Hip dysplasia is a disease that’s easy to spot in dogs. Shawna Thompson was heartbroken when she found out her dog, Biscuit, has it.

“At one time, she was only walking on front legs and I wondered if I should put her down,” said Thompson.

“It looks like a 12-year-old rottweiler’s hips instead of a 1-year-old Chihuahua hips,” said Dr. Heath Wiseman, a veterinarian.

Luckily, surgery is helping Biscuit but, because hip dysplasia is a hereditary disease, Wiseman says Biscuit's parents should never have been bred in the first place, “because it's likely to pass it on.”

Breeders, like dog pounds, rescue organizations and shelters are regulated to protect puppies like Biscuit. Under state law, they must provide food, water and clean and sanitary shelter for the animals. And a state inspector must visit those facilities at least once a year to make sure those minimum standards are met.

But KY3 News’ investigation finds those yearly visits don't always happen. More than 3,200 facilities must be inspected in Missouri but Department of Agriculture records show, in 2007, just 2,265 were inspected; in 2006, 1,681 were inspected; and, in 2005, that number was 1,506. In other words, fewer than half of those that require a yearly inspection actually received one.

In fact, some facilities haven't been inspected by the Department of Agriculture in years. The department's own records show inspectors haven't been to one breeder in Greene County since January 2006.

Records show the last inspection at a kennel in Battlefield was in November 2004. At a kennel in Willard, an inspector hasn't been there since October 2002.

“Some of the conditions are dreadful,” said Ann Schonert, founder of Pet Connection, a rescue organization in Springfield.

Schonert says more inspections could have protected dogs that are now in the care of her organization. The activist rescues animals from substandard breeders and puts them in foster homes.

“These kennels operate for years and years and never get penalties. I guess they look at it and say you need to improve it,” said Schonert.

In many cases, she's right. Last year, despite more than 3,100 violations, the state forced only seven facilities to surrender their animals; three had to cease operations and one was fined for substandard care.

Dr. Jerry Eber, a veterinarian who coordinates the Animal Care Facilities Act program, says, instead of fines, inspectors work with the owners of the facility to fix problems in many cases.

“The law provides for their due process and they have three inspections before they reach the serious level of penalization,” said Eber.

KY3 News’ investigation also found, however, that inspectors don't always complete those follow-up inspections -- even when serious violations are found. For example, one facility received four serious violations, ranging from dried feces found in the pen to inadequate fly control. That was in May of last year. No follow-up visit was ever completed.

“What they don't do is tell the truth; what they don't do is admit to atrocities they see,” said Schonert.

Eber blames a lack of staff, not effort.

“We've got 3,200 sites to inspect and 12 inspectors,” he said.

Because they can't get to every facility, he says the inspectors focus on those known to put animals at risk.

“At the end of the day, when my inspectors go home, they have made a difference. They have cited problems and taken steps to put problem facilities out of business,” Eber said.