Puppy mill - 79 dogs West Palm Beach, FL (US) Incident Date: Friday, Mar 28, 2003 County: Palm Beach Local Map: available Disposition: Convicted Abusers/Suspects: » Karina Pubchara » Jorge Pubchara Case Updates: 4 update(s) available

Case ID: 1164 Classification: Neglect / Abandonment Animal: dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in FL (US) Login to Watch this Case

About 20 citations have been issued to the  Puppy Land Kennel in West Palm Beach since August 2000, but none leading to the felony animal-cruelty charges officers plan to bring against owners Karina and Jorge Pubchara. 

According to authorities, seventy-nine tick-infested dogs walked around in their own feces and urine. They allegedly suffered various maladies -- including eye infections, malnourishment, missing teeth and even a missing bottom lip. The case, which county animal control officers discovered last week, is the most severe infraction Puppy Land Kennel has committed in its almost three years in business, officials said.

Palm Beach County Animal Care & Control officers have filed a court petition to adopt the dogs. Once that's done, in about a month, officers plan to file 79 animal-cruelty charges against the Pubcharas, said Sgt. Tammy Crawford.

Officers seized 61 females and 18 males Friday afternoon. Since then, the dogs -- from beagles to poodles to cocker spaniels -- have been receiving antibiotics for the ticks.

A few of the dogs are skinny, and most are pregnant despite being too old to be breeding. Some were inbreeding, Crawford said.

"This is what's considered a puppy mill," she said of the business at 2420 E. Tamarind Ave.

Sgt. Anita Yusko said past citations against the Pubcharas were for not having Palm Beach County tags or for poor living conditions for the animals. The owners, though, had complied with past requests to improve conditions, Yusko said. An anonymous complaint prompted officers to seek a search warrant for the kennel last week.

The Pubcharas, who are divorced, run two Kendall pet stores selling puppies bred at the West Palm Beach kennel, Crawford said. Karina Pubchara runs Pet World Kennels, and Jorge Pubchara runs Pet World USA, she said.

The American Kennel Club, which has the world's largest database of purebred dogs, suspended Karina Pubchara from claiming affiliation with the club until 2012, said spokeswoman Daisy Okas.

In past cases, officers have found dogs living with their feces and urine, but last week's case was the most extreme, Yusko said.

Officers are not yet seeking placements for the dogs because they must first receive court notice about adopting them.

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References

	Sun Sentinel
	Palm Beach Post
	News Channel 7 - April 6, 2005

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