Puppy Mill Busts
Ever wonder why there aren't more of these in Pennsylvania... ?
Read North Penn Puppy Mill Watch. Click here
SPCA raids 'horrific' Lehigh County kennel
Philadelphia Inquirer, October 2, 2008
By AMY WORDEN, Inquirer Staff Writer
EMMAUS, Pa. - SPCA agents raided a Lehigh County dog kennel yesterday afternoon and found hundreds of animals, from hamsters to horses, crammed in every corner of the dilapidated property.
Twenty agents with the Pennsylvania SPCA entered Almost Heaven Kennel near Allentown after a two-month undercover investigation revealed the owner was selling sick dogs, SPCA officials said.
What they found was a zoo of horrors: monkeys, miniature horses, swans, turkeys, a pig, and an estimated 700 dogs and several dozen cats living in squalor.
Agents estimated that there were 800 to 1,000 animals, making the raid almost certainly the largest in state history.
"It's horrific," said Angela Messer, a veterinary technician with the Pennsylvania SPCA. "The numbers are astronomical. It's a sin this was allowed to continue on this way." Click to Continue...
Animal agents searching Upper Milford kennel on suspicion of cruelty
4:06 PM EDT, October 1, 2008
Enforcement agents from the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals are searching a local kennel after receiving complaints about the health of animals raised there.
Around 20 agents raided Almost Heaven Kennels, 4202 Chestnut St., Upper Milford Township, around 1:15 p.m. today.
"It's horrible in there," said Elaine Skypala, chief program officer for the society.
She said once officials from the state Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement arrive, they "will be able to shut them down immediately." Dogs and cats in stacked cages were found with eye and respiratory problems. Drains were clogged with feces, she said. Click to Continue...
State SPCA raids large PA puppy mill
October 1, 2008
http://tinyurl.com/4odgvy - See 4 Pictures
By Amy Worden
INQUIRER HARRISBURG BUREAU
EMMAUS, Pa. -- Agents with the Pennsylvania SPCA entered a Lehigh County dog kennel shortly after 1:30 p.m. in what some believe could be the largest puppy mill raid ever in the state.
Agents were executing search warrants at the Almost Heaven Kennel in Emmaus, near Allentown, this afternoon after a two month undercover investigation reportedly showed inhumane treatment there.
The kennel specializes in breeding poodles and Labrador retrievers. In August, the business had 508 dogs at the property on Chestnut Street, state records show.
The owner of the kennel, Derbe Eckhart, has a long history of run ins with state and local authorities and has been convicted at least twice of animal cruelty.
"Early reports show that conditions are horrendous," said Howard Nelson, president of the Pennsylvania SPCA moments after agents entered the property.
Agents, he said, were reporting filthy living conditions and that they witnessed several dying puppies and dogs with bad skin conditions.
Humane Society officers raid Maxatawny Township kennel, seize dogs
9/3/2008 10:38:00 AM - Berks County, PA - Berks County Humane Society officers seized eight dogs in a raid on a Maxatawny Township breeding operation this morning after a state dog warden reported finding a variety of health problems there due to a lack of veterinary care.
Karel I. Minor, Humane Society executive director, said the state Dog Law enforcement agency organization served a search warrant shortly after 6 at the Burkholder Farm Kennel, 460 Bowers Road. District Judge Gail M. Greth, Fleetwood, signed the warrant.
The dogs that were seized were among a total of 111 and were deemed to have immediate health concerns, such as open sores, Minor said. Click to Continue...
1,000 Freed from West Virginia Puppy Mill
August 24, 2008 - Yesterday morning in Parkersburg, W.Va., a cycle of animal abuse that lasted nearly two decades was finally broken. Local authorities raided the Whispering Oaks Kennel and found one of the most prolific puppy mills in the state's history.
By the end of the day nearly 1,000 neglected and abused dogs were freed from the horrendous industry that traps hundreds of thousands of dogs in a dismal cycle of suffering.
The Humane Society of the United States was there from the beginning, acting as the lead animal welfare organization for this mercy mission. Click to Continue
PSPCA Official Calls for Speedier Prosecution of Kennel Operator
By: Nancy Peterson, Philadelphia Inquirer
07/21/08 - When George Bengal of the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals led a raid on a Chester County kennel last Thursday, he fully expected the owner to spend the night in jail.
Didn't happen. Click to Continue
Chesco farmer charged with animal cruelty
Fri, Jul. 18, 2008
A Chester County Amish farmer was arrested last night during a raid on his farm and charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty.
John Blank of Cochranville, owner of Limestone Kennels, was taken into custody by Pennsylvania State Police shortly after 5 p.m. when agents from the Pennsylvania SPCA descended on his farm... Click to Continue
Animal-cruelty convictions stand
West Earl kennel operator loses appeal, 18 dogs seized in raid
Published: May 31, 2008
LANCASTER, PA
West Earl Township kennel owner Ervin Zimmerman lost another round in court Friday.
Lancaster County Judge Howard F. Knisely on Friday upheld 10 of 11 counts of animal-cruelty convictions and five counts of violating state dog laws handed down in December by District Justice Daniel B. Garrett... Click to Continue
Truth about the Pet Trade: Extremely Sad Case in Mississippi
May 22, 2008 - NEW ALBANY, MISSISSIPPI
An unspeakable case of child and animal neglect has been discovered in New Albany, MS on Sunday. Janet and Ramone Barreto were visited by the Union County Sheriff’s department after a doctor tipped off police that the couple’s adopted two-year old daughter may have suffered abuse. When officers arrived at the couple’s house on Sunday, they not only found the toddler in dire condition, but they discovered eight other children, twenty five cats, several ducks, and 180 breeding dogs on the property—all in bad shape. The girl died on Monday morning... Click to Continue
Police remove dozens of dogs from East Northport home
BY CARL MACGOWAN | carl.macgowan@newsday.com
May 6, 2008
Dozens of dogs were removed from a suspected East Northport puppy mill Tuesday by police and firefighters wearing face masks and air tanks.
The dogs, most in small cages, were filthy, scared and living in a house filled with foul air, said Roy Gross, chief of the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Many of the dogs were carried to a mobile animal hospital outside the house at 36 Wicks Road as police investigated... Click to Continue
City seizes scores of dogs from Bluffs residence
Monday, April 7, 2008
The city's animal control division took 69 dogs and puppies into custody last week from a home in the Bluffs.
"It would appear it was the operation of a puppy mill," said Leslie Turney, animal services manager with the city.
A puppy mill is a mass dog-breeding operation, often known for being run under substandard breeding conditions. Turney said puppy mills are not outlawed in Texas but the animals must be adequately cared for... Click to Continue
Puppy Mill Bust
Feb 28, 2008
They say dogs are mans' best friend.
Thursday, they've never been more betrayed.
"We couldn't tell how thin they were, until we got our hands on them because of the fur and mats. They're in bad condition," said Warren County Deputy Jane Johnson... Click to Continue
Dog breeder found guilty … again
Was convicted of cruelty in 2002 as well
Published: Jan 19, 2008 2:26 AM EST
LANCASTER COUNTY, PA - A Lancaster County jury delivered a split verdict Friday for Elvin L. High, who was charged with two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.
In related charges, Judge Louis J. Farina found High guilty of six summary counts of animal cruelty for cropping dogs' ears without a veterinary license... Click to Continue
Dog breeder found guilty.
Facing multiple fines, Ephrata man expected to appeal rulings
Published: Dec 20, 2007 2:06 AM EST
LANCASTER COUNTY, PA - Former kennel owner Ervin Zimmerman was found guilty Wednesday of 11 counts of animal cruelty and five counts of violating state dog law regulations.
Zimmerman's attorney, Richard K. Teitell of Bala Cynwyd, said he will appeal District Justice Daniel B. Garrett's findings.... Click to Continue
Many offer homes to 236 seized dogs
Originally published December 20, 2007
Animal Care Services staff and volunteers spent Wednesday trying to groom, wash and make room for more than 200 dogs seized from a 70-year-old woman’s home while fielding a flurry of phone calls from people wanting to adopt the animals.
But the city first must be granted custody of the animals by a judge, said Kelli Copeland, the department’s manager... Click to Continue
Dogs seized from farm
Sunday, December 02, 2007
SCHAEFFERSTOWN - The Humane Society of Lebanon County seized 76 dogs from a farm Wednesday and plans to file cruelty to animal charges against the owner, Humane Society president Beth White said.
White said the Humane Society is not releasing the name of the owner until charges are filed, which could take up to a month... Click to Continue
Violations force dog breeder out of business
Thursday, November 22, 2007
LANCASTER COUNTY , Pa. - Another dog-breeding kennel was put out of business Wednesday.
John B. Miller, owner of Millcreek Puppy Barn Kennel in Bird-in-Hand, pleaded guilty Wednesday to seven violations for poor and unsanitary conditions... Click to Continue