PA kennels shed breeding stock before new law takes effect
Is a mass downsizing underway in Pennsylvania kennels ahead of the new dog law? Nearly 400 breeding dogs from Pennsylvania's largest commercial kennels are scheduled be shipped west to be auctioned in Ohio next week, in a move that animal welfare activists say is likely the result of tougher standards under the new state dog law.
PA kennels shed breeding stock before new law takes effect
Amy Worden, Inquirer Staff Writer
Is a mass downsizing underway in Pennsylvania kennels?
Nearly 400 breeding dogs from Pennsylvania's largest commercial kennels are scheduled be shipped west to be auctioned in Ohio next week, in a move that animal welfare activists say is likely the result of tougher standards under the new state dog law.
Key provisions of new law (Act 119) take effect on the first anniversary of the signing of the legislation on Oct. 9, among them: larger cage sizes, restrictions on cage stacking, access to outdoor exercise and regular veterinary exams for breeding dogs.
The dogs, most of them Yorkshire Terriers, Poodles and Shih Tzus, from 12 licensed kennels are expected to be sold at the Buckeye Dog Auction on Oct. 7 in Farmerstown, according to Mary O'Connor-Shaver of Columbus Top Dogs.
Among the Lancaster County kennels which have listed dogs with the auction are: Glenwood Kennel in Ephrata, Gold Kennels and School Lane Kennel in Gap, R.E.Z Kennels and Conestoga Kennel in New Holland, James S. Zimmerman Kennel in Ephrata, Myer Kennels Inc. in Lititz, John S. Fisher Kennel and S & R Kennel in Gordonville, Nolt Kennel in East Earl.
Also listed selling dogs is Scarlet-Maple Kennel in Ronks. Its owner, Daniel Esh, had his kennel license revoked by the state after repeated unsatisfactory inspections.
A number of the other kennel operators selling dogs at auction have been convicted of violations of the state dog law which would make them ineligible for a waiver to extend construction time for the improved kennels. An attorney who represented commercial kennel operators in their unsuccessful federal lawsuit to stop the law from being implemented, predicted it could take hundreds of thousands of dollars to meet the new standards. But activists point out that breeders are part of a multi-million industry and should be able to handle the costs of compliance.
Banned in Pennsylvania, dog auctions have taken off in Ohio's dog breeding capital, Holmes County, which is also home to one of the largest Amish populations in the country. Shaver and others - who have witnessed the mistreatment of dogs at auctions where some sickly animals sell for as little as $1 - are waging a ballot referendum initiative and advocating for legislative action to make dog auctions illegal in Ohio.
The video below, produced by the Humane Society of the United States, takes a close-up look at dog auctions.
Horrible. Those poor dogs will never catch a break. Instead of just adopting them out, they will be sold to the highest bidder to continue breeding for some other money-hungry slob. This kind of stuff would never happen if people would just adopt their dogs from a local shelter instead of going to the petstore where they end up directly supporting this type of cruelty.— Professor Smart E. Pants, PhD.
The puppy millers are going to go kicking and screaming. Isn't it interesting that the Ohio dog auction and breeding capital is in Amish country? By treating dogs as livestock and careless breeding practices, they have destroyed many types of purebred dogs in this country and they need to be stopped nationally from their trafficking in canine misery.— mrsmax- This is enough! ENOUGH!!!! My God what is these evil people even doing around animals? The congress and Senate need to here about this. The next thing on my list!!!!! Sickening and punishable by law and if it isn't it will be when I am done!!!!!— suzannewman
- Oh good lord. You folks pass laws which force people to disburse their dogs and then moan that they are being sold at auction? How disingenuous is that??— dogsrgr8
- The HSUS has: ■Participated in the slaughter of some 150 dogs, including puppies, in Wilkes County; ■Lobbied to stop No Kill legislation in San Francisco; ■Lobbied to stop No Kill legislation in King County, WA; ■Supported breed discriminatory legislation in Indianapolis, IN; ■Told USA Today and Newsweek that killing in shelters is acceptable and that No Kill was warehousing; ■Misled the public about an epidemic of dog bites to convey the view that trying to save Pit Bulls was irresponsible and put children at risk; ■Told the court to kill Vick’s victims even as he was asking people to give HSUS money so he could “care” for them; ■Left New Orleans with tens of millions given to HSUS for the victims of Hurricane Katrina even while those animals were still suffering; ■Legitimized the slaughter of virtually every animal at Tangipahoa Parish animal control; ■Told people not to adopt animals during the holidays, effectively accepting the deaths of 1,000,000 animals as the alternative; ■Told the Randolph, IA community that he did not have a problem killing stray cats.— dogsrgr8
- dogsrgr8 If these garbage pits didn't exist the way they do, these people would not have to disburse their dogs. Of course there will be complaints because dogs at auction are not treated well. What is your proof regarding the HSUS? I hardly believe they would say not to adopt animals during the holidays. I think you're misquoting here. IF they said anything close to what you allege, it more likely would be, "don't get a dog as a gift". We who do rescue and shelters know how many dogs end up surrendered after the holidays because it wasn't a good idea. Did NOT leave New Orleans with tens of millions. There was a smear campaign against HSUS by a cockfighter who was angry that cockfighting was outlawed in that state. Pure retaliation with no merit. Aside from your comments here, what is your position on puppy mills?— mustlovedogs4444
- The HSUS raised over $34 million in their campaign for Katrina...Public record, check the Louisiana Attorney General's office. They conducted an 18 month investigation into where most of these millions went. Public disclosures of the disposition of the $34 million in Katrina-related donations add up to less than $7 million. Read "What is a Puppy Mill?" by Charlotte McGowan. Very insightful analysis. Substandard facilities that abuse animals are illegal, can and should be shut down. There are plenty of animal cruelty laws on the books without adding more. HSUS is as bad or worse than Michael Vicks, because they actively promote death of animals. They are hypocrites.— dogsrgr8
- PHD?? Pin Head Dolt????? buy your dog from a BREEDER.. why is it that everyone wants an "abuseddog".. or a "broken dog'.. or a "rescue dog".. are your egos that damaged? Buy a nice healthy dog from a hobby breeder, one that will be there if you need help.. and one that does not push "broken" dogs off on the public by way of the "shelter"— Alice in LALA LAND
- 25% of the dogs in shelters are pure bred. Is that broken? There are purebreed rescues out there too for people who want that. The HSUS promotes "finding a good breeder". Come in from LALA Land Alice and see this is about brains, not egos. See how many good dogs are EUTHANIZED at shelters. Is this really a good way to take care of things? Maybe the people who dump their dogs at the shelter should be held accountable. These are good dogs whose owners "don't have time for them any more". Volunteer at a shelter Alice you dolt and open your eyes. Let's have some moral fiber. "Illegal" is the key word. Did you read about Kathy Bauck and how she got a slap on the hand for practicing veterinary medicine WITHOUT A LICENSE?? She performed her own C-sections on her dogs and she's no vet. Only now is the USDA recommending she lose her license ONLY FOR TWO YEARS and during that time she is still able to SELL ON THE INTERNET. Enforcing the weak laws on the books is a problem. They're hardly enforceable they're so weak. The USDA has blood on their hands as far as I'm concerned. HSUS still has shelters in LA from Katrina.— mustlovedogs4444
- Hey Alice in Stupid Land - Now, I know you are not trying to be witty by calling me a Pin Head Dolt when you can't even form proper sentences. Do you even know how to read? I'm not talking about hobby breeders. Where did I even mention hobby breeders? This does not apply to hobby breeders, this applies to dogs bred in puppy mills. Personally, I do not have a problem with hobby breeders because most are kind to and love their animals. In fact, if it wasn't for AKC registered breeders many dog breeds would have just faded out and that would not have been a good thing. What I have a problem with is puppy mills where animals are treated as machines and are kept in cruel conditions. Most of these places then supply large chain petstores with their animals. It's all about the money to them, not the animal's welfare and perhaps if people took some time out to do their research they would not be directly supporting this type of cruelty. But, thank you Alice in Selfish Land for furthing proving my point about selfish, ignorant people who do not do their research before getting a pet. Contrary to your misguided belief, most animals in shelters are not there because they are broken (whatever that means) or abused. In fact, the most sickly animals (as an animal lover, I am not going to use the term "broken" because I don't feel that any living creature should be called broken) that are being pushed onto the unsuspecting public are coming from puppy mills, not shelters. There is a lawsuit right now in the works against a certain large chain petstore for doing just that. Now who's the dolt?— Professor Smart E. Pants, PhD.
- Another thing Alice in Loser Land, it sounds to me that you are the one with the damaged ego. Your hatred of shelters and obvious need to have a designer dog proves how insecure you really are. Are you going to parade your purebred pooch around town in a lame attempt to gain status by treating your dog like an expensive accessory? It's apparent that you are not a genuine dog lover otherwise you would not have such disdain for places that are trying to save dogs' lives and are doing a good thing to help the so-called 'underdog.' By the way, the most healthiest dog breed is the good old mutt, which actually isn't even a breed at all. Oh, the irony.— Professor Smart E. Pants, PhD.
- the kennel owners did not want to adopt any of the dogs out. They euthanized dogs and puppies as young as 9 weeks old !!! nearly 500 dogs have been euthanized and they are still killing these dogs.No on thought about the dogs when these laws were passed just another example of our stupid government at work.I rescue and rehabilitate puppy mill dogs and they turn out to be the best pets in the world. "ADOPT DON'T BUY A DOG" YOU WILL BE SAVING A LIFE.— dogsaver
- the kennel owners did not want to adopt any of the dogs out. They euthanized dogs and puppies as young as 9 weeks old !!! nearly 500 dogs have been euthanized and they are still killing these dogs.No on thought about the dogs when these laws were passed just another example of our stupid government at work.I rescue and rehabilitate puppy mill dogs and they turn out to be the best pets in the world. "ADOPT DON'T BUY A DOG" YOU WILL BE SAVING A LIFE.— dogsaver
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