Hunter
12/26/25
A West Point Iowa dog breeder who lost his license years ago is allegedly still selling dogs and has actually expanded the illegal practice of puppy laundering.
Iowa Capital Dispatch reports The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals claims in a court filing that Steve Kruse hasn’t ceased operations with the loss of his license.
In September 2024, the ASPCA filed a seven-count civil complaint against the U.S. Department of Agriculture, alleging the USDA has knowingly allowed illegal activity to occur through its issuance of licenses to Kruse and two of his associates, Brian Lichirie and Wuanita Swedlund, and by failing to revoke any of their licenses. Kruse allegedly uses Lichirie and Swedlund to engage in puppy laundering, the practice of routing dogs to retailers through intermediary breeders, allowing Kruse’s dogs to be sold even in states that restrict the sale of animals originating from kennels owned by repeat violators.
the USDA recently suggested the five claims concerning enforcement against Lichirie and Swedlund remained live, while the two counts specific to Kruse were moot and should be dismissed. Without a license, the USDA argued, there is no issue of enforcement the court can address.
Last week, the ASPCA filed its own brief, contending all seven counts should proceed, arguing the USDA “did not offer any indication that they had conducted an inquiry or investigation as to whether Mr. Kruse continues to participate in the venture even without his license, still owns the land on which the kennels operate, or otherwise maintains involvement in the ongoing enterprise.”
The APCA notes that days after Kruse’s license was canceled in August 2025, the USDA approved Christine A. Snakenberg for a license to do business at the same West Point address where Kruse has for years operated a large-scale kennel.