PA PUPPY MILL & RELATED COMPANION ANIMAL NEWS



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07-02-09 -- More Charges Filed Against Almost Heaven Kennel Owner
By:   Patrick Lester, Morning Call

The day after the state seized 216 dogs at Almost Heaven Kennel in Upper Macungie Township, Derbe "Skip" Eckhart still had nearly 200 animals or birds on the property, the Pennsylvania SPCA said.

The PSPCA, which visited the property the day after the state's June 23 raid, said it counted 87 birds, 45 cats, 22 horses, six pigs, four monkeys and two rabbits in addition to the 25 dogs Eckhart was allowed to keep following the state's visit.

The PSPCA seized 18 cats and four dogs during the visit that it said were in need of medical care, according to a complaint filed Wednesday at District Court in Emmaus.

Eckhart was charged with two counts of animal cruelty because the 22 seized animals lacked proper veterinary care, according to the complaint.

Eckhart had no records showing proof that those animals received veterinary care, according to the complaint.

The PSPCA originally planned to charge him with 22 counts of cruelty, but reduced it to two at the advice of the Lehigh County District Attorney's office, according to Kim Wolf, an PSPSCA spokeswoman.

Wolf said the PSPCA served a warrant at the kennel after receiving a call from a state dog warden who participated in the state's raid.

Wolf said the 22 animals seized by the PSPCA are being kept at the organization's Philadelphia shelter. She said they can't be adopted until after Eckhart's case goes to trial.

The 216 dogs taken by the state were distributed to various shelters and rescue groups after receiving care.


07-02-09 -- Murarka Rehired as PSPCA Medical Director
By:  Gloria Campisi, Philadelphia Daily News

Dr. Ravi Murarka, the banished medical director at the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, has been rehired, according to Sue Cosby, the shelter's new director.

Cosby said Dr. Murarka, who worked at the PSPCA for nearly 18 years until he was let go in March in a controversy over rabies injections he gave to some pit bulls, will return to the PSPCA as medical director effective next Tuesday, Cosby announced.

"I spoke with many of Dr. Murarka's supporters as well as those involved in the circumstances surrounding his departure, and I believe that is appropriate for him to return to the PSPCA," Cosby said.

She added that the animal-welfare agency "has full faith and confidence in Dr. Murarka's integrity as a veterinarian." Cosby said Murarka's work in saving sick and injured animals has been featured on Animal Planet's recent TV series, Animal Cops: Philadelphia.

Murarka was fired in March, allegedly after providing medical care for pit-bull-mix dogs at a kennel that the agency was investigating, according to a source at the time.

Murarka, who runs his own clinic, in addition to his work for the PSPCA, denied any connections to a kennel used to house pit bulls in an area where dogfighting occurs.

He said a North Philadelphia man had asked him in January to come to his home to provide rabies shots for his seven pit-bull mixes. He said he didn't see any "old scars" on the dogs, an indication of fighting, while providing the shots.

He said he was "shocked" by the termination after years of service provided "day and night."


07-01-09 -- Casorio Calls for More Serious Animal Cruelty Charges
By:  Representative James E. Casorio (D-Westmoreland)

For Immediate Release

HARRISBURG, July 1 - State Rep. James E. Casorio Jr. said today that officials in York County should file serious animal cruelty charges against a dog owner who allegedly shot three of his dogs.

The owner, Carl Herbert Kline of Seven Valleys, Pa., allegedly shot three of his dogs inside his home while intoxicated. Two of the dogs were killed and dumped in a cornfield; the third was found bleeding in a crate. Kline has been initially charged only with "discharge of a firearm in an occupied structure," and is currently free on bail.

"The complete lack of responsibility and respect for life demonstrated in this case merits very severe animal cruelty charges at the very least, yet the initial charges do not even acknowledge the most serious aspect of the crime," Casorio said. "This person deserves a long, long prison sentence, not a slap on the wrist."

While the incident is still being investigated and additional charges could be filed, Casorio said the case unfortunately is indicative of the response in many areas of Pennsylvania to animal cruelty.

"Too often, charges against people who kill or injure animals intentionally are either never brought, or are treated as an afterthought," he said. "But more and more people have had enough. They are demanding that we get tougher with criminals who kill and abuse animals not just because of the innocent lives of animals that are destroyed, but also because these crimes are indicative of the potential for serious crimes against people.

"A person who can get drunk, shoot his own dogs inside his own house, then dump them in a field obviously has little regard for the safety or welfare of anything -- or anyone -- around him, and is a danger to society."

Casorio said it is frustrating for state officials and the public who are pushing for improved animal welfare and cruelty laws in Pennsylvania when those laws are not used to punish to the fullest extent possible the people who break them.

"These are serious, disturbing crimes, and need to be treated as such," he said.

Casorio, D-Westmoreland, was prime sponsor of Pennsylvania's improved commercial kennel law (Act 119 of 2008), which institutes new health and welfare requirements for dogs in large, commercial kennels in Pennsylvania, and improves enforcement against the owners of these kennels where dogs are mistreated or neglected.


07-01-09 -- Tougher Punishment Wanted for Accused Dog Killer
By:  Samica Knight, WHPTV

Pennsylvania State Police have arrested a Seven Valleys man who allegedly shot three of his dogs and killed two of them.

According to court documents, 49-year-old Carl Herbert Kline of the 100 block of Oak Street, admitted to shooting the dogs inside his home then dumping the two deceased animals in a corn field behind the house.

Police said the third dog was found bleeding inside an animal crate.

State Police reportedly found 14 discharged shell casings on the floor and in the trash.

Kline, who authorities said was intoxicated, was arrested and charged with 'discharge of a firearm in an occupied structure'.

More than a dozen people told CBS 21 News that they believe Kline should face more severe charges.

"I couldn't imagine living with myself after that," Rosa Dipiazza. "I think he should have some type of animal cruelty charge."

"I think it should be charged the same as killing another human being," said Joseph Dipiazza.

According to State Police, investigators are still working on the case.

Police told CBS 21 News that investigators are also in the process of consulting with the York County District Attorney's Office to see if more charges should be filed.

Carl Kline is out of jail on $10,000 bail.


06-30-09 -- Abandoned Dog Needs Help
By:  WNEP-TV

A dog at a shelter in Schuylkill County needs help. His legs must be amputated to save his life and the shelter doesn't have the money for the costly operation.

Almost every day, dog warden John Briner brings stray or unwanted animals he finds to the Ruth Stienert Memorial SPCA, a no-kill shelter near Pine Grove. One of those picked up was Joey, a lab pup.

"No one has reported Joey missing and that's the sad part and that's one of our positions is pick up the sad parts," Briner sid.

Joey's leg is so badly broken that it's twisted and bent. Officials believe he is someone's pet. It's unclear how Joey's leg was broken. There is a fix. The leg has to be amputated.

"The vet says there is nerve damage and it ain't never going to get better and as long as he keeps walking on his knuckle like that it's going to get infected on him and wind up losing it anyway and probably worse," explained John Altemose of the Ruth Steinert Memorial SPCA.

The problem is the operation is expensive for the non-profit shelter, which depends on donations.

"The last month we've had five or six animals that we have taken to the vet already and it eats up our funds really fast and with him it's going to be over $1,000 till he's better," Altemose added.

One thing is certain; officials hope after the operation someone will adopt Joey but that's going to be rough on some.

"He is my favorite because he's always there and every time I walk in I have to say hi to him and pet him," said shelter worker Brittany Kehler.

If you want to find out how you can pay for some of Joey's medical expenses, click HERE.


06-26-09 -- Why Is Kennel Owner Still Allowed To Have Dogs?
By:  WFMZ-TV Channel 69

Just days after the Department of Agriculture raided a local kennel and removed hundreds of dogs, more details are coming out about how the investigation was handled. The state Inspector General's Office was asked to review the handling of inspections at the Almost Heaven kennel. WFMZ's Jaccii Farris reports.

Representative Doug Reichley says at least one Department of Agriculture employee has been fired and two or three more employees may lose their jobs by the time the investigative process is over. Before October, 2008, Almost Heaven in Upper Milford Township passed numerous inspections by the Department of Agriculture. That's when an undercover investigation revealed unsanitary conditions and resulted in the seizure of 50 sickly animals. The department says it started looking at their own inspectors.

>> DOUG REICHLY: At least more than one allegation that these folks were tipping off Eckhart as to when the inspections were going to take place or were not actually recording the conditions that were there.
 
>> REPORTER: The department of Agriculture confirms it asked the Office of the inspector general to review its inspections of Almost Heaven. But would not comment on any action taken. Representative Doug Reichly says so far one person has been fired and other terminations may follow. Almost Heaven's license wasn't renewed in 2009. But officials say they had to wait until Almost Heaven's appeals process ended before taking action. Tuesday and Wednesday, the Department of Agriculture and the Pennsylvania SPCA raided Almost Heaven again..seizing 216 dogs. 21 dogs and other animals remain on the property. The Department of Agriculture says Derbe Eckhart will never be allowed to operate a kennel in the state again. Reichly says Almost Heaven is also in hot water with the department of revenue for allegedly not paying $90,000 in sales tax charged to customers. Reichly says a lien was filed on the property, but the state didn't follow through.

>> When we asked them why they said if he's out of business he's not going to pay back the sales tax.

>> REPORTER: 69 News was unable to get comment from the Department of Revenue. All of the dogs seized have been taken to shelters for adoption, including the Berks County Humane Society.


06-26-09 -- Dog Rescuers Sparked 2nd Kennel Raid
They didn't have authority to take other animals from Almost Heaven.
By:  Bill White, Morning Call

Pennsylvania SPCA's raid on Almost Heaven dog kennel Wednesday night was sparked by investigators' concerns -- but inability to act -- during the raid and seizure of 216 dogs the day before.

After a PSPCA veterinarian examined other animals at the Upper Milford Township property Wednesday, the agency seized an additional 18 cats and four dogs. PSPCA spokeswoman Kim Wolf said they were taken to the critical care unit at its Philadelphia shelter.

Wolf said PSPCA expects to charge kennel owner Derbe ''Skip'' Eckhart today with up to 22 counts of animal cruelty. Eckhart already is awaiting trial on cruelty charges arising from PSPCA's Oct. 1, 2008, raid on Almost Heaven.

The state Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement shut the kennel down Tuesday after Eckhart failed to file a timely appeal of the denial of his 2009 kennel license. He was permitted to keep 25 dogs, just under the threshold requiring a kennel license, but he also had other animals, including cats, birds, monkeys, pigs. rabbits and horses, on his property. The warrant only allowed the removal of dogs, Dog Law spokesman Chris Ryder said, and his organization and the Humane Society of the United States, which ran the operation, didn't have the authority to cite Eckhart for animal cruelty.

''It was difficult to leave some of the animals behind,'' Ryder said. ''Particularly there were some cats that were in terrible condition.''

Dog Law reported its concerns to PSPCA, which has sworn agents who can act in Lehigh County. The veterinarian and PSPCA agents were accompanied by state police and a representative of the Lehigh County Humane Society, Wolf said.

She said initial reports of other animals being seized were incorrect. They didn't need immediate care, she said.

Wolf said the 22 seized animals had problems that included upper respiratory infections, severe matting and wounds.

Ryder also reported that all 216 dogs seized by HSUS Tuesday have been turned over to rescue organizations for eventual adoption. The dogs initially were taken the state Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg.


06-25-09 -- 50 Rescued Puppies, Dogs Arrive in DC
By:  Bob Barnard, Fox Washington, DC

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A three-hour car ride in two vans was their ticket to a new lease on life.

Fifty dogs and puppies are now at the Washington Animal Rescue League in Northwest Washington. They arrived late Wednesday night from Allentown, Pennsylvania and a place the Humane Society calls a puppy mill.

The dogs will be examined, bathed, rehabilitated and eventually put up for adoption.

"These animals never felt the warmth of a human hand. They never left their cages," said Gary Weitzman, executive director of the animal rescue league. "They were in chicken coops and never left those cages their entire lives."

Another 50 dogs from that same Pennsylvania location are expected to arrive on Thursday.

There are many breeds. They were among 216 dogs found at the alleged puppy mill in Allentown.

For information on adopting one of these dogs, contact the Washington Animal Rescue League:  Click HERE


06-25-09 -- More Animals Seized From PA Mill
By:  Fox Philadelphia

EMMAUS, Pa. - Authorities were back out at a shut down Lehigh County kennel Wednesday night - a day after hundreds of dogs were removed.

The PSPCA says four emaciated monkeys are being removed from the "Almost Heaven Kennel."

Kennel owner Derbe Eckert now faces new charges of animal cruelty.

Tuesday, the state and the Humane Society removed nearly 300 dogs after winning a court battle. The state shut down what they say was a puppy mill.

Humane Society workers say when they removed the dogs, they spotted other animals on the property that showed signs of abuse - animals that included monkeys cats birds and horses.

That prompted the SPCA to head there Wednesday night with a search warrant.

So far, they have removed 20 cats, six dogs, two horses and four monkeys.


06-25-09 -- Almost Heaven Dogs Are Free at Last
By:  Bill White, Morning Call

As I walked Wednesday morning down the rows of dog cages -- marked on handmade signs as ''Dalmatian Drive,'' ''Fido Freeway,'' etc., while a rescue team from the Humane Society of the United States sorted through the dogs it seized Tuesday from Almost Heaven kennel -- what struck me most was how many of the dogs got to their feet and stuck their noses up to the doors.

When I reached a finger in to touch their noses, every one of them licked me.

If you have a hard time understanding why people would get so worked up about the mistreatment of dogs, that's a good clue. Raised in filthy, crowded conditions, sick and frightened, these animals' instinct still is to crave human companionship, however fleeting. This capacity for unconditional love, even in the face of terrible cruelty, is heartbreaking.

So the sight of 216 dogs, free at last from one of the state's most notorious puppy mills, was truly uplifting. Their cages -- and a few horse stalls, brought in for the Great Danes -- were lined up in Northwest Hall of the state Farm Show Complex, where the dogs are receiving quick evaluations and being released to rescue groups that will treat them and find them homes.

The dogs arrived Tuesday in the wake of a surprise raid and shutdown of Almost Heaven, the Upper Milford Township kennel operated by Derbe ''Skip'' Eckhart. He failed to file a timely final appeal of his 2009 kennel license denial, and Commonwealth Court upheld the state Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement's decision to shut him down.

It's been a long time coming. The Pennsylvania SPCA's raid on the kennel last Oct. 1 finally confirmed what so many critics had been suggesting for so long about awful conditions there. But even though the PSPCA seized some sick dogs and cited Eckhart for animal cruelty -- and Dog Law revoked his license -- he has managed to remain in business while his appeals ran their course, his cruelty charges crawled through the court system and he racked up new citations.

Eckhart appeared to have been taken by surprise Tuesday, said Dog Law spokesman Chris Ryder. ''My understanding is he was upset,'' Ryder said.

Nonetheless, Ryder said, when the team made a final sweep of the Almost Heaven complex after removing all but 25 of his dogs (the cutoff for needing a kennel license), ''We found five more dogs hidden in a house.''

Good ol' Skip.

Ryder also noted that Eckhart will be cited still again, for boarding eight dogs in violation of his suspension.

The feeling outside Almost Heaven on Tuesday was jubilation, not just for those of us who have been carping about the place for years, but for neighbors who had to put up with the horrible smell and constant barking.

''We're certainly glad this will put an end to it,'' Ryder said. He pointed out that the state's new dog law, passed last year, provided the teeth and deadlines that made it possible to shut Eckhart down.

A list of the rescues where Almost Heaven dogs will be available for adoption will be posted at the Humane Society's Web site, hsus.org. The closest to this area is the Humane Society of Berks County, in Reading.

Diane Webber, HSUS director of disaster preparedness and shelter management, told me her goal is to have all the dogs out to rescue groups and the staging area cleaned by Friday night.

Webber, who is based in Chicago, travels the country for emergency rescues of animals seized from puppy mills or stranded by national disasters. Like other HSUS people we talked to, she characterized what they found at Almost Heaven as ''typical puppy mill conditions.'' The dogs have eye and ear infections, matting and skin conditions.

PSPCA investigators described much worse conditions during the Oct. 1 raid, when there were 800 animals crammed in there. Since then, Dog Law has kept close tabs on the place.

Webber, a former rescue operator, told wonderful stories about reuniting pets with their owners after the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, floods -- ''The people cry; you cry'' -- and of the ways frightened, sick puppy mill dogs have reacted to a little human kindness.

She said rescue groups have sent them photos afterward of the happy dogs in their ''forever homes.'' Some of them are barely recognizable as the traumatized animals she and her team saw when they were seized.

''It's the most rewarding work I have ever hoped to do,'' she concluded.

I hope she gets lots of nice pictures of those Almost Heaven dogs in the months to come. They deserve happy endings.


06-24-09 -- Almost Heaven Dog Shelter Shut Down
211 animals rescued and sent to in Harrisburg after Eckhart exhausts appeals of license denial
By:  Patrick Lester, Morning Call

Derbe ''Skip'' Eckhart's troubled and defiant run as a kennel operator ended abruptly Tuesday when state investigators raided his Upper Milford Township property, seized 211 ''scared, dirty and matted'' dogs and put him out of business.

The authorities, who have targeted Eckhart and his Almost Heaven Kennel for months amid mounting complaints of neglect and mistreatment, swarmed the property at 4202 Chestnut St. around noon. They said they found underweight and unhealthy dogs, some with skin and eye infections, living in filthy conditions and breathing in an overwhelming ammonia odor created by a buildup of urine.

All but 25 of the animals -- Eckhart is allowed to keep that many -- were taken away in an air-conditioned trailer and other vehicles to a shelter in Harrisburg. They'll be examined, fed and treated before being released to shelters and rescue groups across the state that will make them available for adoption.

''It's about time,'' Nancy Heiser, 76, who has owned the property across from the kennel for 23 years. At times, she said, she and her eight tenants have lived with ''terrible, terrible'' odors and the sound of barking dogs. ''I never thought it would end,'' she said. ''It's sad.''

The state Department of Agriculture, which runs the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, has been gearing up for months to shut down the business. Investigators could swoop in Tuesday because Eckhart had exhausted appeals of his 2009 kennel license denial.

Eckhart's attorney, Kevin Fitzgerald of Olyphant, Lackawanna County, previously said he would appeal his client's case to Commonwealth Court. It was unclear why that appeal wasn't filed within a required 30 days after Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff upheld the denial.

Fitzgerald did not return phone messages seeking comment. Eckhart wasn't on the site when four state police cruisers, state agriculture department officials and 10 members of the Humane Society of the United States Puppy Mill Task Force converged on the property. But he later showed up to hear the news that the animals were being taken.

He did not return a phone message.

Jordan Crump, a spokeswoman for the humane society, based in Gaithersburg, Md., said the animals were kept primarily in a pair of barn-like buildings 50 feet by 20 feet. Most of the dogs had access to the outdoors.

She and other humane society workers said the conditions weren't unlike those at six other kennels the group has raided across the country over the past six months, netting about 1,300 animals.

Chris Ryder, a state agriculture department spokesman, said the conditions were ''what you would expect for a large, not properly [operated] kennel. The animals were scared, dirty and matted.

''It's a kennel that has had its troubles,'' Ryder said. ''We're glad that this will put an end to it.''

He said Pennsylvania's dog law, revised last year, allowed the state to shut down the kennel sooner than it could have in years past. ''The process may have played out for months or years'' under the previous law, he said.

Ryder said the state will continue to monitor activities at the property and ''we will be back'' if there is evidence that Eckhart is operating illegally.

Eckhart may have 25 dogs without a kennel license under state rules, but only a half-dozen under township regulations.

''We intend to act on that as soon as we're told the situation is clear,'' said Harry Kleiner, Upper Milford's code enforcement officer and assistant zoning officer. ''Obviously, we can't act on anything until we .. .make sure everything is legal.''

Eckhart's downfall began in May 2008 when the Pennsylvania SPCA filed a complaint about unsanitary conditions and ailing animals at the kennel. His troubles intensified last October when an inspection showed ''significant'' state dog law violations, according to the state.

Because of those violations, Eckhart was denied an operating license in January. Wolff later upheld the denial.

Under the terms of a license refusal order, Eckhart could keep the dogs he had at the time of the refusal, but he couldn't bring new animals to the kennel.

Since that order, violations have continued to pile up, according to the state. Just last week, a state dog warden charged Eckhart with breeding a boxer at the kennel in violation of a cease-and-desist order. The dog, named Marci, had four puppies on May 13, according to a complaint filed at District Court in Emmaus.

Last month, Eckhart was charged with bringing 30 dogs from New York to the kennel. Inspectors also found a number of records violations and an unacceptable amount of feces in a dog pen during an April 23 inspection.

A court hearing in both cases is scheduled for July 17.

Note from NPPMWatch:
View Kennel Inspection Reports:   2007  Click HERE     2008  Click Here      2009  Click HERE


06-23-09 -- Authorities Remove 250 Dogs From Almost Heaven Kennel
By:  Patrick Lester, Morning Call

State authorities removed 250 dogs today from the Almost Heaven kennel in Upper Milford.

Officials from the state Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Humane Society joined state police in arriving at the kennel around noon, along with several trailers. Chris Ryder, a Department of Agriculture spokesman, said the animals were seized and will be transported to a temporary shelter near the Farm Show Arena in Harrisburg.

From there, the dogs will be dispersed to various shelters around the state and will be made available for adoption.

Ryder said the seizing of the animals came about because kennel owner Derbe "Skip" Eckhart had exhausted his legal options to overturn the suspension of his license. Ryder said Eckhart was not on the property when authorities arrived but did show up later and was informed of the operation.

The was no information immediately available on the condition of the animals.

Eckhart in January was denied a 2009 kennel license following an October 2008 inspection that showed "significant violations" of the state dog law, according to the state.

Last month, Department of Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff upheld the license denial. Eckhart's attorney, Kevin Fitzgerald of Olyphant, Lackawanna County, has said he would appeal Wolff's decision. Meanwhile, Eckhart is facing a new allegation that he bred a dog at the kennel in violation of a cease and desist order.

A state dog warden found the violation during a May 22 inspection at the kennel, located at 4202 Chestnut St., according to a complaint filed June 15 at District Court in Emmaus.

During the inspection, Dog Warden Kristen Donmoyer discovered that a boxer named Marci gave birth to four puppies at the kennel on May 13, the complaint says.

Eckhart, under a February license suspension order, was prohibited from increasing the number of dogs at the kennel.

Last month, Eckhart was charged with bringing 30 dogs from New York to the kennel. Inspectors also found a number of records violations and an unacceptable amount of feces in a dog pen during an April 23 inspection.

Note from NPPMWatch:
View Kennel Inspection Reports:   2007  Click HERE     2008  Click Here      2009  Click HERE



06-23-09 -- Approximately 300 Dogs Rescued from Allentown Puppy Mill
By:  Humane Society of the United States

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Nearly 300 dogs have a new "leash" on life thanks to the diligent efforts of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and The Humane Society of the United States, who came together to rescue the animals from horrific conditions at a Lehigh County puppy mill.

"These animals were subjected to years of constant confinement and denied loving human care and socialization. The Humane Society of the United States is grateful to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture for enforcing the commonwealth's Dog Law and coming to the aid of man's best friend," said Sarah Speed, Pennsylvania state director for The HSUS. 

The HSUS was called in by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement to assist with this case. The Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement investigated the Almost Heaven kennels, and took permanent custody of all of the dogs due to the owner's failure to appeal his recent license delisting. Custody of the animals will be transferred to The HSUS once the dogs leave the property. The HSUS is providing animal handling assistance and overseeing sheltering and transport of the rescued animals.

When rescuers arrived at Almost Heaven they found a disturbing scene. The dogs, mainly small breeds and designer mixes, were being housed in a variety of small pens, wire crates and kennels throughout the property. Responders found typical puppy mill conditions; many of the dogs were suffering from skin and eye infections as well as other medical ailments. It is likely that many of these animals had never known life outside their cramped enclosures.

Rescuers are working to remove all of the animals and transport them to a nearby emergency shelter set up by The HSUS. Once at the shelter the dogs will be checked by a team of veterinarians and given any necessary immediate medical care. The HSUS and local volunteers will care for the animals while they recover at their temporary home. The dogs will soon be transported to rescue groups and humane societies throughout the region, where they will be made available for adoption.

This operation is made possible in part from funding provided to The HSUS by the Kenneth and Lillian Wilde Foundation, who created the Wilde Puppy Mill Task Force to rescue animals from abusive puppy mills.

The emergency shelter is located at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg. Representatives from The HSUS and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture will be available for interview at the emergency shelter after all of the dogs have been transported.

By:  Amy Worden, Philadelphia Inquirer

Animal welfare officials, acting under a new law, moved in today and shut down a Lehigh County dog breeding kennel with a history of abuse and filthy conditions.

Agents of the state Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement and the Humane Society of the United States are removing 250 dogs from the Almost Heaven Kennel in Emmaus.

The noon-time seizure came after the Commonwealth Court rejected kennel owner Derbe Eckhart's emergency appeal of his license revocation.

"Our goal was to get the dogs out as quickly as possible," said Chris Ryder, spokesman for Department of Agriculture, the dog bureau's parent agency.

Such an operation would not have been possible without a dog protection law passed in October.

"We wouldn't be here today if not for the new dog law," said Ryder. "All the ambiguity under the old law is gone. It's clear that it's the end of line for him."

The seized dogs are to be taken to the Farm Show complex in Harrisburg, where they are to be evaluated before being put up for adoption.

Twenty-five dogs will remain at the kennel because no license is needed for less than 26 animals.

A raid last year by the Pennsylvania SPCA exposed horrendous conditions inside Almost Heaven, here as many as 800 animals were living in filthy, crowded cages and kennels.

Dogs, and other animals were crammed into a number of outbuildings and every room in a foul-smelling house where dead puppies were stashed in a refrigerator. The raid led to the revocation of the kennel license and animal cruelty charges that are still pending against Eckhart.


06-23-09 -- Almost Heaven Kennel Owner Cited AGAIN
By:  Patrick Lester, Morning Call

Derbe "Skip" Eckhart is facing a new allegation that he bred a dog at his Almost Heaven kennel in Upper Milford Township in violation of a cease and desist order, the state Department of Agriculture said.

A state dog warden found the violation during a May 22 inspection at the kennel, located at 4202 Chestnut St., according to a complaint filed June 15 at District Court in Emmaus.

During the inspection, Dog Warden Kristen Donmoyer discovered that a boxer named Marci gave birth to four puppies at the kennel on May 13, the complaint says.

Eckhart, under a February license suspension order, was prohibited from increasing the number of dogs at the kennel.

Last month, Eckhart was charged with bringing 30 dogs from New York to the kennel. Inspectors also found a number of records violations and an unacceptable amount of feces in a dog pen during an April 23 inspection.

Eckhart in January was denied a 2009 kennel license following an October 2008 inspection that showed "significant violations" of the state dog law, according to the state.

Last month, Department of Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff upheld the license denial.

Eckhart's attorney, Kevin Fitzgerald of Olyphant, Lackawanna County, has said he would appeal Wolff's decision in Commonwealth Court.


06-23-09 -- Senate Waters Down, Stalls Animal Protection Bill
Press Release Issued By:  State Representative James Casorio (D) Westmoreland (

HARRISBURG, June 23 - State Rep. James E. Casorio Jr., D-Westmoreland, said the state Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee has stripped a provision from animal cruelty legislation working its way through the General Assembly that would prevent thousands of dogs from suffering abuse and neglect in Pennsylvania kennels.

Casorio, who is a co-sponsor of the legislation (H.B. 39), called on the Senate to reinsert the provision and pass the bill.

"This is important animal protection legislation that the Senate had a chance to pass last session and failed," he said. "Now they've watered down the bill and stalled it again. This legislation has overwhelming support in the public and the legislature. It should be passed intact as soon as possible."

The House passed the bill 192-0 in February.

Casorio said H.B. 39 would prohibit dog breeders and owners who are not trained from performing surgical procedures on dogs, including debarking and caesarean sections, a practice that he said is all too common in many kennels. Owners could still perform tail docking, but only on dogs less than five days old and under the supervision of a veterinarian.

The version of the bill passed by the House would also allow dog wardens, who routinely enter Pennsylvania commercial kennels to inspect them, to cite owners for abuse, cruelty and neglect. Under current law, only humane officers, who need a search warrant to enter kennels, are permitted to issue those citations. The Senate committee stripped that provision.

"Commercial kennel owners use the restrictive nature of the current law to hide abuse and neglect of their animals from humane officers," Casorio said. "If dog wardens could issue citations at the time of inspection instead of having to report abuse to humane officers, who must then wait for a search warrant before they can enter a kennel and cite the owner, many more dogs would be saved from the torturous conditions that they often endure."

Casorio said the Senate should restore the provision and move forward with the bill. The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee approved its watered-down version of the bill on June 9, but the bill is now stuck in the Senate Judiciary Committee.


06-23-09 -- Martrich is Gone, But Questions Remain
By:  Bill White, The Morning Call

Former state Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement warden and regional supervisor Rick Martrich was fired Thursday, a dog law spokesman has confirmed.

Bureau spokesman Justin Fleming declined to provide any other information about Martrich or other dog law employees who were the subjects of a months-long state inspector general's office investigation. The IG's office was exploring how dog wardens failed to react to what turned out to be horrible conditions at Almost Heaven and Limestone dog kennels. I couldn't even confirm that the investigation is completed. I'll get back to that.

Anyone who has been following the situation at the inaptly named Almost Heaven, located in Upper Milford Township, probably recognizes Martrich's name.

He was the dog warden who for years gave Almost Heaven satisfactory ratings and who once encouraged the Lehigh County Humane Society to turn shelter dogs over to Almost Heaven's ''rescue'' operation. He eventually was promoted to regional supervisor, and former Humane Society cruelty investigator Orlando Aguirre took over his job.

Dog law spokesman Chris Ryder told me months ago that Aguirre also was under investigation in the wake of the Almost Heaven raid. Aguirre, dog law Director Sue West and two other inspectors gave the place a clean bill of health several weeks before the raid.

Martrich, who also had been one of the most recent inspectors of Limestone Kennels in Chester County, was transferred to the state Bureau of Weights and Measures while the probe took place.

Pattie Fontana, a longtime employee at Almost Heaven who left the place in 2007 but returned for a few weeks last summer, said she observed that owner Derbe ''Skip'' Eckhart routinely was warned before inspections and that he had a close relationship with Martrich.

Information she supplied helped spark the Pennsylvania SPCA's Oct. 1 raid on Almost Heaven. SPCA investigators found more than 800 animals living in absolute filth. Many of them were sick, frightened, injured, dehydrated and crammed into overcrowded cages, investigators said. The state revoked Eckhart's kennel license, although appeals have allowed him to continue selling dogs. He's awaiting trial on animal cruelty charges.

Bill Smith, founder of Main Line Animal Rescue in Chester Springs -- the group that sparked the Limestone investigation and shutdown -- told me he filed complaints over the years, both with the state attorney general's office and the state inspector general, alleging that then-state dog warden Martrich was improperly sharing information with Eckhart and tipping him off to raids. He also complained to former dog law Director Mary Bender after his inquiries about Almost Heaven were relayed right to Eckhart. ''Little wonder that so many people have so little faith in your abilities to protect our dogs,'' he wrote her.

Nothing positive came of Smith's complaints, unless you count Martrich's promotion. Smith said the response when the inspector general starting investigating his complaints was an immediate inspection of Smith's rescue kennel -- by a two-person team that included Rick Martrich.

Ryder told me Smith's complaints would be part of the investigation.

I don't understand the bureau's stance on this inspector general's report. Fleming didn't even want to confirm at first that Martrich has been fired, noting that personnel matters are confidential. He wouldn't discuss anything relating to other employees or the overall findings. The inspector general's office wouldn't comment either. I couldn't reach Martrich.

Smith agrees that this report should be public, particularly since so many present and past dog law officials played a role. He observed, ''Since Martrich was paid by the people, from money collected from individual dog licenses, the people have every right to know why he was dismissed.''

He continued, ''I think the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement knows the report will prove what the rescues have been saying all along, that Martrich was not doing his job, that he was not protecting the dogs of Pennsylvania, and that the bureau has no system to deal with bad wardens. And that they are not receptive to complaints regarding their employees, even when dogs are suffering and dying.''

I'll put in a state Right to Know request, but it shouldn't be necessary. If the point of conducting an investigation was to address the public's concerns in the wake of these kennel horror stories, keeping the findings secret is not likely to be a lot of help. In fact, I think it will have the opposite effect.

Our primary question before was: How could this happen? Now we have a new question: What are they hiding?


06-23-09 -- Abused Puppy Recovering After Surgery
By:  Keith Phucas, Times Herald

NORRISTOWN — An abused puppy injured last week underwent surgery Friday to treat broken leg bones. The pup, who was named “Rain” by the staff at a Montgomery County animal shelter, is recovering there.

Carmen Ronio, executive director of the county Society for the Cruelty of Animals (SPCA), said the dog suffered a broken front leg and femur after being beaten.

“It’s horrible what they did to that puppy,” Ronio said.

He estimated the mix collie to be 12 weeks old.

A boy and other witnesses reportedly saw a suspect hitting the animal with a stick at an apartment complex’s parking lot at 151 W. Marshall St. Wednesday, but allegedly when he realized he was being watched, he fled, according to Norristown Police Department report.

The boy called 911, and police came to the scene just before 6 p.m., where they found a small, gray puppy behind a sewer grate near the apartment development’s Building 5.

The dog was breathing slowly, and it was not moving, according to the report.

Police notified the SPCA in Whitemarsh and the puppy was transported there. Officers searched the area but were unable to find the suspect. Ronio said someone called claiming ownership of the animal last week, but the organization will not release the dog from the facility.

Rain had surgery at Metropolitan Veterinary Associates in Lower Providence for the “fresh injuries,” and her injured limbs are supported with splints.

“The surgery went well,” Ronio said. “But it’s going to need extensive care.”

The SPCA is asking for donations to defray the $3,630 veterinary costs.

The director said the dog’s new name was inspired by the persistent rainy weather last week when the animal was rescued.

“Everybody’s been complaining about the rain,” he said. “The weather’s been miserable, and the puppy’s been treated miserably, so we named her Rain.”

Currently, a Norristown detective and the county Assistant District Attorney Abigail Silverman are investigating the animal cruelty case. In fact, Silverman visited the animal hospital and took pictures of the puppy.

“If anyone who could do this to an animal, just imagine what they’d do to a human being,” the prosecutor said.

Silverman has successfully prosecuted cases of animal cruelty, and though such cases are misdemeanor offenses, convictions carry a maximum five-year prison term, she said.

The suspect seen beating the puppy was described as a black man in his 20s wearing a green shirt and blue shorts. He was about 6 feet tall and weighed 175 pounds, according to the report.

Anyone who knows the identity of the suspect that harmed the dog is asked to call Norristown Police Department at 610-270-0977.

To make a donation for the dog’s medical bill, send to Montgomery County SPCA, P.O. Box 222, Conshohocken, PA 19428.


06-22-09 -- Beaten Allentown Dog is Alive and Well at Humane Society
By:  Frank Warner, The Morning Call

The puppy that an Allentown man was charged with beating severely June 12 is alive and recovering at the Humane Society of Lehigh County, a society official said today.

"She's happy. She's alert. She's just a wonderful, wonderful dog," said Sandy Goodrich, Humane Society kennel manager. "We've named her Sunshine."

Sunshine is a brown-black pit bull, and Goodrich said she believes the puppy belonged to JaShawn S. Barham, 19, 930 Chew St., the man who was arrested for allegedly beating, choking and throwing the dog to the sidewalk.

After the incident, the dog was given to the Allentown animal control officer, who took her to the Humane Society. Police said last week the puppy might have been euthanized.

Goodrich said she is happy to let everyone know that Sunshine is fine.

"We took her to the vet as soon as she came in," she said. "She has no internal injuries, no broken bones. She was very scared, very timid, considering what happened, but she's coming along."

Sunshine has been staying at the Humane Society's medical clinic at 640 Dixon St., Goodrich said.

A police detective said he witnessed the dog's beating about 11:20 a.m. June 12 while he was on a drug investigation in the 800 block of Gordon Street.

In the arrest affidavit, city Detective Kyle Hough said he saw Barham "punching, choking and slamming a small dog [puppy] to the sidewalk over a period of time."

After a police foot chase to his house, Barham was arrested and charged with animal cruelty, disorderly conduct and, for breaking a fence during the chase, criminal mischief, police said. He was sent to Lehigh County Prison under $10,000 bail.


06-21-09 -- Dogs on Death Row
By:  Gary Puleo, Times Herald

PLYMOUTH, PA — Kim Wolf swings open a cage door at the Animal Care & Control Team shelter, and Colleen, a frisky 2-year-old pit bull-Lab mix, bounds toward her visitors, lapping up the sudden showering of attention.

Rolling onto her back on the cement floor, paws paddling the air, Colleen has no idea of the crisis she faces - the same crisis every sad-eyed, quivering, homeless dog here is facing now that the facility is filled to capacity.

They’re biding their time in the canine equivalent of death row.

But their only crime was finding themselves in the hands of the wrong humans.

If the dogs can’t be placed in foster homes very soon, they will all be killed.

“It’s an emergency situation and these dogs are in urgent need of foster homes,” Wolf said. 

Like Colleen, the 74 other dogs here found out the hard way what a disposable and often cruel society we live in.

The ACCT shelter on West Hunting Park Avenue, Philadelphia, has been their refuge from abuse and neglect. But the facility is running out of room, temporarily diverting the steady stream of new strays and unwanted dogs to the nearby PSPCA on Erie Avenue.

Though the care they receive from Wolf and the ACCT staff is always compassionate and respectful of their individual needs, none of the dogs asked to become long-term guests.

“We’ve now tapped out our existing network of foster parents and we’re making an urgent appeal for people to provide foster homes for our dogs in need,” Wolf said.

As we walk past the cages, every other one seems to house a pit bull mix inside.

Many dogs storm the cage bars playfully, begging for any scrap of thoughtfulness they can get from you, offering up a wet snout to be petted.

Regardless of their breed or background, the same heartsick “foster me, adopt me“ desperation surges through their eyes.

Momentarily, Wolf finds a reason to smile: the spot recently occupied by Sam, a nearly blind German shepherd mix, is vacant,

It turns out some benevolent soul couldn’t bear to see the friendly 3-year-old killed just because his eyes had failed him, so they sprung him from the shelter the day before.

Now Shippy, Mag, Orion, Daisy, Blackie, Chuck, Venus and all the others are desperately hoping to be saved from their dire circumstances and to go home for the holidays, getting their Christmases months ahead of schedule. 

If someone will provide the temporary home, ACCT will take care of all medical care and support, not only for the fostered animal but for up to four of the home’s other pets.

For anyone even contemplating sharing their home with a dog, there’s no better time to make the move than now, Wolf noted.

“Now that we’re in this crunch, the phrase we’re telling everyone ‘This is your time to test drive.’ To see if a dog could be the right thing for you, and you could benefit from us. Every dog has medical clearance and is ready to be fostered.”

There is no long-term commitment involved, she pointed out.

“We don’t put a time frame on it, but the longer someone can foster a dog, the more lives we can save.

Right now we’re in a crisis and are asking for any help we can get. We’re flexible and will work with people.

They can either foster on a temporary basis or, if they end up falling in love with the dog, as some people do, they can apply to adopt.

“I know there are good people in your community who will help ... we just need to reach them.”

Julie McKeever was one of those people.

She and her husband Andrew have been fostering and nurturing animals in their Plymouth Meeting home for ACCT and other shelters for years now,

“Fostering is an amazing experience. It literally saves lives,” McKeever said. “Some people might not think they’re doing much by taking one dog, but taking one dog saves that dog’s life. It makes a huge difference. They just need a place to go where can learn a few manners and then they’ll be on their way.

“I love fostering dogs because to see them blossom is a huge reward,” she added. “And to stay in touch with people who adopt them and to know how much joy they’re getting from them is incredible. There’s nothing better than helping a dog get to its forever home.”

People should forget the stereotypes when it comes to pit bulls, which seem to pop up at shelters more frequently than many breeds, McKeever said.

“My experience with pit bulls is that they’re fabulous dogs. When I volunteered to walk dogs at ACCT, there was never one pit bull that I was leery of at all. They all snuggled with you,  kissed you, and were just a joy to be around.”

McKeever’s dog Moe, rescued from a junk yard in Philadelphia by Faith’s Hope , was the subject of a Times Herald story in 2006.

Like the 75 desperate dogs at ACCT, the severely injured bulldog had put in more time at Animal Control than he ever deserved to because too many people turned their backs on him.

But it only took two warmhearted women -- McKeever and Faith’s Hope founder Rosemary DiStefano -- to lift Moe from the brink of certain euthanasia.

Now the 3-year-old is thriving at the McKeever house, along with 8-year-old Lucy -- rescued from a puppy mill in Missouri -- and the litter of kittens from ACCT that McKeever is currently fostering   

“The kitten situation down there is horrible too,” she said. “They’re having to euthanize kittens. I was just down there the other day: they have 56 litters of kittens. It comes down to what is wrong with society that we can’t spay and neuter our animals? It’s very frustrating. A simple surgery could prevent 56 litters of kittens. But people just don’t seem to care.”

The ACCT fostering program is one of the most exemplary that any shelter could have, McKeever noted.

“People should know that ACCT will pay veterinary care not only for the animal you’re fostering, but for   up to four of your other animals. It’s a new thing the shelter is doing because they’re desperate for foster homes. So if people who are considering fostering are thinking they can’t take on another bill, the shelter takes care of all those bills.”

McKeever found the support network a lifesaver when she first started fostering.

“If a new foster family has questions, there’s an e-mail forum they can join and there are so many knowledgeable people who can answer their questions.

“If we can recruit even a couple of families to foster dogs, the article will help,” she added.

Trooper Veterinary Hospital administrator Wendy Uba got wind of the urgent situation and headed down to ACCT a few weeks ago, fairly intent on fostering a dog.

Death was waiting with bated breath just outside the cage of a dog named Kiwi.

But Uba got there first.

“I learned of the plight they are having there, which is astronomical in size,” Uba said. “The number of unwanted animals is so sad. The need there is so great that I talked to my family and we decided we should make room for another dog. So my daughter and I went down and checked into it and brought home a dog to foster. Obviously, in that situation, euthanasia is just around the corner for them, and it’s very sad.

People would be shocked to find out how many dogs and cats they get every day.”

Though her husband had agreed to foster with the proviso that the dog be of shepherd descent, Uba admitted it was still a tough choice to make.

“It’s hard to settle on one. I have shepherds at home and my husband’s only request was that I bring home something of a shepherd mix. I love pit bulls as well. But there was something in her sad little eyes.”

And so Kiwi went home with Uba for one of those “test drives” Wolf had talked about.

"We made sure she was the right temperament with our pets at home,” Uba noted.  “I don’t think you should ever randomly foster. You should take into consideration your family situation, lifestyle, things like that.

The people at the shelter do a pet assessment, and they’re wonderful at it. They can give you an idea if the dog is good with kids, good with cats, has issues with food or cage aggression, anxiety.”

Due to her occupation, Uba confessed that she has an edge over most people when it comes to sizing up an animal.

“But for the average person, ACCT will help you through that and find what’s right for your household so they can make a good match for you. They’ll go through new pet introduction into the household, feeding, sleeping situations, crating, which is a great way to introduce a new dog. For them, a crate is not a punishment, it’s a safe spot.”

As it happened, Kiwi hit the jackpot when Uba came into her life.

“I initially planned to foster but have just fallen in love and am going to adopt her,” said the veteran foster parent.

“Sometimes one just comes along that yes, that’s my four-legged child and she has to stay. She looks so happy when she’s with my other dogs. You can see her wearing this big grin, like “I have a home.’ It’s very rewarding.

“And I’m just a huge supporter of getting pets from shelters rather than purchase one somewhere. When you get them home, they’re just so grateful.”

In Philadelphia, ACCT is charged with enforcing the city’s animal control codes, as well as finding homes for Philadelphia’s thousands of stray and surrendered adoptable animals through rescue, foster care, and adoption.

Housing a full-service animal hospital, obedience training academy, adoption facility and Law Enforcement Department, the Pennsylvania SPCA is the second-oldest animal welfare organization in the United States (the ASPCA, headquartered in New York, is the oldest). Rescuing animals from abuse and neglect,PSPCA provides
lifesaving care and treatment, guaranteeing a home for every adoptable animal, while reducing pet-overpopulation through low-cost spay-and-neuter clinics and public awareness endeavors.

Animal lover William Hallahan walked slowly past the cages in decision-making mode. He had ventured down from his home in Chester County to see about bolstering the cause any way he could.

Like Uba, he found that ever last one of them caught his eye and captured his heart.

“These dogs are so innocent and preyed upon by some despicable people,” he said, shaking his head. “How can people hurt and maim these poor animals like this? This shelter gives them a place to come, but they don’t deserve to be in cages. The crossbars underneath their paws are obviously giving them pain, and they’re in there for weeks and months on end with no hope of relief.

“These dogs will be killed unless people come forward and demonstrate a willingness to care and offer protection and shelter. And love.”

Contact ACCT at ACCT@pspca.org or call 267-385-3800.


06-21-09 -- Editorial: Animal Cruelty Warrants Tougher Penalties
By:  Delco Times

The phrase “an eye for an eye,” is a quotation from the Old Testament in which a person who has taken the eye of another in a fight is instructed to give his own eye in compensation.

The idea of the law is to provide equitable retaliation for an offended party.

With the way people have treated harmless animals of late, there are many people who believe that saying should be taken literally in America.

The definition of cruelty to animals is the infliction of unnecessary suffering or harm. The question is, why would someone harm a defenseless animal for no reason at all?

In Muskogee, Okla., last week, 23-year-old Krystal Lynn Lewis was accused of getting a friend to kill her Jack Russell terrier and skinning the puppy to make a belt out of its hide. According to authorities, Lewis’ friend, Austin Michael Mullins, 26, shot the terrier 10 times with a .22-caliber pistol and Lewis skinned the animal and nailed the hide to a board.

In South Florida, Tyler Hayes Weinman, 18, was charged with killing and mutilating numerous defenseless cats. Surprisingly, the teen was freed on bail last week, despite being eyed for the killings of at least 30 cats.

In Vineland, N.J., last week, a female pitbull-doberman mix was tied to the bumper of a pickup truck and dragged along the highway, suffering severe injuries as a result. The dog recovered, although it had bloody scabs all over its body and needed surgery.

The worst part, many people feel, is that animal-cruelty laws in Pennsylvania and throughout the United States and the world aren’t as severe as they should be.

In other words, if someone kills a dog or a cat or any animal for no reason at all, they won’t be facing the death penalty anytime soon.

According to the Stray Pet Advocacy, cruelty to animals in Pennsylvania could earn a suspect a fine of $50-$75 and imprisonment up to 90 days.

Killing, maiming or disfiguring a domestic animal could result in a fine of not less than $500. Killing, maiming, mutilating, torturing or disfiguring any dog or cat could result in a fine of not less than $1,000 and imprisonment up to two years.

Many people feel these laws in Pennsylvania, which are as of 2003, according to the Stray Pet Advocacy, must be changed to make the penalty more severe if someone hurts or kills an animal for no reason at all.

One of the known warning signs of certain psychopathologies, including anti-social personality disorder, also known as psychopathic personality disorder, is a history of torturing pets and small animals, a behavior known as zoosadism.

According to published reports, the FBI has found a history of cruelty to animals is one of the traits that regularly appears in its computer records of serial rapists and murderers. Mass murderers like Jeffrey Dahmer very often start out by killing and torturing animals as kids.

Of course, there is the other side of the coin that says people kill animals for food and clothing, but the animal-welfare position holds that there is nothing wrong with using animals for human purposes as long as it’s done in a humane way that reduces unnecessary suffering.

Something must be done to put an end to senseless animal cruelty, and many people feel the only way to do that is to change the laws.

Many people feel that if someone kills a defenseless dog or cat or any animal for pleasure or laughs, then they should face harsh penalties. After all, most people treat their pets like family members.

While it might seem barbaric to some, there is a large group of Americans who feel that maybe our ancestors had it right when they said, “An eye for an eye.”

Note From NPPMWatch:

In Pennsylvania, only Humane Officers may cite for animal abuse, cruelty and neglect as outlined in the PA Crimes Code - Dog Wardens may not. 

Dog Wardens routinely enter PA puppy mills but Humane Officers may not enter without a search warrant. 

It's up to the Dog Warden, upon seeing animals exhibiting signs of cruelty, abuse or neglect, to contact a Humane Officer... but they never do. 

Recently HB39, a bill that will prevent commercial breeders from performing debarking, c-section and tail docking, also included a passage that would have allowed Dog Wardens to enforce the state's cruelty code in counties where there is no Humane Officer. 

Once again the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee stripped this provision (a repeat performance, in part, of what happened to last year's HB2525) leaving dogs at the mercy of their captors. 

When will our elected officials realize that this is not the will of the people?  When you tell them.  Write to the Senate Ag Committee and ask why they have failed, once again, to fully protect Pennsylvania's dogs:  click HERE. 

Be Their Voice:  abusing animals IS a crime and abusers should be treated like criminals versus being protected by scripted laws that permit the ongoing exploitation of these helpless creatures.


06-20-09 -- Dog Beaten Last Week May Have Been Euthanized
By:  The Morning Call

The puppy beaten on an Allentown street last week may have been euthanized because of its severe injuries, city police said.

The dog, which a city man allegedly punched, choked and threw to a sidewalk, was taken to the Humane Society of Lehigh County, which may have put the dog to sleep, police said.

''I am told the dog was in fact taken to the Humane Society by Animal Control Officer Jeffrey Soldridge,'' city police Capt. Daryl Hendricks said Thursday. ''I do not know the current status of the dog. I was told that it may have been euthanized due to its injuries.''

Soldridge was off work Friday and could not be reached for comment. The Humane Society did not return messages seeking further information.

The case has attracted attention since the 11:20 a.m. June 12 arrest of JaShawn S. Barham, 19, 930 Chew St., for allegedly beating the puppy in the 800 block of Gordon Street, a downtown neighborhood of brick rowhouses.

The police arrest affidavit noted that, after the beating, the dog stopped moving, but the report did not say what then happened to the dog. The Morning Call has received e-mails and other messages asking about the dog's condition.

In the arrest affidavit for Barham, city Detective Kyle Hough said he witnessed the abuse while he was in the neighborhood on a drug investigation. Hough saw Barham ''punching, choking and slamming a small dog [puppy] to the sidewalk over a period of time,'' the affidavit says.

After a police foot chase to his house, Barham was arrested and charged with animal cruelty, disorderly conduct and, for breaking a fence during the chase, criminal mischief, police said. He was sent to Lehigh County Prison under $10,000 bail.


06-20-09 -- Anger Over Dog-Cruelty Bill Could Freeze Legislature
By:  Amy Worden, Philadelphia Inquirer

A House lawmaker's anger over the Senate's failure to pass an animal-cruelty bill is threatening to hold up all law-and-order bills in the lower chamber.

Rep. Thomas Caltagirone (D., Berks), chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said he would not move Senate bills that cross his transom until the Senate acts on bills referred by his committee.

"I haven't run any Senate bills and won't, not until they come to their senses and start moving our bills," Caltagirone said.

A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R., Delaware) denied that there was any effort to stall House Judiciary bills.

Caltagirone blames the Senate Republican leadership for the turtle's pace of an animal-cruelty bill that he sponsored and that passed the House unanimously in March.

"They are playing games with me. They're impounding my dog bill," Caltagirone said. The bill, which would bar anyone except veterinarians from performing certain surgical procedures on dogs, should have been on Gov. Rendell's desk by now, he said.

The bill (H.B. 39) lingered in the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee for three months before being approved June 10. It was then referred to the Judiciary Committee, which Caltagirone contended was a further stalling tactic.

The committee's chairman, Sen. Stewart Greenleaf of Montgomery County, said he was surprised by the allegation and pointed to two House-Democrat-sponsored bills he moved last week.

Greenleaf received the animal-cruelty legislation a week ago, he said, and needed time to review it, as his committee does for hundreds of bills each year.

"Obviously, there are always negotiations on bills. It's a give and take," Greenleaf said.

Caltagirone said his dog bill symbolizes a larger problem: House bills go to the Senate to die or be resurrected with Senate sponsorship, he said.

"They're stealing our bills," he said, citing two identical prison-policy bills in the House and Senate Judiciary Committees. "We sent him mine, and he wants me to run his."

Caltagirone said he had had enough and has no intention to move any more Senate bills.

There are 16 Senate bills (both Democratic and Republican) before the House Judiciary Committee, among them a package of bills to increase penalties for operating a methamphetamine lab, one to raise penalties for bringing weapons into prisons, and one that would allow elderly or infirm prisoners to be transferred to nursing facilities and nonprison alternatives for nonviolent offenders, according to legislative records.

Senate statistics show a roughly equal number of House bills moving through Senate committees as of Senate bills being voted out of House committees.

Caltagirone's declaration of committee war came amid growing tensions over the budget standoff, as leaders in both chambers are trying to work every diplomatic angle before firing heavy verbal artillery.

"We do not believe the Senate has been holding House bills hostage in committees. And we certainly have not been bottling up Senate bills in House committees," said Brett Marcy, spokesman for House Majority Leader Todd Eachus (D., Luzerne). Every bipartisan effort is being made, he said.

For example, Marcy wrote in an e-mail, the governor last week signed four health care bills into law - two House bills and two Senate bills. They were key components of health-care packages of House Democrats and Senate Republicans.

But Caltagirone said that for now, Senate bills referred to his committee will sit until his dog bill is unleashed from committee. "There's no reason why this shouldn't pass quickly," he said. "I want to see it on the calendar, ready for a vote."


06-19-09 -- Former Dog Warden Who Was the Subject of Probe Fired
By:  Amy Worden, Philadelphia Inquirer

The former state dog warden in charge of the counties where two large kennel raids and a mass shooting occurred in the last year - and the subject of a lengthy investigation - has been fired from the Department of Agriculture.

Richard Martrich, who spent 12 years with the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement before being transferred to another office in the Department of Agriculture, was terminated Thursday, said an agency official.

Agriculture spokesman Chris Ryder said he could not comment on the reasons for Martrich's firing or the contents of the Inspector General's report that apparently led to the termination.

Martrich was dog warden supervisor for the southeast region when humane agents raided Almost Heaven Kennel in Lehigh County last October, shortly before he was transferred to an office that handles gas pump inspections. At the time he was the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Office of Inspector General.

The raid by the Pennsylvania SPCA exposed horrendous conditions inside Almost Heaven Kennel where as many as 800 animals were living in filthy, crowded cages and kennels. Dogs, and other animals were crammed into a number of outbuildings and every room in a foul-smelling house where dead puppies were stashed in a refrigerator. The raid led to the revocation of the kennel license and animal cruelty charges that are still pending against owner Derbe Eckhart.

Between 2003 and August 2007 either Martrich or one of his employees gave Eckhart passing inspections. Eckhart was not cited for any violations until the day of the PSPCA raid.

Martrich was removed from active kennel inspection duty last July after a raid on a Chester County kennel revealed widespread abuse and poor conditions. The PSPCA raid at Limestone Kennel in Cochranville led to the seizure of 103 dogs, many sick or injured.

Martrich and dog warden Maureen Siddons found no unsatisfactory conditions when they inspected Limestone Kennel in January. In an e-mail letter to Jessie Smith, special deputy secretary for the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, after the raid, PSPCA chief executive officer Howard Nelson wrote that the conditions his agents found "could not have gone unnoticed by even the most untrained or uncaring professional."

Martrich made $40,600 supervising six wardens in the region that included all Philadelphia-area counties.

Martrich also supervised wardens in Berks County where a breeder last August shot 80 dogs after he was ordered to provide veterinary care for flea bites.

Animal welfare advocates have long complained about a lack of oversight on kennel inspections because wardens are the only individuals with authority to enter without a search warrant.

Bill Smith, executive director of Main Line Animal Rescue, took in hundreds of dogs given up by Eckhart over several years, most of whom had severe health problems or injuries, including broken backs. Smith first raised the issue of inspections with bureau authorities in 2005 because he could not believe a warden would not have noticed so many animals in distress.

"I couldn't get anyone to listen to us," said Smith. "The dogs suffered for so long."


06-17-09 -- PA Animal Shelter Turns Away Strays Due to Cost
By:  The Associated Press

LANCASTER, Pa. - An animal shelter in south-central Pennsylvania says if local governments don't provide them with money, they'll turn away stray dogs found in those municipalities.

The Humane League of Lancaster County says it needs the money to pay for food, laundry, vaccinations and veterinary care are expensive. But 14 townships and boroughs in the county won't pay the per capita fee, so the Humane League won't take in their strays.

Pennsylvania Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement Director Sue West says this means strays are being taken to shelters outside the county. She says she hopes the Humane League and the municipalities come to an accord.


06-17-09 -- Altoona Police Investigate Animal Cruelty Case
Altoona police are investigating an animal cruelty case in Altoona involving four pit bulls.
By:  WJAC-TV

The dogs were taken to the Central Pennsylvania Humane Society Tuesday.

A Central Pennsylvania police officer said two of the dogs are in good shape but the other two are pretty skinny.

The director said the dogs have been eating since they arrived and will be examined by a vet.

Police took the dogs from 2015 16th Ave.

Officers said neighbors called to complain about the dogs barking.

Neighbors said they never saw the owner, Edwin Feliciano, walk the dogs.

They said he leaves the dogs alone weeks at a time.

Police condemned the house after they found it covered in feces. The dogs were found in separate rooms.

Police said Feliciano has a Brooklyn, NY address.

The dogs will remain in the care of the shelter.


06-16-09 -- House Bill Could Aid Animal Shelters
By:  Coni Marie Sheridan, Standard Journal

WILLIAMSPORT — A bill recently introduced into the Pennsylvania House of Representatives could provide funding assistance to humane animal shelters statewide.

House Bill 369, is an amendment to the Pennsylvania Dog Law increasing the cost of dog licenses by $2.50.

“It’s a great idea because it will help shelters fund the work they do,” explained Victoria Stryker, executive director of the Lycoming County SPCA.

Note From NPPMWatch:  Read the legislation:  click HERE


06-16-09 -- Jeannette Man Accused Of Abandoning 38 Cats In House
By:  WPXI

JEANNETTE, Pa. -- A Jeannette man is accused of abandoning 38 cats in a house after he and his wife separated.

Westmoreland County Humane Society officials said Richard Burch, of Jeannette, left the cats in a house in the 100 block of North Fourth Street.

Officials said five of the cats were dead when they arrived. The rest of the cats are being treated by the Humane Society.

Jeannette police said Burch is facing animal cruelty charges.


06-12-09 -- Family Dog Beaten, Killed By Robber
What Thief Took Can Never Be Replaced, Says Family
By:  WGAL Channel 8

LOWER PAXTON TWP., Pa. -- There was a heartbreaking end to a crime in Dauphin County after someone broke into a home Thursday night.

What they took is something the family can never replace.

“She was a very good dog, happy-go-lucky,” said Scott Minnich, whose home was burglarized.

Carly, a 13-year-old mixed breed, was part of the Minnich family. She and the Minniches' other dog, Red, were the only ones home at the time of the break-in.

“The dogs were acting funny. They wouldn't leave our side. It was unusual. They wouldn't go outside. They wanted to stay with us,” said Minnich.

During the night, Carly's condition got worse, so she was taken to a veterinarian. Once there, the Minniches found out she'd been beaten by the burglar.

“Her hip looked like she got kicked, and there were splinters in her hip from bone damage,” said Minnich.

Carly had to be euthanized.

“In 19 years of police work, I never had an incident like this. It certainly is odd,” said Lower Paxton Detective Steve Alcorn.

Lower Paxton Township police are also troubled by the cruelty and said the person responsible could face additional charges because of it.

The burglar stole a handgun and some money, but Minnich said that can all be replaced.

“It's very difficult to take, very hard,” said Minnich. “Take whatever you want. Don't touch, don't hurt my dogs.”

Anyone with information on the burglary is asked to call Lower Paxton Township police.

06-10-09 -- Animal Cruelty Charges Filed In Puppy Deaths
John Walls Charged In Connection With Death Of 4 Beagle Puppies
By:  WGAL Channel 8

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The Harrisburg Humane Society filed charges Tuesday in the case of newborn puppies found in a trash can.

John Walls faces animal cruelty charges in connection with the death of four beagle puppies.

Last week, a garbage collector found the four puppies, who were no more than a day old, in a trash can in Lykens, Dauphin County. They were then taken to the Humane Society.

One the puppies died shortly after being found. Volunteers tried to nurse the others back to health, but they succumbed to their illnesses.

"This is an example of what can happen if someone does not utilize the resources available to them," said Kelly Hitz, of the Humane Society. "If someone finds themselves in a similar situation, we would encourage them to contact the Humane Society for help."


06-10-09 -- Providence Township Gives OK to Kennel
Opponents may appeal to Pa. court
By:  Susan E. Lindt, Lancaster Intelligencer Journal

Providence Township Zoning Hearing Board took a verbal beating Tuesday from residents opposed to a large-scale breeding kennel, but ultimately voted to allow Country Boy Kennel to continue operating.

One of three board members, Bradford Duvall, opposed without explanation the special exception granted to kennel operator Jonas J. Esch.

And after the two-hour meeting, a group of angry residents vowed to appeal the board's decision in Commonwealth Court.

"I'm shocked, but we'll be exploring all our legal options," township resident Julie Nettke said. "There's a really good group of committed citizens here."

Esch's case has been hotly contested since April by about two dozen people after he applied for a special exception to continue operating his kennel at 170 Truce Road, New Providence.

Esch's kennel was previously licensed by the state to house up to 500 dogs over a year's time. Esch's 2009 license is pending state approval.

Board solicitor Kim Carter Paterson closed testimony after lengthy hearings in April and May. But on Tuesday, residents requested more time to research Esch's previous operating patterns and potential violations of state and federal regulations and consider retaining an attorney to represent them.

Although the board unanimously decided against reopening testimony or giving residents more time to make their case, board members were unusually lenient in procedure Tuesday, allowing residents to interrupt their deliberations with procedural questions, comments and arguments against their reasoning during deliberations.

Resident Kelly Charles said she looked into the township ordinance and found a passage stating that the applicant must not have been in violation of township ordinances before being granted a special exception.

Although Esch admitted at earlier hearings that he operated his kennel without township approval since 2003 because he didn't know approval was required, Paterson countered that the township had never filed zoning violations against Esch because township officials didn't know his business existed.

According to inspection records from the state Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, which inspects kennels and enforces business practices, Esch has been warned as recently as April 7, when he was cited for not vaccinating two dogs for rabies. At the same inspection, the warden ordered Esch to get immediate medical care for two dogs — one with an ulcerated eye and a closed eye; the other for an eye condition and an abrasion.

Esch testified at the April hearing that he had received a clean April inspection but he had not yet received the bureau's report confirming he hadn't been issued any warnings or citations.

Residents told the board it should deny Esch a special exception to operate based on such inaccuracies in his testimony and his history of unethical business practices.

But Paterson and the board maintained their job is simply to interpret and enforce township zoning ordinances.

"(Esch) has testified that he can comply with (state dog laws)," board member Ralph Dubree said. "There have been violations, but he has corrected those violations. He should know the standards to running a business and then make sure he keeps up with them."

Duvall, who cast the board's dissenting vote, said before voting that he struggled with his decision.

"I've put more thought and consideration into this hearing than probably any other in the 11 years I've been (on the board)," he said.

Residents have 30 days to appeal the board's decision to Commonwealth Court.

Note From NPPMWatch:

View Kennel Inspection Reports:  2008  Click HERE     2007  Click HERE      2006  Click HERE

View Citations:     2004  Citation #1  Click HERE
                            2007  Citation #1  Click HERE  Citation #2  Click HERE  Citation #3  Click HERE
                            2008  Citation #1  Click HERE  Citation #2  Click HERE



06-08-09 -- Two Juveniles Charged With Setting Pit Bull Ablaze
By:  Joshua Rhett Miller, Fox News

Two juveniles have been charged with setting a pit bull on fire, Baltimore police say.

Officer Troy Harris, a spokesman for the Baltimore Police Department, said Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld will announce the arrests during an afternoon news conference on Monday.

The dog — identifed by Harris as a female pit bull — was reportedly rescued by a Baltimore police officer on May 27, but later died despite medical treatment.

Harris declined to identify those arrested due to their age. It remains unclear exactly what charges they face.

Martin Mersereau, director of the cruelty casework division of the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals, said he hopes the juveniles receive maximum penalties for the incident if convicted.

"We're thrilled to hear [of the arrests]," Mersereau told FOXNews.com. "People who abuse animals rarely do it once and almost never stop there."

Mersereau said abuse of animals is common among serial killers and that FBI officials frequently use such crimes to gauge the potential threat of suspected and known criminals.

"The biggest mistake here is that people call this a 'boys being boys' thing," Mersereau said. "I do hope they're charged with felonies for malicious torture."

Penalties for felony animal abuse in Maryland include up to $5,000 in fines and three years imprisonment, he said.

Note From NPPMWatch:

Phoenix, the pit bull, was brought to Pennsylvania for medical treatment by Main Line Animal Rescue.  Sadly, after only four days, kidney failure destroyed any chance for her survival and she was euthanized.


06-06-09 -- Allentown Officer Sues Over Pit Bull Bite
Dog that attacked patrolman should have been picked up by Lehigh County Humane Society, he says, adding that animal owners also to blame.
By:  Kevin Amerman, The Morning Call

An Allentown police officer who was bitten in the face by a runaway pit bull in May 2008 is suing the owner and the Lehigh County Humane Society, saying the organization failed to capture the canine in a timely manner, forcing the officer to deal with the sometimes ''vicious'' animal.

The lawsuit, filed in Lehigh County Court, says as officer Evan Weaver tried to place the dog into a police wagon, it jumped up and bit him in the face, ''causing serious injury and scarring.''

Weaver says around 4:20 p.m. on May, 3, 2008, he responded to a call about a dog bite in the area of Eighth and Cedar streets. He found the pit bull on a porch and placed a leash around its neck.

Another officer called the Humane Society, which is contractually obligated to handle such matters, according to the lawsuit, but the officer said no one from the nonprofit organization could make it out to the scene until 9 p.m.

So Weaver attempted to take the animal into custody. The dog was shot dead by police after biting the officer.

Before snapping at the officer, the dog bit Curt Silfies of N. Eighth Street on the arm and leg, according to Silfies' father, Ray Silfies, who spoke to The Morning Call that day.

Also named in Weaver's suit are city residents Russell Opp and Christina Gilly, who Weaver claims are owners of the pit bull. But in court documents, Opp says he, and not Gully, is the owner.

Weaver's lawsuit, prepared by attorney Catherine L. Kollet, was originally filed in April, but Weaver revised it last month. The officer says he suffered deep lacerations to his face -- near his lip and mouth -- and abrasions to his hands. He says he has needed a series of rabies vaccinations. He's asking for more than $50,000 from each defendant.

The lawsuit claims Opp and Gilly failed to control the dog properly, knowing it ''has vicious tendencies.'' It says the dog was also unlicensed.

The suit says the Humane Society breached its contract by not taking care of the dog, resulting in the bite.

In her handwritten response to the suit, Gilly says the 12-year-old dog, named ''Spunky,'' was not vicious and although its license was not current, it had one. Opp and Gilly said they're ''not sure'' what happened or how the officer was bitten.

The Humane Society has not yet responded to the amended complaint and its attorney, Edward McKarski of Bethlehem, could not be reached for comment for this story.


06-05-09 -- Animal Cruelty Charge Tossed
Kennel operator still faces penalties
By:  Susan E. Lindt, Lancaster Intelligencer Journal

A New Providence kennel operator charged with animal cruelty and violations of the state's dog law got a split judgment Friday.

District Judge Stuart J. Mylin dismissed the misdemeanor cruelty charge against Samuel E. King, who operates Country Lane Kennels at 223 Refton Road.

But King still faces penalties for 18 summary offenses for violating state dog laws, which he elected not to challenge Friday via his attorney, Jeff Conrad. King is planning to appeal the summary charges in Commonwealth Court.

For each summary offense, King could be fined $50 to $750 and imprisoned up to 90 days.

The animal cruelty charge and some of the summary offenses stem from a March 10 sting operation during which an undercover humane officer from Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals posed as a customer interested in buying a puppy at King's large-scale breeding kennel.

The officer, Tara Loller, testified Friday that she targeted an ailing 9-week-old poodle mix missing "a good bit of its tail," the remainder of which was oozing, bleeding and had jagged pieces of skin hanging from it.

Loller said that King and his veterinarian, Thomas F. Stevenson of Twin Valley Veterinary Clinic in Honey Brook, told her that King had severed the puppy's tail when he was grooming it the previous day.

But Loller testified Friday that when she saw the dog, it was covered in feces and showed no signs of having been groomed.

Assistant District Attorney Christine L. Wilson argued Friday that the dog's wound was a result of King's attempt to dock its tail without anesthetic, sutures or even the proper training to undertake the surgery.

Conrad countered that even if King did cut the dog's tail, Wilson did not prove the act was willful and malicious, as required for the animal cruelty charge to stick.

Mylin agreed with Conrad and dismissed the charge, citing too little evidence.

"They continually overcharge these things," Conrad said of the state Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement and other agencies that filed citations against King, including Humane League of Lancaster County and the PSPCA. "It looks great in the headlines, but the facts don't add up. What they're doing is inappropriate."

Wilson said it was appropriate for Mylin to dismiss the cruelty charge.

"I support (Mylin's) ruling," Wilson said. "King's kennel license was revoked, which was our main goal."

The Bureau revoked King's license in March, effectively putting him out of the breeding business. King is appealing that revocation to the Bureau.

Meanwhile, King's veterinarian of record, Stevenson, is facing trial for an animal cruelty charge related to a surgical procedure he performed after King allegedly severed the dog's tail by accident March 9.

At a hearing in April, it was unsuccessfully argued that Stevenson appropriately treated the puppy's ailing tail just before Loller bought the dog March 10.

Stevenson testified at his preliminary hearing that he didn't amputate more of the puppy's tail, but only snipped away skin, dried blood and scab. He also denied Loller's charge that he held the dog's back end under steaming water before cutting it with scissors.

In May, Stevenson's license to practice veterinary medicine was suspended pending the outcome of a hearing before the state Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs.

Wilson said she expects Stevenson's trial to take place in September.

View King's Inspection Reports:   2009  Click HERE      2008  Click HERE      2007  Click HERE
View Previous Citations Including Those Where King Was Found/Pleaded Guilty:  Click HERE
View Bureau of Dog Law's Consent Agreement That Has Allowed King to Continue Operating:  Click HERE


06-04-09 -- Farm Owner Pleads Guilty to Animal Cruelty Charges
By:  Pamela Lehman, Morning Call

A man twice convicted of animal cruelty charges pleaded guilty this afternoon to 13 counts filed after a December raid on his Lower Nazareth farm found horses and ponies living in filth and lacking medical attention, according to a state humane officer.

Joseph Mayer, 58, who lives at 2803 Ivanhoe Road, Bethlehem, agreed to plead guilty to not seeking medical care for nine ponies, two horses, a donkey and mule. As part of the plea agreement, Mayer agreed to hand over the seized animals to the state Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and is banned from owning any animals, other than his pet dog, for more than three years. If Mayer does not live up to the agreement, he could face up to three years in prison.

In exchange for Mayer's plea, the SPCA dropped 25 other counts of animal cruelty.

At Mayer's summary trial before District Judge Joseph Barner, SPCA attorney Maureen Coggins said the group will seek more than $105,000 in restitution from Mayer for the care of the animals seized from his farm in December. Both Mayer and his attorney, Scott Wilhelm, said they'll dispute that because Mayer has no money. The restitution hearing was continued Thursday and will be held before Barner at a later date.

SPCA agents searched the property in December after a neighbor spotted a dead pony on the side of the road. At the farm at 3913 Hollo Road, the SPCA found 11 ponies and a donkey living in unsanitary conditions and the animals appeared to be undernourished and in need of medical attention.

Ashley Mutch, a humane officer with the SPCA, said the animals were living in broken down barns and the stalls were awash with urine and feces so thick that agents had to break the doors down to get to the animals.

In 2001, the Northampton County SPCA seized 31 animals -- horses, ponies, a steer and a pig -- from the farm, alleging they lived in substandard conditions without adequate food and water. At the time, Mayer said the charges were part of a vendetta against him.

Barner found Mayer guilty of 24 of 39 counts, but did not require him to give up the animals.

Three years later, the Monroe County branch of the SPCA seized 73 animals from Mayer's property and charged him again with animal cruelty.

In April 2005, Mayer was convicted of 46 counts and sentenced to pay a $6,000 fine and give up 66 of the seized animals. He appealed the ruling and later struck a deal that allowed him to plead guilty to one count of animal cruelty.


06-04-09 -- Skip Eckhart Finally Earns Immortality
By:  Bill White, Morning Call

''Bill, I hold my head high. I feel I deserve to get a second chance.''

It's time to change someone's life.

There is no greater honor than induction into my Hall of Fame of the area's most colorful characters. Today, after several weeks of reader nominations and deep consideration by the Hall of Fame Committee, it's time to announce this year's honoree.

I'm speaking, of course, about Derbe ''Skip'' Eckhart, this year's Hall of Fame inductee.

As owner of the inaptly named Almost Heaven dog kennel, Eckhart has been nominated many times. He even was the subject of an organized campaign one year by some of his detractors.

You could make a strong case that he should have been inducted long ago. We're talking about a guy who received a state kennel license despite convictions for animal cruelty. Who hoodwinked dog buyers and the American Kennel Club until the AKC figured out that he was circumventing its 30-year ban on selling dogs billed as AKC-registered. Whose sales practices led to a crackdown by the state attorney general's office. Whose associate was tricking people into surrendering ''free to a good home'' dogs to her and then in turn selling them to Eckhart for his ''rescue'' operation. Whose customers and rescue organizations have been calling me for years about sick dogs. Whose ''satisfactory'' inspection reports from the state Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement were a mystery.

It wasn't until the Pennsylvania SPCA raided Almost Heaven last October that the extent of the awful conditions there finally was exposed and prosecuted. Down to his last appeal over the state's denial of his 2009 kennel license, Eckhart also is scheduled to stand trial on a host of animal cruelty charges in Lehigh County Court.

Thanks to the cooperation of the same informant who sparked the PSPCA raid, I was able to reveal that the breeds of some Almost Heaven dogs had been misrepresented to buyers. DNA tests of three dogs showed they weren't what their sales papers said they were. The informant, former Almost Heaven employee Pattie Fontana, said the ages, vaccination records and histories of dogs also were misrepresented.

I also reported on a wacky attempt to transfer ownership of the kennel to one of Eckhart's longtime associates and change the name of the place, which would have had the effect of diverting potential customers from the zillion negative hits they would get if they searched the Internet for Almost Heaven or Skip Eckhart. The Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement put the kibosh on that one.

Most recently, Dog Law nailed Eckhart for allegedly bringing in 30 dogs from New York, in violation of his suspended license.

Eckhart told me years ago that he wouldn't get out of the business, because dogs were in his blood. But he also made this argument for the state giving him a kennel license despite his previous convictions and even jail time:

''My response is that murderers and rapists get a second chance and they're able to walk the streets, hold their heads high and not worry about what they've done,'' he said in a 2002 interview. ''Bill, I hold my head high. I feel I deserve to get a second chance. You screw up again, you're done.''

As I noted back then, he had had numerous second chances already. But setting that aside, I would think that everything that has happened since October certainly would qualify as ''screwing up again,'' so it's a mystery why he's still fighting to keep his kennel license. Could he have been less than truthful with me?

If there's one thing that's no mystery, however, it's that Derbe ''Skip'' Eckhart richly deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.

Note From NPPMWatch:

Read Inspection Reports for Almost Heaven:  

Breeding Kennel:  2007  Click HERE     2008  Click HERE     2009  Click HERE

Boarding Kennel:  2007  Click HERE       2008  Click HERE     2009  Click HERE


06-03-09 -- Animal Control Services May Cease in Lehigh County
By:  Darryl R. Isherwood, The Morning Call

Without government funding, the Lehigh County Humane Society warns, animal control across the county may cease.

The Humane Society floated that scenario after Lehigh County commissioners voted to nix $22,500 toward the cost of collecting stray, unwanted and injured cats and dogs in the county's 23 municipalities.

If local taxpayers can't ''absorb the increased costs,'' Humane Society President Bruce Fritch said in a statement, ''the LCHS will no longer be able to provide animal control services when the contracts with the municipalities come up for renewal.''

The county commissioners stand by their decision, arguing animal control is a local government responsibility. In addition, they say, the society is sitting on $1.8 million in investments.

''For them to be asking for more government money when they have over two years in operating expenses, I think that's a little overbearing,'' Republican Commissioner Glenn Eckhart said.

Fritch defends the request, saying the society collects only about a third of the cost of animal control from the municipalities it services. The rest, he said, is collected through donations, fundraisers and adoption fees.

Fritch also said it's standard practice to keep two years of expenses in reserve.

The Bucks County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has investments of $6 million and operating expenses of just $800,000, Fritch said. The Humane League of Lancaster County also keeps nearly two years in reserve, he said.

But in Northampton County, the SPCA carries a reserve of just $250,000 against operating expenses above $750,000, its most recent (2005) federal tax documents show.

Eckhart said he is encouraging groups -- including one critical of the Humane Society -- to look into taking up animal control.

''Until there is competition,'' he said, ''they are the only game in town.''


06-02-09 -- Lehigh County Humane Society Hard to Wake Up
By:  Bill White, The Morning Call, Originally Published on May 16, 2009

Until it has leaders who acknowledge all the problems, it never will move forward.

When the Lehigh County commissioners Wednesday night rejected funding for the Lehigh County Humane Society's animal control work, they were sending a couple of messages.

One, as articulated by Commissioners Dean Browning and Glenn Eckhart, was that the county shouldn't be sending money to such a well-heeled organization at a time when the county's fiscal situation is dire. They pointed out that the Humane Society's investment portfolio has grown to almost $1.8 million.

The other was that they're not crazy about the shelter's operations. ''I don't want tax dollars going to this facility,'' Eckhart said. He and others complained about the humane society's unwillingness to explore a no-kill approach, its lack of transparency and its euthanization methods.

Even the people who voted to give LCHS the budgeted $22,500 for its services went out of their way to make it clear they don't like what's happening there. Commissioners Percy Dougherty and Bill Leiner both said they hope this will be a ''wake-up call'' for the Humane Society's leaders.

My own feeling is that an atom bomb wouldn't wake those people up. I've been writing about their antiquated approach for years, to no effect, and there have been much more vociferous critics. If the commissioners are just figuring out that LCHS needs an overhaul, they haven't been paying attention.

The Kill vs. No Kill philosophical argument gets most of the attention, but that's never been my main focus. My complaint has been that the Humane Society won't take even the most basic steps toward reducing the need for euthanization of unwanted dogs and cats.

They would include: A comprehensive adoption program that includes convenient hours and an aggressive schedule of off-site adoptions. A comprehensive foster care program. A feral cat trap-neuter-return program. A high-volume, low-cost spay/neuter program. Cooperation with local rescue groups.

Outreach to the community to improve pet retention. In-house medical and behavior rehabilitation. A strong volunteer program. Aggressive public relations efforts.

LCHS has improved a bit in a few of these areas, but for the most part, it seems to run the same way it did years ago. Until it has leaders who acknowledge all the problems, it never will move forward.

My chiding has been too even-handed to suit some of the Humane Society's more rabid critics. But the group's leadership hasn't seen it that way. One of the oddities of the Pennsylvania SPCA's raid on Almost Heaven dog kennel in Upper Milford Township last Oct. 1 was that when LCHS Executive Director Bruce Fritch recognized me there, he went on a wild tirade. I had to lure him to a far corner so his ranting wouldn't turn up as background for the ''Animal Cops'' taping of the raid.

Beyond his complaints that my criticism has been unfair, Fritch was angry because people had posted insulting, even somewhat threatening, comments on the online version of my most recent column about LCHS. I let him scream himself out and tried to explain that I don't moderate -- or even read, in many cases -- the online comments. He wasn't buying it.

I was surprised to see Fritch there at all. It turns out that he wanted raiders to know the Humane Society was prepared to take in any dogs that were confiscated from Almost Heaven. Although he stayed there all day, the rescued dogs were driven to the PSPCA's shelter in Philadelphia.

In light of the Humane Society's history with Almost Heaven owner Derbe ''Skip'' Eckhart, it would have been an unlikely landing place in any event. Thanks to the connection between former LCHS cruelty investigator Orlando Aguirre and Eckhart, the Humane Society at one point was supplying dogs for Eckhart's controversial ''rescue'' operation. What's more, in his later capacity as a state dog warden, Aguirre helped keep Almost Heaven semi-respectable by issuing satisfactory inspection reports, particularly embarrassing in light of the horrible conditions found during the raid. Just six weeks before, a team of four dog law inspectors -- including Aguirre and new director Sue West -- gave the place a clean bill of health once again.

The discrepancy between the awful conditions and dog law's reports, including the role of Aguirre and other inspectors, has been the subject of a months-long investigation by the state Inspector General's Office.

There was a nice crowd of animal welfare people at Wednesday night's meeting, and many of the commissioners said encouraging things. Nevertheless, if any of this served as a real wake-up call for Bruce Fritch and company, I'll be surprised.

They're very sound sleepers.


06-02-09 -- Lehigh Valley Dog Tests Positive for Canine Flu
Pet among dozens at Alburtis kennel with symptoms of the new strain of virus.
By:  Andrew McGill, The Morning Call

If your dog comes down with a cough, you may want to take it to a veterinarian.

What could be the Lehigh Valley's first case of canine influenza has been reported at an area kennel. Although the rare disease usually isn't deadly, complications can become serious if not treated.

A 2-year-old female Norwegian elkhound tested positive after being taken to Alburtis Animal Hospital in mid-May for a persistent cough and runny nose, according to veterinarian Daniel Smith.

Smith sent a nose swab sample to Cornell University, which confirmed the presence of canine influenza, a disease that first appeared in 2004 at a Florida dog-racing track.

The dog developed the symptoms after a stay at the Cold Nose Lodge in Alburtis. Since early May, more than 40 dogs sheltered at the kennel have shown symptoms, kennel owner Rayne Reitnauer said Monday.

Reitnauer closed the facility for three days over the Memorial Day weekend, giving any remnants of the airborne virus plenty of time to die out.

''Today is our first day back to normal,'' she said. ''We clean like crazy. Even if you don't clean, the virus can't live for more three days on a surface.''

This is the first outbreak Smith knows of in the Lehigh Valley. The danger, he said, lies in that the canine flu can easily be mistaken for the milder ''kennel cough,''which also can be contracted after contact with other dogs.

Dog owners should be alert to any nasal discharge or general lethargy, he said. Canine influenza is not contagious to humans, but is easily spread among dogs. Dogs are usually treated with antibiotics to ward off any secondary infections.

But on the whole, canine flu is rarely fatal. Only a small percentage of the original cases in Florida resulted in death, Smith said, and he suspects the average pet would fare better.


6-02-09 -- PA SPCA Names Susan Cosby its New CEO
By:  Amy Worden, Philadelphia Inquirer

The Pennsylvania SPCA, which handles animal control for Philadelphia and is the state's largest operator of animal shelters, has named Susan Cosby its new chief executive officer.

Cosby, 40, has served for 18 months as executive director of the Animal Welfare Association of New Jersey, a private shelter in Voorhees. While there, she established one of the state's top providers of spay/neuter services and helped reduce euthanasia rates by improving adoption rates. Before that post, she was chief operating officer for the now-defunct Pennsylvania Animal Care and Control, which until December 2008 handled animal-control matters for Philadelphia.

PSPCA board chairwoman Harrise Yaron said Cosby, who was appointed last week and is to be paid $130,000 a year, was chosen because of her "familiarity with animal welfare in Philadelphia, business savvy, and dedication to lifesaving."

In addition to running its shelter, the PSPCA handles animal control for Philadelphia, operates four satellite shelters in the state, and enforces animal-cruelty laws statewide.

Cosby's appointment comes three months after the abrupt departure of former CEO Howard Nelson, who orchestrated the bid late last year for the city's $2.9 million animal-control contract. He was credited with expanded anticruelty efforts and with overseeing major improvements in the deteriorating Feltonville shelter.

But critics said Nelson's confrontational management style alienated employees and volunteers, and they accused him of a lack of transparency involving shelter operations.

Coincidentally, the PSPCA yesterday issued a quarantine on its two Philadelphia facilities after an outbreak of an undetermined canine disease that has claimed the lives of six dogs since Wednesday. The shelter will continue to take in stray dogs and place them in isolation, but for the next three days will not treat animals at its clinic and will not offer dog adoption for two weeks.

Cosby said she expected to start in about two weeks, with her top priority being the renewal of the animal-control contract that expires at the end of the month.

In April, the PSPCA's leading critic, City Councilman Jack Kelly called for better oversight of the shelter, saying it was "in crisis" and was euthanizing far too many animals.

His spokesman, John Cerrone, said yesterday that the councilman was aware of Cosby's accomplishments and was looking forward to working with her to "improve the deplorable conditions" at the shelter.

Health Commissioner Donald Schwarz, whose agency oversees the contract, said in a letter last month to Philadelphia Weekly that he felt the animals were well cared for by the PSPCA.

Cosby said she planned to develop ways to improve animal health at the shelter - particularly ensuring that all animals were vaccinated upon arrival - expand spay/neuter services, and make shelter adoption and euthanasia statistics available online.

"I want to save more lives - that's why I live and breathe," said Cosby in an interview last week. "This is an opportunity to help more animals in a city I love."


06-01-09 -- Dog Fighting Bust in West Philly
By:  NBC Channel 10 Philadelphia

A dog fighting operation was put out of business after officials from the Pennsylvania SPCA and Philadelphia Police raid a home Sunday afternoon.

Police descended on the home along the 900 block of Wynnewood Street in West Philadelphia and seized 19 pit bulls and six rifles. Six of the dogs were just puppies.

David Negro, 29, was brought down to Southwest Detectives for questioning. Investigators believe Negro has been breeding the dogs to be sold to dog fighters. He faces 19 counts of animal cruelty.

The dogs were living in deplorable conditions with no food and water available.

"These cages…were just dirt floors covered, literally covered, in inches of feces and urine and the dogs were covered parasites -- ticks and fleas," George Bengal from the Pennsylvania SPCA said.

Officials said they have been logging complaints about the home for almost five years.

No word if the dogs will be put up for adoption.

05-31-09 -- Burned Pit Bull Put Down
By:   WJZ.com

The two-year-old pit bull who was set on fire last Wednesday has died and tonight a local animal shelter is offering a $3,000 reward for information which helps lead to the arrest of the dog's abuser.

Officials Main Line Animal Rescue the Pennsylvania animal shelter where the dog was being treated confirm that the dog was euthanized.

Veterinarians had said that the dog's injuries were very severe.

In a statement on their website officials at The Baltimore Animal Rescue Center said the following:

"Sadly, the beloved Pit Bull originally brought to BARCS and nicknamed Phoenix passed away this morning. Unfortunately her kidneys could not handle the healing process and began to shut down. Due to kidney failure, and the long road still ahead for recovery, the Veterinarians that were caring for her decided it would be best to euthanize her. She touched the hearts of everyone that came in contact with her and anyone who heard her story. We would like to thank everyone who came together to try to save this amazing and courageous dog.

We can only hope now that someone will come forward so that there can be a conviction on this case. BARCS has a reward set up called the "Phoenix Reward" where we are collecting money for anyone who can identify the young men responsible for this cruel act of violence. The reward at this time is at $3,000. This money will be rewarded to the person who comes forward with information about this case that leads to an arrest and conviction."

Authorities say the animal was intentionally set on fire in southwest Baltimore last Wednesday.

The dog was rescued by a Baltimore City police officer.

Officer Syreeta Teel said she saw the dog on fire, and used her sweater to put out the fire.

The dog was then transported to the Baltimore shelter for treatment, before being transferred to Baltimore for more extensive care.

Police still don't have any suspects in what animal workers say is the worst case of animal cruelty they've seen in some time. 


05-29-09 -- State Denies License to Leacock Township Kennel
Attorney for Daniel Esh vows to appeal decision
By:  Susan E. Lindt, Lancaster Intelligencer Journal

The state on Thursday denied Daniel P. Esh a license to continue operating his large-scale dog-breeding kennel in Leacock Township, but his attorney vowed to take the issue to a higher court.

"Daniel Esh will definitely appeal," said attorney Jeff Conrad of the firm Clymer & Musser. "What the state is doing is disgraceful beyond belief. The state is taking away people's livelihoods, and, frankly, it's pathetic."

The state Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement denied a 2009 license to Esh in February, citing repeated violations. Esh appealed the denial, but the decision was upheld following an April 9 hearing.

On Thursday, the Bureau also announced a 2009 license was refused to Berks County breeder Aaron Burkholder of Burkholder Farm Kennel in Kutztown, also for repeated dog law violations.

"These kennels are being shut down because they have put profits above the welfare of the dogs," said Jessie Smith, the state's special deputy secretary for dog law enforcement. "The (state agriculture department) secretary's decision to uphold their license refusals will hopefully mean a quick and final resolution to the problems we've seen in these kennels."

Esh and Burkholder, both of whom were licensed to keep up to 500 dogs, have until June 16 to appeal the agriculture department's license refusals. If appeals are not entered by then, the department may seize dogs at the kennels to bring their populations to 24, the most allowed to be kept without a state kennel license.

Most recently, Burkholder housed 11 dogs at his kennel during an April 28 inspection. Esh housed 373 dogs on March 26, the most recent inspection of his business, Maple Farm Kennel, 68 Clearview Road.

Esh has been in trouble with the bureau a number of times over the years, but without a 2009 kennel license, he is effectively shut out of the breeding business.

In addition, the state ordered Esh to report where he sends his dogs when he disbands his kennel operation, and he must allow wardens access without a warrant to inspect his kennel for compliance.

The state's order also prevents Esh from slaughtering his breeding stock by requiring that a veterinarian certify that any dogs euthanized were suffering from medical conditions.

If Esh does not comply with the state's order, he faces third-degree misdemeanor charges with fines of $100 to $500 a day for each violation, plus any other applicable penalties permitted under the state's dog law.

Conrad said he will base Esh's appeal on its unconstitutionality, saying the state's enforcement is unfairly concentrated on Lancaster County's largest class of kennels. He also said enforcement is based on individual wardens' interpretation of kennel regulations, which are simply impossible to comply with.

"There's not a home in the county of Lancaster that could pass a dog kennel inspection today," Conrad said. "If there is a hair out of place in a kennel, they get an unsatisfactory mark on an inspection, and there is no way for an individual kennel owner to challenge that inspection."

However, Esh has challenged a series of citations issued for unsanitary conditions at his kennel.

In January, after a protracted battle in Lancaster County Court, Assistant District Attorney Christine L. Wilson reduced three misdemeanor charges from a November 2007 inspection to summary offenses in exchange for Esh's guilty plea.

Even before those charges, though, Esh had had run-ins with authorities.

In 2004, he was found guilty and paid $600 in fines for two state dog-law violations, including failing to provide shelter for dogs in outside pens and not maintaining kennel floors.

In 2003, Esh reached an 11th-hour agreement with Leacock Township officials just before he was to appear in court for housing more than 250 dogs at his kennel.

And in 1997, the state attorney general sued Esh and his father, John E. Esh, owner of Twin Maple Farm, adjacent to his son's farm, alleging they sold dogs wholesale without the required USDA license. Esh countered that he had no federal license and did not need one because he no longer sold dogs wholesale.

Smith said the state's actions against Burkholder and Esh are proof that Act 119, signed into law by Gov. Ed Rendell in October 2008, closed loopholes in earlier versions of state dog law that allowed dogs to suffer.

"Previous versions of the dog law allowed kennel owners to operate for extended periods of time even after having their kennel license revoked or refused," Smith said. "The new law prohibits kennels in that situation from obtaining new dogs, breeding or boarding, so that they cannot operate as usual during a lengthy appeal process."

Note From NPPMWatch:

View Esh's Inspection Reports:   2009  Click Here     2008  Click Here     2007  Click Here
View Burkholder's Inspection Reports:  2009  Click Here    2008  Click Here     2007  Click Here

05-28-09 -- Dog Set on Fire, Struggling to Survive
By:  NBC Channel 2

A Pennsylvania rescue organization (Main Line Animal Rescue) has stepped in to take over treatment of pit bull set on fire on a Baltimore street on Wednesday.

Authorities said the dog was doused with gasoline and then set on fire.

A Baltimore city police officer used her sweatshirt to put the fire out.

The dog was taken to the Baltimore City Animal Shelter and then taken to the Swan Harbor Animal Hospital.

"This was one of the most cruel things I've ever seen. It hurt me to my heart," said Baltimore city police Officer Syreeta Teel.

"We're going to do quite a bit of prayer, a lot of antibiotics, a lot of bandage changes. Just sometimes, the body just kind of goes into shutdown, really," said veterinarian Dr. Marcella Bonner.

Bonner said the dog had burns on 100 percent of her body and is expected to live only a few more days.

Pennsylvania's Main Line Animal Rescue said it will give the dog a window of several days to see if she responds to treatment before it considers putting her down.

"I think she's going to get worse before she gets better, if she does get better," Bonner said. "But she's trying. I can't believe she's even survived what she's survived."

Police currently don't have any information on an owner or a suspect.


05-28-09 -- Sec. of Ag Wolff Upholds Burkholder & Esh Kennel License Denial
By:  PR Newswire

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff recently upheld the state Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement's decision to deny a 2009 kennel license to Aaron Burkholder of Kutztown, Berks County, and Daniel Esh of Ronks, Lancaster County.

The bureau refused the 2009 license applications of both kennels in February because of unsatisfactory inspection histories.

"These kennels are being shut down because they have put profits above the welfare of the dogs," said Jessie Smith, the state's special deputy secretary for dog law enforcement. "The secretary's decision to uphold their license refusals will hopefully mean a quick and final resolution to the problems we've seen in these kennels."

Both kennels have until June 16 to appeal the secretary's decision to the Commonwealth Court, but must follow strict rules and submit to unannounced inspections during that time. If no appeal is entered within 30 days, the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement will see that the kennel is closed and seize any dogs more than the 25 allowed without a kennel license.

Burkholder is the owner of Burkholder Farm Kennel, which received numerous unsatisfactory inspections in 2008 for lack of maintenance, sanitation, cage size and record keeping. During his most recent inspection on April 28, Burkholder had 11 dogs.

Esh is the owner of Scarlet-Maple Farm Kennel, which received unsatisfactory inspections in 2007 and 2008 for maintenance, sanitation and the condition of dogs in the kennel. During his last inspection on March 26, Esh had 373 dogs.

Smith said the recent actions against the two kennels are evidence that the new Pennsylvania Dog Law, Act 119 of 2008, is working to close loopholes in previous versions of the law and protect dogs in kennels. The act was signed into law by Governor Edward G. Rendell in October 2008.

"Previous versions of the Dog Law allowed kennel owners to operate for extended periods of time even after having their kennel license revoked or refused," said Smith. "The new law prohibits kennels in that situation from obtaining new dogs, breeding or boarding, so that they cannot operate as usual during a lengthy appeal process."

In addition to much needed enforcement improvements, Act 119 addresses the health and welfare needs of the dogs housed in large commercial breeding kennels by requiring these operations to meet new physical standards for cage size and flooring. These new requirements will take effect in October.

Among other protections for dogs, the new law doubles the minimum floor space for dogs, eliminates wire flooring, and requires exercise that is at least as good as unfettered access to an exercise area twice the size of the primary enclosure. The previous law did not require that dogs ever be taken out of cages, much less be provided access to exercise areas.

The law also requires veterinary examinations for each dog twice per year.

Note From NPPMWatch:

Act 119 affects only an approximated 1/3 of all breeding kennels in the state.  Those kennels not covered by Act 119 are still permitted to stack cages, keep dogs on wire and shoot their dogs.

Read Kennel Inspection Reports

Scarlet-Maple Farm:    2009  Click HERE      2008  Click HERE      2007  Click HERE

Burkholder Kennel:     2009  Click HERE      2008  Click HERE      2007  Click HERE


05-28-09 -- Veterinarian Tom Stevenson Pleads Not Guilty
By:  Susan E. Lindt, Lancaster Intelligencer Journal

A veterinarian accused of mutilating a puppy's tail pleaded not guilty to an animal-cruelty charge Wednesday in Lancaster County Court.

Dr. Thomas F. Stevenson, of Twin Valley Veterinary Clinic in Honey Brook, faces up to 5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted of the misdemeanor charge.

Stevenson's state license to practice veterinary medicine has been suspended pending the outcome of a formal hearing before the state Board of Veterinary Medicine.

The criminal charge stems from a March 10 sting operation during which undercover humane officer Tara Loller, of the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said she witnessed Stevenson cut off the tail of a 9-week-old poodle mix without sterilizing the scissors, suturing the wound or using anesthesia or painkillers.

Loller posed as a buyer for the puppy at Country Lane Kennels, a New Providence commercial kennel owned by Samuel E. King, who also is charged with animal cruelty in the incident.

During a preliminary hearing in April, Stevenson testified that when he treated the puppy, its tail already was wounded; he said King had cut it the day before while attempting to groom the puppy.

Stevenson denied he amputated the puppy's tail, testifying that he cut only some loose skin and scab away from the wound site in a procedure that didn't require anesthesia. Stevenson said the dog didn't make any sounds of distress when he made the cuts.

But Loller testified that the dog yelped in pain when Stevenson held its wounded tail under steaming-hot water before amputating it with about six cuts from a pair of unsterilized scissors.

Assistant District Attorney Christine L. Wilson expects to prosecute Stevenson's case no later than November.

Meanwhile, King faces multiple charges related to two separate incidents at his kennel at 223 Refton Road, New Providence.

According to a police affidavit, an anonymous rescue group delivered 10 dogs from King's kennel to the PSPCA, where a staff veterinarian deemed them in need of veterinary care after they had been housed in unsanitary kennel conditions.

King is charged with four summary counts of failing to provide medical care to the dogs and five summary counts of confining dogs in unsanitary conditions.

In addition, the state Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement filed seven citations against King for alleged unsafe conditions and practices during a March 6 inspection at his kennel.

King faces a preliminary hearing for the charges next Friday before District Judge Stuart J. Mylin.

View CURRENT Charges Against Stevenson:  Click HERE
View CURRENT Charges Against King:  Click HERE
View King's Inspection Reports:   2009  Click HERE      2008  Click HERE      2007  Click HERE
View Previous Citations Including Those Where King Was Found/Pleaded Guilty:  Click HERE
View Bureau of Dog Law's Consent Agreement That Has Allowed King to Continue Operating:  Click HERE



05-06-09 -- Safe Harbor..... For Whom?
By:  North Penn Puppy Mill Watch

For the better part of two years, animal advocates in Pennsylvania fought for new legislation to improve the health and welfare for the breeder dogs trapped in large scale commercial breeding facilities, aka: puppy mills, across the state.

Part of the new law, now known as Act 119 of 2008, REQUIRES commercial breeders to provide veterinary care to their dogs who breed the puppies from which they profit and prosper.  Additionally, commercial kennels are required to utilize the services of a state licensed veterinarian when euthanasia is required.

Why would any agency make it easy for commercial breeders to dump their unwanted breeding stock and, worse, expect donations from the public to pay for the veterinary care the commercial breeders are now required to provide?

Safe Harbor, a program created by two Pennsylvania organizations (PVMA and Federated Humane Societies of PA) who failed to support the ongoing legislative endeavors of anti-puppy mill advocates and created position statements of support only when HB-2525 was in its final stages for political posturing, now seeks to allow commercial breeders the ability to rid themselves of breeding stock and face absolutely no financial or legal ramifications for doing so.

In short, they are creating legalized amnesty for those who profit from the abuse of dogs.

Without fear of being cited for animal cruelty and what amounts to a "get out of vet fees for free" ticket, what puppy miller wouldn't take advantage of a program that allows them to get rid of dogs who are now costing them money?

A description of the Safe Harbor program from the PVMA is available HERE.  The PVMA describes the program as follows:

"Provide commercial kennel owners a humane way of divesting themselves of unwanted dogs."

"Whether the kennel is closing because [of an] inability to comply with the new law and regulations, downsizing or simply has possession of dogs they no longer want."

"Will also offer a way for kennel operators to surrender unwanted dogs without fear of prosecution."

In other words, the shelters participating in this program have absolutely no intention of citing kennel operators for infractions of Pennsylvania's crimes code as it pertains to animal cruelty and the newly revised Pennsylvania Dog Law.

By allowing breeders to dump their dogs, evade the cost of veterinary fees and not fear being prosecuted for animal abuse, cruelty and neglect, the shelters in this program are endorsing commercial breeding - the very industry that is primarily responsible for the pet overpopulation problem to begin with!

Adding insult to injury, each of the shelters participating in Safe Harbor are kill shelters and include:

Humane Society of Berks County
Bucks County SPCA
Clearfield County SPCA
Humane League of Lancaster County
Luzerne County SPCA
York County SPCA

Currently, the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement is endorsing the Safe Harbor program while disregarding those rescues who have, for years, pulled unwanted breeding dogs from the mills, rehabilitated them and placed them in forever homes. 

Pennsylvania has an assortment of licensed not-for-profit and "no kill" rescues who specialize in the retrieval and rehabilitation of puppy mill breeder dogs who are not only better equipped and prepared to deal with the challenges puppy mill rescues present but have a low-to-no euthansia track record.   Additionally, these groups DO NOT turn a blind eye to animal abuse, cruelty or neglect and not only report these crimes but seek to have those responsible for the abuse prosecuted and shut down.

Before pulling out your checkbook to make a donation to Safe Harbor, do your homework and give some thought to how your money will be spent.  Would you write that check If you knew your funds were helping puppy millers?

We didn't think so.

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