The Winona County board recently approved applications for six Amish-owned dog kennels that have stirred controversy. There was extended disagreement over the application for the largest kennel, owned by LeRoy Yoder of Utica, whose application was first reduced to 125 dogs, which failed on a vote, and then passed at 85 dogs.

After visiting the kennel,Commissioner Marcia Ward was quoted as saying,

“These breeders have to be commended,” Ward said, noting the heating and overall care. “I was pleasantly surprised."

I beg to differ Ms Ward. There is nothing humane about the mass breeding of puppies into a society where there are thousands of dogs being euthanized daily.

There are no humane conditions in puppy mills that mass produce puppies for profit. Dogs are sentient beings and are not commodities to be mass produced.

Dogs live their entire lives in deplorable conditions in tiny cages to produce puppies. When no longer useful they are destroyed. Do you really think this is "pleasant"?