Dutch Creek Animal Park owner agrees not to apply for new USDA license for two years

ABC 57

SHIPSHEWANA, Ind. -- In a statement released Tuesday, the United States Department of Justice announced Vernon D. Miller has agreed to not apply for or engage in any activity that requires a Department of Agriculture (USDA) license for two years due to dozens of violations at his Dutch Creek Farm Animal Park in Shipshewana.

According to court documents, a complaint filed in October alleged that Miller — individually and doing business as the Dutch Creek Farm Animal Park in Shipshewana — violated the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) by failing to provide adequate veterinary care, safe and hospitable enclosures, appropriate enrichment and sanitary housing, food and water to his animals.

The complaint also alleged that Miller had failed to maintain legally required records.

"At the time of the filing of the complaint, Miller had been cited for 90 AWA violations in just over a year, the highest number of citations for any USDA-licensed facility during that time period (2023-2024)," the USDOJ said. "Miller’s violations impacted over 300 animals that he exhibited to the public — including deer, zebra, exotic birds and primates — and dozens of dogs and puppies that he bred for sale as pets."

The citations Miller received for the dozens of violations included unsanitary conditions (including stalls piled high with feces and food dishes coated in grime or mold), failing to provide animals with sufficient shelter, failing to properly vaccinate puppies, and failing to provide veterinary care for animals with illnesses or open wounds.

"The complaint alleged that such conditions had likely led to numerous animal deaths, with at least seven animals dying in the few months prior to the filing of the case," the USDOJ said.

Initially, the USDA suspended Miller’s license for 21 days starting on Oct. 9, 2024, and the court entered a temporary restraining order against Miller on Oct. 28, requiring him to comply with multiple AWA regulations and standards, provide records and documentation to help monitor compliance and refrain from buying, selling, euthanizing or exhibiting animals without the consent of the court.

That temporary restraining order expired on Dec. 2, 2024.

“The maltreatment of animals entrusted to Mr. Miller’s care is a despicable act that deserves just intervention,” said Acting United States Attorney Tina Nommay. “We will continue to work with our federal partners to identify and hold accountable those exhibitors and dog breeders who provide inhumane care to animals in violation of the Animal Welfare Act.”

On top of not applying for or engaging in activity requiring a USDA license for at least two years, a consent decree is in effect for five years which outlines that Miller will allow USDA inspectors limited access to the facility, if it is open to the public, and will produce certain records for compliance monitoring during any time he is not licensed.

“USDA is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of animals protected under the Animal Welfare Act,” said Deputy Administrator for USDA’s Animal Care program Sarah Helming. “The partnership between USDA and DOJ helps to ensure enforcement of the AWA regulations for those who put regulated animals at risk.”

If Miller is relicensed in the future, he must comply with AWA regulations and standards necessary to provide humane and lawful care to the animals he exhibits and sells, while maintaining veterinary and other accurate and complete records.

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