SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Missouri once again leads the nation on the annual “Horrible Hundred” list, with 31 commercial dog breeders cited in the latest report — more than half located in the greater Springfield area.
The report is compiled each year by Humane World for Animals, formerly known as the Humane Society of the United States. Researchers review federal and state inspection reports, along with other public records, to highlight documented cases of animal suffering in the commercial dog breeding industry.
According to the report, inspectors cited Missouri facilities for a range of ongoing and repeated issues, including filthy and unsafe conditions, underweight or emaciated dogs, lack of access to clean food and water and inadequate shelter during extreme weather…