Update on Perry County Puppy Mill

The AKC's Management Disciplinary Committee has suspended Ed Mitton & Debbie Rohde Mitton (Mount Perry, OH) from all AKC privileges for a period of ten (10) years, effective September 11, 2000, & imposed a $2000 fine for failure to maintain their dogs & facility in a manner acceptable to the American Kennel Club & for conduct considered prejudicial to the best interests of the American Kennel Club, based on their plea of no contest in Perry County Court (OH) on charges of Animal Cruelty. (Multiple Breeds) The AKC's Management Disciplinary Committee has suspended Cathy Polmaskitch (Mount Perry, OH) from all AKC privileges for a period of one (1) year, effective September 11, 2000, & imposed a $1000 fine for failure to maintain her dogs & facility in a manner acceptable to the American Kennel Club. (Multiple Breeds)


The woman charged with 18 counts of animal creulty is under investigation again.
More than 100 animals were confiscated from the home of Deb Mitton in December. Some 80 dogs were covered in mud, maggots and feces. Now Mitton & the vet she works for are under investigation again, this time with the Ohio Veterinary Medical Board. The vet is now under investigation because the Perry Co dog warden said he also found controlled drugs inside the home of Mitton when the dog raid happened back in December. Mitton works for Dr James Hagley of Lancaster & the board is trying to find out if the drugs Mitton had came from Dr Hagley.  Hagley has been under investigation before for allowing vet techs like Mitton to order a long list of drugs for their own use. In 1993 they found Hagley guilty of gross incompetence and said he participated in behavior that was not only illegal but beyond his scope to practice medicine.  The files say some of his vet techs like Mitton were getting hundreds of pills including 14 different types, including Darvon, Darvocet, Ativan, Fastin, and Tylenol with codeine.  Hagley said allowing techs to get drugs at his hospital isn't happening any longer.  If it is found that Hagley is, he could have his license suspended again. 

Mitton is still working at Hagley's, but he said she is not doing any vet work. Her license expired nine months ago.  Mitton and her husband are facing 18 counts each of animal cruelty for not caring for the 100 animals in their care.   They pleaded not guilty in court March 7 - their trial date has not been set.
                                        Angela Ganote, NBC 4

Presecutors         Mark Howdyshell   740-342-3795     Joe Flautt  740-342-4582 Commissioners   Mike Heavener,     John Alteir,                 Charles Van Horn
                                 740-342-2045,             740-342-5505 fax
                                 Perry County Courthouse
                                 PO Box 248, New Lexington, OH  43764
Perry County has charged Ed & Debbie Mitton  with 18 counts each of cruelty to animals.  The Mittons Columbus attorney, John Graceffo says his clients will plead not guilty to the charges.  "We anticipate a not-guilty plea and a vigorous defense of the case."   Graceffo said Debbie Mitton is a veterinary assistant who knows how to care for animals.  An AKC investigator found the dogs and premises to be in such poor conditions that she suspended their AKC privledges.  Just one of her observations was an outside 10x10 pen with more than 50 male & female poodles in it.  Would this fall under the definition of someone who knows how to care for animals? 
 
(Perry County is 40 miles east of Columbus)
In early December 1999 a puppy mill was searched & evidence was strong enough to remove the 87 dogs, 7 cats and 21 birds from this residence.  As reported in the Dispatch, conditions were "deplorable".  Two dozen dogs were kept in cages stacked atop one another in a spare bedroom.  The other dogs were outdoors standing in muddy kennels.  Rats were tunneling under the chain-link fences to get to the dog bowls.  The animal owners Ed & Debbie Mitton, were raising them to be sold to pet stores and to individuals. Perry County stepped in after an AKC investigator reported poor conditions that warranted attention.

We want Perry County officials to know that we don't want these dogs returned.   We also want a stiff penalty to be imposed on these people.
Please call or fax your concerns:  Every voice counts.
Presecutors           Mark Howdyshell  740-342-3795  Joe Flautt  740-342-4582 Commissioners     Mike Heavener,     John Alteir,     Charles Van Horn
                                 740-342-2045,        740-342-5505 fax
                                 Perry County Courthouse
                                 PO Box 248, New Lexington, OH  43764