Mountaintop Natural Pets

Source: ConsumerAffairs.com, March 19, 2010

The State of Pennsylvania says it has taken action against five commercial dog breeding operations in the state, which it says were among the state’s “most notorious” puppy mills.

The Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement took the enforcement action today.

Scarlet-Maple Farm Kennel in Lancaster County, owned by Daniel P. Esh; the adjoining Twin Maple Farm Kennel in Lancaster County, owned by John E. Esh; Burkholder Farm Kennel in Berks County, owned by Aaron Burkholder; CC Pets, formerly Puppy Love, Kennel in Lancaster County, owned by Joyce Stoltzfus; and Almost Heaven Kennel in Lehigh County, owned by Derbe “Skip” Eckhart, have all been closed under the Pennsylvania Dog Law’s provisions.

“The Dog Law, signed in October 2008 by Governor Rendell, gave the bureau enforcement power to make sure kennels that do not meet the standards of the law can no longer operate in Pennsylvania,” Special Deputy Secretary for Dog Law Enforcement Jessie L. Smith said. “In signing the law, Governor Rendell raised the bar for commercial breeding kennels in Pennsylvania.”

The Commonwealth Court recently issued a ruling upholding the Department of Agriculture’s decision to refuse Aaron Burkholder’s 2009 application for a commercial kennel license. The license was revoked in 2008 and refused in 2009 because the bureau found numerous violations of the Dog Law over multiple inspections.

Later, the department provided information from inspection reports to the Humane Society of Berks County, leading to Burkholder’s animal cruelty conviction. Under the new law, a kennel license cannot be issued to someone convicted of animal cruelty.

Daniel P. Esh’s commercial kennel license was revoked in 2008 because of poor kennel conditions. During multiple inspections in 2007 and 2008, dog wardens found moldy food, poor maintenance, excessive feces, rodents and inadequate cage sizes for the dogs, among other violations.

Because of those violations, the bureau refused to grant Esh a commercial kennel license in 2009. This decision was appealed to Commonwealth Court, but the appeal was eventually withdrawn.

“Aggressive enforcement of the new dog law has contributed to closing these notorious commercial kennels and has improved the welfare of dogs in Pennsylvania,” Smith said.

Source: NewsLeader.com, September 22, 2009

The owners of an alleged Pleasant Hope puppy mill that drew national attention in February were charged with several felony counts today, with dozens of more charges to come.

Carold H. Cruse, 48, and his wife Rebecca, 49, are charged with three felony counts of animal abuse, stemming from three Yorkshire terriers allegedly found in deplorable condition at a kennel the couple owned.

Those dogs were put down after authorities executed a search warrant on the kennel Feb. 13.

Prosecutors plan to file 40 more misdemeanor animal abuse counts against each of the defendants for other “Yorkies” allegedly found in similarly poor condition, said Assistant Greene County Prosecutor Kristen Tuohy.

Court documents used to charge the Cruses allege the couple kept scores of dogs in their kennel, neglecting to groom, properly feed or clean up after the animals.

Investigators who searched the facility found 93 Yorkshire terriers, most of them allegedly with feces, urine or vomit matted into their unkempt fur, and a variety of health problems.

The bust was sensational enough to warrant a mention on the Oprah Winfrey show, a move which garnered enough publicity to secure adoption for all of the animals, said Jeane Jae, director of communications for the Humane Society of Missouri.

In a probable cause statement, Greene County Det. Ronald Killingsworth wrote Carold Cruse said “the kennel had got away from him and his wife and that a veterinarian had never been to this location for inspection or examination. The inattention to the daily cleaning, feeding and watering and the lack of veterinary care contributed to the severe conditions the animals were forced to live in.”

In the case of one of the euthanized animals, matted fur had cut into a leg, causing what the probable cause document called “tissue strangulation.”

Another of the animals’ knee caps were dislocated, and the third had a fractured lower jaw and an infection that had created a hole between it’s mouth and nasal cavity.

Investigators rated each animal seized from the kennel on something called the Henneke scale, designed to rate the weight conditions of animals. Each of the three euthanized dogs had a rating of one, or emaciated, the probable cause statement says.

In these three cases, the Cruses are accused of causing suffering that “was the result of torture consciously inflicted… while the animal was alive.”

Once the felony matters are taken up at preliminary hearing, Tuohy plans to file 40 misdemeanor counts against the couple — each stemming from animals who scored either a one or two (very thin) on the Henneke scale and had various other health issues.

The misdemeanor abuse charges will carry a maximum of one year imprisonment.

In all, the planned charges correspond to 43 of the 93 dogs allegedly found at the kennel. Tuohy would not comment on why charges weren’t filed on the remaining 50 animals.

“In any animal abuse case, we review the reports submitted by the investigating agency and we speak with the attending vets,” she said. “Based on those reports a charging decision is made.”

Arrest warrants for both Carold and Rebecca Cruse were signed by a judge this morning, with a $1,500 bond set for each.

Among conditions of the couples’ release is that they are not to possess any animals.

Source: PetProductNews.com, May 26, 2009

Ohio state legislators have introduced a measure that sets forth dog warranty provisions for pet stores as well as licensing and insurance requirements for dog breeding kennels. The measure, House Bill 124, is scheduled for a public hearing on May 27 before a House committee.

As introduced, HB 124 (and companion bill SB 95) would require any pet store that sells dogs to provide buyers with a money-back guarantee valid for up to 21 days after the date of the sale. The guarantee will allow the buyer to receive the purchase price of the dog if he or she presents the store with a statement from a veterinarian saying the dog has a significant disease, illness or injury that was in existence at the time of the purchase. The veterinarian must examine the pet within 14 days of the purchase of the dog.

In addition to a money-back guarantee, pet stores would also be required to provide the following at the time of sale:

• A certificate of medial health completed by a veterinarian stating that the dog has been examined and there was no evidence of disease, illness, or injury at the time of examination
  .
• The name, complete address and telephone number of the breeder that bred the dog, the regulated dog breeding kennel where the dog was kept; and the regulated dog intermediary from whom the pet store acquired the dog, as applicable.

Violators will be liable for an amount that is equal to the actual damages incurred by the buyer within one year after the date of purchase (veterinary expenses are limited to no more than $500). The pet store will also be liable for any attorney’s fees and costs incurred by the buyer. In addition, the buyer may be entitled to keep the dog.

With regard to kennels, the proposed bill would require each regulated dog breeding kennel to apply for a license. HB 124 defines a “regulated dog breeding kennel” as “an establishment that keeps, houses, and maintains adult breeding dogs that produce either at least nine litters of puppies or at least 40 puppies in any given calendar year, and, in return for a fee or other consideration, sells, exchanges or leases adult dogs or puppies.”

No dog breeding kennel would be allowed to operate without a kennel license. As part of the license application, kennels would have to show evidence of insurance or of a surety bond payable to the authority. The bill also provides standards for enclosures and veterinary care, among other requirements

Kennels are subject to at least one biennial inspection. Kennel operators will be given the opportunity to remedy a violation. If the violation is not remediated, a license may be revoked and operators may face civil penalties of up to $15,000.

HB 124 is scheduled for a  public hearing before the House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources on May 27 at 9:30 a.m. SB 95 has been referred to the Senate Committee on State and Local Government and Veterans Affairs where it is awaiting its first committee hearing.

I rescued a human today, by Janine Allen

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn’t be afraid. As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn’t want her to know that I hadn’t been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn’t want her to think poorly of them.

As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn’t feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone’s life. She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well.

Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes.

I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven’t walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.

I rescued a human today.

Written by Janine Allen
www. RescueMeDog.org

Thank you Janine for this beautiful essay!

 http://www.DogLawAction.com

An award-winning kennel owner secretly buried a world renowned surgeon’s dog in a field after it was killed by two bull terriers, and then tried to cover up the death by pretending that it had escaped, a court has heard.

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}HARRISBURG, Pa.—Gov. Ed Rendell said Wednesday he will sign a bill intended to dramatically improve the care and treatment of dogs kept in Pennsylvania’s larger commercial kennels.

The measure would impose new regulations to increase the size of cages, require annual veterinary checkups and crack down on what critics describe as inhumane puppy mills. It was passed earlier Wednesday by the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Rendell, who owns two rescued golden retrievers, has spent more than two years pushing for tougher enforcement of Pennsylvania’s dog law.

“Within one year, Pennsylvania will be a leader in the treatment of dogs in commercial breeding kennels, shedding our reputation as the puppy-mill capital of the country,” Rendell said during a news conference after the Legislature adjourned.

The dog law revisions took on new momentum in August, when operators of two Berks County kennels shot 80 dogs after being ordered to let veterinarians examine some of them.

The rules would pertain mostly to commercial kennels that provide dogs to dealers or pet shops, or that traffic in at least 60 dogs per year. Backers say it would have virtually no effect on boarding kennels, pet stores or rescue shelters.