Amerikaanse kennelhouders schieten hun 80 honden dood.
Geplaatst: 21 aug 2008 09:02
Maxatawny Township kennel owners kill 80 dogs rather than seek treatment for some, state says
By Ron Devlin
Reading Eagle
The owners of two Maxatawny Township dog kennels shot 80 dogs to death rather than comply with a state dog warden's order to seek medical treatment for some of the animals, State Secretary of Agriculture Dennis C. Wolff said Tuesday.
Although the action by the owners of A&J Kennel and E&A Kennel was legal, Wolff called it saddening and said it underscores the need to reform the state dog law.
Proposed legislation would mandate that only licensed veterinarians could euthanize dogs in commercial breeding kennels, Wolff said in a written statement.
"The decision by commercial breeders to kill healthy dogs instead of paying to seek veterinary care is alarming," he said.
Ammon H. Zimmerman Jr. and Elmer H. Zimmerman, the owners, have voluntarily surrendered their licenses and closed both kennels, which were near Kutztown.
The Zimmermans, who are brothers, did not return telephone messages Tuesday night.
Karel I. Minor, director of the Humane Society of Berks County, decried the killings.
"We would have accepted all 80 dogs, even if some were sick," Minor said.
Humane Society veterinarians would have treated the animals, but Minor acknowledged some might have been euthanized if they had been too sick to treat.
Under existing law, Minor said, the Zimmermans would have risked being charged with animal cruelty had they turned the dogs over to the humane society.
Animal cruelty charges are normally summary or misdemeanor offenses that carry a fine. Rarely, he said, are they felonies that result in jail time.
"I can't say that shooting dogs is common," Minor said. "But it's not unusual."
On July 24, state dog wardens noted several violations of kennel sanitation and maintenance at E&A Kennel, Wolff said. Wardens found fleas and fly sores on 39 dogs and ordered veterinary checks, he said.
Wardens issued four citations and planned to confirm the veterinary checks in a follow-up inspection.
On July 29, Wolff said, the wardens were notified that the owners had chosen to destroy the animals and close the kennels.
House Bill 2525, introduced in May, would strengthen current dog laws and provide better health and safety standards in commercial breeding kennels.
State Rep. Thomas R. Caltagirone, a Reading Democrat, is an advocate of reforming the dog law and a prime sponsor of an amendment to the proposed legislation.
"I'm shocked that something like this could take place," he said.
http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=102118
Secretary Wolff: Pending Legislation Would Have Saved Dogs Killed By Berks Kennel Owners
Last update: 6:21 p.m. EDT Aug. 12, 2008
HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug 12, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Current Law Allows Commercial Breeders to Shoot Dogs
Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Dennis Wolff released the following statement in response to the shooting of 80 dogs at two Berks County kennels:
"The recent shooting of 80 dogs at two Berks County kennels is saddening. The decision by commercial breeders to kill healthy dogs instead of paying to repair a kennel and seek veterinary care is alarming, and will likely outrage many people. Unfortunately, the killing of the dogs was legal under current Pennsylvania law.
"The two kennels involved have both voluntarily closed, but until our state's outdated dog law is changed kennel owners may continue to kill their dogs for any reason they see fit, even if it is simply to save money. We can't afford to wait any longer to pass legislation that would ban commercial kennel owners from killing their dogs.
"House Bill 2525, introduced in May, would allow only veterinarians to euthanize dogs in commercial breeding kennels. The bill would strengthen current dog laws and provide better standards for the health and safety of dogs in commercial breeding kennels without burdening other types of kennels that house dogs. The legislature has an opportunity to pass this important legislation this fall, and they should -- as doing so will assure that this activity will be illegal in PA commercial breeding kennels moving forward."
Rather than seek medical attention for dogs suffering from fleas and fly sores, kennel owners Ammon and Elmer Zimmerman of Kutztown shot all 80 of their dogs to save costs. The Zimmermans, owners of A&J Kennel and E&A Kennel, voluntarily surrendered their licenses on July 29 after killing the dogs.
Dog wardens inspected E&A Kennel on July 24, noting several violations for kennel sanitation and maintenance. Wardens also noted fleas and fly sores on 39 of the dogs and ordered veterinary checks. Wardens issued four citations for violations and planned to confirm the veterinary checks during a follow-up inspection. The wardens were notified on July 29 that the owners of both kennels chose to destroy the dogs and dismantle the kennels.
For more information on House Bill 2525, visit www.DogLawAction.com.
CONTACT: Chris L. Ryder
(717) 787-5085
SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/s ... 481D111D09}
