Warning to all Lancaster County Residents.

Please be careful when buying your local produce at roadside stands and supermarkets.  I recently was at an East Earl Zoning Meeting where a Dog Breeding Kennel was requesting a variance to enlarge his kennel.  The kennel is 1 of 6 that are located on Weaverland Road in East Earl Township.  According to the kennel inspection reports from the PA Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Dog Law; one of these kennels has more than 800 dogs on the one property.  Out of the 6 breeding kennels, 4 are licensed to house 251 + dogs legally.  As of April of 2006, there are 25 PA Licensed Breeding Kennels in East Earl Township.  There are now over 250 PA Licensed Breeding Kennels in Lancaster County alone.  This is substantial increase since 2004 when there were only 190.  That is a lot of dog feces.  This manure is spread onto the field.  Your produce may be growing in this dog manure!  Most people don’t realize that Dog Manure is considered toxic and should not be used as compost or fertilizer. 

I tried to submit copies of my findings at the zoning meeting.  As a life long Lancaster County Resident and a consumer of this produce, I thought that I would have a right to submit this documentation on record.  I was not allowed because I do not boarder this property or live on this street.  Then again maybe it had something to do with the fact that the kennel owner who has been in business for more than 3 years without zoning approval is a relative of a former president of the PA Pet Breeders. 

This is not an anti-farming letter.  My father farmed years ago and so did his father.  This is just to inform the residents of Lancaster County that with each and every one of these Zoning variances that are approved, they are putting our County’s residence at risk.    Take the time to research this for yourself.  Dog Manure should not be used as fertilizer.  The bacterial infection resulting from this contamination can resemble the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis.  I know because I experienced this first hand. 

Respectfully Submitted,

Barb Showalter