By Susan Redden

sredden@joplinglobe.com

CARTHAGE, Mo. — Missouri will put more bite in its efforts to investigate and prosecute unlicensed dog breeders, state Attorney General Chris Koster said Tuesday during a stop at the Carthage Humane Society.

Koster joined Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Jon Hagler to discuss the second phase of the crackdown, dubbed Prosecution Bark Alert. The program was announced Monday in St. Louis.

The state for years has been criticized as the capital for so-called puppy mills, but Hagler said that since February, authorities have located more than 200 unlicensed dog breeders and rescued nearly 1,900 dogs. He said the raids were part of first phase of the enforcement effort, Operation Bark Alert, starting after he urged state residents to report puppy mills and other unlicensed breeders.

“Missouri has led the nation in unlicensed breeders,” he said. “Now we want to lead in cracking down on them.”

The Carthage shelter recently took more than 30 puppies that were among 80 taken in a raid on a puppy mill near Mansfield, said Tish Bentlage, shelter manager.

She said puppy mills and other unlicensed breeders account for about 40 percent of the animals that find their way to the shelter.

“Substandard and unlicensed dog-breeding facilities are a recognized problem in our state,” Koster said. “The General Assembly has set a standard for such facilities, and this attorney general’s office intends to enforce that standard.”

Bentlage said animals that are taken from puppy mills often arrive at shelters with health problems and other issues.

Jane Platt, a member of the Humane Society’s board of directors, said people who want a purebred dog can find many purebreds at animal shelters.

“They don’t need to go to a breeder and spend a lot of money,” she said.

Koster and Hagler said the Department of Agriculture and the attorney general’s office are working together to take legal action against breeders who are not licensed. Missouri law requires dog breeders to become licensed with the Animal Care Facilities Act Program in the state Department of Agriculture.

“Since Operation Bark Alert was announced in February, my office has taken legal action against several unregistered breeders who were raided by the Department of Agriculture, rescue groups and local law-enforcement officials,” Koster said. “We plan to file against irresponsible breeders, and require they comply with the law or shut their doors. Substandard, unlicensed dog-breeding operations will not be welcome in Missouri.”

State officials were shown several dogs at the Carthage shelter, including puppies taken in the Mansfield raid, and Koster praised the operation.