It would seem so for as the story goes (now several yrs old), seventy-something year old Arkansas resident trucking magnate JB Hunt wanted to set up a private hunting-lodge shooting deal incorporating dogs. Andrew Hunte got involved because of his 'dog' connections and JB's financial contacts and political power (one of his bigger accounts is Wal-mart/Sam's Place).

Whether the hunting deal ever blossomed or not, it is alleged that some years later Andrew Hunte bypassed the local Congressman (with JB's help?) to get USDA Rural Development loan guarantees.  In this he was successful and obtained more than $100,000 at last report.  Regional congressman's local office (Blunt) says it didn't initiate the loans for him, but the money was used to build Andrew's Goodman, MO dog-dealers facility.

Attempts to get a copy of the loan application (by FOIA's) which would disclose how he got the Government loan guarantees have been denied by USDA.

Business deals aren't made public for obvious reasons but Hunte posted explanation on the web in which he 'Andrew Hunte' described 'JB Hunt' as his financial backer.  We're told that JB Hunt" does not haul puppies! ANDREW HUNTE, HUNTE CORP has been transporting puppies to retail outlets for almost fifteen years.   JB Hunt's fifth-wheel trailers are described as grey metal with large yellow lettering "JB HUNT".  Andrew HUNTE's trailers are white with his company symbol on the sides just like the design seen on his web site. Insiders say the interiors have built-in rows of cages.  It might be possible to get a first hand look, maybe even take a picture when they deliver to the Reno Petland.  That is supposedly the same outlet featured on local news last Nov-Dec regarding sick-dog sales.

As an aside for informational purposes, Petland is the chain that AKC intended to do business with until overwhelming opposition from the fancy nixed the deal and the contract was cancelled.

The story is that Andrew Hunte repaid JB and they are no longer associated in delivering puppies. Andrew supposedly hooked-up with Hagen (sic) Inc, large international pet supplies firm some time ago.  At that time Hagen's people were involved in managing HUNTE CORP after it was exposed in local newspapers as having dumped too many dead puppies in a sludge pond on one of Hunte's pieces of property. Hagen is reputed to have bought 49% of Hunte Corp and is/was trying to clean-up their act.