LANSING,MI (WTVB) – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has filed a 196 page lawsuit against a Hillsdale County man which accuses him of running an inhumane and unsanitary puppy peddling operation.
The lawsuit against Paul Steury of Camden was filed late last week.
According to a news release from the Attorney General’s office, they learned of Steury’s operation through complaints referred to Nessel’s department by Monroe County Animal Control and the Humane Society of the United States. The complaints alleged that Steury was selling sick puppies and adult dogs and providing false documentation of the breed, age, health, and vaccination histories.
It was also stated in the news release that while he was being questioned during the investigation, Steury alledgely admitted to killing at least six young dogs because he could not sell them.
Nessel says, “this man’s actions are simply incomprehensible. In many Michigan households, pets are treated as another member of the family. Puppy mill operators cannot continue to boldly take advantage of Michigan consumers and their love for animals with no regard for the health or welfare of the dogs they’re selling.”
She went on to say the Michigan Humane Society recently recovered more than 33 dogs from Steury and have placed the majority of dogs in new homes.
The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief and civil fines.
