Search USDA-Licensed Dog Breeders and Dealers

Verify any USDA Class A breeder or Class B dealer against our mirror of the USDA APHIS public database. Search 2,837 active licensees by name, DBA, certificate number, or city. Every result links to a full profile with USDA inspection history since 2014.

What This Tool Does

This lookup mirrors the USDA APHIS Animal Care Public Search Tool (opens in new tab) , refreshed monthly. Use it to confirm a dog breeder holds an active federal license under the Animal Welfare Act before buying a puppy, selling to a dealer, or inspecting the facility's compliance record.

Two USDA license classes appear in results:

  • Class A — Breeder: Breeds and raises dogs on their own premises for sale. Required for breeders with more than 4 breeding females who sell dogs sight-unseen (online, by phone, or by mail).
  • Class B — Dealer: Buys and resells dogs — typically brokers who purchase from breeders and sell to pet stores, research facilities, or directly to consumers.

Certificate format: USDA certificate numbers follow the pattern XX-Y-NNNN — two-digit state code, license class letter (A, B, C, or R), and a sequence number (e.g., 43-A-6252).

Not finding the breeder? They may be exempt from federal licensing (four or fewer breeding females, or face-to-face sales only), licensed only at the state level, or operating without a required license. Check the state-level breeder licensing rules that also apply.

About these licenses: USDA Class A (breeder) and Class B (dealer) licenses are issued under the federal Animal Welfare Act and cover many kinds of animals — not just dogs (for example cats, rabbits, and other regulated species). A licensee shown here holds a USDA license but may breed or deal in animals other than dogs, so inclusion in this database does not necessarily mean the licensee breeds dogs. Always verify a breeder's species, status, and details directly with the licensee and with USDA APHIS (opens in new tab) .

2,214 Class A Breeders
623 Class B Dealers
2026-08-17 Data as of

270 results found in WI

Including 180 inactive results (expired or formerly licensed). Active only

USDA licensee search results
Certificate # Type Name DBA City State Expires Inspections
35-A-0466 Class A James Otto — HILLSBORO WI — Formerly Licensed
35-A-0516 Class A James Otto — HILLSBORO WI — Formerly Licensed
35-B-0215 Class B James Rienow DREAM CATCHERS EXOTICS LLC Suamico WI 7/6/2029 Active
35-B-0176 Class B James Rienow — SUAMICO WI — Formerly Licensed
35-A-0438 Class A JAMES STELPFLUG — DICKEYVILLE WI — Formerly Licensed
35-A-0386 Class A JANE FRY — WONEWOC WI — Formerly Licensed
35-A-0519 Class A Jay L Oberholtzer — Stratford WI 1/17/2029 Active
35-A-0415 Class A JERRY OTTO — HILLSBORO WI — Formerly Licensed
35-A-0384 Class A JESSE LAMBRIGHT — HILLSBORO WI — Formerly Licensed
35-A-0385 Class A JESSE MILLER — HILLSBORO WI — Formerly Licensed
35-A-0406 Class A JESSE YUTZY — HILLSBORO WI — Formerly Licensed
35-B-0191 Class B JILLS PET SHOPPE LLC — SHAWANO WI — Formerly Licensed
35-A-0442 Class A JOEL MILLER — HILLSBORO WI — Formerly Licensed
35-A-0321 Class A John Beiler — Platteville WI 11/4/2027 Active
35-A-0368 Class A John Bontrager Jr. — Dalton WI 3/10/2028 Active
35-A-0310 Class A John Bontrager Jr. — DALTON WI — Formerly Licensed
35-A-0364 Class A JOHN EBERSOL — CUBA CITY WI — Formerly Licensed
35-A-0420 Class A JOHN HALVERSON — WILSON WI — Formerly Licensed
35-A-0531 Class A John Kinsinger — Platteville WI — Formerly Licensed
35-B-0218 Class B JOHN LAMBRIGHT — HILLSBORO WI — Formerly Licensed
35-A-0387 Class A JOHN LAMBRIGHT — HILLSBORO WI — Formerly Licensed
35-A-0503 Class A John Mast Rocky Ridge Kennel Dalton WI 5/18/2028 Active
35-A-0224 Class A JOHN ZEISET — THORP WI — Formerly Licensed
35-A-0522 Class A Jonas J Yoder — Fairchild WI — Formerly Licensed
35-A-0489 Class A Jonas L Hershberger J&B Kennel Gays Mills WI 12/21/2027 Active
35-A-0466 Class A — Breeder
James Otto
HILLSBORO, WI Exp: — Formerly Licensed
1 inspection clean
2020-09-03 — PRE-LICENSE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
35-A-0516 Class A — Breeder
James Otto
HILLSBORO, WI Exp: — Formerly Licensed
2 inspections clean
2023-10-05 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2022-11-23 — PRE-LICENSE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
35-B-0215 Class B — Dealer
James Rienow
DBA: DREAM CATCHERS EXOTICS LLC
Suamico, WI Exp: 7/6/2029 Active
21 inspections 2 critical
2026-06-29 — RE-LICENSE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2025-02-19 — FOCUSED INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2024-05-01 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2024-04-22 — ATTEMPTED INSPECTION
1 non-critical PDF
2024-01-23 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2023-10-20 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
1 critical PDF
2023-04-17 — RE-LICENSE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2022-09-22 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2022-03-15 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2021-12-20 — FOCUSED INSPECTION
1 critical PDF

Showing most recent 10 of 21.

35-B-0176 Class B — Dealer
James Rienow
SUAMICO, WI Exp: — Formerly Licensed
1 inspection clean
2015-03-09 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
1 non-critical PDF
35-A-0438 Class A — Breeder
JAMES STELPFLUG
DICKEYVILLE, WI Exp: — Formerly Licensed
2 inspections clean
2019-10-09 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2019-05-30 — PRELICENSE INSPECTION #1
no violations PDF
35-A-0386 Class A — Breeder
JANE FRY
WONEWOC, WI Exp: — Formerly Licensed
3 inspections clean
2018-04-12 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2017-04-26 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
2 non-critical PDF
2016-11-03 — PRELICENSE INSPECTION #2
no violations PDF
35-A-0519 Class A — Breeder
Jay L Oberholtzer
Stratford, WI Exp: 1/17/2029 Active
4 inspections clean
2026-01-07 — RE-LICENSE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2024-01-11 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2023-01-13 — PRE-LICENSE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2023-01-13 — UNKNOWN
no violations PDF
35-A-0415 Class A — Breeder
JERRY OTTO
HILLSBORO, WI Exp: — Formerly Licensed
3 inspections clean
2019-08-27 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
1 non-critical PDF
2018-07-30 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2018-02-22 — PRELICENSE INSPECTION #1
no violations PDF
35-A-0384 Class A — Breeder
JESSE LAMBRIGHT
HILLSBORO, WI Exp: — Formerly Licensed
13 inspections clean
2022-05-16 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2022-01-10 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
2 non-critical PDF
2021-10-20 — FOCUSED INSPECTION
1 non-critical PDF
2021-10-06 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
1 non-critical PDF
2021-06-21 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
1 non-critical PDF
2019-08-08 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
1 non-critical PDF
2018-11-14 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2018-07-16 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2018-07-03 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
2 non-critical PDF
2017-07-19 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
2 non-critical PDF

Showing most recent 10 of 13.

35-A-0385 Class A — Breeder
JESSE MILLER
HILLSBORO, WI Exp: — Formerly Licensed
6 inspections clean
2022-03-30 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2020-01-28 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
1 non-critical PDF
2019-02-11 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2018-03-19 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
1 non-critical PDF
2017-03-20 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2016-10-03 — PRELICENSE INSPECTION #1
no violations PDF
35-A-0406 Class A — Breeder
JESSE YUTZY
HILLSBORO, WI Exp: — Formerly Licensed
3 inspections clean
2019-03-06 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2018-03-14 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2017-09-18 — PRELICENSE INSPECTION #2
no violations PDF
35-B-0191 Class B — Dealer
JILLS PET SHOPPE LLC
SHAWANO, WI Exp: — Formerly Licensed
8 inspections clean
2019-09-10 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2018-11-27 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2018-03-01 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2017-05-16 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2016-09-15 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2015-10-19 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2014-12-03 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2014-03-04 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
35-A-0442 Class A — Breeder
JOEL MILLER
HILLSBORO, WI Exp: — Formerly Licensed
2 inspections clean
2019-11-22 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2019-06-24 — PRELICENSE INSPECTION #1
no violations PDF
35-A-0321 Class A — Breeder
John Beiler
Platteville, WI Exp: 11/4/2027 Active
19 inspections clean
2025-08-07 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
1 non-critical PDF
2024-11-27 — RE-LICENSE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2024-10-28 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
3 non-critical PDF
2024-03-13 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2024-01-08 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
1 non-critical PDF
2023-08-01 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
3 non-critical PDF
2023-05-08 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
4 non-critical PDF
2021-10-14 — RE-LICENSE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2021-06-01 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
1 non-critical PDF
2019-04-29 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF

Showing most recent 10 of 19.

35-A-0368 Class A — Breeder
John Bontrager Jr.
Dalton, WI Exp: 3/10/2028 Active
11 inspections clean
2026-06-25 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2025-09-29 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
1 non-critical PDF
2025-03-03 — RE-LICENSE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2023-05-03 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2022-02-24 — RE-LICENSE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2020-07-29 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2019-07-25 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2018-08-03 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2017-10-04 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2016-10-28 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF

Showing most recent 10 of 11.

35-A-0310 Class A — Breeder
John Bontrager Jr.
DALTON, WI Exp: — Formerly Licensed
1 inspection clean
2015-02-27 — PRELICENSE INSPECTION #1
no violations PDF
35-A-0364 Class A — Breeder
JOHN EBERSOL
CUBA CITY, WI Exp: — Formerly Licensed
3 inspections clean
2015-10-16 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2015-02-18 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2014-10-10 — PRELICENSE INSPECTION #1
no violations PDF
35-A-0420 Class A — Breeder
JOHN HALVERSON
WILSON, WI Exp: — Formerly Licensed
5 inspections clean
2020-01-27 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2019-11-07 — ATTEMPTED INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2018-11-26 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2018-11-19 — ATTEMPTED INSPECTION
1 non-critical PDF
2018-05-29 — PRELICENSE INSPECTION #1
no violations PDF
35-A-0531 Class A — Breeder
John Kinsinger
Platteville, WI Exp: — Formerly Licensed
2 inspections clean
2024-10-28 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2024-01-17 — PRE-LICENSE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
35-B-0218 Class B — Dealer
JOHN LAMBRIGHT
HILLSBORO, WI Exp: — Formerly Licensed
3 inspections clean
2018-11-16 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2017-11-22 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2017-05-26 — PRELICENSE INSPECTION #1
no violations PDF
35-A-0387 Class A — Breeder
JOHN LAMBRIGHT
HILLSBORO, WI Exp: — Formerly Licensed
1 inspection clean
2016-12-21 — PRELICENSE INSPECTION #1
no violations PDF
35-A-0503 Class A — Breeder
John Mast
DBA: Rocky Ridge Kennel
Dalton, WI Exp: 5/18/2028 Active
4 inspections clean
2026-04-08 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2025-03-21 — RE-LICENSE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2024-03-28 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2022-05-10 — PRE-LICENSE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
35-A-0224 Class A — Breeder
JOHN ZEISET
THORP, WI Exp: — Formerly Licensed
10 inspections 3 direct
2017-02-13 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2016-11-29 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
5 non-critical PDF
2016-08-25 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2016-07-18 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
1 direct 1 non-critical PDF
2016-01-28 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2016-01-11 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
1 non-critical PDF
2014-10-29 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2014-06-26 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2014-06-12 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
2 direct PDF
2014-03-25 — ATTEMPTED INSPECTION
1 non-critical PDF
35-A-0522 Class A — Breeder
Jonas J Yoder
Fairchild, WI Exp: — Formerly Licensed
2 inspections clean
2023-08-23 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2023-03-02 — PRE-LICENSE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
35-A-0489 Class A — Breeder
Jonas L Hershberger
DBA: J&B Kennel
Gays Mills, WI Exp: 12/21/2027 Active
6 inspections clean
2025-04-02 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2024-12-02 — RE-LICENSE INSPECTION
no violations PDF
2024-02-26 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
1 non-critical PDF
2023-01-10 — ROUTINE INSPECTION
1 non-critical PDF
2023-01-10 — UNKNOWN
1 non-critical PDF
2021-12-20 — PRE-LICENSE INSPECTION
no violations PDF

Data sources: Licensee data comes from the USDA APHIS Animal Care Public Search Tool (opens in new tab) . Inspection reports are sourced from the Data Liberation Project (opens in new tab) (CC BY-SA 4.0), which compiles USDA APHIS inspection data from 2014 to present. Both are updated monthly. For the most current information, verify directly with USDA APHIS. This is not an official USDA tool.