HomeMy WebLinkAboutAlbert Sardinas 8.25.21 Attachment 1AJ’s Angels, Inc.
My name is Angie McDuffee, I am the proud owner of AJ’s Angels Inc. which is a large
commercial breeding facility in Minnesota. I am writing today to comment on how this ordinance can
affect mine and other people’s lives negatively.
In early 2016, we had our pre-licensing inspection with the USDA, we passed all the
government’s requirements, and everything went great and we were on our way. AJ’s Angels is licensed
under my name with the USDA, Morrison County and the State of Minnesota. It does not matter if you
are a large or small commercial breeder all government rules and regulations apply. We are regulated
and are incompliance with each of them. Since the beginning of the breeding industry, things have
come along way with changes in the rules and regulations for the protection of our animals. We, at AJ’s
Angels continue to strive for the best care and treatment of our animals.
Currently, we have 14 employees that take care of all our dogs. We provide care seven days a
week much like a dairy farmer. They also know the dogs well enough to spot a problem by either their
physical or personality change. Each one of my employees have a passion and love for those dogs just
like I do! I could not be prouder of them!
Our dogs have the freedom to choose to go inside or outside through self-activated door as
they please. All enclosures accommodate each animal’s height and length. The dogs always have food
and water in front of them 24/7. The food and water are always kept on the inside of the building
where it is temperature regulated. The housing units are cleaned daily inside and outside as well.
Our pregnant mommas get groomed and moved into what we call a puppy room 2 weeks before
their possible due date. Each puppy room is heated and cooled with their own thermostat to regulate
the temperatures for the comfort of mom and pups. In that pen they have a heated basket in which
they will comfortably have and raise their babies. All pens and trays are cleaned daily. Our pups get
weaned at the age of 6 weeks and then are measured and split into two pens to meet federal
regulations and give them more room to run and play!
I will now go over with you some of the things that we do to better our dogs and puppies that
some people may not aware.
•Each of our adult dogs has a microchip for proper identification.
•Each our dogs have their own personal names in which they respond to. They are not just a
number to us they are our fur babies and personalization is huge to us!
•We are hands on with our dogs and pups daily. Proper socialization is also extremely important
to us and our animals.
•This is achieved by daily chores, treatments, grooming and just a good old petting! We have had
may compliments from inspectors and pet stores on how friendly and happy our adults and
puppies are!
•Our veterinarian is physically at our facility once a week and is on call 24/7 just in case of
emergencies. By federal regulations, our vet only must be on premise once a year. We believe
that having our vet once a week at our kennel is better only because she then can also make
sure that the animals are happy and healthy!
• Annual veterinarian protocol regarding care of the dogs. This let us know how to medically
treat a dog that may just not be feeling well or something nonemergency. We document these
non- emergencies in what we call a vet book in which our vet also looks at weekly. Obviously,
if a dog has a bigger problem going on we call our vet and bring them up to the vet’s office right
away! Veterinarian care is done on a weekly basis. This includes puppy wellness check. Proper
state veterinarian and federal paperwork is gone over and signed for the pups to leave the
property. This also includes a review of the vet book and checking for any issues.
• All our dog’s nails get trimmed once every 3 weeks or more if needed.
• Our dogs have a dental plan set up to be cleaned once every 18 months or more if needed and
completed by a veterinarian.
• This past year we have had all our dogs examined by our veterinarian and certified by the
Orthopedic Foundation Association. This certification is for a dog’s knees and hearts. It is not a
mandatory certification. We just try to go up and beyond for our customers.
• All the adult dog’s shots are kept up to date per UDSA and our veterinarian guidelines.
• New breeders must have a brucellosis test done by a vet. Once that first test comes back and it
is negative that animal will then be quarantined for 45 days. After the 45 days the vet will do
another test, at that time if negative the dog gets to go out with the other breed stock. There is
absolutely no tolerance of any animal to be brought into our kennel for the safety of our
breeders.
• Anytime we rehome one of our breeders they must have a brucellosis test done and cleared by
our vet. Thankfully, we have never had any problems with brucellosis do to our own strict
regulations.
• We have taken the time to take pictures of our adult dogs and provide them to brokers should
their customers want to see the parents of the pup they may be getting.
We do allow the stores that purchase our puppies to come and look at our facility. We want them to be
comfortable and be able to see how their pups are raised and how our adults are happy, healthy and
clean! Being knowledgeable about the pups that you are selling is a key factor. I want them to sell our
pups with confidence in knowing how they are raised with their own two eyes and not by what I just tell
them. I do have stores that only feel comfortable buying our puppies. To them it does not matter how
many or little breed stock you own it is how social and healthy the adults and pups are. The owners of
PuppyLand whose names are Justin and Kayla Kerr have been purchasing our pups since they had
opened in 2018. Just this past summer they came out to our facility. I was more then happy to show
them around and how our day- to-day chores and care are done. I was more then pleased to find out
that they were amazed on how clean the facility is and how happy and well socialized our adults and
puppies are! Being a larger breeder unfortunately we are attacked by animal activists, media, and
social media. I do believe that rules and regulations need to exist, but all in all there needs to be a line
between regulations and we as American people to have the freedom of choice of where and whom we
want to purchase our animals from as long as they are federal and state licensed. In California they
have already passed a law that all pet stores are banned for any licensed dog breeder and they can only
go through rescue organizations. The rescue organizations are not licensed federally and not regulated
as hard as we are, quite unfortunate and sad if you ask me. I do agree that not everyone should be in
the commercial breeding business due to their lack of real love, passion, and healthy welfare of the
animals, but that is not the case for us.
Sincerely,
A Woman With A Dream,
Angie McDuffee