basis, he said. The kennels got cleaned and the dogs watered and fed every day. Dogs were bathed once a week.
Dogs got a five-way vaccination in January, and the business’ veterinarian came on-site to give rabies shots, Horton said. Outbuildings that had wire cages with puppies for sale had heat and air.
Workers there were careful not to let fleas come in, because they knew the pests would spread like wildfire, he said. He said he fed the animals high quality, expensive dog food.
“The reason I spent extra money is because I knowed it would pay off,” Horton told The Gazette. “I didn’t want to take no cheap shortcuts.
“I’ve done it for years, so I know what I’m doing.”
Horton has raised dogs for 20 years, but he didn’t know that he was supposed to have a U.S. Department of Agriculture license in order to sell to pet stores.
Horton has not been charged with breaking any law.
Now that he has agreed to give up all but 100 dogs when asked by Carroll County authorities, Horton hopes he can keep up to 200.
As for why he agreed to surrender around 1,000 dogs to authorities, “They said I had no other choice,” Horton explained.
Timmy Bullion, kennel manager, added that there was a threat that federal authorities would come in if Horton didn’t comply.
If allowed, Horton wants to keep up to 200 Yorkies. He believes that number would be justifiable.
“I’m keeping Yorkies because they’re my favorite dogs. They’re sort of rugged like me, I guess. I’m just going to have to regroup and see what’s up.”
Horton resents being a part of this Humane Society probe and the things the animal advocacy group is saying about his business.
He disagrees that he runs a “puppy mill,” a term for an unregulated, low-quality breeding operation.
“That’s a byword they used for somebody who’s trying to make a living, I guess,” Horton said. “They [the Humane Society] got two classifications — either you’re a backyard breeder or a puppy mill.
“If you got one or two dogs, you’re a backyard breeder. And if you’ve got over like 10, 15, 20 dogs, they call you a puppy mill automatically. I guess people that’s got a lot of idle time, got time to worry about other peoples’ business,” Horton said.
He also disputes the Humane Society’s characterization of some of his kennels used for breeding pairs as “rabbit hutches.”
“I’d have to dispute them in anything they have to say,” Horton told The Gazette.
Looking back on the situation now, he wonders why it couldn’t have been resolved differently.
“Why didn’t I get warned or [authorities] give me so many days to sell my own pups or my dogs at my discretion?” he asked. “I should have been allowed to disperse them myself, decide where they go.”
When he sells dogs to individuals, he feels that he has some control over where they go.
He doesn’t have that control over the dogs he surrendered, Horton said. “You don’t know where they’re going. When I sold them, I knowed they were going into loving homes.”
Horton let two of his employees know Tuesday that he didn’t need them any longer, after getting rid of most of his dogs.
One puppy remained in a cage, left by the local authorities because it had already been sold. Horton considered him “Lucky,” and he and others joked that’s what the puppy should be named.
“What we’re dealing with is dognappers,” Horton said.
“I don’t think they should’ve took my business right at Christmas. I had a lot of Christmas pups coming up. I think it was a low blow. I think it was just slimy the way they done it.”
County Administrator Gary Larrowe has said the dogs surrendered by Horton’s Pups will go through examinations to determine their health and then go to animal adoption agencies.
The animals will be spayed and neutered to ensure they will not be bred in the future, Larrowe said.
December 5th, 2007 at 8:19 am
Why would anyone let him keep one yorkie,. What a disaster of an inhumane it.
December 5th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
There haven't been any substantiated reports, as far as I know, that Mr. Horton was keeping his dogs in poor conditions. He seems to have been taking care of them as described in this story. His main error was not having the proper licensing with the USDA so he could legally sell puppies to pet stores. I don't think any charges have been brought against him.
The fact is that there is a great demand in the U.S. for purebred puppies and dogs. Small hobby breeders, and even so-called "backyard" breeders don't come close to producing enough puppies to meet the demand. You have many commercial breeders, like Mr. Horton, who do breed a 1,000 dogs a year. They may not be raised in someone's home, the old-fashioned way, but that doesn't mean that they are raised in poor conditions.
In the past, many top breeders kept dozens or hundreds of dogs in their kennels to select the best for breeding. In those days (75-100 years ago) the dogs judged less than satisfactory may have been culled and "bucketed." The American population was smaller and there was less demand for pet dogs. Now people breed to produce extra puppies and dogs to satisfy the huge demand for pets in this country. According to the petfood industry, we have about 75 million pet dogs in people's homes in the U.S., and that number is growing every year. Like it or not, somebody will produce those dogs, and many of them will be commercially-bred purebred dogs.
I don't think Mr. Horton was inhumane or had bad intentions. It sounds to me like he cared about his dogs and tried to take good care of them, as any farmer would take care of his stock. He would not benefit in any way if they were sick, diseased, or treated poorly. His livelihood depended upon producing and raising healthy puppies. He couldn't sell them unless they were in good shape. I don't think it's hard to believe that he really cared about them.
December 8th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
Carlotta hit the nail on the head.
December 9th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Thank you.
It would be nice if all puppies could be raised in someone's home, but there just aren't that many private people who have puppies anymore. Not enough people breeding to meet the demand for dogs. Even if every dog in a shelter was adopted there would still be an enormous number of people wanting puppies and dogs in this country. Puppies have to come from someone, somewhere. If they can't all come from hobby breeders (people who show dogs or raise dogs for hunting, herding, etc.), commercial breeding is about the only option left. We just need to make sure we don't drive out all of the hobby breeders while we oversee the big breeders. We could lose some rare breeds and good breeders if we do.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:04 am
I think dog breeding should be highly regulated and that pure bred puppies should be very expensive.
This insatiable need for puppies which are then discarded is awful.
As long as the demand is there, the supply will be there. It is capitalism.
I think the entire Horton Pup's bust was a scam. He has not been charged with any crime. If he isn't charged, then his property was stolen.
Yet we do not hear a peep from him. And interestingly all the shelters that got the dogs are very careful not to say anything bad about him other than that he had too many dogs.
No one is talking to the press. There are no follow up stories.
I think Junior Horton got paid for giving up his dogs.
December 11th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
I thought that was reported? Maybe I have Mr. Horton confused with another buy-out at the same time, or maybe they were both done the same way, but I thought that animal rescue organizations did arrange to buy his dogs after alerting the authorities about his lack off a license? I thought he was more or less coerced into selling his dogs to a rescue organization. I believe he said later, in another story, that he didn't know that he had any alternative. He was afraid he'd be charged about the license if he didn't sell his dogs to the rescue organization. He comes across as a simple, honest farmer guy who was kind of bamboozled by some slick people.
That is where I have a problem with rescue groups — when they buy their dogs from commercial breeders and turn around to "adopt" them out to people, charging for the dogs. How is that any different at all from selling the dogs the way pet shops do? There may be a few dogs who need special vet care, but most of the dogs that I have read about have been adopted out just a few weeks later, requiring very little vet care. And vet services to rescue organizations are often donated or provided at a very reduced rate. The rescue organizations obviously make a profit from confiscating a commercial breeder's dogs. Even if they ask for an adoption "donation" of $200, many, many people donate much more to the rescue. I don't think that's right. These organizations have seized someone's property — with the help of animal control or local authorities threatening a breeder — and then they have profited from its sale.
As for regulations, I do agree that large commercial breeders, brokers, dealers and the like should be regulated, similar to the way they are now. However, the danger is when people want to apply government regulations to hobby breeders. There have been efforts in the past to require the same regulations for a small hobby breeder that you would require for a commercial breeder who keeps 200 or more dogs — such as having a drain where you keep your dogs (do you want a drain in your living room floor?), or forcing you to have surfaces capable of being sterilized by 180 degree water (again, not too good for your hardwood floors or carpets). There's no common sense in lumping hobby breeders in with large commercial breeders. In fact, there's no common sense in many of the regulations proposed regarding dog breeding. I do many things related to breeding dogs better than a commercial breeder can do because I can have my dogs in my home and give them unlimited individual attention, but I cannot have drains in the floor of my house, and so forth, which they can have in a commercial building. That's just silly. I don't need things like that!
Should purebred puppies be very expensive? Well, I don't know. People will disagree about that. I know many purebred dog breeders agree with you. Personally, I have placed some of my puppies in homes with people who had to stretch to afford them. I know that I have had to stretch to afford a puppy sometimes. If I have felt that a home was a really good match for one of my puppies I have tried to work something out with a family before, because I feel like the puppy's happiness is the most important thing. I want to feel like the owner(s) can afford to take good care of a puppy/dog and that he/she will get proper vet care if some kind of emergency occurs, but I have never wanted to feel that I turned away the right family because the puppy cost too much.
I really think there ought to be a limit (a self-imposed, good sense limit) on how much puppies cost. I hear about what some puppies cost and it's just hard for me to believe people would pay that much. Some people are simply out of their mind, I think.
December 17th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
SHORTAGE OF DOGS ??? Tell that to the people that work at the local shelters that have to put down millions of dogs every year because of a shortage of homes. Mr. Horton was not scammed out of his dogs, he is not that naive. There is nothing "honest and simple" about this guy, he is trying to make his money at the expense of all of the poor dogs he has managed to aquire. I have had personal dealings with and have been made privy to information from this loser and I truly hope there is a special place in Hell for scum like this.
December 18th, 2007 at 7:59 am
Please see the articles on this site about the animal shelters and rescue organizations which have been importing puppies from Taiwan, Puerto Rico and elsewhere to sell to the public. Yes, some parts of this country have a shortage of adoptable dogs in their shelters.
There is nothing dishonest or illegal about commercial dog breeding, particularly when it is done in compliance with USDA and AWA regulations. It is not how I want to raise my dogs, but there is a greater demand for purebred puppies in this country than hobby breeders or even backyard/one-time breeders can meet. I do believe that everyone should be able to own a dog. So, where are dogs for people going to come from if animal shelters and hobby breeders cannot supply all of them? Importing them from other countries is a bad idea for the risks of disease it carries.
I think it's a better idea to work with commercial breeders to raise their standards of care than to try to eliminate them. It's a much more productive approach.
December 19th, 2007 at 12:01 am
The "shortage of dogs" refers to the insatiable need of people to own and then discard pure bred puppies.
I do not think Junior Horton is simple at all. Right now I am in West Virginia about 200 miles north of Hillsville, Virginia. I am visiting relatives. This is Appalachia here. Median household income–all working parties in the household is $20,000. If Junior Horton owned 1,000 dogs, then he certainly was and probably still is a Big Man on Campus around these parts.
December 19th, 2007 at 12:15 am
I have seen no documentation or reports in the media stating that Junior Horton was paid for his dogs. I personally believe that he was paid, because if he wasn't paid, he would sue.
He has not been charged with a crime.
To coerce him into signing away his property with threats is against the law so the fact that he signed away those dogs is not important.
Either the State must charge him or someone must pay him. He may have been part of a deal between the State of Virginia and the Rescue organizations who wanted the big publicity that such a bust (which took place during National Animal Rescue Week — or whatever it is called) would bring.
I believe that Junior Horton is a sophisticated businessman.
December 24th, 2007 at 1:38 am
Carlotta,
Where can I find information regarding rescue organizations buying dogs? I am very interested in learning more about this.
I am just realizing that some animal rescue organizations are very media saavy and that those in charge have very large incomes.
I visited Horton's Pups last week. The place was spotless. Not spotless like someone had just cleaned it up, but spotless like all the grounds including his own personal house had always been spotless. The houses the dogs were kept in were clean and air tight with climate control.
Why would HSUS and Virgina PAWS go after a large commercial dog breeder who was not abusing his animals (by legal standards) when there are those that do?
I am confused.
December 24th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
The comment below was kindly posted in a different section of the blog by one of our readers:
I read the article you posted from the Galax (VA) Gazette, "Hillsville breeder gives up pups".
I adopted one of the Shih Tzus that Mr. Horton surrendered. I did so through the Baltimore Maryland SPCA. The condition of the dog I adopted was very poor. The SPCA had cut the worst of the mats of hair off. Even so I had to shave her before I could bath her. She reeked of urine and stool.
She is approximately 1 year old. From her behavior she had never been socialized. Never been walked. Never been taught to eliminate outside.
I don't believe that Mr. Horton is the reputable breeder he claims to be. There are too many discrepancies bewteen what Mr. Horton claims and what the Humane Society claims and what the state authorities did in removing the dogs.
SoBoYo
December 24th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
I am respondig to this:
"I adopted one of the Shih Tzus that Mr. Horton surrendered. I did so through the Baltimore Maryland SPCA. The condition of the dog I adopted was very poor. The SPCA had cut the worst of the mats of hair off. Even so I had to shave her before I could bath her. She reeked of urine and stool."
My response:
When dogs are transported in vehicles for the first times in their lives they become motion sick and vomit. They also go to the bathroom. If you adopted a dog that reeked of urnine and stool and was in very poor condition from a rescue agency, you should report that agency. They are not doing their job–obviously they did not want to waste their time and energy in cleaning up the dog and treating it medically.
Now I am responding to this:
"She is approximately 1 year old. From her behavior she had never been socialized. Never been walked. Never been taught to eliminate outside."
My Response:
Unfortunately, the above is NOT against the law. It is perfectly legal to keep a dog in a cage for 24 hours a day either. Many household pets are chained outside for their entire lives.
We need LAWS to protect dogs. And until we get laws–enforceable against breeders and dog owners–nothing will change.
Now I am responding to this:
I don't believe that Mr. Horton is the reputable breeder he claims to be. There are too many discrepancies bewteen what Mr. Horton claims and what the Humane Society claims and what the state authorities did in removing the dogs.
Mr. Horton is not being charged, because he broke no laws. The Humane Society, wants your money, either through adoption fees, through donations or through good will. When a rescue organization says something, you must look at that organization. "Charity Navigator" online is just such a tool–it rates charitable organizations.
Just as there are large commercial dog breeding operations, there are also large rescue groups with very sophisticated management who make very, very large salaries and do a lot of professional marketing. Very little of the money donated actually goes towards the upkeep of the dogs–it goes to the lavish fundraisers and salaries of the management.
This is very sad. I have only recently learned this. Many people in the dog rescue business are no more "reputable" than are some of the breeders.
December 24th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
Thanks Monica for explaining about what can happen to dogs in transport. I am surprised that the rescue organization didn't do more to clean up the dog(s) before letting them be adopted. Usually your adoption fee goes to cover treating the dogs' veterinary needs, if any, and getting them groomed.
It's true that dogs raised in commercial kennels are usually not well-socialized. When people tell you there is a difference between dogs raised commercially and dogs raised by hobby breeders in their homes, they aren't kidding. This is one of the reasons why you usually get a better pet when you buy from a hobby breeder who can give puppies lots of personal attention.
You asked about rescue organizations buying dogs. Here's a link to a prominent story a few months ago: http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/wb/136114
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Amish-run kennel sells dogs; animals in New York
An "undercover" operation effectively shuts down Bland County's Dogwood Kennels, at least for now.
By Donna Alvis-Banks
Best Friends Animal Society got a lot of mileage out of the response to those dogs even though Mr. Schmucker, like Mr. Horton, had broken no laws. I have no idea what they paid for the dogs and I could only guess what people paid to "adopt" the dogs. But I would be willing to bet that most of the services the dogs required, such as transportation and vet care, were either donated for free or at a very reduced rate. I would also think that people gave generously for the dogs' care. In cases like this, when a rescue actually buys dogs wholesale from a commercial breeder, then takes money for them from "adopters," isn't that the same as selling dogs at a pet store?
There are some very good rescue organizations who don't have the kind of agendas you're talking about. Most of the ones I know about are connected to breed rescue, but I'm sure there are some good ones who do mixed breed rescue, too. Maybe it's just the very large organizations who become caught up in politics and money. I know it's usually a good idea to donate to your local shelter or pound if you want to help. That way you know exactly where the money is needed and where it's going to be used.
If you or anyone else are interested in these issues you may want to join the Petlaw Yahoo group. I think it's listed in the Yahoo directory.
Carlotta
December 24th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
Monica,
You asked why HSUS and VAPaws would go after Mr. Horton when he did not seem to be abusing his dogs, instead of going after commercial breeders who do break the law. I don't know why they went after Mr. Horton unless they knew that he lacked his USDA license and felt that he would be an easy target. They probably often choose the easiest targets — easy for one reason or another — not necessarily the worst offenders.
As you've already figured out, many of these organizations are very media savvy. You can't always believe what they say or their campaigns.
Here's a link to a good editorial about the situation with breeders in Virginia and the current HSUS crusade there: http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/commentary/wb/141217
Don't regulate pet breeders out of business
Walt Hutchens
Hutchens, who lives near Lexington, is retired and breeds whippet dogs.
To understand Wayne Pacelle's blast at the breeding of dogs in Virginia ("Humane Society rips Va. pet mills," Nov. 2 news story), you need to know who the Humane Society of the United States is.
The editorial gives a good view of things in Virginia now, from the breeder's perspective.
Carlotta
July 12th, 2008 at 8:17 am
If this is the Horton's were I bought my yorkie - I can't believe it. My wife and I went to Hillsville on a Sunday and bought our yorkie from him about 20 mos. ago The place was spotless and the selection was fantastic. They had about 3 or 4 customers waiting to buy dogs. We live in the Charlotte area and are very pleased the way the sale went. I'll also say he will bend over backwards to help customers. He met my neighbor in Statesville, NC and sold him a pup.I have also sent other customers to them and they are very happy. I'm sorry I don't believe this story at all. The only reason I found this stupid story is because I lost there business card with his phone number.
July 18th, 2008 at 10:08 am
Update: Jr. Horton was convicted and he plans to appeal his conviction.
–Lanzie Horton received a 12-year jail sentence that was suspended.
–Also suspended were $2,250 of the 14 $2,500 fines for animal cruelty and $450 of the 25 $500 fines for animal neglect. (So he paid less than $5,000 in fines.)
–He received the mandatory $25 fine for failure to obtain a dog license,
–And he is topay the (to-be-determined) cost of veterinary services provided for the approximately 700 dogs taken from his property.
–Horton also was sentenced to probation.
What a scam!!!
Animal Welfare organizations that arrange for scam puppy mill busts (in this case the Virginia Partnership for Animal Welfare and Support (VA PAWS) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) are fully aware that many of the owners of the dog farms they bust are not breaking any serious laws and that there will be no serious legal repercussions for the owners of the dog farms.
Why do they do it?
Because, these organizations want your money, that's why! They create huge media circuses and the donations pour in!! Donations go directly to the salaries of the organization's executives and to their media campaigns.
They also bust places where they are guaranteed to get healthy dogs, because "rescue organizations" in NYC like North Shore Animal League America (NSALA) make quick tax free cash by selling these "rescued" pure-bred puppies for $300 each. This is known as "flipping dogs".
The President of NSALA alone earns more than $325,000 a year. NSALA even imports puppy mill puppies from China for resale. And because organizations like NSALA are registered as not-for-profits, they pay no sales taxes. (Charity watchdog, Charity Navigator, a group that uses an organization's tax filings to rate them, gives NSALA a zero rating for efficiency. The $$$ is not going to any dogs.)
July 18th, 2008 at 10:13 am
The point is not whether or not you bought a healthy puppy. That puppy you purchased has a real dog mother who lives its life inside a cage receiving little or no love. Once she can no longer have puppies, she is most likely killed.
If you buy a puppy, you are responsible for the imprisonment and killing of the mother dog.
Adopt an adult dog. Adult dogs are the new puppies!