Awareness Day News
PA Closes Troubled Lancaster County Kennel
December 22, 2008, HARRISBURG - After more than a year of court battles, the state Department of Agriculture has closed a trouble-plagued Lancaster County kennel.
State dog wardens and humane officers seized 96 dogs - some with bite wounds and infected gums, ears and feet - from Ervin Zimmerman's kennel in Ephrata on Saturday, under the terms of an injunction granted by a Lancaster County judge on Dec. 5... Click to continue article
To help, please contact the Humane League of Lancaster County
Petland linked to Puppy Mills
November 20, 2008 - Today, during a news conference, The Humane Society of the United States reveals the results of an eight-month investigation into Petland Inc., the country's largest chain of puppy-selling pet stores. The results show that many Petland stores across the country are supporting cruel puppy mills, even while telling unsuspecting customers that the dogs only come from good breeders... Click to continue article...
Lancaster Humane League Gets Kennel Dogs
October 30, 2008 - Gordonville breeders gives up 20 animals
By: Tom Knapp, Lancaster Intelligencer Journal
A Gordonville dog breeder on Wednesday signed 20 dogs over to the Humane League of Lancaster after he was unable to bring his kennel into compliance with state dog laws.
'They were a sorry-looking lot — cold, dirty and uncared for,' Joan E. Brown, Humane League president, said Wednesday evening.
The dogs belonged to Aaron Lapp of 473 Centerville Road, Gordonville. League officer John Matrisciano was summoned by a state dog warden after three months of unsuccessful negotiations with Lapp.
'Conditions had deteriorated at the kennel, so we asked the Humane League to step in,' said warden Diane Buhl.
The dogs are a variety of breeds, including Pomeranians, Yorkshire terriers and terrier mixes.
'The dogs were very cold. They were apparently kept in an outside hog house … including some mama dogs with some very young puppies, so it's not good that they were outside in this freezing weather,' Brown said.
Some of the dogs were 'extremely filthy and caked in their own feces,' she added. 'They were very sad and unkempt looking.'
The dogs are mostly young and include two nursing mothers. The puppies are 2 to 4 weeks old, Brown said.
She is uncertain what charges might be filed against Lapp, given the ongoing negotiations between the breeder and the state.
'He did sign the dogs over to us, so that certainly is in his favor,' she said. 'But I'm sure there will be some ramifications.'
The dogs were brought Wednesday afternoon to the Humane League's facility at 2195 Lincoln Highway East, where the staff and shelter veterinarian weighed them, vaccinated them and checked them for injuries, skin conditions and other problems.
'As far as I know, they were all OK,' Brown said. 'They certainly needed to be cleaned up, warmed up, vaccinated and all the things we do. But they weren't at death's door or in great physical distress.'
Brown said the dogs will be made available for adoption as quickly as possible. The mother dogs and puppies will be placed in foster homes until the puppies are weaned and old enough to be adopted.
'We can always use foster homes, so if anyone is interested in providing foster care for needy dogs, they should contact us,' Brown added.
The dogs also will be spayed or neutered, she said.
For more information, contact the Humane League at 393-6551.
Original Article: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/229456
Justice finally served at Almost Heaven
Bill White, Morning Call Columnist
October 2, 2008 http://tinyurl.com/4stedy
I don't have as much faith in justice as I used to.
In the corporate world, in politics, in the courts, even in TV and movies, the bad guys seem to thrive.
Almost Heaven dog kennel contributed to this diminished expectation for justice. Proprietor Derbe ''Skip'' Eckhart had served time for cruelty to animals. I had heard from dozens of witnesses that his operation in Upper Milford Township was awful, and I had accumulated all kinds of evidence of his misdeeds, past and present.
Yet there he was, still in business, clearing state Bureau of Dog Law inspections with flying colors while hundreds of helpless animals suffered. I'd been writing about him for years, and it didn't seem to make any difference.
So it felt really good to be following a convoy of Pennsylvania SPCA vehicles toward Almost Heaven Wednesday afternoon, and even better when SPCA investigators and veterinarians emerged -- we weren't allowed back there -- to confirm what so many of us already knew.
Almost Heaven was a hellhole.
They said it was vastly overcrowded, with dogs stacked on top of one another in tiny cages. Indescribably filthy, with animals walking and sleeping in their own feces and their coats covered with excrement and urine.
They described sick animals. Frightened animals. Injured animals. Dehydrated animals.
Even dead, decomposing animals, in plain sight.
It wasn't just dogs. There were cats, guinea pigs, fowl, horses, monkeys, even a pot-bellied pig. This guy is like the Doctor Doolittle from Hell.
SPCA vet tech Angela Messer, who had been knee-deep in all this, said, ''It's a shame that he's been able to continue this way without anybody putting a stop to this.''
Indeed, one of the highlights of the afternoon was the arrival of state Bureau of Dog Law warden Orlando Aguirre, who was part of the four-person team that gave this cesspool all ''satisfactory'' ratings back in August. Aguirre had no comment.
If this raid accomplishes nothing else -- besides driving Skip Eckhart from the kennel business -- I hope it puts the screws anew to an agency that has dismally failed to protect Pennsylvania dogs from the avarice and cruelty of puppy mill operators. Thank heaven for the SPCA.
It was a bizarre scene. Even from the street, the reek of feces was sickening. You could see filthy dogs trying to bark at us, except that they had been debarked, so they whispered at us.
Interesting people kept turning up, too. Millie Altomare, 68, arrived to pick up a couple of dogs that were being clipped at Almost Heaven -- and proclaimed her support for Eckhart and disgust with the people trying to interfere with his business.
She told our reporter and videographer that she would love to get her hands on that Bill White, who has been mistreating Eckhart all these years.
I sheepishly raised my hand. ''That's me,'' I said.
''I'd like to kick your ass all the way down the street,'' she proclaimed.
Bracing myself for a beating, I remarked on the horrible smell. ''It's not a florist's shop,'' she snapped.
Animal rescue people started arriving, elated to see Eckhart being brought down. ''It's the best day of my life,'' said Main Line Animal Rescue's Bill Smith, a longtime Eckhart critic.
A crew from Animal Planet's ''Animal Cops'' show was there all afternoon, preparing a future program on the raid. TV news helicopters and crews started converging, too.
By the time I left, we had word that Eckhart faced up to 447 counts of animal cruelty -- potentially carrying fines of $2,500 per count -- and that dog law officials in Harrisburg would be deciding whether to yank his license.
In similar cases, kennel owners have relinquished their licenses and their animals to avoid a financial soaking. That clearly was the SPCA's hope.
So if I'm sitting here with a silly grin on my face, you'll have to excuse me.
Justice is very sweet.
bill.white@mcall.com 610-559-2146
Watch news footage.
Read CNN article.
Read morning call article.
State to investigate why dog wardens gave Upper Milford kennel good rating
The Morning Call
3:27 PM EDT, October 2, 2008
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-dog-1002cn,0,660925.story
State Agriculture Department officials will hold an investigation to determine why dog wardens gave a clean bill of health to a Lehigh County kennel weeks before humane inspectors found it filthy and overcrowded with dirty, diseased and dead animals.
Agriculture spokesman Chris Ryder today said the department, which oversees dog wardens, will conduct the investigation.
State SPCA humane officers, armed with a search warrant, Wednesday raided Almost Heaven Kennels in Upper Milford Township and seized 56 sick cats and dogs. They also found dead animals, including 65 animal carcasses in a freezer, as well as a variety of birds, pigs, monkeys and horses, many covered in feces.
Officials filed a host of charges against owner Derbe Eckhart.
Eckhart said an Aug. 7 inspection by state dog wardens showed that the humane officials overstated the case against him. "What they tried to do yesterday was paint a picture that wasn't there," Eckhart told The Associated Press Thursday.
Attempts to reach Jessie Smith, special deputy secretary for Dog Law Enforcement, and Susan West, director of the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, were ongoing today.
West accompanied three dog wardens on that Aug. 7 inspection, state records show.
State Rep. Doug Reichley, R-Lehigh, said he also asked how the August inspection could have found nothing wrong.
"From their understanding, the conditions had deteriorated in an incredible short period of time, the last two weeks," he said, referring to the state dog wardens. But Howard Nelson, executive director of the state SPCA, doubted that claim, considering the condition of the kennel and animals.
"I find it hard to believe that this happened just in a period of six to eight weeks," he said.
-- By Tim Darragh of The Morning Call
Kennel Owner Won't Heel
Posted by: "Maureen Koplow" mkoplow@comcast.net
Sun Sep 7, 2008 8:12 am (PDT)
http://articles. lancasteronline. com/local/ 4/226928
State Ag Department Files Lawsuit to Keep W. Earl Man From Selling Dogs
By: Chip Smedley, Lancaster Sunday News
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is using what it hopes will
be a more effective tool to rein in one of the county's more defiant
dog breeders.
Early last month the department filed a civil lawsuit against the owner
of a West Earl Township kennel, Ervin Zimmerman, whose license to
maintain a kennel and dog breeding operations was revoked in
November 2007.
The state initiated the lawsuit when state dog wardens visited
Zimmerman's property on the 400 block of Metzler Road Aug. 4
and discovered, according to the complaint, t 'Defendant had 193
dogs on the premises which he continues to breed and sell.'
Susan West, director of the state Department of Agriculture' s Bureau
of Dog Law Enforcement, said the civil lawsuit represents 'our best tool
to get to the end result in the fastest manner.'
If the bureau had filed a criminal lawsuit, West said, 'it could take up
to a year to go to trial and he would be able to operate that entire time.'
The civil lawsuit calls for an injunction that would close the kennel
and levy fines up to $500 for each day that he continues to operate
without a license.
'This will help us expedite matters,' West said. 'It provides emergency
relief until the whole matter is settled.'
However, West said, the lawsuit will not be heard until a judge rules
on a lawsuit Zimmerman has filed at the federal level.
'He is also licensed by the USDA [United States Department of
Agriculture] ,' West explained, 'and he believes the state laws are in
conflict with the federal laws.'
That hearing, West said, is scheduled for later this month.
West said Zimmerman is one of her department's more problematic
owners. 'He appeals every step of the way,' she said.
While the use of civil lawsuits by the department is not new, said
agriculture department spokesman Chris Ryder, they are not used
often because 'we don't have that many cases where we have to
go to court. Usually, once we charge an unlicensed kennel they close.
'In this case, Mr. Zimmerman operates' despite agriculture department
actions and adverse legal decisions against him.
Zimmerman's farm and kennel is about two miles north of Brownstown
on Metzler Road and visible from Route 222.
The large, white, stone farmhouse is shaded by trees and sits near a
red barn and other outbuildings. Its fields extend across Metzler Road.
The kennel/breeding operation is housed in a 1½-story building to the
rear of his barns. Exhaust fans provide ventilation to the small structure,
constructed of a combination of concrete block and wood, all painted
white.
Zimmerman's 2007 license was revoked after his kennel failed seven
inspections between June 5 and Oct. 11, 2007.
According to the complaint, Zimmerman — despite the 2007 revocation —
filed an application for a 2008 kennel license this past January. The
dog law bureau rejected his application and Zimmerman appealed
that decision.
Feb. 22, 2008, state Secretary of Agriculture Dennis Wolff stayed the
denial, allowing Zimmerman to continue his kennel and breeding
operations until the appeal could be heard. That hearing took place
June 24, and after reviewing testimony, Wolff re-affirmed the denial
July 25, leaving Zimmerman without a license to operate his kennel.
In May of this year, Lancaster County Judge Howard F. Knisely found
Zimmerman guilty of 10 counts of animal cruelty and five counts
of violating state dog laws. Zimmerman was fined $1,500 plus court
costs for the animal cruelty convictions and $425 plus costs for the
dog law violations.
During the trial it was revealed that Zimmerman, in 2007, had kept
more than 220 dogs in 50 cages at his kennel. During the
Nov. 3, 2007, inspection, dog wardens seized 18 dogs, including
a puppy whose hind feet had been chewed off, dogs with wounds
from fighting, and dogs with infected gums, ears and feet.
Officers also reported that it took them 30 minutes to track down
Zimmerman, who ran from inspectors when they arrived.
A woman who answered the phone at Zimmerman's property Friday
said Ervin Zimmerman was working in his field. When asked if he
would want to discuss the lawsuit, she said, 'No, he wouldn't want
to do that.'
In a related development last week, an advisory council of the
Pennsylvania Professional Dog Breeders Association filed a lawsuit
against the state's Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement for selectively
targeting Lancaster County kennels for inspection.
An incident involving state kennel inspector Kristin Donmoyer
during the November inspection at Zimmerman's kennel is highlighted
in the lawsuit. Donmoyer is listed as a defendant.
The lawsuit alleges Donmoyer 'blatantly' violated the rights of kennel
volunteer Carl Gilgore, who was videotaping the inspection, when
Donmoyer allegedly threatened him with arrest. Gilgore was not
arrested and continued videotaping the inspection.
In announcing the lawsuit, Bob Yarnall, president of the American
Canine Association Inc. said, 'Since 2006 the governor has directed
the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to target commercial
kennel operators and to find reasons to shut legitimate businesses down.'
Yarnall said: 'Based on the department's annual report to the General
Assembly, in the year 2007 kennel operators in Lancaster County
were more than three times more likely to be inspected, more than
10 times more likely to be cited for violations and over 100 times
more likely to receive a warning,' than kennel operators in other counties.
He concluded, 'There is an undeniable pattern of abuse by the
Department of Agriculture in enforcing regulations and the law
that is intended to protect all dogs — not just dogs in one part of
the state.'
Governor Rendell Calls on House of Representatives to Pass Dog Law Reforms
Aug 16, 2008 02:30PM
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 16/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Stunned by reports that two dog breeders shot to death 80 dogs rather than seek veterinary care for them, Governor Edward G. Rendell today strongly urged the House of Representatives to pass his proposed reforms to the state dog law.
"This act disgusted and shocked citizens all over the commonwealth," Governor Rendell said. "These violent killings were totally unnecessary, particularly considering that there are rescue societies that would have taken all of the dogs, regardless of their ages or conditions.
"Clearly, the time has come to enact legislation that would make this practice illegal and raise the standards under which the state's commercial breeding kennel industry operates. There is simply no excuse for continued inaction," he said.
Two weeks ago, kennel owners Elmer and Ammon Zimmerman of Berks County shot 80 dogs and closed their kennels after dog wardens ordered kennel repairs and veterinary checks for 39 dogs suffering flea and fly bites. Pennsylvania's current dog law does not prohibit kennel owners from euthanizing their dogs with firearms, even if the dogs are healthy.
The Governor made his appeal during a news conference at the Schuylkill River Dog Park, accompanied by Maggie, one of his family's two golden retrievers. Maggie and Ginger are former breeding dogs who were rescued and adopted by the Rendells.
Under legislation pending in the House, only veterinarians would be authorized to euthanize dogs in commercial breeding kennels.
House Bill 2525 also:
- Doubles the minimum floor space for cages.
- Requires outdoor exercise. Current law does not require even that dogs be let out of cages, much less given access to outside exercise.
- Requires solid flooring. Dogs now can spend their entire lives on wire floors, which damage their feet over time.
- Prohibits the stacking of cages. Under existing law, cages can be stacked so high that inspectors can't see whether they have food or water, or even if they are still alive.
- Requires veterinary checks annually or during each pregnancy. Many dogs now never see a vet throughout their entire lives.
The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit www.governor.state.pa.us.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The full text of a letter Governor Rendell has sent to legislators follows:
August 15, 2008
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Dear Representative:
The enclosed newspaper article details an extremely unfortunate situation that recently occurred at two commercial breeding kennels in Pennsylvania. Rather than providing 39 dogs with veterinary exams for flea and fly bite problems per our wardens' orders, a kennel owner decided to simply shoot all 70 of his dogs. The kennel owner's brother, also a licensed kennel owner, made the decision to shoot his dogs as well. In total, 80 dogs were brutally killed.
Unbelievably, this practice is perfectly legal under Pennsylvania's dog law. This act disgusted and shocked citizens all over the commonwealth. These violent killings were totally unnecessary, particularly considering that there are rescue societies that would have taken all of the dogs, regardless of their ages or conditions. Clearly, the time has come to enact legislation that would make this practice illegal and raise the standards under which the state's commercial breeding kennel industry operates. There is simply no excuse for continued inaction.
House Bill 2525, currently listed on the House voting schedule for September, would make it illegal for commercial breeding kennel owners to shoot their own dogs. Only veterinarians could euthanize these dogs.
The legislation also would make other much needed updates to Pennsylvania's outdated dog law by defining commercial kennels and raising the minimum standards on these distinctive operations. Under current law, dogs can spend their entire lives in very small, stacked, wire-floored cages without ever receiving exercise or veterinary care. House Bill 2525 would eliminate wire flooring and cage stacking for breeding dogs in commercial kennels, and would provide them with annual veterinary care, larger cages, and exercise areas, among other safety measures.
All of us must understand that these dogs are not just farm animals but are headed to people's homes to interact with them and their children. Leaving aside the physical damage that can occur for dogs raised under these conditions, the mental and emotional scars that these animals take into people's homes as a result of these conditions, are simply incalculable. We can no longer condone this.
With 96 sponsors, House Bill 2525 enjoys substantial bi-partisan support. I urge you to act swiftly and pass this legislation upon returning to session next month. Swift passage will enable the Senate to do the same before the end of this legislative session and bring much needed help to the dogs of Pennsylvania.
Sincerely,
Edward G. Rendell
Governor
cc: The Honorable Members of the Pennsylvania State Senate
CONTACT:
Chris Ryder (Agriculture)
717-787-5085
717-503-0035 (cell)
Chuck Ardo (Office of the Governor)
717-783-1116
SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor
Slain dogs honored
Berks breeders shot 80 canines last month
By Susan Lindt, Intelligencer Journal
August 16, 2008
http://tinyurl.com/6352u8
Under a full moon, more than 100 people gathered on a country road here Friday night for a somber candlelight vigil to remember 80 dogs shot to death by two Amish farmers late last month.
The farmers, Elmer Zimmerman of E&A Kennel, and his brother, Ammon Zimmerman of A&J Kennel, operated large-scale breeding kennels on adjacent properties at 15416 Kutztown Road and 201 Kohler Road, respectively.
On Friday night, Elmer Zimmerman parked a tractor across his lane to block the crowd from his property. Animal advocates representing Lancaster's United Against Puppy Mills, Main Line Animal Rescue in Chester Springs, North Penn Puppy Mill Watch in Montgomery County, New Jersey Consumers Against Pet Shop Abuse, Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and various other organizations sang "Amazing Grace" and left 80 chrysanthemums and 80 dog biscuits by Zimmerman's tractor in memory the 80 dogs shot to death by the brothers.
"These were dogs with no names. These were dogs that none of us ever knew," said Jenny Stephens of North Penn Puppy Mill Watch. "These were dogs who never knew the kindness a human hand can offer and these were dogs who died a violent and terror-filled death with no one to comfort them."
After a July 24 inspection of his kennel, Elmer Zimmerman faced several citations for poor kennel sanitation and maintenance, and was ordered to seek veterinary care for 39 of his 85 dogs.
Jessie Smith, deputy secretary of the state Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, said Elmer Zimmerman told the inspecting dog warden that he planned to close his kennel, but he did not want to surrender his dogs to an animal rescue organization or shelter as the warden suggested.
Smith said Elmer Zimmerman contacted the inspecting warden several days later to say he killed 70 of his dogs.
Although Ammon Zimmerman's kennel had not been inspected and he faced no citations at the time, he also called a dog warden to say he shot 10 of his dogs and was going out of the breeding business.
The shootings shocked the well-organized world of animal advocates, as well as state officials endorsing House Bill 2525, which proposes sweeping changes to state laws governing breeder dogs who spend their lives in the state's hundreds of large-scale commercial breeding kennels.
"The decision by commercial breeders to kill healthy dogs instead of paying to repair a kennel and seek veterinary care is alarming and will likely outrage many people," state Secretary of Agriculture Dennis Wolff said in a statement released earlier this week. "Until our state's outdated dog law is changed, kennel owners may continue to kill their dogs for any reason they see fit, even if it is simply to save money."
On Friday night, people at the vigil expressed horror at the fate of the Zimmermans' dogs. Some saw the Zimmermans' actions as a spiteful retaliation against Gov. Ed Rendell's initiative to curb the lucrative puppy mill business.
"It absolutely sucked the wind out of me when I heard," said Libby Williams of New Jersey Consumers Against Pet Shop Abuse. "Is there no end to the depravity of these people? I do think it was spite. But they did the state a favor. People are now learning the truth about the 'gentle' Plain people. And this has been in every newspaper across the country."
Howard Nelson, CEO of PSPCA, cut short his vacation by a day and drove straight to the vigil after he heard the news.
"It's not uncommon for puppy millers to shoot or drown their dogs instead of spending money on medical care," Nelson said. "There may have been some spite in this case, but I'm just calling it pure evil."
Rendell, who pushed for legislation to improve breeder dogs' living conditions in an effort to dissolve the state's reputation as a puppy mill hub, also is aware of the Zimmermans' actions.
Rendell scheduled a news conference for 2 p.m. today in Philadelphia's Schuylkill River Dog Park to comment on the Zimmerman incident and the need for H.B. 2525.
"The governor is very, very upset by this," Rendell spokeswoman Teresa Candori said this week. "He is a dog lover, and he's outraged by this news. He believes this is evidence that House Bill 2525 is desperately needed."
Also reacting to the story was Stephanie Shain of the Humane Society of the United States.
"This shooting highlights the rampant problems with commercial breeding in Pennsylvania," Shain said. "This industry is in desperate need of reform and oversight."
The state may have more to lose than breeder dogs if H.B. 2525 dies.
Author, psychologist and animal welfare advocate Jana Kohl has vowed to wage war on Pennsylvania's Amish tourism industry by exposing inhumane treatment of breeder dogs by the Amish and Mennonite communities.
"Two thousand of the country's 10,000 commercial breeding kennels are owned by Amish and Mennonites," Kohl said earlier this month. "One of the ways to impact (this industry) is to shame and embarrass them by putting as many billboards and ads in as many places as possible. We can point the finger to Pennsylvania as aiding and abetting this horrific business that is nothing more than legalized torture."
On Friday night, people at the vigil called out the names of "the guilty," legislators who opposed or failed to endorse amending current dog laws. Included were Lancaster County state Reps. Dave Hickernell and Gordon Denlinger, who last year called Lancaster dog breeding "an issue of farmland preservation" and said, "There's a certain question about the removal of a person's livelihood. Should an animal enforcement officer be able to throw a person out of their occupation on a given day?"
For her part, Kohl, whose family founded Kohl's department stores, promises her clout isn't the only force behind the coming campaign.
"A lot of people with a lot of money and resources are prepared to venture into a campaign like this," she said. "It's going to be a bigger and more embarrassing campaign than people expect, and it's going to shock."
E-mail: slindt@lnpnews.com
Many protest killing of dozens of dogs by Maxatawny Township kennel owner
By Erin Negley, Reading Eagle
August 16, 2008
http://tinyurl.com/6h289c
Friday night, animal-right activists placed 80 white chrysanthemums at the property line - one for each dog shot and killed by the kennel owners.
They scattered dog biscuits on the narrow road.
And they blew out candles marking the vigil when one of the kennel owners, Elmer H. Zimmerman, approached those who lingered afterward. Clearly shaken, Zimmerman apologized for killing the dogs. How could he stop the harassing calls to his Maxatawny Township farm, he asked. "I'm very sorry this has all happened," Zimmerman said.
The vigil was organized by three groups - North Penn Puppy Mill Watch, United Against Puppy Mills and Main Line Animal Rescue - to memorialize the 80 dogs shot and killed by Zimmerman and his brother, Ammon H. Jr., also a kennel owner, last month.
About 100 people attended the vigil outside Zimmerman's property on Kutztown Road.
"We're doing this to give animal advocates and dog lovers a chance to say goodbye to these dogs that were brutally slain," said Jenny B. Stephens, coordinator of North Penn Puppy Mill Watch, Lansdale, Montgomery County.
The Zimmermans killed the animals in late July after a state dog warden noticed sanitation and maintenance violations at E&A Kennel, owned by Elmer Zimmerman. Wardens found fleas and fly sores on 39 dogs and ordered veterinary checks.
Instead, after calling his veterinarian, Elmer Zimmerman killed all 70 of his dogs because, he said, he thought he was complying with a state order that required him to act immediately or face legal action.
Ammon Zimmerman Jr. shot his 10 dogs.
Both men surrendered their licenses and closed both kennels.
Since word of the killing got out, outraged animal-rights activists used the dogs' deaths to push for legislation to mandate that only licensed veterinarians be permitted to euthanize dogs in commercial breeding kennels.
The activists gathered in the parking lot of Marie's Kitchen Restaurant at 8 p.m. Friday and walked with their dogs to the nearby vigil.
"If you don't speak against it, the general public will remain ignorant of the conditions, and animals will continue to suffer," said Terry A. Terzuolo, a volunteer from Main Line Animal Rescue, Jeffersonville, Montgomery County.
The group crowded around several speakers, straining to hear over the traffic.
The speakers asked how this could happen.
When he walked out to the road, Elmer Zimmerman told Berks-Lehigh Regional police Officer Peter Nickischer he was sorry. Nickischer was there to provide traffic control.
"I just got the impression that I had 20 things wrong on my farm and I've got to work day and night to get things back to the way they should be," he said.
Zimmerman raised cocker spaniels, poodles and other small breeds at the kennel for several years. He sold the dogs to dealers and directly to owners.
The kennel was an extra source of income. To make up the difference, he'll have to milk more cows, he said.
Helen Smith, a volunteer with the Main Line group, said he could have taken the dogs to a shelter instead of killing them. Zimmerman said he didn't know that.
In the past week, his phone line has been busy with harassing calls.
As he walked away, one of those who took part in the vigil said that Zimmerman deserves much more than nasty calls for his actions.
If Zimmerman missed the remark, he was familiar with the sentiments.
"I understand there's a 1,000 people against me," Zimmerman said. "I want to have peace again."
Contact reporter Erin Negley at 610-371-5047 or enegley@readingeagle.com
Video Links to Vigil:
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=6331539
http://wfmz.com/view/?id=315406
Berks kennel owners kill their 80 dogs
By Amy Worden, Inquirer Harrisburg Bureau
HARRISBURG - Two Berks County kennel operators killed nearly their entire kennel population - 80 dogs - after wardens ordered veterinary exams on dozens of their animals.
After receiving a poor inspection report on July 24, Elmer Zimmerman of Kutztown shot his 70 small-breed dogs and threw them onto a compost pile on his property, according to officials with the state Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement. His brother, Ammon Zimmerman, who operated A & J Kennel next door, shot 10 dogs about the same time, they said.
It is legal for dog owners in the state to put a dog down by shooting it. Gov. Rendell, as part of his effort to improve kennel conditions, is seeking legislation to allow only veterinarians to euthanize commercial kennel dogs.
Read more coverage of the Zimmerman Case:
- Maxatawny Township kennel owners kill 80 dogs rather than seek treatment for some, state says
- Maxatawny Township kennel owner defends shooting dogs
- Thoughts on Paws: New laws should shoot down puppy millers who kill dogs
- PA KENNEL OWNER SHOOTS 80 HEALTHY DOGS! - The Petition Site
SECRETARY WOLFF: PENDING LEGISLATION WOULD HAVE SAVED DOGS KILLED BY BERKS KENNEL OWNERS
Current Law Allows Commercial Breeders to Shoot Dogs
Aug. 12, 2008, HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Dennis Wolff released the following statement in response to the shooting of 80 dogs at two Berks County kennels:
“The recent shooting of 80 dogs at two Berks County kennels is saddening. The decision by commercial breeders to kill healthy dogs instead of paying to repair a kennel and seek veterinary care is alarming, and will likely outrage many people. Unfortunately, the killing of the dogs was legal under current Pennsylvania law.
“The two kennels involved have both voluntarily closed, but until our state’s outdated dog law is changed kennel owners may continue to kill their dogs for any reason they see fit, even if it is simply to save money. We can’t afford to wait any longer to pass legislation that would ban commercial kennel owners from killing their dogs.
“House Bill 2525, introduced in May, would allow only veterinarians to euthanize dogs in commercial breeding kennels. The bill would strengthen current dog laws and provide better standards for the health and safety of dogs in commercial breeding kennels without burdening other types of kennels that house dogs. The legislature has an opportunity to pass this important legislation this fall, and they should -- as doing so will assure that this activity will be illegal in PA commercial breeding kennels moving forward."
Rather than seek medical attention for dogs suffering from fleas and fly sores, kennel owners Ammon and Elmer Zimmerman of Kutztown shot all 80 of their dogs to save costs. The Zimmermans, owners of A&J Kennel and E&A Kennel, voluntarily surrendered their licenses on July 29 after killing the dogs.
Dog wardens inspected E&A Kennel on July 24, noting several violations for kennel sanitation and maintenance. Wardens also noted fleas and fly sores on 39 of the dogs and ordered veterinary checks. Wardens issued four citations for violations and planned to confirm the veterinary checks during a follow-up inspection. The wardens were notified on July 29 that the owners of both kennels chose to destroy the dogs and dismantle the kennels.
For more information on House Bill 2525, visit www.DogLawAction.com.
Targeted kennel gets more scrutiny
Pa. is seeing whether a major breeder's ads violated a 2005 court agreement that arose from sickness complaints.
By Amy Worden Inquirer Staff Writer
HARRISBURG - The state Attorney General's Office is investigating whether a Lancaster County kennel operator - one of the largest dog sellers in the state and the focus of legal action dating back almost two decades - has violated a 2005 court-ordered consent petition.
The agreement, which settled the largest Pennsylvania consumer-fraud case involving pet sales, required Joyce and Raymond Stoltzfus, at the time operating as Puppy Love Kennels, to identify their kennel in all classified advertising either by name or as a licensed kennel.
The provision was included so that consumers could fully research the kennel, which has a history of selling sick or defective dogs and misrepresenting them as healthy.
An Inquirer review found that scores of classified ads placed with The Inquirer and at least four other newspapers and Internet sites after Dec. 10 failed to identify the business, now known as CC Pets L.L.C., as required under the agreement. Click here to continue...
Chester County Kennel Pleads Guilty to Dog Law and Cruelty Violations, Surrenders Dogs 
HARRISBURG, Pa., July 25, 2008 -- The owner of Limestone Kennel in Cochranville, Chester County, pleaded guilty today to eight counts of animal cruelty and two violations of the Dog Law.
John Blank's kennel license has been permanently revoked and he surrendered nearly 75 dogs to the Pennsylvania SPCA. The plea comes as a result of investigations by the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement and the Pennsylvania SPCA last week.
Blank will be on probation for two years, during which time dog wardens will make sure he owns no more than five personal dogs. "As a result of today's actions, the dogs from this commercial breeding kennel will be cared for and put up for adoption to homes. This is the best possible outcome for the dogs," said Wolff. "While the results are positive for these dogs, the case shows the need for better laws to protect all dogs in commercial breeding kennels."
Wolff said all dogs in commercial breeding kennels would be better protected with passage of House Bill 2525, currently in the House Appropriations Committee. Introduced in May, H.B. 2525 would strengthen current dog laws and provide better standards for the health and safety of dogs in commercial breeding kennels without affecting other types of kennels that house dogs.
"Raising the minimum standards for commercial breeding kennels and requiring annual veterinary checks would benefit all dogs in these types of settings," said Wolff. "Current law does not require that dogs ever receive routine medical care and as a result, many go without."
The bill would require veterinary examinations for each dog at least once per year or during each pregnancy. Among other protections for dogs, H.B. 2525 doubles the minimum floor space for dogs, eliminates wire flooring, and requires access to an outdoor exercise area twice the size of the dog's primary enclosure.
Current law does not require dogs ever be taken out of cages, much less given access to exercise areas. Current law treats all kennels the same, regardless of size or function.
The proposed legislation would allow the health and welfare needs of the dogs housed in large commercial breeding kennels to be addressed. Requirements are virtually unchanged for other types of kennels, like sporting and hobby dog kennels, because they do not operate with the purpose of breeding large quantities of dogs to sell for profit. Instead, they operate for the purpose of sporting, hobby, boarding or finding homes for dogs.
The proposed legislation is a result of Governor Edward G. Rendell's effort to improve living conditions for dogs in Pennsylvania kennels.
Since 2006, Governor Rendell has made improvements to the staffing and enforcement efforts of the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, which oversees the inspection and licensing of kennels.
For more information on the proposed legislation overhauling Pennsylvania's Dog Law, visit www.DogLawAction.com.
CONTACT: Chris L. Ryder
(717) 787-5085
SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Chesco kennel owner loses license
By Amy Worden
INQUIRER HARRISBURG BUREAU
HARRISBURG - In an unusually swift move, the Department of Agriculture today revoked the license of a Chester County kennel owner following a raid last week that resulted in multiple counts of cruelty and the seizure of 23 dogs.
Under a consent agreement, Cochranville kennel owner John S. Blank will have to reduce the size of his operation to below 26 dogs - the number for which a kennel license is required - in 60 days.
Blank, 54, has 105 dogs on his property, according to a kennel inspection report issued Friday.
Department of Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff issued the revocation today based on multiple maintenance and sanitation violations, a spokesman said.
Animal welfare advocates with decades of experience say they have never heard of the agency revoking a license so quickly.
"That's very unusual," said Bob Baker, an ASPCA investigator. "We wish the department would act this swiftly with all substandard kennels in Pennsylvania ."
Dog wardens inspected Limestone Kennel on Friday and found feces, dirt and bugs in food and water bowls, broken wire flooring, and gaps in wire floors that allowed dogs' paws to go through.
The inspection was ordered one day after agents with the Pennsylvania SPCA raided the kennel and seized the dogs, some of whom were missing eyes as a result of untreated disease. Others were taken for untreated abscesses from bite wounds and splayed feet, the result of standing on wire for years.
On July 3 Blank gave nine dogs with visible medical conditions to people from Main Line Animal Rescue, which alerted the PSPCA. The following week a three-week-old puppy that later died from dehydration was illegally sold to an undercover agent.
Blank is facing three misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and 23 summary charges.
Baker said the license revocation doesn't excuse the fact that wardens who gave Blank a passing inspection in January ignored animals with serious medical conditions.
"We hope they follow through and discipline the wardens who allowed this facility to stay in business this long," he said. An agency spokesman said the matter is under investigation.
The agency also announced the launch Thursday of a 24-hour new hotline (1-877-DOG-TIP1) for the public to report problems in kennels.
Blank, who sold 186 dogs last year, had held a kennel license since 2003, according to inspection records. In 2006 he was issued a citation for broken wire flooring and overcrowding of cages was noted, but he had not received any additional warnings or citations since then.
City Councilman Tony Cardenas Challenges Citizens of Los Angeles to Stand Up and Be Counted in Opposition to Horrid Puppy Mill Cruelty
City Councilman Tony Cardenas is no stranger when it comes to speaking out for the animals. And Wednesday he didn't mince words when he issued a challenge to join "A Puppy-Store-Free LA" campaign to stop the sale of puppy mill dogs in Greater Los Angeles. Before a packed news conference at Luxe Hotel Sunset Boulevard, Cardenas joined actress Maggie Q and Chris DeRose, founder of Last Chance for Animals; along with Julie Castle and Francis Battista of Best Friends Animal Society.
Los Angeles, Calif. (PRWEB) July 10, 2008 -- City Councilman Tony Cardenas is no stranger when it comes to speaking out for the animals. And Wednesday he didn't mince words when he issued a challenge to join "A Puppy-Store-Free LA" campaign to stop the sale of puppy mill dogs in Greater Los Angeles.
Before a packed news conference at Luxe Hotel Sunset Boulevard, Cardenas joined actress Maggie Q and Chris DeRose, founder of Last Chance for Animals; along with Julie Castle and Francis Battista of Best Friends Animal Society. Cardenas passionately laid out his case against those who would tolerate puppy mills and the stores who serve as their buying customers.
"My point to you is that when we act ignorant as a community, we are not doing the right thing," Cardenas said. "We must make the masses understand that we have a responsibility to care for our animals; and that when things get messed up, it's usually because human hands have caused it."
Cardenas, who two years ago helped create an L.A. City Animal Cruelty Task Force, praised the work of Last Chance for Animals and Best Friends Animal Society for creating the campaign, which will be extended to more U.S. cities in the coming 12 months.
"Today is the beginning of a tremendous campaign, and needless to say, when it involves organizations like Best Friends and LCA, I'm happy to do what I can to raise awareness about animal cruelty," said Cardenas. "This work is done in the trenches, and in the case of LCA, much of it is done undercover.
"The goal is to make Los Angeles a model community for California and the rest of the country with regard to the sale, importation and breeding of animals. This program will help raise the awareness with families--that where they get their pets does matter.
"For years these groups have been the leaders in the investigation of puppy mills. When you see the horrible conditions that these animals live in, you wonder why operators of puppy mills have gone undetected for so long."
Cardenas said new legislation regarding pet store sales of puppy mill dogs is important, but not appropriate until all aspects of the legislation, including funding for enforcement is in place.
"I can promise to you sometime this summer we are going to have legislation before the council," he concluded.
Chris DeRose, founder and president of Last Chance for Animals, emphasized that puppy mills are all over Southern California and in every part of the United States. Holding a small puppy mill rescue Yorkie named Lovey in his arms, DeRose described the horrible plight of puppy mill dogs, including the conditions under which breeding parents spend their entire lives.
"Even licensed breeders are allowed to stack cages on top of each other," he said. "Dogs have barely enough room to move around, and the ones stacked at the top defecate and urinate on those below them. No living being should have to endure conditions that you wouldn't put on your worst enemy."
Actress Maggie Q, one of Asia's top screen stars who cares for eight rescue dogs of her own, said: "If we can't treat animals with kindness and compassion, how are our relationships going to be with each other? These are living beings who don't have a voice in how we treat them."
The solution is simple, she pointed out.
"If we're not demanding these puppies, then they (puppy mills) are not going to supply pet stores."
Francis Battista, longtime resident of Los Angeles and one of the founders of Best Friends Animal Society, described puppy mills as an ethical issue for the public at large.
"This isn't simply a matter of sentiment from animal activists--this is an essential ethical question," Battista said. "The way we treat animals is a core value, and allowing this type of abuse, this type of pain and suffering is unconscionable.
"These are living beings, while puppy millers are motivated by greed and profit. Pet store sales from puppy mills place a tremendous burden on society and result in millions of dollars being spent on animal shelters. This is something that has to stop. And it's going to stop here."
Julie Castle, director of community programs and services for Best Friends, asked those in attendance to look toward a future when the problems for animals created by puppy stores no longer exist.
"This is what the campaign is all about," she said. "It's also about taking a message that the sale of puppy mill dogs in pet stores across the United States cannot continue."
Castle said that in Los Angeles, which has the highest intake of displaced animals in the nation, about 25 percent of dogs in shelters are pure-bred puppies of the type that traditionally come from puppy mills.
"This is the perfect place for our announcement--one that we will carry across the entire nation."
Launch of "A Puppy-Store-Free LA" campaign follows successful undercover investigations and protests that have resulted in the Posh Puppy Store in Beverly Hills, Calif. to close its doors. It is also based on the fact that puppies, increasingly, are purchased on impulse or as accessories. Later, when pet owners discover that they cannot care for their puppy, it ends up in a shelter.
For more information visit A Puppy-Store-Free LA.
Read LA Leashed:Plans to protest the sale of puppy-mill puppies
Once Again, No Action on Puppy Mills
Letter to the Editor, July 09, 2008
The Reporter
House Bill 2525, currently sitting in the House Appropriations Committee, is focused on improving the cruel and inhumane treatment of breeding dogs in Pennsylvania 's commercial breeding kennels.
More commonly known as puppy mills, the legislation would require dogs to have veterinarian care at least annually, outlaw wire floors in cages, prevent the stacking of dogs so high in the air dog wardens conducting inspections cannot see them, require exercise, and require rabies vaccinations to be administered by qualified individuals.
This bill was scheduled to be voted on in the House last week and had the support of more than 130 members of the Legislature from both sides of the aisle.
A small group of Republican legislators, led by Rep. Art Hershey, R-Chester County, in a clear effort to derail the bill, added more than 115 amendments to the bill in a successful effort to thwart consideration of the bill.
The amendments were so disingenuous that many in the Legislature were angered because they wanted to vote on the bill before they went home for summer recess.
Once again, Pennsylvanians are on the short end of the stick because a few legislators were reacting to the special interests that control every aspect of the legislative process.
Pennsylvanians by and large support the efforts to improve the conditions for these dogs, the Legislature by and large supports the efforts also.
The special interests of the commercial breeders do not, and because citizens of this commonwealth do not have a high-paid lobbyist in Harrisburg , the dogs will continue to die and be abused and Pennsylvania will remain the "Puppy Mill Capital of the East" and we will continue to buy these sick dogs.
Please contact your state senators and representatives and demand that they support efforts to improve the lives of these helpless dogs.
Thomas G. Hickey Sr.
Member, PA Dog Law Advisory Board
Drexel Hill, PA
PA - Action Alert: Don't Drop the Ball - Dogs Are Counting on YOU
Posted by: "Maureen Koplow" mkoplow@comcast.net
Fri Jun 27, 2008 11:19 am (PDT)
Go ahead, take a bow. Pennsylvania animal advocates have a lot to be proud of... In a little more than 40 days newly introduced legislation to improve conditions in puppy mills has cleared two House committees thanks to phone calls, faxes, emails, and most importantly, YOU. Your dedication to raising awareness about the horrific conditions in Pennsylvania' s commercial breeding kennels has made a significant difference but there's still more to be done.
House Bill 2525 - legislation that will mandate breeder dogs be given larger cages, a solid surface to stand on, daily exercise and an annual physical by a licensed veterinarian - along with House Bill 2532 - legislation that will end cruel debarking and other surgical procedures in unsterile environments and without anesthesia - may come to the House floor at a moments notice for a vote. We need to contact elected representatives across the state and urge them to vote for both Bills.
The passage of House Bills 2525 and 2532 is crucial to improving the health and welfare standards for dogs in Pennsylvania' s breeding kennels.
What You Can Do:
- Politely contact your elected state representative and encourage their support and vote for both Bills.
- Pass this alert on to every animal advocate in Pennsylvania that you
know and encourage them to get involved.
Talking Points:- Remind legislators that dogs in Pennsylvania have been suffering for far too long and deserve better conditions and protection than they are currently afforded by law;
- Mention that House Bills 2525 and 2532 are NOT Democratic or Republican issues - the humane treatment of dogs is a concern for ALL Pennsylvanians in every part of the state;
- If your state representative is NOT supporting one or both Bills, ask how they can possibly side with an industry that places profit over the health and welfare of innocent dogs;
If your state representative IS supporting both Bills, remind them how important the humane care and treatment of dogs in breeding kennels is to you and thank them for their continued support and anticipated vote FOR the legislation.
Each day that goes by without the passage of House Bills 2525 and 2532 represents yet another day that dogs in Pennsylvania are suffering for the sake of profit. By working together and letting our officials know how strongly we feel about both pieces of legislation we may actually make the summer of 2008 the last summer dogs in Pennsylvania spend sweltering in rabbit hutches or stacked in cages in unventilated barns.
By working together and making these calls we CAN make a significant difference in the lives of tens of thousands of dogs currently languishing in puppy mills across the Commonwealth.
Join us in this worthwhile endeavor and please, pick up the phone today!
Please feel free to cross-post this Alert to online advocacy discussion boards and to advocacy email lists.
To learn more about House Bills 2525 and 2532, click HERE
Forwarded message - please reply to NPPMWATCH@NPPMWATCH.COM
The HSUS Commends the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee for Passing Important Anti-Cruelty Legislation
HARRISBURG, Pa. (June 24, 2008) — The Humane Society of the United States commends the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee for approving a bill addressing some of the cruelest practices employed by puppy mills today. The legislation now advances to the full House of Representatives.
Introduced by Rep. Thomas Caltagirone (D-Berks), H.B. 2532 seeks to outlaw abusive practices employed by breeders in Pennsylvania’s puppy mills, including debarking, performing surgery on pregnant dogs to remove the puppies, and tail docking. Under current law, it is completely legal for commercial breeders in Pennsylvania to perform surgical births by slicing open the stomachs of pregnant dogs, removing the puppies, and sewing the dogs back up. There is not any requirement that the breeders have any veterinary training, use anesthesia, or conduct the operations in sterile conditions. Breeders may also perform painful debarking by ramming a metal pipe or other object down a dog’s throat to rupture the vocal cords and render the dog mute, again without anesthesia and while the dog is fully conscious.
“The provisions of HB 2532 are common sense to anyone. Only licensed veterinarians should be authorized to perform surgery on these dogs” says Sarah Speed, The HSUS’ Pennsylvania state director. “For too long, commercial breeders have abused the laxity in the law to maximize profit at the expense of the well-being of the dogs and the unwitting consumer.”
HB 2532 will also close a loophole in the law that allows commercial breeders to escape prosecution for animal cruelty. Under the current law, only a Humane Society Police Officer has the ability to cite a breeder for animal cruelty. In counties where there is no such officer, a breeder may escape citation. Currently there are three counties (list which ones if we know) in Pennsylvania that do not have a Humane Society Police Officer. HB 2532 will close this loophole by allowing Dog Law Wardens in the counties without officers to issue citations for animal cruelty within the limited scope of performance of their inspection duties.
The Humane Society of the United States is working in conjunction with The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Pennsylvania Legislative Animal Network to pursue this important legislative effort in Pennsylvania.
Resources:
The HSUS Anti-Puppy Mill Campaign raises public awareness and educates communities about the abuses inherent in the puppy breeding industry and the benefits of choosing to adopt a pet. The HSUS rescues dogs from puppy mills across the country, works to strengthen laws against puppy mills, and educates consumers about their ability to end this abusive industry Visit: humanesociety.org/stoppuppymills.
Media Contact: Martin Montorfano: 301-258-3152, mmontorfano@humanesociety.org
Animal-rights officials: Case is a warning
They urged breeders in Pa. to heed a Lancaster County cruelty conviction, which a judge upheld.
By Amy Worden
Inquirer Harrisburg Bureau
HARRISBURG - State officials say they hope a Lancaster County judge's decision to uphold animal-cruelty charges against a large commercial kennel operator will serve as a warning to other breeders who mistreat dogs.
Judge Howard F. Knisely let on Friday stand a conviction on 10 of 11 counts of animal cruelty and five counts of violating the state dog law against Ervin Zimmerman of Ephrata. The judge also ordered Zimmerman to forfeit ownership of 18 dogs seized by humane officers as part of the case last year.
Zimmerman, who has bred dogs for 17 years, had appealed a ruling by District Justice Daniel Garrett in December. At his trial, humane officers said they had found animals suffering from extreme neglect: a puppy with its hind legs chewed off and dogs so matted they were unable to defecate. Dog wardens said they had found dead rats in the cages and food contaminated with feces.
Sue West, director of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, said the decision should send a message to breeders that they must focus on the welfare of the dogs in their care.
"Those that choose to allow inappropriate kennel conditions or ignore the welfare of their dogs will also find themselves in court at some point in time," West said.
Zimmerman, reached by phone yesterday, referred all questions to his lawyer, Kurt Geishauser of Reading, who did not immediately return a phone call.
West said the case underscored the need for stronger legislation - under consideration by the state House - that would require regular veterinary care for dogs in commercial kennels, impose higher fines, require restitution, and generally give the agency more enforcement authority.
Zimmerman's license was revoked in November after he failed seven state inspections, but his kennel was allowed to remain open while he appealed. At that time, humane officers seized 18 sick and injured dogs, including one with a broken leg, and dogs with fight wounds, infected gums, and ear and foot infections.
Knisely fined Zimmerman $1,200 for cruelty charges and $425 for the dog-law violations. He declined to prohibit Zimmerman from owning dogs since a Department of Agriculture hearing on his kennel-license revocation is pending this month. If his appeal is rejected, Zimmerman - who recent inspection reports show has 202 dogs in his kennel - would be allowed to own no more than 25 dogs.
West said the cruelty charges, while not automatic grounds for revocation under current law, would have "a major impact" on the case before Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff.
Knisely also did not order restitution for the housing of the seized dogs, mainly miniature schnauzers and West Highland terriers, which have been in the care of the Lancaster Humane League for almost eight months at a cost of $57,500.
Kerry Flanagan, the league's vice president of operations, said that while she was happy that the case was over and that the shelter finally got custody of the dogs - some now available for adoption - she was disappointed that Zimmerman had not been held financially accountable for the housing costs.
"The reality is he barely had a slap on the wrist," she said. "Why should people who donate to the Lancaster Humane League have to foot the bill while the case plays out in court?"
Lancaster Assistant District Attorney Christine Wilson said she would seek restitution to cover at least some of the costs. All 300 licensed kennel owners in Lancaster County, home to the largest number of commercial breeders in the state, have been put on notice, she said. They were sent certified letters last month informing them of an educational sessions to be held by the District Attorney's Office this week.
"It's the first step to allow kennel owners to understand what is a violation and what will be prosecuted by this office," Wilson said.
There is no further appeal on the cruelty charges, she said. Zimmerman faces three additional counts of cruelty stemming from the seizure of three dogs earlier this year.
Contact staff writer Amy Worden at 717-783-2584 or aworden@phillynews.com.
For Immediate Release Contact: Patricia Haddock, 866-448-1330
May 29, 2008 or Michelle Buckalew, 877-454-0807
1st Annual Pennsylvania Week for the Animals to be held September 20-28, 2008!
Exciting statewide event to build awareness and celebrate animals. (Pennsylvania) Animal World USA and Animal Law Coalition are pleased to announce the 1st Annual Pennsylvania Week for the Animals will be held from September 20-28, 2008.
The statewide event is designed to celebrate the role that animals play in our lives and build awareness on behalf of all animals in the great state of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Week for the Animals will bring together animal shelters, rescue organizations, students, musicians, artists, educators, decision makers and caring citizens in an action-packed week of activities.
The week will feature adoption events, leaders in our state who help animals; a salute to animals in law enforcement and the military, schools activities, R.E.A.D. dogs in libraries, blessings of the animals and much more! Some of the many leading PA participating organizations include:
- Bucks County SPCA
- Buzzy's Bow Wow Meow
- Central PA Animal Alliance
- Woofstock
- Dogs Deserve Better
- No Chains
- Keystone Greyhounds
- North Penn Puppy Mill Watch
- Pennsylvania Legislative Animal Network
- Puppy Mill Awareness Day
- The Spayed Club
- and many other Pennsylvania humane orgs, animal shelters, rescue groups and animal lovers all across Pennsylvania!
To become involved, contact Patricia Haddock at 866-448-1330, Michelle Buckalew at 877-454-0807 or Laura Allen at 435-644-3333. Learn more about Pennsylvania Week for the Animals at www.animalweekpa.com.
Friday, May 23, 2008 - Rikki Rockett Exonerated of Rape Charge
Poison Drummer Rikki Rockett Exonerated
of Mississippi Rape Charge
Poison drummer Rikki Rockett was exonerated of a felony rape charge filed in Mississippi stemming from a September 23, 2007 incident in which a Neshoba County, Mississippi woman claimed that Rockett had forcibly raped her. Rockett was not in Mississippi during September 2007. The Neshoba County District Attorney refused to prosecute the case after determining that Rockett was not the person who committed the alleged rape. The charges carry a potential life sentence. Rockett said, "I want to sincerely thank my lawyers Barry Tarlow and Mi Kim for their commitment to my case and their terrific legal work that exonerated me of any wrongdoing."
The warrant, issued on December 18, 2007, sought the arrest and extradition of "Rockett, Rikki A" a/k/a "Minskosf, John" to Mississippi for "strong arm rape." News stories shortly disclosed the correct spelling of the name John Minskosf as "John Minskoff." Rockett has never used the Minskoff name. It is now believed that Minskoff used Rockett's name to convince the complaining witness to sleep with him.
"I think it was a case where the woman and her husband unfortunately believed they could extort money from me and my band," Rockett said, "This is a gross example of people attempting to abuse the law for personal profit. They tried to subvert and make a mockery of the criminal justice system. It is abhorrent and disgraceful." Rockett happily continued: "It's nice to feel like I can have my life back now. I have a Poison tour to look forward to as well as a wedding to prepare for." Rockett was arrested at LAX when he and his band mates arrived after performing at a large music festival in Wellington, New Zealand. Rockett said: "I was exhausted from a 14-hour flight and then was hauled off to jail. The worst part was having to walk past my fiancé in handcuffs. She had no idea what was happening and neither did I! When I was finally told that I was arrested on charges of rape, I about passed out!" Rockett was booked, fingerprinted, and photographed at the Los Angeles county jail. "The Police were as cool to me as they could be considering the circumstances. I was never disrespected by them during the time I was there. I want them to know that I appreciate that."
A flood of press coverage, both negative and positive, soon followed. "I remain surprised that no member of the educated and savvy press ever googled the name 'John Minskoff'! Had they done so, they would have found out that in 1996, John Minskoff claimed to have been involved with the rock band, White Snake, when he lured and kidnapped a 15-year-old girl in Reno, Nevada. Minskoff is a violent career criminal and felon and convicted perjurer with multiple convictions who has admitted to impersonating "rock stars" to sexually pursue women."
"I received undying support from my band, friends, and fans, but unfortunately, my detractors had a field day with the story. I look forward to serving the press who created defamatory remarks some healthy lawsuits!" Rockett went on to say, "I also look forward to helping other people who have been falsely accused of committing heinous crimes. My lawyers, Barry Tarlow and Mi Kim, are helping me seek out organizations like Centurion Ministries to help if I can. This wonderful organization works to free innocent people in prison who have done serious time for crimes they did not commit."
May 23, 2008 - HSUS Campaign Update:
The U.S. Senate yesterday followed the lead of the House of Representatives and overrode President Bush's veto of the Farm Bill, ushering in key new protections for animals.
The final bill -- which is now considered law, except for one section excluded due to a technical glitch -- bans the import of puppies from foreign puppy mills for commercial sale in the U.S. The law spares young, unweaned, and unvaccinated pups from harsh, long-distance transport -- during which they are exposed to extreme temperatures and often die in cargo holds -- and will keep foreign breeders from adding to the tragic overpopulation of pets in this country.
The Farm bill also adds a provision to federal law to make almost any form of animal fighting a federal felony. It's also now a federal crime to knowingly possess or train animals for fighting, and the maximum prison time for a single violation of any section of the law goes from three years to five years. It is hard to overstate what a blow this is to dogfighters and cockfighters, and it brings us one step closer to eradicating these criminal industries.
The law also authorizes an increase in potential fines -- quadrupled from $2,500 to $10,000 -- for violations of the Animal Welfare Act, fines that haven't been upgraded in more than 20 years. Such penalties will more effectively deter abuses at puppy mills, laboratories, circuses, and other facilities that use animals.
HARRISBURG - May 14, 2008 -- "Today is the beginning of the end for commercial puppy mills in Pennsylvania." Read the full article about today's rally in Harrisburgh.
- Pennsylvania: Governor Rendell Pushes Changes to the Dog Law. Read full article.
Video of Harrisburgh Rally on May 14, 2008
Awareness Day is very happy to announce that
will be attending Awareness Day 2008!