Missouri Attorney General Sued Two Dog Boarding Facilities
State officials filed lawsuits against two animal care businesses over alleged welfare violations and licensing failures.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Dogs
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The Missouri Attorney General has launched legal action against Rocky Top K9 and The Dog House following reports of substandard conditions and operational failures. The state is seeking permanent injunctions and civil penalties to ensure animal welfare compliance at these facilities.
Why it matters
These lawsuits serve to enforce state animal welfare regulations and protect pets from neglectful or unsanitary boarding environments. By pursuing legal action, the state aims to mandate proper care standards and hold facility operators accountable for regulatory compliance.
The state is seeking civil penalties of up to $1,000 per violation from the two sued businesses. Inspectors previously documented over two dozen dogs at The Dog House after its license expired on January 31, 2025.
The players
Missouri Attorney General
This state office is responsible for enforcing Missouri laws and representing the state in legal actions against entities that violate health and safety regulations.
Jasper County Circuit Court
This court handles local legal proceedings and has issued a default judgment regarding the operation of an unlicensed dog boarding facility.
Ellen Roberts
She is the operator associated with Rocky Top K9 who allegedly refused mandatory facility inspections required by state law.
Deana Brown
She is the operator of The Dog House who faced legal consequences for running an animal care business without a valid license.
The details
Inspectors at Rocky Top K9 in Howell County documented overcrowded enclosures, structural defects, and the presence of rodent feces and a live mouse. Meanwhile, The Dog House operator Deana Brown allegedly continued to house over two dozen dogs after the facility license expired, with officials noting repeated refusals to allow mandatory site inspections.
Timeline
The dog boarding license for The Dog House expired on January 31, 2025.
Inspectors conducted an initial site visit at Rocky Top K9 in December 2025.
A follow-up inspection at Rocky Top K9 took place in April 2026.
Roadmap
These enforcement actions underscore the state's ongoing commitment to professionalizing the pet boarding sector. By cracking down on unlicensed facilities, Missouri is moving to align small-scale animal care providers with broader, uniform safety standards across the pet industry.
Pet owners should verify that their preferred boarding facilities maintain active, up-to-date state licenses to ensure the safety of their animals. Residents in Howell and Jasper counties should monitor local regulatory updates to identify if their local service providers are in compliance with recent state enforcement orders.
The takeaway
Pet owners are encouraged to perform due diligence by checking for valid facility permits before dropping off their animals. Verifying a business's current licensing status is a simple way to help ensure your pet is kept in a safe and regulated environment.
Further reading
For more information on state standards, visit the Dogs section.
More information
To report a concern, access the Missouri animal care facility complaint form on the Attorney General website.
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