Loading ...Animals Seized in Biggest PA Puppy Mill Raid in History
This story is all over the place this morning but this one in particular is from TheMorningCall.com.
The smell alone was ominous enough as investigators rolled into the Almost Heaven Kennel Wednesday afternoon to search for sick and neglected animals: a gag-inducing stench of feces and decay detectable from the street outside the Upper Milford Township property.
Inside the kennel, which passed state inspection in August, the scene was horrific: a freezer containing 65 animal corpses; dogs sharing undersize crates and covered with their own feces; dead guinea pigs starting to decompose; a pot-bellied pig sharing quarters with scores of birds; more than 100 cats and a menagerie of other creatures in various stages of neglect.
Some had respiratory problems, others had eye infections, others had open sores on their skin. Many had no food or water. One official estimated there were 800 animals in all, including monkeys, miniature horses, turkeys, geese, guinea hens and swans.
A day-old puppy died as it was being treated, while others showed signs of dehydration and extremely low blood sugar. Some lactating dogs had no puppies with them, suggesting the pups had been removed prematurely.
“It’s horrible,” said Elaine Skypala, chief program officer for the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, emerging from the property at 4202 Chestnut St. shortly after agents served three search warrants in an operation that arose from citizen complaints and an undercover investigation.
She said the PSPCA seized 56 sick animals.
Owner Derbe “Skip” Eckhart, who has a history of animal cruelty charges going back to 1988, faces an unspecified number of animal cruelty counts, Skypala said. Each count carries a possible fine of $2,500.”
To read the rest of the article, click here to go to TheMorningCall.com.
Glad we are making progress on the puppy mill issue in Pennsylvania at least but it breaks my heart that so many animals had to suffer at the hands of one cruel, heartless man. Here’s to hoping they throw the book at him and he never has an animal in his possession ever again…
And a big thank you to the PSPCA for going in there.
This is not the first time this kennel has been in the spotlight. As recently as July 31, 2008 Morning Call reporter Bill White wrote about the deplorable conditions at this kennel that are seemingly overlooked by the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement (BDLE). In addition to requesting and receiving a not-for-profit license that the kennel was NEVER entitled to have, previous animal cruelty convictions and a ban from the AKC, one can only wonder if this kennel had a license for the primates that were found on the property after being refused a license from the PA Game Commission in the past.
In July the BDLE revoked a Chester County kennel license for conditions NOT NEARLY AS BAD as those found at Almost Heaven. Why are BDLE officials handling yesterday’s investigation differently?
To read additional details about this kennel including inspection reports, reports from Pet-Abuse.com and historical news articles, visit NPPMWATCH.COM
honestly, this is when i wish mommy was an “X-man” or something. in general i believen in non violence, but if mommy had sooperpowers, that man wouldn’t make it to trail, he’d be in a little tiny cage somewhere with no food, water or light.
i hope they prosecute him to the full extent of the law, even tho they won’t
the pictures of Little Rylee are adorable. who does that little cutee belong to.
That is just awful! I wonder how much they had to pay to pass the inspection and who got the payoff.
Barklove,
Rusty
It really breaks my heart how some people treat animals. I cannot understand the mentality of a person who could do this….
This is an outrage. This country seriously needs to start doing something about these puppy mills. We have shelters constantly overcrowded and dogs at pet stores, yet we continue to allow puppy mills to operate.
I’m sorry but pet stores should also be illegal. What do you think happens to the dogs that don’t sell? Who has $3500 to spend on a puppy?
It is just so disturbing. Sometimes I wish I was a billionare so that I could seriously do something about this situation.
Thanks for listening to me vent,
Marissa
I agreee with Marissa on both points. How long will this puppy mill business continue before lawmakers really do something about it and shut all these a-holes down FOR GOOD?
And pet stores are no better. They are simply the retail outlet side of the puppy mill business.