Andrea Rosebrock 
One small victory against puppy mills and puppy millers!! 
Eldon McAfee, of Everton, Arkansas was arrested in California for animal cruelty and is facing a possibility of 46 counts, each carrying a potential of 6 months in jail and a $500 fine.
McAfee loaded up his SUV with 47 puppies in Arkansas and started driving across the country selling puppies out of his SUV, according to the county Department of Animal Services.
An unidentified person Wednesday looked inside McAfee’s SUV and reported finding puppies stuffed inside crates that were soiled with feces and urine, animal services officials said.
Some of the puppies were underweight, and others suffered from urine burns and upper respiratory conditions, according to animal services. One puppy was dead.
The County of San Diego Department of Animal Services transferred 13 of the puppies to Helen Woodward Animal Center.
“The puppies seem to be various mixes of Boston terrier, Maltese, and Jack Russell terrier,” said Helen Woodward Animal Center adoption manager LaBeth Thompson.
Thompson said the puppies that arrived at HWAC appear to be in good health in spite of their ordeal. “I was told that some of the others taken from the Arkansas man were not quite so fortunate. Some of them barely weighed 2 pounds and had medical issues, including deformed legs. This type of thing is not uncommon in puppy mill puppies.”
HWAC spokesman John Van Zante said that the center cautions families about this type of thing constantly, but the words of warning go unheard.
“This is a perfect example. The two largest puppy mill states in the country are Arkansas and Missouri,” Van Zante said. “We believe that someone bred these puppies in Arkansas, then packed as many as he could into his SUV and drove them to California with the intention of selling them to unsuspecting families. The buyers would have no idea they were supporting the puppy mill industry.”
The 13 puppies that were transferred to Helen Woodward Animal Center will receive extensive medical exams, including up-to-date vaccinations and spaying or neutering before becoming available for adoption. Van Zante said that, if all goes well, the puppies may be ready to go live with their new families in about a week. (10News.com)
For more information about puppy mills please take a moment to check out – The Horrors of Puppy Mills
You people need to get a life,Eldon is innocent !!!!!! he is not a puppy miller either. I hope you get sued for printing this trash !!!!
Natasha, if you know more I'd be happy to listen. I'm not accusing him of anything, I'm passing along the news. This story sounds horrible! Why would he have all those puppies in the van? Why were they in the deplorable condition that so many of them were in including one dead?
If there's more to the story, if there's another side. I want to hear it. You or he are free to contact me and explain things.
I look forward to hearing back from you.
I understand that you think that you are helping the situation of "abused" animals I should say alleged abused animals, and that is commendable. You say the dogs were in deplorable condition, how do you know that for a fact? were you there?
I know that the dogs had vet checks, current vaccinations, wormer, food and water,a local pet store owner in the San Diego area from "my pets" had just been there minutes prior to help Eldon water and feed the dogs.The residence where Eldon was arrested was Eldon's business partner's (JON LEE)and his (jon lee's) roommate was the "unidentified" caller who reported the "monstrosity" to authorities, because he was upset because Eldon wouldn't pay him 500.00 per month for rent.
I also know that he had bathed the puppies and all of them were sold in CALIFORNIA not on the way there out of the back of his vehicle. The puppy's that were reportedly underweight were yorkies and if you ask any vet they will tell you some yorkies weigh 3lbs when they are fully grown adults. The "deformities" mentioned were ONE puppy had loose kneecaps which must be healed on its own for one year after which surgery can be performed, vet records to substantiate that fact. Eldon is a good person, a good man, husband,father,animal lover. He has been around animals his entire life. He grew up on a farm, has many horses and dogs, cats. He was trying to provide for his family by selling puppies, yes they were in an SUV because he was delivering them. He had been to several "checkpoints" on the way where they look at the dogs and the health papers and make sure everything is kosher and he was cleared through these checkpoints. Eldon has sold puppies out of litters from his own pet dogs for years to individuals, loving family homes who still remain in contact with him. In January he was contacted by a San Diego man John Lee who wanted to buy up lots of dogs in the Arkansas area bring them to California to sell them, they (Eldon and Jon Lee) were selling them through ads in the paper, and to pet stores. These dogs were brought to the vet, checked for health problems given vaccinations and wormer. The only dogs that were not Full Blooded dogs were the puggles and some mixed breed homeless dogs he was finding homes for. I know he fed and watered the dogs often,the cages and wire that allowed fecal material and urine to drop down below and was absorbed by kitty litter,Ive seen it !! so if there were "urine burns" I would like to see proof of that,I do not believe that to be accurate. There should be an autopsy done on the dead puppy to prove the death to be caused by lack of food or water. I know he watered an fed them all.
If puppy mills are illegal then why does the USDA license breeders,who others call "puppy mills" I know that all of Eldon's dog houses have air conditioning and heat,he lets them roam his property (over 100 acres) freely on a daily basis. I know that he would never harm an animal. PETA in California would like to make themselves look like heroes by "rescuing animals" but these animals did not need to be rescued,they were well cared for healthy animals. The truth will be evident if justice is served in this situation and Eldon will be exonerated.
Natasha,
Thank you for writing back. I say 'deplorable' conditions because that is how they were reported. I honestly appreciate hearing the 'other side' of the story.
If the facts are as you present them then he should be exonerated on the cruelty charges.
The sad thing is that 'puppy mills' are not illegal and most of the time conditions in them are pure hell! I don't have a problem with responsible breeders but responsible breeders will not sell puppies to pet stores. Responsible breeders care about their puppies and make sure each and every one of them go to good homes. They offer health guarantees. Responsible breeders are not out just to make a buck. That's some of the differences between 'puppy mills' or commercial breeders and reputable breeders.
That does not mean that I am classing him as a 'puppy miller', just that his actions are not those of what is generally accepted as a responsible breeder.
I am glad to hear that he cares for the puppies in the manner that you described.
One thing that you have to understand, this is not a personal attack against him. Animal abuse is so rampant that it needs to be brought to the attention of the public for changes to be made in the laws. It is very sad when innocent people are drawn into it.
As for PETA, they mouth some good words but are some of the worst instigators of abuse! I have no respect for them and don't believe much of a word they they say. I have heard far too much about their actions and philosophies to put any credit in what they say.
Natasha, you sound like you are close to the situation and I would appreciate it if you keep in touch and let me know what happens. You'll get a full hearing from me as everyone does. I try to be as open minded as possible. Again I want to thank you!
Kindest regards,
Deanna
I apologize, you are just doing what you do on your site and thats fine. I guess my opinion is different about "reputable breeders" I believe pets need homes. I don't agree with pet store practices but I also don't believe one can ever be certain that a puppy that they sell will go to a "good" home, whether they are a pet store or an individual. I think anyone who buys a puppy intends to give it a good home, but to say that reputable breeders do not sell to pet stores may be a bit much, not all pet stores sell dogs from puppy mills. Eldon gives a health guarantee on all the dogs he sells and guarantees them free of health defects and hereditary defects as well, even on the dogs he sells to pet stores,they all have health certificates and vet checks. Eldon loves animals. I will let you know how it goes at court for him when I hear something. Thanks for listening.
Natasha your full of shit! How can you defend someone like him, shame on you!
Hello "Nicki" your right hes an ass and I no longer defend him !!!! he WAS my husband but we are divorced now and I really don't care anymore.
Also "Nicki", this happened quite a while ago and all he got was a fine and no jail time and he cannot own or care for animals for 5 years. I respect your opinion on this issue and I now see the light.
If he was your husband, how the hell could you have allowed him to do it in the 1st place, your just as sick as he his..there is no excuse for ignorance! Just imagine how those poor puppys suffered, I hope your dreams haunt you every night!