43-A-1790
Carolyn and Donald Surrite
The best example of USDA’s failure to enforce Animal Welfare regulations is quite apparent after a review of inspections on file for Carolyn and Donald Surrite. The couple operates a commercial kennel near West Plains, MO that I have personally visited on more than one occasion. The kennel was also featured in a news segment that aired in Connecticut as well as a Readers Digest article. In spite of the media attention Animal Care has consistently failed to uphold laws that are intended to protect the welfare of the animals. Inconsistencies are clearly evident in these inspection reports. On my first visit to the kennel I observed a building used for whelping that has not been properly noted on some of the inspection reports. In his April 10, 1995 inspection report Mr. Joe Johnston indicates that the requirements for an indoor facility are "NA" for not applicable. Mr. James B. Dpue conducted the next inspection on May 15, 1996 and the requirements for an indoor facility were marked with an "X" indicating compliance with those requirements. The same was indicated on his July 10, 1996 re-inspection. On August 28, 1996 Mr. Dpue indicated that the requirements for an indoor facility were "NA" in spite of previous notations. Inspection highlights for the Surrite kennel are noted below:
Inspection History Since April 10, 1995
10 Inspections, 3 Attempted Inspections
Inventory Last Inspection: 89 adult dogs, 35 puppies
April 10, 1995
Re-Inspection
Category III, Non Compliant item(s) identified this inspection:
Structure and construction, 3.1
Construction, 3.4
Housekeeping, 3.11
February 26, 1996
Routine
No inspection \ Responsible party not present at facility. (Violation)
May 15, 1996
Re-inspection
Category I, Non-compliant item(s) previously identified that have been corrected:
Access, 2.126
Housing facilities, general — 3.1
Outdoor housing facilities - 3.4
Category III, Non-Compliant item(s) identified this inspection:
Drainage and waste disposal, 3.1 (f)
Shelter from elements, 3.4 (b)
Construction, 3.4 ©
Space and additional requirements, 3.6
Exercise, 3.8
Feeding, 3.9 (b)
Cleaning and sanitation, 3.11(a) & (b)
Housekeeping and pest control, 3.11 (d)
Veterinary care, 2.40
Category IV, Non-compliant item(s) previously identified that have not been corrected:
Housekeeping and pest control, 3.11 © (Violation)
July 10, 1996
Re-inspection
Category I, Non-compliant item(s) previously identified that have been corrected:
Drainage and waste disposal, 3.1(f)
Shelter from elements, 3.4 (b)
Construction, 3.4 (b) & (c)
Space and additional requirements, 3.6
Exercise, 3.8
Feeding, 3.9 (b)
Cleaning and sanitation, 3.11 (a) & (b)
Veterinary care, 2.40
Category III, Non-compliant item(s) identified this inspection:
Shelter from elements, 3.4 (b) (Violation)
General requirements, 3.6 (a)
Records, 2.75
Category IV, Non-compliant item(s) previously identified that have not been corrected:
Cleaning and sanitation, 3.11 (a) (Violation)
Housekeeping, 3.11 (c) (Violation)
Pest control, 3.11 (d) (Violation)
August 28, 1996
Re-inspection
Category I, Non-compliant item(s) previously identified that have been corrected:
Shelter from elements, 3.4 (b)
General requirements, 3.6 (a)
Records, 2.75
Veterinary care, 2.40
Cleaning and sanitation, 3.11 (a)
Housekeeping, 3.11 ©
Pest control, 3.11(d)
Category III, Non-compliant item(s) identified this inspection.
None reported
August 20, 1997
Routine
Category III, Non-compliant item(s) identified this inspection:
Structure and construction, 3.1 (a)
General requirements, 3.6 (a)
Cleaning and sanitation, 3.11 (a)
Housekeeping, 3.11 © & (d)
Pest control, 3.11 (d)
Identification, 2.50
Records, 2.75
Veterinary care, 2.40
October 2, 1997
Re-inspection
Category I, Non-compliant item(s) previously identified that have been corrected:
Structure and construction, 3.1 (a)
General requirements, 3.6 (a)
Cleaning and sanitation, 3.11 (a)
Housekeeping and pest control, 3.11 © & (d)
Veterinary care, 2.40
Category IV, Non-compliant item(s) from previous inspection that have not been corrected:
Cleaning and sanitation, 3.11 (b) (Violation)
Identification, 2.50 (Violation)
Records, 2.75 (Violation)
January 7, 1998
Re-inspection
Category I, Non-compliant item(s) previously identified that have been corrected:
Records, 2.75
Identification, 2.50
Cleaning and sanitation, 3.11 (b)
Category III, Non-compliant item(s) identified this inspection:
Watering, 3.10
General requirements, 3.6 (a) (2) (I)
Shelter from elements, 3.4 (b) (4)
Veterinary care, 2.40 (b) (2), 2.40 (a) (1)
Construction, 3.4 ©
Housekeeping, 3.11 ©
July 15, 1998
Re-inspection
Category I, Non-compliant item(s) from previous inspection that have been corrected:
Shelter from elements, 3.4 (b) (4)
Veterinary care, 2.40 (a) (1)
Construction, 3.4 ©
Housekeeping, 3.11 ©
General requirements, 3.6 (a) (2) (I)
Category III, Non-compliant item(s) identified this inspection:
Veterinary care, 2.40 (b)
Cleaning and sanitation, 3.11 (a)
Feeding, 3.9 (a)
Drainage and waste disposal, 3.1 (f)
Pest control, 3.11 (d)
Identification, 2.50
Condition and site, 3.1 (b)
Structure and construction, 3.1 (a)
Access and inspection of records and property, 2.126
Category IV, Non-compliant item(s) from previous inspection that have not been corrected:
Watering, 3.10 (Violation)
General requirements, 3.6 (a) (2) (I) (Violation)
Veterinary care, 2.40 (Violation)
July 27, 1998
Re-inspection
Kennel operator refused to allow an inspection! (Violation)
July 28, 1998
Re-inspection
Kennel operator was not present or refused to allow an inspection. (Violation)
August 4, 1998
Re-inspection
Category I, Non-compliant item(s) from previous inspection that have been corrected:
Attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, 2.40 (b)
Cleaning, 3.11 (a)
Drainage and waste disposal, 3.1 (f)
Identification, 2.50
Condition and site, 3.1 (b)
Structure and construction, 3.1 (a)
Access, 2.126
Watering, 3.10
Veterinary care, 2.40 (b)
Category III, Non-compliant item(s) identified this inspection:
General requirements, 3.6 (a) (2) (I)
Veterinary care, 2.40 (b)
Housekeeping, 3.11 ©
Condition and site, 3.1(b)
General requirements, 3.6 (a) (1)
Records, 2.75 (a)
Veterinary care, 2.40 (b)
Category IV, Non-compliant item(s) from previous inspection that have not been corrected:
Veterinary care, 2.40 (b) (Violation)
Feeding, 3.9 (a) (Violation)
Pest control, 3.11 (d) (Violation)
General requirements, 3.6 (a) (2) (I) (Violation)
December 29, 1998
Complaint
Inventory: 89 adult dogs, 35 puppies
Category I, Non-compliant item(s) from previous inspection that have been corrected:
Primary enclosures, 3.6 (a) (2) (I)
Attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, 2.40 (b)
Housekeeping, 3.11 ©
Condition and site, 3.1 (b)
Veterinary care, 2.40 (b)
Feeding, 3.9 (a)
Pest control, 3.11 (d)
Condition and site, 3.1 (b)
Primary enclosures, 3.6 (a) (1)
Records, 2.75 (a)
Category III, Non-compliant item(s) identified this inspection:
Attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, 2.40 (b) (Violation)
Shelter from elements, 3.4 (b) (4)
Cleaning, 3.11 (a)
Attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care, 2.40 (b)
Structure and construction, 3.1 (a)
Housekeeping, 3.11 ©
Category IV, Non-compliant item(s) from previous inspection that have not been corrected:
Form of official tag, 2.51 © (Violation)
Records, 2.75 (a) (Violation)
General requirements, 3.6 (a) (2) (I) (Violation)
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