WEST POINT, Iowa — The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is aiming to expand its lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding alleged inaction against dog breeders in Iowa. The initial lawsuit, filed in September 2024 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, challenges the USDA’s decision to license three Iowa dog breeders — Steve Kruse, Brian Lichirie, and Wuanita Swedlund.
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The ASPCA contends that the USDA has repeatedly renewed Kruse’s license despite his extensive history of animal welfare violations. The organization claims that USDA inspection reports highlight severe mistreatment at Kruse's facility in West Point, which typically houses over 700 dogs. Inspectors noted multiple issues, including dogs limping, having untreated medical conditions, and suffering from painful matting and inadequate veterinary care. Reports also allege that Kruse applied hot sauce to an injured dog to prevent it from licking its wounds.
Additionally, the ASPCA claims evidence of a puppy-laundering scheme, where hundreds of dogs cycled through commercial kennels associated with Kruse’s licenses, as part of a strategy to obscure his role in supplying puppies to retailers outside Iowa. Currently, the USDA is seeking to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that the case is moot since Kruse, Lichirie, and Swedlund are no longer licensed.
However, the ASPCA is opposing this motion while seeking to amend its lawsuit. They highlight that shortly after revoking Kruse’s license in September 2025, the USDA authorized a license for Christine Snakenberg at Kruse’s former location, suggesting a continuation of the alleged non-enforcement practices.
The ASPCA states that every claim made since the lawsuit was filed has been substantiated by subsequent findings. For instance, in late 2023, a USDA inspector observed six puppies froze to death at a kennel operated under Swedlund’s license but situated on Kruse’s property. Further, Swedlund has faced criminal charges owing to multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act, having had 32 dogs seized by authorities due to neglect.
In a ruling on July 10, 2026, U.S. District Judge Stephen Locher criticized Swedlund’s management of her kennel, finding the evidence indicative of significant animal suffering. Swedlund, who has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of animal neglect, awaits trial.
The ASPCA argues that the USDA's continued licensing practices demonstrate a persistent policy of non-enforcement, maintaining that the lawsuit should proceed.