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“Est Alpha Kennels” in Pahrump, Nevada, is a puppy mill that has been in business for over ten years. They bred and sold a rare breed called the Caucasian Shepherd (or Caucasian Ovcharka). According to the AKC, these dogs weigh between 99 and 170 pounds. They are dedicated guardian dogs that need a dedicated family to train and socialize.
Since 2009, Oskana Higgins and Vasili Platunov, livestock business owners, have been in court for various reasons. They have more dogs on their property than is allowed by law, and many of those dogs get sick, injured, or even die from lack of care. However, even when the dogs were arrested, the couple refused to admit they were wrong.
Hundreds of dogs were arrested
In August 2022, authorities arrested Platunov and Higgins on charges of animal abuse and neglect. They had many violations, including one violation for keeping hundreds of dogs in the property when they only had space for 30 dogs.
Over the years, many neighbors have complained about the bad smell and noise coming from the property. Neighbors and a mail carrier reported seeing dead dogs in the property’s trash can. The accusations are just the beginning.
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The Nye County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) received a search warrant, and when they arrived at the property, they were heartbroken. There are about 300 dogs in the kennel, many with open wounds and maggots. Some dogs have even lost their legs. All adult dogs are severely emaciated, weighing about half their normal weight.
At least 24 dead puppies were found in the freezer. A detective discovered that Plantunov’s 90 dogs had been dumped at a nearby crematorium in the past few months alone. Many puppies also die from parvovirus.
The abuser fights back despite the charges
Platunov and Higgins still have a court date, but they are not backing down. Platunov said he has worked with the Caucasian Shepherd Dog for more than 40 years, so he calls all the allegations against him “fake”. Local rescuers and shelters took the dogs to take care of them.
After the dogs were seized, Platunov filed through his attorney asking for 40 of the dogs to be returned to his care. He says he has sold and received payments for many of those dogs, but he has yet to deliver them. Platunov did not take back the dogs, and he and Higgins both pleaded “not guilty”.
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This couple had many unpaid fines because of their puppy mill, so they filed for bankruptcy, which would put court proceedings on hold for now. All dogs are still in good hands at shelters and rescues. 25 dogs were captured earlier this year and adopted, but hundreds of recently rescued dogs will not be adopted until the court process is resolved.
If you are looking for a new family member, be careful where you take your dog. If you go to a breeder, make sure you can meet the parents and see where they were bred before bringing a puppy home.
Featured pictures: YouTube
