Missouri, estimated to have more than 4,000 shoddy and inhumane high-volume dog-breeding businesses, has been identified as the nation's capital for "puppy mills."

The state is trying to shed that reputation, and Agriculture Director Jon Hagler has pledged to do more to crack down on bad breeders. Earlier this year, Hagler announced Operation Bark Alert, which allows people to report unlicensed breeders directly to him by e-mail.

On Monday, he said that effort had identified more than 200 unlicensed breeders now under investigation. They were reported by neighbors, puppy purchasers and others.

Joined by Attorney General Chris Koster, Hagler said the next phase would involve Missouri's top law enforcement agency prosecuting breeders who refuse to obtain a license and meet state standards.

Since taking office in January, Hagler has taken steps to better enforce a 1992 state law for protecting animals raised by breeders. But he also has said his agency does not have the resources to conduct inspections every year as required by law. Monday's message was more emphatic.

"Unlicensed breeders put licensed operators at a competitive disadvantage and animals at risk," said Hagler, who has adopted a puppy mill rescue, an Australian shepherd named Jackson. "Missouri has led the nation in licensing professional breeders. We will lead the nation in cracking down on unlicensed breeders."

Koster said he has assigned an attorney to work with agriculture inspectors to "corral" and prosecute substandard and unlicensed breeders, who will be shut down if they refuse to meet state standards.

Agriculture inspector Matt Rold said operators who voluntarily close may sell their animals at auctions. Critics contend this puts the dogs at risk of being acquired by other questionable breeders.

But a new state policy requires animals surrendered as part of a state shutdown to be turned over to the Humane Society of Missouri or other credible rescue groups for adoption, Rold said. Operators must agree in writing not to resume operations for another five years.

"For too long, we haven't paid attention to this problem," Koster said. That's about to change, he said: Seven active investigations will be announced in the next couple of weeks.

"We want to send a message to clean up the industry and put an end to animal cruelty," Koster said. "People have cared about this a long time. Government hasn't cared about it until now."

Breeders who willfully operate without a license face penalties of $1,000 per violation or each dog sold. The state also will work with counties to prosecute cases of animal abuse.

Koster recalled prosecuting a western Missouri breeder who kept 300 adult dogs and puppies in a 1,500-square foot ranch house. He said workers had to don protective and breathing gear to rescue the dogs because the odor of ammonia was overwhelming. The dogs had lived their lives in small cages filled with excrement and never stepped foot on the ground, he said.

The state will soon publish online the names of licensed breeders, and eventually, the reports of their inspections. That's something that Kim Townsend, an activist who monitors the industry for her group, PetShopPuppies, Inc., has been wanting for a long time.

She commended the agency for acknowledging and following up on citizen reports of suspected unlicensed breeders. But because such communications are public records, she said she feared some would-be whistle-blowers may not follow through for fear of retaliation from breeders.

Hagler said people who wish to report unlicensed breeders confidentially will be able to do so with a form they can print off the Web site and mail. The department will update them on the outcome of their complaint if they provide contact information, he added.