Another Puppy Mill Bust

Yet another kennel-bust in my neck of the woods that gives increased urgency to the puppy mill legislation floating around Harrisburg. On Wednesday, Almost Heaven Kennel, in Emmaus, owned by Derbe Eckhart, was raided. Between 800 and 1,000 animals were discovered to be existing in inhumane conditions.

SPCA workers removed 56 of the sickest on Wednesday and returned on Thursday to remove more. Also on Thursday, the owner of the kennel had his state kennel license revoked and was charged with two counts of animal cruelty. These two counts included negligence in providing veterinary care and for housing animals in poor sanitary conditions.

The most amazing aspect of this story is the fact that in August, this same kennel passed inspection by a team of three dog wardens and Bureau Director Sue West. They said they found no violations.

According to the Inquirer, "The agent who raided the property said conditions in a house and numerous rundown outbuildings were deplorable; overcrowded cages, dogs covered in their own waste, animals suffering from a range of maladies including dehydration, skin conditions and wounds."

It is hard to imagine that "rundown buildings" become that way in two months especially when coupled with the fact that Eckhart, the kennel operator, has been convicted twice of animal cruelty during the 20 years that he has operated a kennel.In fact, in 2004, Eckhart was thrown out of the American Kennel Club for misrepresenting dogs that he had sold as AKC registered. That ban is for life.

The good news is that many of the dogs that were removed are responding well to TLC and some might even be ready for adoption next week. The bad news is that corruption seems to pervade even those departments charged with protecting beings that cannot protect themselves.