Henry County kennel ordered closed

By Christopher Seward

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A Henry County kennel that advertised it provided purebred dogs to top entertainers has been put out of business by animal control authorities.

The Department of Agriculture has given Premier K-9 until the end of the month to return to their owners dogs in its care, according to Channel 2 Action News.

Premier K-9 owner Art Washington, who authorities said was operating on a revoked business license and did not have a breeder’s permit, pleaded nolo contendere to charges, neither admitting or denying that he was at fault for the way the animals were treated. He was fined $14,039.

County authorities became suspicious of the kennel on Ward Road in Ellenwood when they began receiving regular calls for animal control to pick up “strays” at the facility.

On each occasion, the starving and emaciated strays were purebreds -- the kind of canines Premier K-9 advertises it trains and breeds, county animal control Director Gerri Yoder said in early September.

Yoder said the strays were always purebred Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers and other prized canines. “They were never the Georgia brown dogs, the hound dog mix,” she said.

State regulators halted operations at Premier K-9 and barred Washington from accepting any new customers while an investigation continued into inhumane treatment of dogs in his care.

Conditions at the kennel suggested a long-term lack of proper care for animals, authorities said. During a visit in September, inspectors found a general lack of sanitation, including debris, animal waste on the floor, animals with feces matted to their hair, piles of dog hair, overflowing sinks and thick spider webs everywhere. A dead animal was also found in a bag.

Before it was shut down, Premier K-9’s website listed athletes and music stars among its clients, including Joe Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks, former boxer Mike Tyson, the group Outkast and singer Monica.

Washington is a former business partner of former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who went to prison for lying about his involvement in dog fighting. Vick now plays with the Philadelphia Eagles.

After the county and federal authorities launched an investigation, Henry County animal control was flooded with calls from people complaining about Premier K-9.

Yoder, the animal control director, had advice for pet owners and others who have concerns about kennels or are thinking about leaving their pet with a kennel.

“If they suspect abuse, neglect, ill-treatment of animals, they need to call their local animal control office,” Yoder said. “If you are leaving your animal for boarding or training, you never leave your animal until you can absolutely walk through the entire kennel. Don’t just leave your animal at the front lobby.”