Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Saturday, July 19, 2008

Humane Society to buy so-called puppy mill

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Wisconsin Humane Society says it will buy and close one of the largest dog breeding facilities in the nation.

The society said Friday it will find new homes for the more than 1,100 dogs at the kennel.

Cory Smith of the Humane Society of the United States said this may be a first-of-its-kind effort by a local humane society to deal with so-called puppy mills.

The Wisconsin society said Wallace Havens agreed to sell the Puppy Haven Kennel in Markesan, Wis., because he plans to retire. The society did not give a sale price.

Havens did not immediately return a message left by The Associated Press.

American Kennel Club spokeswoman Daisy Okas said Havens was suspended and fined in 2006 over conditions at his kennel.

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