The owner of a Kansas puppy breeding operation where 1,200 dogs were killed last month, causing national outcry and protests at his Denver pet store, has voluntarily surrendered his license to breed dogs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture told 9News.
An outbreak of distemper at Jeff Fortin’s Oberlin, Kan., facility — Beaver Creek Kennels — prevented him from selling hundreds of puppies. Because of the disease outbreak, the dogs could not be given to shelters. So the decision was made to put them to death.
At one point, Fortin had three pet stores in Colorado. Only his North Washington Street Kennel remains open.
Organizers say protesters still plan a vigil at that store this Saturday.
Activists set up an online petition dubbed “1,200 Dogs Dead, Tell Us Your Jeff Fortin Story,” calling for revocation of Fortin’s license and a Kansas attorney general investigation.
The effort as of Sunday evening had 206 signatures.
“Please see that he gets the punishment he deserves,” one woman wrote on the petition website.
Another woman from Tennessee wrote, “This is crazy. These people need to be treated the same way those puppies were treated.”
Colorado’s agriculture department said in December that Fortin’s north-Denver shop was in compliance with the state’s Pet Animal Care Facilities Act.
Fortin-linked stores in Greeley and Longmont were closed in 2008.
At the Pet Spot in Longmont, authorities found 13 small puppies in a 2-foot-by-4-foot container, among other concerning conditions.
Fortin was issued a summons based on 34 counts of suspected animal cruelty. He denies responsibility for any mistreatment.
The Associated Press has reported that USDA inspection reports show violations for failing to keep adequate records, failing to adequately treat animals with health issues and allowing trash near large dog enclosures at Fortin’s kennels in the past three years.
He was fined $8,795 in February 2006 for facility violations and was issued a warning letter last March for facility violations and denying access to inspectors.
Jessica Fender: 303-954-1244 or jfender@denverpost.com
