The Puppy Experience

CAPS Day of Demonstration for Puppy Mill Education on June 23, 2012, in which CAPS held three simulataneous protests against pet shops on Long Island, kicked off an ongoing campaign urging The Puppy Experience in Aquebogue on Long Island to go humane.

The Puppy Experience purchased puppies from Kathy Bauck, even after she was convicted of animal cruelty based on evidence from a CAPS undercover employment investigation. Bauck was one of the largest and most notorious dog brokers and breeders in the country. The Puppy Experience currently buys from Missouri-based The Hunte Corporation, the largest brokerage facility in the country. A CAPS investigator worked undercover at Hunte for six months and investigated some of their breeders (links to both documentaries). The Puppy Experience has also purchased puppies from JAKS Puppies (Jolyn Noethe) in Britt, Iowa, which also sells to Happiness is Pets. Check out the USDA photos for Wendie and Doug Dettbarn in Iowa, who sell to JAKS.



The owner of the store, Scott Kaphan, has increasingly become hostile towards CAPS going as far as calling the police on protestors and threatening legal action for slander. He has given no indication that the store will go humane any time soon, despite admitting the deplorable nature of large puppy farms. By purchasing dogs from large scale breeding facilities, Mr. Kaphan is supporting the puppy mill cycle and part of the problem. CAPS will continue to hold regular protests at their one location until they decide to go humane.

Images from the November 25 Protest: