El Dorado County puppy mill operator sentenced

A former El Dorado County resident was sentenced to one year in county jail for felony animal cruelty, operating without a license and 11 other counts related to her sale of puppies imported from South Korea

Ginger Turk

Ginger Turk, 46, was a puppy broker, imported tiny, underage, unweaned, high-priced ($4,000-plus) puppies from South Korea and sold them over the Internet and in person. Turk operated under multiple business names such as Teacup Puppy Couture, La Chic Puppy Boutique and Beverly Hills Teacups, and used multiple aliases such as Ginger Maree (Hunter), Jen Turk and Jenna Brennan.

Turk sold animals throughout the U.S. and in other countries. She has had multiple complaints from consumers who purchased sick puppies from her.

Part of her sentence that was handed down Nov. 18 includes the prohibition of selling, possessing, transporting or importing dogs for at least 10 years, she is required to pay restitution for the investigation and other penalties. Turk will be on felony probation for five years with searchable provision and required to notify any animal services agency where she resides of her address and any name change.

She will begin serving her sentence Jan. 13.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report