The former manager of the puppy mill that was uncovered in Waimanalo is being extradited from Las Vegas back to Hawaii.
David Lee Becker faces 153 misdemeanor charges.
It’s something one organization has been fighting hard to see for a long time.
The scene was unlike any she had seen before.
Hawaiian Humane Society President Pamela Burns said many of the dogs had sores on their feet from standing in their own urine.
The Hawaiian Humane Society has been searching for justice since uncovering the puppy mill in February of last year.
"These people were intentionally involved in the breeding of dogs for significant amounts of money,” she said.
Justice appears to be one step closer with David Lee Becker headed back to Hawaii, charged with 153-counts of animal cruelty, all misdemeanors.
"It is extremely important that somebody be held responsible for it. And it is David Becker. He was the manager of the property. He was supposed to be responsible for the care of all of these animals, and it was just horrific,” she said.
Misdemeanor charges can carry up to 30 days in jail max but it’s something Burns says he deserves.
"Oh, I think jail time is important, as well as the fines. This was a business. They were selling these puppies, hundreds and thousands actually of them over the time period. They made a lot of money off this. This wasn’t some irresponsible backyard breeder, who just happened to have it go out of control,” she said.
Burns says what is even more frustrating…
"And we had worked with David Becker and previous managers to get them up to at least a very minimum standard of care, and over and over they did not comply,” she said.
The company that ran the farm, Bradley International, was found guilty of 153 counts of animal cruelty and fined nearly $700,000. But the corporation dissolved without paying anything.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
