North Penn Puppy Mill Watch

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


05-21-09 -- Man Jailed on Charges of Beating 'Devil Dog'
By:  The Associated Press

A New Eagle man is jailed on charges he beat a pit bull with a concrete block after telling witnesses he was God and the dog was the devil.

Twenty-five-year-old Matthew Hubacher remains jailed today on animal cruelty and other charges in the incident yesterday morning in Rostraver.

Township police say witnesses claim Mr. Hubacher also threatened a man working on a nearby roof, while making the claim about being God and the dog being the devil.

Police say Mr. Hubacher was gone when they arrived, and found that he swam across the Youghiogheny River before they caught up with him.

Online court records don't list an attorney for Mr. Hubacher.


06-21-09 -- Arlington Man Sentenced for Beating Dog
By:  Daniel Malloy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

An Arlington man was sentenced to 18 months of house arrest and five years of probation this morning for beating a dog with a board with nails in it.

Anthony Ansill, 26, was ordered to continue receiving treatment at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic by Common Pleas Judge Donald E. Machen, who also ordered Mr. Ansill to have no contact with any animals.

"I believe you're a problem, a significant problem for society," Judge Machen said.

Mr. Ansill pleaded guilty to an animal cruelty charge in February for beating Hobbs, a mixed breed Labrador retriever-bloodhound, because the dog relieved himself in Mr. Ansill's apartment. Mr. Ansill did not own Hobbs and was briefly caring for him at the time.

Hobbs' belly was gashed in several places and was held together by staples after surgery. The dog spent a week in the hospital and another seven weeks in foster care with Animal Friends.

Marilyn Roll, who wore a T-shirt to the sentencing with Hobbs' picture and the words "Hobbs' mother" on it, said the dog has recovered well and that he's surprisingly docile around people, even after his traumatic experience.

"Which makes me even angrier," she said.


05-21-09 -- Kennel Owner Faces More Charges
Almost Heaven Kennel Owner Faces More Charges: Derbe Eckhart allegedly violated suspended license.
By:  Patrick Lester, The Morning Call

Embattled kennel owner Derbe "Skip" Eckhart is facing new charges after he brought 30 dogs from New York to his Almost Heaven kennel in Upper Milford Township, in violation of his suspended license, the state Department of Agriculture said.

A state dog warden also found a number of records violations and an unacceptable amount of feces in a large pen holding four dogs during an April 23 inspection, according to a complaint filed today at district court in Emmaus. Eckhart was charged with six violations of the state dog law.

"I didn't even know about it," Eckhart said when told about the charges. He referred questions to his attorney, who did not immediately return a phone call.

The charges were filed less than two weeks after Dennis Wolff, the state secretary of agriculture, upheld a January ruling denying a 2009 kennel license to Eckhart, who operates at 4202 Chestnut St. That decision followed an Oct. 1, 2008, inspection that showed "significant violations" of the dog law, according to the state.

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

If he doesn't appeal, the state plans to shut down the kennel.

While operating under license suspension, Eckhart is permitted to keep the dogs he has, but cannot acquire new animals, the state said.

Dog Warden Kristen Donmoyer conducted the inspection following a complaint about the kennel, according to state kennel inspection records. She counted 269 adult dogs and 98 puppies during her visit.

"Most of the dogs from New York were matted and in need of proper grooming," Donmoyer wrote. "Some of the dogs observed appeared to be underweight."

In her inspection report, Donmoyer wrote that Eckhart did not have the 30 new dogs on his records, nor did he have proof of current vaccinations or detailed records on the animals.

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


05-20-09 -- 92 Dogs Seized From Suburban Home
Dozens of Chow Chows rescued by animal authorities from East Lampeter Township home.
By:  Janet Kelley, Lancaster Intelligencer Journal

It started out as a rescue organization for homeless Chow Chow dogs.

But on Tuesday afternoon, animal officials were trying to save the dogs from their rescuer, who police said had hoarded 92 dogs inside her East Lampeter Township home.

Two of the dogs, police said, were already dead when they arrived.

Officials said the home at 87 Linda Ave., located off Old Philadelphia Pike near Greenfield Road, belongs to 41-year-old Terri Palmer-Roby, who was operating the "Pendragwn Chow Chow Rescue."

Chow Chows are not little dogs.

According to the American Kennel Club, Chow Chows are medium-sized and muscular, and were used for hunting and guarding in ancient China. They have a distinctive lion-like fur coat.

Around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, township police, along with memebers of the state Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement and the Humane League of Lancaster County, said they went into the home, acting on information that there was "an extreme number of dogs being held in the residence." 

"Conditions at the home had deteriorated into a classic hoarding situation, resulting in unsanitary and unhealthy living conditions for both the dogs and the people,"  Megan Gallagher-Clark, the Humane League's vice president of development, said this morning.

The woman operating the rescue, Palmer-Roby, voluntarily signed over the dogs to the Humane League, officials said. At press time, no charges had been filed against her.

Today, Gallagher-Clark said the local organization is working busily to get the dogs cared for, evaluated and placed.

"We need help," she said. "Berks County (Humane League) took five last night and Bucks County called this morning. We're really hoping for donations and help from other shelters so they can get the help they need."

The dogs, she explained, were probably placed with a rescue to begin with "because they may have had trouble being placed in a traditional shelter."

Although "many are friendly," Gallagher-Clark said the dogs are in different levels of health conditions, some being emaciated.

"There are no winners in these kind of situations," Gallagher-Clark said. "It's usually people with great hearts, good-hearted people who see a need," but then get in situations over their heads.

"We are hopeful that the majority of the dogs will be able to either be adopted or transferred to other animal shelters," added Kerry Flanagan, vice president of operations.

Staff members and volunteers worked until midnight to get the dogs comfortable and fed, Gallagher-Clark said, and to obtain veterinary care for those with health problems.

Information about the dogs and their adoption status will be posted on the league's website, www.humaneleague.com .  Donations to care for the Chow Chows and other animals at the Humane League can be made online or by contacting the shelter at (717) 393-6551.

The Humane League is at 2195 Lincoln Highway East.

State Dog Wardens Travis Hess and Kristen Reed are handling the investigation with assistance by Humane League Officer John Matrisciano.

They could not be reached for comment.


05-19-09 -- Convicted Dog Fighter Arrested In South Philly
By:  CBS Channel 3 Philadelphia

A man previously convicted of dog fighting charges is facing new charges after being arrested Saturday in South Philadelphia.

Officers from the Pennsylvania SPCA's humane law enforcement were called to a dogfight in progress in the 1400 block of Taylor Street in South Philadelphia.

Upon arrival, PSPCA officers found two injured Pit Bulls, showing old and new fighting injuries and scars.

Charles Powell, who was convicted of animal fighting in 2001, was arrested and charged with two counts of animal fighting.

The two dogs, one needing immediate critical care for an infected puncture wound, were surrendered to the PSPCA, where they are currently under veterinary care.

"This was an important arrest for us," said PSPCA Director of Investigations George Bengal. "Mr. Powell is a known animal fighter, running a large scale fighting operation. We are pleased this animal abuser is off the streets and unable to harm other helpless dogs."

To report animal abuse, you can call 1-866-601-SPCA or email cruelty@pspca.org. Calls are confidential.


05-19-09 -- Inmates, Dogs Connect in Special Program
The results: better puppies, better men.
By:  Janet Kelley, Lancaster New Era

They wouldn't follow rules and didn't always get along with others.

Most came from bad or broken homes.

But after a couple months behind the tall fences topped with rolls of razor wire surrounding the State Correctional Institution here — locked in a cell with one-on-one attention from someone who's focused just on them — each of these special prison inmates comes out with a second chance at having a better life.

These inmates are the Hounds of Prison Education.

For the past four years, the HOPE program has placed dogs — six at a time — from area shelters, including Lancaster County, with a select group of prisoners at the state prison facility in Cumberland County.

Abandoned or rescued from puppy mills and abusive homes, each dog gets 12 weeks of intensive obedience training and socialization in prison and comes out with a much better chance at finding a good home when put up for adoption.

And the inmates in the program — both canine and human — get a whole lot of something else.

Love.

"You lose something in here after time," one young inmate said, hugging his dog. "But then you see that tail wagging, somebody who depends on you, and you think, 'Maybe I am worth something."'

"Look at those faces," another inmate said, "they don't judge you. Ever." (The New Era is not identifying the inmates interviewed for this story).

Cooper, a silky, cream-colored mix of Labrador retriever and poodle, comes bounding across the prison yard to greet a group of visitors, curiously sniffing shoes, but then runs back
to her handler at the sound of her name.

"She used to bite, but now look how vicious she is," he says, holding a dog biscuit between his teeth. Cooper gently takes the biscuit, furiously wagging her stubby tail for the treat and a pat on the head.

Rocco, the smallest and the noisiest of the crew, alerts everyone with his deep, part-basset hound bark to the group of strangers who walked onto the dogs' special turf.

Their prison yard is about half the size of a football field. Fenced in with a pile of toys in one corner and several water dishes in another, the grassy field is maintained by the inmates and serves as both training ground and playground.

Bianca and Cragger, young mixed breeds, are busy playing tug of war with a rope toy and can't be bothered with the visitors. Chasing each other in circles, they fall to the ground wrestling over a plastic ball.

"They're boyfriend and girlfriend," one inmate says. "They're just playing."

Taking a break for treats, the two pause to perform their obedience routine of sit, stay, lay down and shaking paws.

The dogs live in cells with the inmates. When the inmates are at work, school or meals, the dogs are placed in their crates, or with supervision can go into a smaller, fenced-in yard, like a kennel run, attached to the cell block.

Once a week, a professional trainer comes in and works with the dogs and inmates, teaching obedience and answering questions about specific problems. The inmates must keep written accounts of their dogs' progress. They update the accounts weekly.

Georgie, a sleek English coonhound, and Abby, a dark mixed breed, are both quiet and very shy. They look at the strangers, but stay close to their handlers — hugging a leg, snuggling under a hand, listening to comforting, whispering voices.

When Georgie first came to prison, he was scared of everything, his handler says. The noise, the people, everything.

"I can look at a dog and say, 'Hey, I'm in the box with you.' They just need love and time," the inmate says with a laugh, "and I've got plenty."

As for the humans, all men sentenced to state prison in Pennsylvania are first sent to Camp Hill, where they are processed, screened and evaluated to determine which facility best suits their crimes and their needs. Some stay at Camp Hill for the duration of their sentences.

The inmates who volunteer for the HOPE program are all full-time residents of the Camp Hill facility who have successfully completed counseling and other requirements.

"Not everybody here gets to have a pet," one inmate quips.

Among the basic rules, according to Camp Hill's spokesman, Bob Volciak, is that no one who has been incarcerated for sexual, child or animal abuse, or who has violent psychological problems, is eligible to participate in the HOPE program.

The dogs, too, are screened, Volciak says. Dogs cannot be vicious or aggressive for the safety of the more than 3,700 inmates and employees at the prison.

"It's a microcosm of life in here," Volciak says. "There are people who don't like dogs, we can move them to other areas... Overall, the program has a calming influence on the dogs and the inmates."

Prison dog programs are becoming a trend across the country for their benefits to both inmates and homeless dogs. Nearly two dozen states have similar programs. In Pennsylvania, inmates at three other institutions help train service and companion dogs.

Locally sponsored by the Central Pennsylvania Animal Alliance, the non-profit dog rescue organization pays for and provides veterinary care, medications, food, spay/neuter surgery, toys and treats. No taxpayer money goes to care for the dogs.

At Camp Hill, nine inmates are currently in the program. In some cases, both cell mates are involved with helping and training a dog.

Bianca's handlers share a cell, but it's the inmate who sleeps on the bottom bunk who gets to curl up with the dog at night.

"It makes it harder to let go," the bottom-bunk inmate admits, but they want the prison cell to be as warm and loving for the dogs as their future adoptive homes and families.

Is it hard to say good-bye?

"Yes," the inmates all answer.

"But we know they're going to a good home," one inmate quickly adds.

"And, hey, we don't just let anybody have them," another inmate quips. "People have to apply to get them."

The rescue organizations write and give progress reports on the dogs after they're adopted.

"It's wonderful, we get letters about how they're doing," an inmate says.

"We're extremely grateful that Camp Hill lets us do this," another inmate says, kneeling down next to his dog. "It's the companionship mostly. I have two dogs at home and I miss them."

"You don't get much praise in a place like this," he says. "And at the end of the day to come home and have a dog to greet you and lick your face ... it's the best."

"You get the satisfaction of knowing that you've saved a life that otherwise might have been thrown away," the inmate says.

For more information about the prison dog program, log onto www.hopedogs.org.


05-16-09 -- Public Awareness Drives Changes to Animal Cruelty Laws
By:  Bob Stiles, Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Kathy Burkley's application form to operate the Humane Society of Westmoreland's kennel went from one page last year to a multi-page booklet this year.

But the executive director of the animal rescue agency in Greensburg doesn't mind the additional work that resulted from the new state dog law — not if the 21-page form helps to reduce the number of puppy mills or incidents of animal abuse, Burkley said.

"I think the law is a good law," Burkley said. "Overall, it will be a good law in that it makes people be more accountable and opens their eyes when they get into animal rescue."

The law is one of several enacted across the nation as more people view dogs and other animals as more than servants of man, said Lee Nesler, director of the Western
Pennsylvania Humane Society, based in Allegheny County.

"I would say more and more people are considering animals as a part of the family and less a watchdog chained outside," she said.

In 1993, only seven states had felony animal cruelty laws. Today, all but five do, according to the Humane Society of the United States.

Pennsylvania's new dog law involves nonprofit humane societies, which need a kennel license if they handle 26 or more dogs yearly, and commercial breeding kennels that handle, sell or house 60 or more dogs annually.

Note From NPPMWatch:  The new law has an affect on ALL licensed kennels in the state but the more stringent changes, including cage flooring, stacking of cages, ventilation and preventing breeders from shooting their dogs ONLY affects approximately 1/3 of the state's kennels: those SELLING 60 or more dogs or selling even one dog to a pet shop.  Kennels NOT selling more than 60 dogs (or even one to a pet shop) MAY STILL SHOOT THEIR DOGS.

Among the requirements for humane society-type kennels is setting up a veterinarian-approved exercise plan and having fire alarms or extinguishers in place, said Chris Ryder, spokesman for the state Agriculture Department, which enforces the law with 62 dog wardens, six supervisors and four kennel compliance specialists.

For breeding kennels, the law sets minimum sizes for cages, eliminates wire flooring in the containers and prohibits housing receptacles from being stacked on top of one another, Ryder said. These changes will take effect Oct. 9.

An additional requirement for breeding facilities is that dogs must be euthanized by a veterinarian. This stipulation resulted after 80 dogs were legally shot to death last year after a warden ordered kennel operators in eastern Pennsylvania to hire a vet to check the animals for fleas.

In particular, the dog law was created because of problems in some facilities, especially so-called puppy mills, Ryder said.

Reporting requirements in the law can give inspectors a better idea of where commercial breeders are located, he added.

In 2008, about 300 nonprofits kennels were operating in Pennsylvania, according to agriculture department figures. Agency officials estimate there are 650 commercial kennels in the state.

Nesler said she "absolutely" supports the new dog law if it helps eliminate puppy mills.

"The fact that we have to do a little more administrative work ... that's not a concern to me," Nesler said.

Dawn Backos, a dog breeder and member and former officer of the Bushy Run Kennel Club in Westmoreland County, said only a handful of commercial breeders in the county and most others in western Pennsylvania are affected by the law.

She said many dog breeders, like her, participate in dog shows and have one or two planned litters, at most, each year.

"I don't make a living off my dogs," Backos said. "These people (commercial breeders) often do."

Ron Smith, who has enforced laws for the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society for 36 years, said he believes the media is partly responsible for the change in people's attitudes about animals, especially those viewed as pets.

Media reports show people what a mistreated animal goes through, he said. It also educates in other ways.

"Public awareness, there has been a dramatic change," Smith said. "I think the public is more aware of animal cruelty laws and that animal cruelty is a crime. I've seen a big change in that way."

But while some say progress is being made, other animal advocacy groups say the changes aren't coming fast enough.

LuAnn Hutcheson, manager of Action for Animals in Derry Township, said there's one area that people seem to forget about their dogs.

"There's still a lot of people who don't realize that in Pennsylvania, your dog needs a dog license," she said.

Nesler said an important part in enforcing the animal laws is that district judges, court judges and prosecutors are taking cases involving animal law more seriously than they did a few years ago.

"People are recognizing the link between animal abuse and what happens to people," Nesler said. "Animals are sentient beings that deserve care."


05-13-09 -- No Ruling on Kennel
Providence board has 45 days to vote
By:   Susan E. Lindt, Lancaster Intelligencer Journal

Providence Township zoning board has 45 days to decide whether to approve an existing kennel that scores of residents said they oppose Tuesday night.

This time when kennel owner Jonas J. Esch came before the zoning board for a hearing continued from last month, he brought attorney James Clymer.

About 25 people spoke against Esch's commercial breeding business, Country Boy Kennel, 170 Truce Road, New Providence. And they put Esch's business under the microscope regarding previous violations of the state's dog laws and his breeding practices.

Board solicitor Kim Carter Paterson ran a tighter hearing Tuesday than last month, barring any comments unrelated to Esch's special exception request to continue operating his kennel, which he has run without township approval since 2003 and without state approval for a year after he opened.

The three-member board gave little indication of its inclination to approve the kennel, which is licensed to hold up to 500 dogs but which Esch testified routinely houses no more than about 160 dogs, including 110 breeders.

"We pretty clearly state in our (zoning code) that we can deny your request if you're in violation of local zoning requirements," board member Bradford Duvall said. "And you have
been in violation for five years, and on top of that, you were in violation with state laws for a year. I'm sure the state wasn't real happy about that."

Area residents did most of the grilling of Esch over his operating practices, including his earlier statements that he spreads the dog waste and runoff from ammonia-based cleaning solution on his fields. Residents cited threats to area well water and more than 400 children attending an elementary school adjacent to Esch's property, as well as the potential for diseases present in dog feces to spread.

When asked by township resident Julie Nettke, Esch said the state Department of Environmental Protection doesn't require him to calculate dog waste into his nutrient management plan. But Nettke said that by her calculations Esch has dumped 65 tons of dog waste on his 80-acre farm fields over the past six years, and dog waste carries 23 million fecal coliform bacteria per gram compared with only 300 per gram carried in hog waste.

"This is right against an elementary school," Nettke said. "We all drink the same well water. … The board has got to think we all drink this water."

Lancaster veterinarian Tom Gemmill said dog waste carries several parasites, including roundworms. Gemmill said roundworm infection blinds more than 1,000 children annually.

Three residents spoke in support of Esch's business, saying his kennel is well-maintained. Esch's neighbor, Benuel Beiler, said he never hears Esch's dogs bark — in sharp contrast to another neighbor, LouAnn Gmuca, who said at both meetings that she hears his dogs barking "at all hours of the night."

Another neighbor said area farmers should be supported by the local community.

"There is demand for dogs, in spite of what the media tells you," Esch's neighbor Menno Esch said. "Many are breeding dogs under the table because of this type of harassment that's here tonight. If you deny this kennel, you are opening the door for more kennels to operate under the table."

Several residents said that aside from health issues, commercial breeding is a morally wrong, and if the board approves one kennel, the board members will back themselves into having to approve all breeding kennels that come before them.

"Shy of getting on my knees and begging this not go through, this will be the legacy of this township here tonight," township resident Kelly Charles said. "I just pray to God this is a legacy we can be proud of."

Carter Paterson said the board also received five letters, including two from Elizabethtown and one from Carlisle, opposing Esch's business. The board decided not to make the
letters part of the record. The board agreed to address Esch's application at its June 9 meeting.

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


05-09-09 -- Veterinarian Tom Stevenson Told to Turn in License, Hearing Set
By:  Susan E. Lindt, Lancaster Intelligencer Journal

An area veterinarian already facing a court appearance on an animal-cruelty charge was ordered this week to temporarily surrender his license to practice.

Thomas F. Stevenson, owner of Twin Valley Veterinary Clinic in Honey Brook, was described as a potential "immediate danger to the public health and safety" in documents issuing the order by the state's Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs.

The bureau will schedule a preliminary hearing within 30 days to determine if there's enough evidence to warrant a formal hearing, in which case Stevenson's license will remain suspended. If it's determined that a formal hearing isn't warranted, Stevenson's license will be reinstated.

Following a formal hearing, the bureau could reinstate or revoke Stevenson's license or take other action.

Stevenson's troubles stem from a March 10 sting operation during which he allegedly held a 9-week-old poodle mix under steaming hot water before cutting off the dog's tail with scissors.

At a preliminary hearing last month before District Judge Stuart J. Mylin, undercover humane officer Tara Loller of the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals testified that the dog was "screaming bloody murder" during Stevenson's treatment because the vet administered no anesthetic or painkillers, nor did he sterilize the equipment he used or suture the wound after cutting the tail at least six times to sever it.

Mylin held Stevenson over for trial on the misdemeanor charge, for which he faces up to 5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted.

Stevenson will be arraigned May 27 in Lancaster County Court.

In the meantime, many area commercial kennels are likely scrambling to find a vet to take over duties normally filled by Stevenson, who testified last month that he has made large-scale breeding kennels his specialty for the past 20 years.

In court last month, Stevenson defended his treatment of the dog, a product of Samuel E. King's New Providence breeding operation, Country Lane Kennels, for which Stevenson is the veterinarian of record.

Stevenson said he merely cut away some loose skin and scab that had formed on the puppy's already damaged tail and that Loller wasn't even in the room when he treated the dog. Stevenson also testified that the dog did not cry, yelp or make any other sound during the procedure.

As veterinarian of record for many of the area's commercial kennels, Stevenson is legally responsible for examining every puppy's health and issuing a health certificate before a puppy may be sold.

Note From NPPMWatch: View License Suspension - Click HERE and enter "Veterinary Medicine" then "Stevenson" and then "PA" to see results.


05-07-09 -- Almost Heaven Kennel License Denial Upheld
By:  Tim Darragh, The Morning Call

Agriculture Department Secretary Dennis Wolff has upheld the state Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement's decision to deny a 2009 kennel license to Derbe "Skip" Eckhart, owner of Almost Heaven Kennels in Emmaus.

The bureau refused the 2009 kennel license application after an October 2008 inspection showed "significant violations" of the dog law, according to a department statement.

"The secretary's decision to uphold the license refusal will hopefully mean a swift end to Almost Heaven kennel and will help ensure that the owner never operates a kennel in Pennsylvania again," said Jessie Smith, the state's special deputy secretary for dog law enforcement.

"Mr. Eckhart did not make the dogs' welfare a priority in running his kennel and his continued refusal to follow the limitations placed on him since his license was refused makes it clear that closing his kennel is the best course of action."

Eckhart has 30 days to appeal the secretary's decision to 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 will see that the kennel is closed and seize any dogs beyond the 25 allowed without a kennel license, it said.

On May 1, Eckhart was ordered to stand trial by a Lehigh County district judge on charges of violating terms of his Feb. 6 kennel license refusal order, which barred him from operating a boarding kennel, among other restrictions.

However, Eckhart was found to be boarding dogs on Feb. 11 when state dog wardens inspected the kennel.


05-07-09 -- Puppy Killed In German Township
BY:  KDKA, Channnel 2, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

German Township -- State police are investigating a disturbing case of animal abuse in Fayette County.

A three-month-old Labrador puppy named "Jill" was found by its owner in German Township badly decomposed, wrapped in a bag and burned.

Denise Warnick told KDKA-TV that somebody killed her dog and put it back on her property a month later.

Warnick said she owns 54 acres of property - mostly woodlands - and she's had problems with poachers in years past.

The unabashed animal lower said she can't understand how someone could be so vicious, and cold blooded and kill a puppy.

Last year, another dog owned by Warnick, a male Labrador, was shot in the mouth and later died.

At the same time, another adult lab vanished and has never been found.

Warnick has put up a $500 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the person, or persons responsible for the dog abuse.


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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05-06-09 -- Yatesboro Man Gets 1-Year Probation for Shooting Cat
By:  Renatta Signorini, Leader Times

A Yatesboro man was sentenced to one-year probation Tuesday for shooting a house cat with an arrow last year.

George Eric Eckman, 40, apologized to the victims, who were present in court yesterday, saying that he is in family counseling with his 12-year-old son who was present at the time of the shooting.

"I understand what I did was stupid," Eckman said.

Investigators said that Eckman shot the cat in a wooded area along Fifth Street on Oct. 6, 2008. The cat succumbed to its injuries about a week later. Eckman pleaded guilty to a charge of animal cruelty in April.

He was denied the opportunity to participate in a probationary program that would expunge the charge from his record because of the unusual circumstances of the offense, according to assistant district attorney George Kepple. Eckman has no prior criminal record.

A mandatory fine of $1,000 was imposed, and the defendant was ordered to pay $2,815 in restitution. Eckman said he has already paid $1,200 in restitution.

In a victim impact statement, Rose Zajac and Dave Kovach said their cat, Autumn, was exploring their property line when she was shot. The pair heard the cat crying and saw the arrow that had "completely penetrated Autumn's body from side to side," the statement read.

Zajac and Kovach took Autumn to Animal Medical Pavilion in East Franklin for surgery. The cat was euthanized on Oct. 14 after three surgeries in attempts to repair the damage, they said.

Treating veterinarian Dr. David Meleason asked for a harsh punishment in a letter to the court dated April 30. Meleason said he and his colleagues see many cases of animal cruelty and abuse.

"Lenient punishment will cause future cases since there appears to be no serious consequences for committing these acts," he said.


05-06-09 -- Shelter Owner Praises Tougher Rules
By:  Karen Blackledge, The Daily Item

MIFFLINBURG -- Tracy Baylor welcomes Pennsylvania's new tougher kennel law, which establishes specific guidelines and inspections at businesses caring for animals.

"I'm a big advocate for fresh air and sunlight for the dogs. Many now don't see sunlight. As of October, kennel operators will be required to get the dogs outside," said Baylor, who
has a kennel license for her Turkey Run Rescue in the Mifflinburg area.

The new law also includes requirements for kennel operators to log in information about every dog they have, such as where they got it and what happened to it.

Baylor, who has been rescuing canines for 17 years, has worked with dogs from puppy mills. "I isolate them for two or three days because they are so stressed. The fourth day I let them out in the dog yard. They stand there and don't know what to do. Two days later they are running around finding out what it's like to be a dog," she said.

Puppy mill dogs she has rescued have had problems with their teeth, breast tumor cysts and are often "aged significantly beyond their true years" because of unsanitary conditions..

One of her rescues kept spinning in a circle because she was never let out of a cage. Baylor gives her medicine to calm her down.

"The only time my dogs are in their units is at night. They are out in the yard all day," she said.

The new kennel regulations won't affect her not-for-profit rescue, which she has operated for eight years.

"I worked at a boarding facility and at a vet hospital and have visited many kennels over the years. I saw what I wanted to do. My kennel is heated, cooled, clean and comfortable,
has fresh air and human contact," she said.

Her 10 units have 12-foot-long runs.

"There's a big difference between shelters and breeding kennels," she said.

"Puppy millers will sell until they are stuck with the dogs. That's when I get the call," she said.

She has always been around animals, having grown up on a farm. "My first rescue was a white cat I got from a pet store that had mites so bad it couldn't sit. Its ears were black,"
she said.

One of her rescues now lives with Dr. Danielle Ward, who is the first state-hired veterinarian inspecting the health of dogs at kennels licensed by the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement throughout the state. She is now working part time and will go full time in the next several months.

That rescued dog is Miles, a chihuahua-rat terrier Baylor found "as a bag of bones" at a Lehigh County shelter. Ward also has Keely, a 3-year-old toy fox terrier she got from a client.


05-05-09 -- Ephrata Township Zoners Weigh Exception for Kennel
By:  Kimberly Marselas, Lancaster Intelligencer Journal

The owner of a commercial dog kennel in Ephrata Township is seeking a special exception from the zoning hearing board to keep his breeding operation in business.

John Mark Lapp holds a K5 commercial kennel license, allowing him to house from 251 to 500 dogs per year on his parents' farm at 10 Brubaker Road.

A change to the state dog law now requires kennel operators to seek zoning approval before obtaining a valid license. At a meeting April 21, Lapp asked the zoning board to grant him the special exception to continue operating the kennel inside a 32-by-36-foot building and an 8-by-16-foot kennel with outdoor wire runs.

Lapp said he has operated his kennel since at least 2004 and operated in early 2009 using his 2008 license. Although dog-law officials told him he would need zoning approval to get the 2009 license, he received his new license by mail the day of the hearing — before any testimony was taken or zoning approval even considered.

Lapp told the board he has between 42 and 50 adult dogs on the 42-acre site and would like permission to house up to 50 in the future.

"It's right in that ballpark now," Lapp said. "I started small with just a couple of dogs. … If it's going to change at all, it's going to get smaller."

Lapp breeds small dogs, such as Yorkshire terriers, Bichons Frise and shih-tzus, and sells them to wholesalers and retail buyers. He said each of his adult dogs has one to two litters a year, and he makes an average of one sale a day. He estimated the kennel is 200 to 600 yards from the closest home.

Solicitor Gary Krafft asked Lapp if he had heard complaints from neighbors or violated any dog laws in the past.

Lapp told the board he had been cited about two years ago for "not being sanitary enough." The Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement kennel inspection Web site shows Lapp received unsatisfactory marks during multiple inspections in 2007 and 2008, most recently in August 2008.

In September 2007, Lapp was initially denied a K5 kennel license because of chewed and scratched wood, unsatisfactory metal flooring, feces in food and failure to clean excrement out of dog boxes daily. He passed his next inspection in November 2007 and was granted the larger-scale license.

In July 2008, Lapp was cited for excessive buildup of hair, dirt and excrement, as well as needing to clip nails and shave some of his dogs. On a follow-up inspection in August, Lapp had corrected those problems but was ordered to take a female shih-tzu to a vet "for eye and neck" problems.

Lapp's February inspection report showed no problems.

To get the special exception, Lapp must meet criteria established in the township's zoning ordinance for issues such as property line setbacks, waste removal and noise. The board cannot deny his application for reasons other than those outlined in the zoning rules.

No one appeared at the meeting to contest Lapp's application. The board will issue a ruling next month.

Chairman Jack Echternach said he was surprised at the low turnout. Although other townships have seen an increase in kennel applications because of the revised state law, this was the first such hearing for Ephrata recently.

Echternach said it is hard for municipal officials to know how many kennels are operating without approval in their jurisdictions.

"Our township doesn't go out headhunting," he said.

Note From NPPMWatch:
View Inspection Reports:    2007  Click HERE       2008  Click HERE      2009  Click HERE


05-04-09 -- Pit Bull Found Chained to Stop Sign in Coolbaugh Rescued
By:  The Pocono Record

The Monroe County Dog Warden has rescued a brown female Pit Bull found chained to a stop sign in Pocono Farms East today. The animal was at the corner of Gordon Lane and Cambell Way.

Neighbors had been tossing food to the dog, but are afraid to approach her.

Passersby reported the dog may have been there since Sunday night or earlier.

Resident Jesus Vega was told by another neighbor about the dog around 9 p.m. Sunday. But when Vega went to investigate, he could not see or hear the dog. He later discovered her at 9:30 a.m. today.

Police were called and came to the scene, but told residents animal rescue would have to be contacted.


05-04-09 -- Vet Takes on Puppy Mills
Her job: Enforce new state regulations
By:  Karen Blackledge, The Daily Item

MIFFLINBURG -- Veterinarian Danielle Ward expects to improve the lives of Pennsylvania's dogs when she begins to focus most of her time on kennel inspections.

Ward, a veterinarian for 12 years, inspects kennels Fridays for the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement of the state Agriculture Department.

She expects to become a full-time inspector within the next several months. She will be the first full-time veterinarian hired to inspect kennels licensed for 26 or more dogs.

"I have always felt powerless to do anything about the puppy mill puppies and dogs I've see in private practice," said Ward, who sold her Mifflinburg practice to Lewisburg Veterinary Hospital. "This job allows me to take action on behalf of those dogs and give them a much-needed voice. It has always been a passion of mine to help homeless and neglected dogs."

Her salary hasn't been negotiated yet because she isn't working full time.

"Dog wardens inspect kennel conditions and for proof of rabies vaccinations. The state felt they needed a vet to see it through different eyes and for the health of the animals," she said.

She said the term "puppy mill" is used to describe multiple dogs housed in less than ideal conditions that are being bred and sold for profit.

The state's new kennel law* tightens requirements for kennel operators, and Ward expects some kennels to close before the law takes effect Oct. 9.

"The new law doesn't allow for wire floors, increases the size of cages, requires daily exercise for so many hours, a vet check every year and cages can't be stacked anymore," she said.

Another change is that kennel operators cannot euthanize dogs on their own. A veterinarian has to do it.

*Note From NPPMWatch: The new law is for "C" kennels only and will affect approximately 1/3 of PA kennels

A spokesman at the dog law enforcement office in Harrisburg said some kennels have already closed because they didn't want to make the improvements.

"We are not seeing an exodus of kennels. The law will really have an impact on the large kennels," he said.

Currently, there are 2,674 licensed kennels in Pennsylvania.

Dog Law Enforcement Bureau Director Sue West said large commercial kennels are the ones that will be required to make the major changes.

If a large kennel doesn't comply with the new rules, it could receive an unsatisfactory rating, which may result in a citation.**

Kennels can request a time extension to make the changes. "They should be submitting waivers now if it is a hardship," she said.

If kennels close, a Safe Harbor Program encourages veterinarians to work with shelters to find homes for the displaced dogs, she said.

The old law allowed kennels to keep dogs in cramped, stacked cages with no opportunity to exercise and little care.

In announcing the new law, Gov. Edward Rendell said the improvements will help ensure the pets that families welcome into their homes will be happier and healthier.

Ward expects her new job will include lobbying the state House of Representatives and state Senate once "it becomes clear what is needed."

While the state agency didn't allow the Lewisburg resident to have a reporter accompany her on an inspection, she discussed what she has seen on visits, mainly to Lancaster County, since assuming the job Feb. 6.

Many of the health problems are caused by overcrowding and lack of cleanliness, she said.

During a recent inspection, she saw a dog shake its head maybe 50 times in a short period.

"I knew there was something wrong with its ears. The odor from the ears was tremendous. I ordered a vet check on the dog," she said.

At another kennel, she observed a listless puppy that wasn't gaining weight and skin problems on three dogs. She ordered the kennel to have the dogs checked by its veterinarian.

In those cases, the kennel operator has 72 hours to have the dogs examined. If they don't comply, there is a significant fine.

The majority of health problems she has seen so far are skin conditions.

"If it's a mite, it can be contagious and go through the entire kennel," she said.

So far, she has inspected eight kennels with a 750-dog operation being the largest. She has also inspected a pet store with 40 dogs.

"We, at the Department of Agriculture, are all working very hard to change the reputation Pennsylvania has as the puppy mill of the East," she said.

**Note From NPPMWatch:  Most citations are the equivalent of a traffic ticket


05-02-09 -- Animal Angels Asks Community's Help
By:  Bernadette Myers, Daily Courier

Animal Angels, an animal rescue shelter, is closing and is asking the community to help provide homes for dogs.

The shelter, on Three Mile Hill outside of Mount Pleasant, has until May 21 to reduce the number of dogs from 53 to 25. Suzie Johnson, who owns the property where the shelter is located and lives adjacent to the shelter, has applied for a zoning exemption to keep 25 dogs at the site and individually license them. She said it is the maximum she can keep without a kennel license.

Johnson said if there are more than 25 dogs on that date, the Department of Agriculture will seize the overage.

Johnson said choosing which dogs to keep is difficult. She said she would keep those that are hard to place, having made a commitment to care for them. She is hoping those that can be easily placed with families will find good homes.

The shelter stopped accepting more dogs in January, after Johnson decided not to appeal a closure order by the state Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement. It cited various violations, including drainage and ventilation problems. Johnson had until Feb. 11 to appeal, but decided to close, a decision based in part on decreasing donations, she said.

Johnson stressed the shelter has never had any charges regarding the treatment, condition or care of the dogs.

"The citations have been for drainage in our outdoor areas, where the dogs like to dig, and only when it is raining and the ground is saturated," she explained.

She said the shelter was inspected, on average, once a month, and about every other visit included a Department of Agriculture veterinarian accompanying the dog warden.

"The public needs to take the time to actually read the charges," she said. "The dogs and cats are well cared for, very happy and very much loved."

People interested in helping provide homes for dogs can visit Petfinder.com, using ZIP code 15666. Prospective cat owners can also consult the site for information on cats, as well.


05-01-09 -- Almost Heaven
By:  Bill White, The Morning Call

Almost Heaven kennel owner Derbe “Skip” Eckhart was bound over for court today on charges of violating conditions of his 2009 kennel license denial by accepting dogs for boarding.

And in another hearing today before District Judge Donna Butler, Almost Heaven worker April Welter was found guilty of running a kennel without a license, a summary offense.

Welter’s charge dates back to Eckhart’s slick move last January of renaming Almost Heaven as T.A.S. Kennels and claiming Welter as its new owner. Perhaps not coincidentally, the names Almost Heaven and Skip Eckhart were mud on the Internet after a series of stories and blog posts by me and others. This change briefly allowed them to advertise their dogs without those damning associations, until the law stepped in.

Eckhart’s alleged offense is a third-degree misdemeanor under the state’s new dog law. He was barred from buying, breeding or boarding dogs.

Jessie Smith, the state's special deputy secretary for dog law enforcement, said today's decisions were evidence that the new law closes some loopholes in the state’s regulations. “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,” she said.

Eckhart already is awaiting trial on animal cruelty charges arising from an Oct. 1 Pennsylvania SPCA raid on the inaptly named Almost Heaven.

It’s worth reminding everyone that as in other cases involving notorious Pennsylvania puppy mills, Almost Heaven had clear sailing until the PSPCA took action. Dog Law inspectors routinely gave the place a clean bill of health.

An Inspector General’s Office inquiry into that discrepancy, including allegations that Eckhart was tipped off to impending inspections, continues.

Dog Law spokesman Chris Ryder noted that Welter’s conviction is particularly significant because it can be taken into consideration if she ever applies for a kennel license in the future. She has 30 days to appeal. Eckhart already is appealing his kennel license refusal. In the meantime, he is permitted to sell dogs.


05-01-09 -- Animal Shelter Critics Say Board Must be More Open
By:  Tom Coombe, The Morning Call

The board of directors at Northampton County's largest animal shelter promised a new era of openness and efficiency Thursday night, even as several volunteers and supporters accused the board of operating in the dark.

Dozens of people crowded into a conference room at the Center for Animal Health and Welfare -- formerly the Northampton County SPCA -- as the board held its annual meeting. For John Higgins, who came from New Tripoli, the site of the meeting itself was an indication of how the board has failed to interact with the public; there wasn't enough space to stand in the room, and several people had to stand out in the hallway.

''One perception is that it's been very non-transparent,'' Higgins said.

Craig Haytmanek, the vice president of the board and a Bethlehem Area school director, said he hopes to hold future meetings in a different venue, possibly one of the Bethlehem schools.

Others were there in objection to a vote the board took in early April, when it removed Barbara Loch as the shelter's executive director and split that position into three seperate jobs.

Under this plan, Loch became the director of clinical services while the shelter's new veterinarian -- expected to start this summer -- becomes director of veterinary services. The
board has hired a third person to serve as business manager at the Williams Township shelter.

The meeting started off with Haytmanek giving a state of the shelter address, and focusing on the positive. He also praised Loch for her work.

''Barb's contribution to the shelter has been legion,'' he said. Saying she gives ''110 percent doesn't do it justice.''

Once Haytmanek opened the public comment period, many of the dozens of people in attendance wanted the board to explain itself: why it needed a three-person administration,
and why it changed its bylaws last year.

Under the previous bylaws, people who were members of the shelter -- even if they weren't members of the board -- could vote on new board members. Under the new rule, the board names its new members.

''We deserve a voice,'' said Donna Dougherty,'' vice-president of No Kill Lehigh Valley. ''We are the lifeblood of the organization far more than the board.''

Her comment was repeated by several volunteers, who accused the board of operating as a shadow organization removed from the day-to-day operations of the shelter.

Other volunteers defended the board and its vision for the future, saying that the members contribute in their own way. One volunteer compared them to the board at a hospital, arguing you wouldn't expect that board to assist in operations.

At least one person said Loch was owed an apology, which she got from board member Janet Belleti.

''I believe we all have erred,'' she told Loch.

The board, meanwhile, plans to release a new business plan within the next 30 days.