Frozen Carcasses discovered at PA Kennel

[kandy]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26997139/

Raid officials: 800 animals living in filth; 56 dogs, cats get care

updated 3:50 p.m. MT, Thurs., Oct. 2, 2008

EMMAUS, Pa. - Agents raided a kennel and discovered hundreds of animals crowded together in foul-smelling conditions and dozens of carcasses in a freezer, authorities said.

Authorities removed 56 ailing dogs and cats for immediate medical attention after Wednesday's raid at the Almost Heaven Kennel in Upper Milford Township, said Elaine Skypala, program director for the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. They were negotiating to take 100 more animals, she said.

Agents found a freezer containing 65 carcasses. They also found up to 800 animals, including monkeys, miniature horses and turkeys, many of them living amid the stench of feces and decay.

"It's horrible," Skypala said.

The SPCA served three search warrants in an operation that arose from citizen complaints and an undercover investigation. The society's officers have police power under state law to investigate claims of animal cruelty, abuse or neglect.

Kennel owner Derbe Eckhart was cited with two counts of cruelty to animals in Wednesday's raid. He faces a maximum fine of $750 for each count. Eckhart disputed the group's allegations, noting that an August inspection by the state Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement turned up no violations of kennel regulations.

"What they tried to do yesterday was paint a picture that wasn't there," Eckhart said Thursday.

Skypala said authorities would continue working at the kennel. She said a tentative deal called for Eckhart to begin an immediate cleanup and for the SPCA to have unlimited access to the facilities for six months.

Eckhart was charged two years earlier with having too many monkeys and operating a menagerie without a permit. He paid fines and court costs.

A neighbor, Jackie Arney, said she wasn't surprised by Wednesday's raid.

"You hear (the dogs) screaming and crying all night," Arney said.

But Millie Altomare, 68, whose dog Fern is groomed at the kennel, said Eckhart "is never given any credit for the good things he does. They are constantly picking on this man."
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Absolutely disgusting! And for someone to say that the authorities are "picking on this man"?????? Yeah, I'd like to do more than pick on him.

And he's only being charged with 2 counts of animal cruelty???? WTH?????

[BenMax]

OMG - something tells me there is a crack down in Canada and the States all at the same time....I wonder if all this was planned just before our elections.

Hope those responsible burn...

[hazelrunpack]

My question is, with PA's laws, some of the strictest in the nation from what I've heard, how could the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement not find some violations in August? This stuff all had to be there then...it doesn't happen in just a few months! Was someone paid off? Shirking their duty? What? I'd like someone from the BDLE to explain that...

And I doubt that it will make an impact on the elections here. Most voters express outrage when they hear of something like this, but when they have the economy, the war, health care, etc etc to think about at election time, most people don't give animal welfare high priority. :sad:

[BenMax]

Originally Posted by hazelrunpack

My question is, with PA's laws, some of the strictest in the nation from what I've heard, how could the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement not find some violations in August? This stuff all had to be there then...it doesn't happen in just a few months! Was someone paid off? Shirking their duty? What? I'd like someone from the BDLE to explain that...

And I doubt that it will make an impact on the elections here. Most voters express outrage when they hear of something like this, but when they have the economy, the war, health care, etc etc to think about at election time, most people don't give animal welfare high priority. :sad:

Same in this country.....I was just dreaming....

[kathryn]

My shelter is getting in some of the dogs today... I'm going over to see what's going on around 3. From what I've heard the dogs are in bad shape. :sad: Some of our staff went up there to evaluate and the news doesn't sound too good so far.

On a side note, ANYONE IN THIS AREA INTERESTED IN FOSTERING SOME OF THE PUPPY MILL DOGS PLEASE LET ME KNOW. Obviously there are a heck of alot of dogs coming off that property and the PSPCA needs help immediately!