citation_inspection: 37771

The whelping building has 57 enclosures that each include a whelping box in the back half of the enclosure and slatted flooring enclosed by wire fencing in the front half. The floor slats are approximately 3 to 4 inches wide, but the gaps between them are wide enough that the legs of puppies will easily and frequently fall through them. The inspectors observed puppies in numerous enclosures and witnessed the legs of one or more of the puppies fall through the openings. During the inspection an adult Shih tzu was moved into the building and the inspectors observed her legs fall through the gaps in the flooring. APHIS officials had identified this issue to the licensee and facility representative at earlier visits to the facility, but no action has been taken to correct the problem. To prevent injuries to legs and feet, puppies need a safe stable surface to move and learn to walk on. To protect them from injury, all dogs require a safe floor surfaces that will not allow their legs to pass through. Primary enclosures must have floors constructed in a manner that does not allow the dogs' feet to pass through any openings in the floor. The licensee must alter the floors in a manner that will not allow the feet of the dogs to pass through. The licensee must ensure that all flooring is safe for the dogs at all times. To be corrected by: September 08, 2021