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Happiness Is Pets - The Truth

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Ida McCarthy-Lombard Real Estate

caps.orgMax my rescue dog

Meet their breeders - all run puppy mills!!!!!

 

Happiness is pets is a pet store in Illinois that sells dogs from puppy mills.  They have stores in Lombard, Arlington Heights, Orland Park, Naperville, Downers Grove, and Oak Lawn. 

           

It's time the truth came out about where these puppies are coming from.  They are telling you these dogs come from reputable breeders, when in fact, they are not.  Innocent consumers are being told lies and it just baffles me that they continue to get away with it.

Our legislature is currently working on ways to change the way this industry is run.

In the meantime the dogs are still in the puppy mills living in horrendous conditions. 

***It's time we speak up for the voiceless***

Now for all the people who are reading this that are going to say, "But I got my dog there, and he's fine!!!!"  Please, look at the conditions your puppy was raised in.  Would you have still purchased the puppy if you knew where it came from?  They lied to you.

Click on the link if you don't know what a puppy mill is..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HM8UmHM8Uo

 

 

Please see below for documentation on the breeders for Happiness Is Pets compliments of The Companion Animal Protection Society:

http://www.caps-web.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=169&Itemid=207&report_id=38

Steve Kruse is their main breeder:  http://www.caps-web.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=169&Itemid=207&report_id=38 

(You have to click on the link above to see the video)

Steve Kruse
Stonehenge Kennel
2345 Hwy 16
West Point, IA 52656
42-B-0182
John Lies, ACI
USDA Inspection: 1/29/03
CAPS Investigation: 7/9/04

View as PDF: Kruse-1.pdf View as PDF: Kruse-2.pdf View as PDF: Kruse-3.pdf View as PDF: Kruse-4.pdf

Note - Videos are not set to autoplay. You must use the buttons in the video control panel to start/stop them.


Also see: Kerry Blue Rescue Terrier Foundation purchased/rescued 34 Steve Kruse dogs at the Shelbina auction on March 18, 2006.

Approximately 1350 dogs and 20 puppies. Breeds: Bull Mastiffs, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, English Bulldogs, Huskies, Shiba Inus, Labradors, Miniature Pinschers, Yorkshire Terriers, Australian Cattle Dogs, Lhasa Apsos, Maltese, Shar Peis, Pugs, American Bulldogs

Steve Kruse’s kennel had several buildings. The single-story building at the southeastern edge of the property was about 85 feet long (north and south) and about 30 feet wide. The structure was made of brick and wood. It had a white peaked metal roof and concrete flooring. The east end of the building had about 16 outside runs made of untreated, rusting metal (3.1(c)(i)-Surfaces). The pens had concrete floors. There was a doggie-door at the west end to allow access to a chain link area inside the building. The outside runs had no windbreaks other than the building itself at the west end (3.4(b)-Shelter from the elements). There was a piece of black tarp raised about three feet above the ground and covering an area of about six feet by five feet at the top of the northernmost pen. Each pen contained two dogs (Labradors and Bull Mastiffs).

Inside the building were four cages made of plastic-coated wire. One of the cages held three Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and a Husky; another had a Shiba Inu and three Cavalier King Charles Spaniels; and a third had two Maltese and four Pugs (3.6(c)(1)(i)-Primary enclosures). A fourth cage held only two Maltese puppies. All of the cages had red plastic self feeders. The plastic water bowls were on the floor (3.9(b)-Watering).

Northwest of this building was a single-story structure about 200 feet long and fifty feet wide. It had white brick walls and white, metal peaked roof. The building had garage doors at its east and west ends, which lead into a room of about fifty feet long and wide. Inside were cages, tools, boxes, and a dolly. There were metal containers at the right side of the eastern doorway inside the building, including a red gasoline container with a yellow spout. North of this room was a doorway with an open door. This led to a room of similar dimensions to the garage. This room had about 20 cages with wooden support beams, treated wire doors, backings and floors, and white plastic sides. The cages were about three feet above the concrete flooring. Some pens contained one to two dogs, each weighing about 25 pounds, while another contained a single dog Labrador weighing about 65 pounds in weight (3.6(c)(1)(i)-Primary enclosures). One pen had three Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (3.6(c)(1)(i)-Primary enclosures).

The eastern side of the northern wall of this room had a doorway with no door on it, which led to a room identical to the one previously described in the above paragraph. One pen held two Huskies (3.6(c)(1)(i)-Primary enclosures), an English Bulldog and a Shiba Inu (3.6(c)(1)(i)-Primary enclosures). The English Bulldog had sagging breasts. Also, a wall of her pen was smeared with blood about a foot in every direction (2.40-Vet Care). One pen had a Shih Tzu, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and a Yorkshire Terrier (3.6(c)(1)(i)-Primary enclosures). Another pen contained an Eskimo and two French Bulldogs (3.6(c)(1)(i)-Primary enclosures). Another held four Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (3.6(c)(1)(i)-Primary enclosures).

A room was north of this through a door at the eastern side of the northern wall. The room had cages identical to those described in the previous paragraph, except for the cages at the eastern wall which were only about two feet wide instead of three feet wide. Three Shih Tzu were in one of the larger cages (3.6(c)(1)(i)-Primary enclosures), and another cage that contained two Shih Tzu and a Maltese (3.6(c)(1)(i)-Primary enclosures).

The eastern side of the northern wall of the above described room accessed a room with about 30 cages in it. All were similar in description to those previously noted and were about three feet long and two feet wide. One cage had four Maltese (3.6(c)(1)(i)-Primary enclosures). One of the smaller cages held three Lhasa Apsos (3.6(c)(1)(i)-Primary enclosures).

Some of the cages described above contained red plastic self feeders hooked onto the cage doors, while others contained metal coffee cans for food dishes. The cans were placed on the wire flooring (3.9(b)-Feeding). All of the cages in the rooms contained lix-it water devices that ran from the ceiling.

East of the above described structure were two other buildings. Each was about 200 feet long and 20 feet wide, and had about 48 cages on each side. The cages were made of wooden supports and wire bottoms and walls. A metal ceiling covered all of the cages. Red plastic self-feeders were on all of the doors. All of the cages were about three feet above the ground on wooden beams.

Also, all of the cages had untreated metal bar doors that were rusting (3.1(c)(i)-Surfaces). The buildings also had tarps that were rolled up at the bottoms of the outside walls and tied to ropes that reached to the ceilings. This system appeared to be a way to hoist the tarps up in order to cover the sides of the enclosures. Various small and large breeds were in the cages, including Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Labrador Retrievers, English Bulldogs, Shar Peis, Bull Mastiffs, Shiba Inus, Bichon Frises, Chihuahuas, and Pugs.

Overcrowding was evident throughout the buildings: cages with three or four Cavalier King Charles Spaniels; one cage with three Chihuahuas, a Pug, and a Maltese; two cages with two Labradors each; four Bichons in a cage; two cages with various breeds (four to five to each cage); four Shih Tzus in a cage, and a cage with two Shar Peis (3.6(c)(1)(i)-Primary enclosures). Another problem was stained concrete floors in the buildings (3.1(c)(2)-Maintenance and replacement of surfaces).

Fur and debris had accumulated on the wooden ledge on of one of English Bulldog pens (3.11(a)-Cleaning of primary enclosures). Several full grown Shar Peis had clear discharge oozing from their red eyes (2.40-Vet Care).

In a phone conversation I had with Steve Kruse on 8/3/04, Kruse told me that he has been breeding dogs in a commercial business since 1986 and that he has 1350 adult dogs. He said he sells dogs to The Hunte Corporation and two family-owned pet store chains in Illinois and Florida, one of which has four stores and the other which has two. Kruse said that “a gal”, whom he later admitted is his wife, owns a pet store in Florida he sells to. He added that she drives up from Florida to pick up puppies in Illinois, Iowa, Arkansas and Missouri before going back to Florida. He said that he sells to Happiness is Pets stores in the Chicago area.

 

The Grabers:

http://www.caps-web.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=169&Itemid=207&report_id=124

 

Les Knust:

http://www.caps-web.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=169&Itemid=207&report_id=128

 

Brian Mohrfeld:

http://www.caps-web.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=169&Itemid=207&report_id=114

 

Delilah Jean Wagler:

http://www.caps-web.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=169&Itemid=207&report_id=125

 

Arlene Walljasper

Gail Westercamp

Juliana Stecker-Van Winkle

Marty Gadient

Annette Moeller

Terry Glover

Gina Westercamp

Estelle & Kathy Keys

Andrew Hill

Robert Pope

Wendall Ware

Connie Harland

Mary Ann Doss

Oleo Acres Kennels, Inc. - John & Patti Noethe - Broker

J.A.K.'S Puppies, Inc. - Jolyn Noethe - Broker

 

PETFINDER.COM  - FIND ANY BREED ANYWHERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ida McCarthy
Ida McCarthy-Lombard Real Estate - Lombard, IL

Anne, what do you think?  She runs a puppy mill and no good breeder runs a puppy mill or puts their dog in a pet store at the most crucial times of their lives to be sold.  Did you buy a dog from them?  Is your dog sick or dying?

Aug 14, 2010 11:54 AM
Ida McCarthy
Ida McCarthy-Lombard Real Estate - Lombard, IL
Aug 15, 2010 01:12 PM
Ida McCarthy
Ida McCarthy-Lombard Real Estate - Lombard, IL

Governor Quinn signed the Pet Store Disclosure Bill!  Yay!

***HB5772***

Pet stores in Illinois can now be held liable for fraud.  They cannot lie to you.  MUST disclose the breeders name, address, and history of the puppy.  The law goes in effect on January 1, 2011.

 

happiness is pets

 

Aug 31, 2010 02:22 PM
Anonymous
Cama

Hi Ida!

Wonderful news that goes into effect January 2011.  Thanks for passing the news along! I'm in Indiana and we have many puppy mills in eastern Indiana......sad. When I was looking for my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy I ran into this: Alleged breeder had litter of puppies for sale. When asked to see the parents..the story was always the same, My cousin, Mom, Sister friend had the litter and I'm just helping her sell the litter. Oh they live in another state.... Same story time and time again. Indiana needs to get with get with the  program and stop this puppy mill mess! Have a great day Ida!  (Are you Ida from Thermark??)

                                                                                     Cama   

Dec 22, 2010 01:51 PM
#16
Ida McCarthy
Ida McCarthy-Lombard Real Estate - Lombard, IL

Hi Cama - Indiana is bad, yes I know.  A lot of Amish millers there. People think the Amish are so sweet, but the facts are they are horrible to their animals and many many puppy mills are run by the Amish.

And no, I'm from Chicago, not Thermark. 

Thanks for the comments and have a great holiday!

 

 

 

Dec 23, 2010 10:44 AM
Ida McCarthy
Ida McCarthy-Lombard Real Estate - Lombard, IL

So now Steve Kruse Stonehedge Kennels has got all the blogs trying to fix his reputation on the internet.  Mr. Kruse?  Your reputation is ruined and it always will be.   You have made your blood money off of dogs and you should be arrested for animal abuse.  Maybe someday you will be, or maybe not.  But I truly believe what goes around comes around. 

 

Jul 31, 2011 12:03 PM
Ida McCarthy
Ida McCarthy-Lombard Real Estate - Lombard, IL

It seems happiness is pets is using Levi Graber much more these days.  Well here is a video of this place.   

http://youtu.be/GhjqBsOCiPs

Go to petfinder.com and find any breed anywhere.  Please make sure to meet the parents of the puppy if you go to a reputable breeder.  You can find many reputable breeders, just do your research. 

Jul 31, 2011 12:13 PM
Ida McCarthy
Ida McCarthy-Lombard Real Estate - Lombard, IL

Meet Levi Graber on the videos below.  He would not let the reporters see his kennels.

 

http://youtu.be/3w1dpws116M

http://youtu.be/2qD1yp8QBlg

http://youtu.be/x3FGWrQkfY8

Jul 31, 2011 12:36 PM
Ida McCarthy
Ida McCarthy-Lombard Real Estate - Lombard, IL

Happiness is pets is posting pictures of dogs in fields of flowers claiming these are the parents of the dogs in their stores.  This is such fraud.  Here are the parents of the dogs that happiness is pets uses.  The horrific Kruse family.  How demented do you have to be to do this to an animal.  They all should be behind bars for animal abuse.   And the people who buy and sell from this sick Kruse clan. 

happiness is petshappiness is pets

Aug 18, 2011 02:59 PM
Ida McCarthy
Ida McCarthy-Lombard Real Estate - Lombard, IL

CAN YOU SAY FRAUD?   How can they get away with fake pictures of the parents of the dogs??? 

http://youtu.be/9P15hPprQsE

Aug 25, 2011 04:10 PM
Anonymous
Lucci

I had just completed chemo & radiation when my 14yrs Sheltie mix convulsed & died on her birthday. I was weak from treatment & complety heart brokened that I lost my best friend & companion. 

My little guy is also a produced product who came from Riceville, IA brokered out of Oleo Acres and sold to a grooming shop that some relatives used for grooming and they suggested we go there to look.

We are resue people & wanted to rescue but when we went to our local humane, we found tons of animals in desperate need of help but they were too big for us seniors, my energy level would be low & I wanted a

 small dog we could handle fairly easily.

We arrived as she was coming out of the back room holding a Schnoodle....MY Schnoodle!!!!! Ohhh, I hope she is a girl!!!        I WAS NOT WATCHING!!!    GROOMERS/BOARDING/SELLING/BUYING...WOW..  AWFUL LOT OF WORK HERE!!                LOT'S & LOT'S OF CAGES!

The young girl said Mr Schnoodle had gotten into his food & needed a bath.  I WAS NOT SEEING THAT HE ATE  DRY CEREAL....OR.....THAT ONLY HIS BACK END WAS WET....OR.....HE LOOKED THIN & UNHAPPY!!!

 She said he was getting old (6mo) & normally would cost $800 BUT today Mr. Schnoodle was $150!!

So, after purchasing, crate,collar,leash,bowls,toys,food etc, she says he has never been on grass or chewed on a bone. Or played with a toy! He was mine to teach she said!

DIARREHA, DIARREHA, AND MORE DIARREHA AFTER THAT!!!!!!!! I WAS WEAK..I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE IT WAS EVERWHERE,EVERDAY  NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO  MOORREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He had giardia for over 3 mo.

He had  food allergies

He had skin allergies

He was terrified of men...poop & you get kicked...groomers hubby!  

Sep 18, 2011 01:01 PM
#24
Anonymous
Anonymous

YOU MUST OBSERVE!!

PLEASE DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM THEM!!!!!

THESE ANIMAL'S NEED US TO HELP THEM!!!!

THESE PEOPLE ARE THE ANIMALS!!!!

I did it & I am sorry I did it but

I got to rescue anyway and Mr Schnoodle is happy even tho he has an underbite!

  

Sep 18, 2011 01:11 PM
#25
Anonymous
victoria

we recently adopted a husky from a family that couldnt take care of it cause they didnt think before gettign a pet. however when we got our Lucas we got the paperwork saying he was breed from two long lines of huskey familys by jake kruse. we took Lucas to the vet he has giardia other than that he is in good health. After investigating more about the breeder and where he came from I am so happy he is in a better place then where he came from. Oh and Jake Kruse is starting to ship and sell dogs in California. He needs to be stopped. we are lucky to have saved our dog but all the others out there need help. I also read that there is a lawsuit building against this breeder.

May 10, 2012 11:59 AM
#26
Anonymous
Elizabeth

10/30/12

My Daughter & husband, young adults, 20years old, just got seriously taken advantage of by All About Puppies in Tampa, Fl. First All About Puppies were irresponsible in thinking these young kids were appropiate to buy the puppy but obviously all they wanted was a fast sale of a sick puppy that might even die!  They pushed them and promised them the sky if the bought this puppy! AND they knew the puppy was sick. Those people make me sick! They pushed this  Steve Kruse /Breeder Puppy Mill puppy on them to probably get the cash before it DIED! They said it had clear vet sign off on last Sat, had cough, local vet in Georgia by Tuesday furious, had giardia & repiratory infection, missing 2 claws "looked torn off". "Gauarantee" Paperwork said puppy well and would reimburse for any problems. Our local Vet Sent letter to All About Puppies that this was an UNADOPTABLE puppy due to it's health! They contacted All About Puppies, no one will speak or respond to them! NOW as of Sunday (just a week home) has pneumonia, loosing weight and not much better. All About Puppies won't even respond. After researching, looks like this may be Krause wifes place in Fl. !!!!

So Sad they paid money for a puppy mill puppy, them being young and inexperienced in this type of life things BUT as least we are happy she is no longer "in the system" and hopefully will not die with all the care and vet bills they have put into her this week!  BUT....these business and people..they are all as sleezy as used care salesmen!

Get worried Steve Krause and All About Puppies, even if this is your "business" you are operating fraudently.......the contracts/gauarantees are all fraud unless YOU step up to the plate and back up what you put in writing!  Did not even give them official papers, all were copies.....These young kids made a mistake but this puppy is safe now, but both of you are about to get hit leagally hard. And know you have 2 new young Adults and their families who will spread the truth about you all like wildfire all over the internet and US!

 

 

Oct 30, 2012 06:14 AM
#27
Ida McCarthy
Ida McCarthy-Lombard Real Estate - Lombard, IL

Sorry to hear your sad story Elizabeth, but you are just one of thousands.  Steve Kruse and his entire family should be arrested for animal abuse.  I sure hope the dog survives. 

Nov 01, 2012 04:34 AM
Anonymous
Lynne Bowbeer

My granddaughter has a Cavalier from 'All About Puppies"  in Brandon.  It is a god awful place to start with and the puppy is critically ill and at the age of 2, has suffered horribly. It will be a blessing when he passes. Steve Kruge is the puppy mill owner that ships thousands of puppies (underage) all over the country. Every person who has seen a puppy suffer due to these puppy mill breeders should sue him in small claims court. This man is a greedy bastard. 

Jan 16, 2013 10:01 AM
#29
Anonymous
Ashley

I got my English bulldog from petland in south Florida 4 years ago and breeders signed name reads Annette Moeller. Since my bully was a puppy he's had nothing but skin issues and has always been sick. I visit the vet once every other since he was a pup and now finally he's having 2 surgerys to help his suffering 4 years later. He's been nothing but in pain and I've tried to research any information that I can where he actually came from but it's just impossible... This has been upsetting and a very expensive ride. I hope that no one else has to experience what I have.

Mar 28, 2016 12:44 PM
#30
Anonymous
Ida McCarthy

Sorry to hear about your dog Ashley....but it's nothing new.
Happiness Is Pets also used this breeder. Annette Moeller's kennel is at 2166 162nd. Street, West Point Iowa 52656. You can visit the USDA website and find her inspection reports. On May 8, 2015 she had 47 dogs and 170 puppies. Please visit our website at www.caps-web.org and fill out a pet shop complaint form. It would be helpful for future complaints on this puppy mill. Again, I'm sorry to hear about your dog :(

Mar 30, 2016 02:49 AM
#31
Anonymous
nina

I got a goldendoodle from pet land she was 3600 breeder is annette moeller so sad to see this fl petland.

Mar 21, 2017 04:32 PM
#32
Anonymous
Ida

Hi Nina,

If you want to fill out a pet shop complaint form, here it is.

http://www.caps-web.org/take-action/caps-complaint-form

Mar 23, 2017 07:32 AM
#33