Graham, Washington Great Dane Dog Breeder Charged with Animal Cruelty and More

[dogs4life]

It's a shame nothing could have been done earlier and the legal system is so slow in these types of cases. Washington State's Great Dane Rescue, Dane Outreach, had known about this BYB for years before Animal Control took action.

Plea bargain reached in case of Pierce County dog breeder
January 24, 2008, Associated Press

Authorities seized 38 of her dogs last summer, many have given birth and the county is paying $10 a day for the care of each dog. At 51 dogs, that's $510 a day.

Plea bargain reached in case of Pierce County dog breeder | Local News | KING5.com | News for Seattle, Washington

Graham kennel owner arrested
June 21, 2007, by KIM HOLCOMB / KING 5 News

KING 5's investigation last year revealed complaints about the suspect's breeding business from across the country and oversees. There were allegations that Great Danes sold as healthy AKC pups grew terribly sick and in many cases – died.

The Great Danes were advertised and sold all over the internet.

At the time, the kennel's operator told KING 5 she had a commercial kennel license.

Investigators: Graham kennel owner arrested | Investigators | KING5.com | News for Seattle, Washington

Dane Outreach, Great Dane Rescue's Statement on their website

12/20/07: Greatsinger Update: On Nov. 30 the judge denied Vohs' (a/k/a Greatsinger) motion to get her dogs back, ruling that the seizures (15 dogs on 6/21/07 for neglect; 20 dogs on 6/27/07 per RCW 10.105.010 -- use in a felony) by the county/state was legal. [Dane Outreach is paying many of the vet bills for the dogs in foster, donations would be much appreciated!!] On Dec. 14, she ordered Vohs to post a $15,000 bond toward the care costs. NEW TRIAL DATE: The trial starts WEDNESDAY JAN. 23 (corrected date) in Pierce County Superior Court in Tacoma, WA. A Dane-sized "thank you" to the many people who are contributing extraordinary amounts of time and energy during this special situation. And yes -- any donation would be very much appreciated!

Dane Outreach - Great Dane Rescue in Washington State

[dogs4life]

Here is another article about this case, maybe the best one I found yet.

She advertised the dogs as show quality, AKC registered and had a health guarantee, which was all untrue. She got $3,000 per puppy. The dogs were sired by a dog who was supposed to be neutered according that particular dog's contract with her own breeder.

Investigators | KING5.com | News for Seattle, Washington

Shelley Newman says the hardest part was telling her kids.

“You don't just get used to that presence not being there. It took us a long time to recover,” she said.

According to Victoria Pearson, a Dane breeder in Georgia, some of these deaths might have been avoidable. Greatsinger bought a pup from Pearson in 2001 and signed a contract not to breed the animal.

Romeo became one of Greatsinger's main studs, even though she was told he had a heart defect he could pass on to offspring.

“He was to be neutered and that wasn't a problem. Signed a contract verifying that," said Pearson.

The Newmans and other customers sued Greatsinger and won an $80,000 court judgment.

It's profit that's driving the puppy market. With information from Greatsinger's Web site and interviews from customers and business associates, the KING 5 Investigators estimate Greatsinger made $180,000 in one year from the sale of Danes and St. Bernards alone.

Dog breeder under investigation for animal cruelty | KOMO-TV - Seattle, Washington | News

But neighbors, past friends and breeders said they've been fighting Vohs for years over noise, animal waste, falsifying pedigree and the mistreatment of her animals. Tammy Johnson bred dogs with Vohs, but said she stopped working with her after she saw dead puppies in boxes and sickly dogs at Vohs' kennel.

"I watched dogs have multiple litters a year. Every heat she was breeding them," she said. "I'm glad that she has shut down and I hope they find good home. And I hope they don't ever reproduce again."