Animal Control Officials Investigate Alleged "Puppy Mill"

The owner has been investigated off and on for two decades now


In April, investigators found nearly 300 dogs in small cages
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By Darryl Tardy
First Coast News

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Hundreds of pets were found piled on one property by investigators and most of them are puppies. The First Coast News I-Team has obtained an exclusive video tape from animal control.

In April, investigators found nearly 300 dogs in small cages. Some appeared to be in bad shape.

The owner has been investigated off and on for two decades now. Last November, Lynn Rice was found guilty of several citations against her in civil court. Now First Coast News has learned that prosecutors could pursue criminal charges against her.

From the outside, it seems like an ordinary pet shop. But animal control investigator Howard Gunter tells First Coast News the building at 2945 North Edgewood Avenue is, "In my opinion it appears to be a puppy mill or has been in the past. It's not a good place. The animals don't have a life. They're used solely for production."

Following a check of the property in April, investigators found nearly three hundred dogs, mostly puppies, stacked in cages one on top of the other.

Gunter adds, "This is one of the worst cases of confined animals in volume that my investigations have come across. The smell is bad on the premises. The place is littered. They don't clean up very well."

But Rice denies the allegations. The pet shop owner tells First Coast News, "There's no filth. Dogs poop every day. They eat and they poop. If they poop you know I fed them."

First Coast News wanted to see the conditions for ourselves but Rice wouldn't let our cameras onto her property. Rice said, "I'm not taking you back there because this has not gone to court yet."

Rice has eight civil citations pending against her. A criminal investigation is also pending but prosecutors tell First Coast News it could be difficult to charge Rice.

Steven Siegel is the Assistant State Attorney assigned to the case. Siegel tells First Coast News, "Sometimes the conditions there might not be ideal. Now whether that borders on animal cruelty or whether it's a municipal ordinance violation or state statue, that's sometimes in the eye of the beholder."

To animal control investigators they are unsanitary conditions where they say dogs are bred illegally. But for Lynn Rice, "This is a kennel. A dog kennel. And I sell puppies. I have a license to sell puppies."

We checked and Rice is currently licensed by the state to sell dogs. Prosecutors tell First Coast News if Rice is ever charged, she could face criminal proceedings for illegal trade practices for the how she breeds dogs on the property.

Rice goes to trial in February for the civil citations against her.

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