Dog breeder Daniel Gingerich of Seymour, Iowa, has been fined an additional $40,000 in relationship to a case in which he violated dogs' welfare. | Helena Sushitskaya/Pixabay
Dog breeder Daniel Gingerich of Seymour, Iowa, has been fined an additional $40,000 in relationship to a case in which he violated dogs' welfare. | Helena Sushitskaya/Pixabay
A USDA-licensed breeder from Seymour who a federal court in September found violated the Animal Welfare Act because he put the health of hundreds of dogs in “serious danger” has been fined an added $40,000.
Daniel Gingerich, a licensed dog breeder since October 2019, was issued a temporary restraining order by U.S. District Court Judge Stephanie Rose in the Southern District of Iowa on Sept. 28, compelling Gingerich to in part “immediately cease from breeding, euthanizing or otherwise disposing of any dogs without the consent of the Department of Justice or a court order,” The United States Department of Justice's press release said.
A complaint filed against Gingerich said he failed “to provide the dogs with adequate veterinary care, nutritious food in a sufficient quantity, potable water and housing that is both safe and sanitary.” In some six months, Gingerich collected at least 100 violations of the Animal Welfare Act.
Gingerich was fined $20,000 that he didn’t pay.
“The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) said that Gingerich has yet to pay the $20,000 in fines he owes. He also passed the time in which he could have filed an appeal,” the Siouxland News said. “IDALS officials have now added an additional $40,000 in fines and revoked his license due to the finding inspectors discovered while walking through his facility. Gingerich has until Nov. 19 to either appeal the order or pay the fine.”
Gingerich agreed to surrender over 500 dogs and puppies to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa and “to the revocation of his Animal Welfare Act (AWA) dealer license, a permanent prohibition on engaging in any activity that requires an AWA license,” a DOJ press release said.
“Horrific @USDA puppy mills are thriving in Iowa. @MikeNaigIA moved @IADeptAg rules for dog breeders forward but #IAlegis must act to give IDALS inspectors authority to inspect USDA breeders and enforce Iowa's animal welfare rules. USDA breeders currently get a pass! #iapolitics," Preston Moore, Iowa State director for The Humane Society of the United States tweeted on Twitter.
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