citation_inspection: 37752

Cage cards are used as identification for every puppy. Throughout the facility numerous litters of weaned puppies are co- mingled and in numerous unweaned litters contained foster puppies whith no relation to the female raising them. One female Pomsky has a litter containing six puppies from three different dams. The DOB on the cage card is for her puppy, but no DOB is documented on the cage card for the other puppies though it was thought by the facility representative that the dates of birth for all the puppies were within 2 days of each other. There is also no identification information for the female Pomsky on the cage card and no identifying information of the original dams and which puppy belongs to which dam. The information provided by the cage cards did not allow the inspectors to determine which puppies belonged to the adult female residing in the enclosure and which additional adult females were dams to the other puppies. An incomplete cage card does not meet the requirements for identification. A class "A" dealer must identify all dogs under 16 weeks old by the use of an official tag, a distinctive and legible tattoo, or a plastic-type collar containing the required information. APHIS Officials also accept microchips or written identification attached to the enclosure (cage cards) for puppies under 16 weeks old provided that these puppies are maintained in distinct litters and provided that the cage card contains all of the required information. The consistent movement of puppies from one mother to another does not constitute maintenance of puppies in distinct litters and failure to individually identify puppies prevents APHIS Officials from tracking animals movement either in the facility or following sale. The licensee must ensure that each animal's identity is known with certainty by appropriate individual identification or by maintaining puppies less than 16 weeks old in distinct groups that are not co-mingled and using appropriate cage cards with all required information. To be corrected by: July 23, 2021