Fwd: ACTION ALERT from North Penn Puppy Mill Watch

March 23, 2009

The following is an action alert and letter produced and sent by North Penn Puppy Mill Watch (NPPMWatch).

This email is being sent to you as a courtesy to NPPMWatch and as a source of information with regards to procedures in Pennsylvania and how they affect commercial breeding kennels.

Josette Aramini, MBA

Co founder/Executive Secretary

Unitedagainstpuppymills.org

ACTION ALERT: Until Death or Do-Overs Do Us Part?

For the sake of the breeder dogs, it's time to say GAME OVER

An open letter to Governor Ed Rendell and Secretary of Agriculture Dennis Wolf from North Penn Puppy Mill Watch

Spring has yet to arrive in Pennsylvania but there sure seem to be a lot of "pansies" sprouting at the Bureau of20Dog Law Enforcement (BDLE) in Harrisburg.

In a recent blog entry on PhillyDawg, journalist Amy Worden of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the BDLE has "rejected" seven kennel applications but, before anyone gets too excited, it's important to keep in mind that a rejected kennel license application in no way translates into a closed kennel.

Worse, a license issued to one of the seven kennels, Country Lane, owned by Samuel E. King, not only could have been revoked almost a year ago, it should have been yet this despicable puppy mill remains open, active and producing profits at the expense of hundreds of dogs because the Bureau of Dog Law REFUSES to do their job and enforce the law.

Excerpts from Country Lane Kennel Inspection Reports:

"Owner needs to have runs that allow dogs to turn around freely, stand erect, lie down in comfortable and normal positions""Owner needs to remove mouse droppings that are on top of dog boxes""A lot of dogs feet were falling through the wire flooring""The food was contaminated by bugs in almost all of the feeders"

"Puppies were being sold under 7 weeks of age"

Members of the "owner's family were viewed entering the kennel and making adjustments prior to the start of the inspection."

"There were feeders that were either one of the following: contaminated with dog feces, filled with mouse feces, or dirty/caked with feed."

"Vet check ordered on one female Bichon for very recent dog fight wounds"

"Large amounts of mouse feces found not only covering the entire bottom of empty feeders but along some walls and in corners throughout the buildings"

"The rabies records were missing... many dogs were overdue... there were some that did not have a rabies vaccination at all"

We need your help. If you care about dogs at all you must pick up the phone or write to the Governor and the Secretary of Agriculture because what you're about to read is not only outrageous, it's an exploitation of Pennsylvania law and an absolute abuse of power by employees of the Bureau of Dog Law who REFUSE to enforce Pennsylvania regulations.

March 18, 2009

The Honorable Edward G. Rendell

Governor

225 Main Capitol Building

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120

The Honorable Dennis C. Wolff

Secretary of Agriculture

2301 North Cameron Street

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110

Dear Governor Rendell and Secretary Wolff,

We recently had an opportunity to examine the relationship between Samuel E. King, owner of Country Lane Kennel in New Providence, Lancaster County and the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement - a relationship that, at this point, can only be described as dubious at best - and forces us to question whether one aspect of the Bureau's responsibility is to ensure the health, safety and welfare of dogs in commercial breeding kennels or if this duty is nothing more than an elaborate charade being played out at the expense of both the breeder dogs and the taxpayer.

The individual inspection reports for Country Lane Kennel paint a hideous picture of a deplorable breeding operation that remains open for business and producing profits (1,470 puppies were sold in 2008) for Samuel E. King despite the fact that other kennels in the state have been shut down for far less.

In fact, King's recent history reveals 18 citations filed with the district magistrate and 47 separate violations of the Dog Law.

Instead of closing this dilapidated facility when it had sufficient evidence to do so in 2007, the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement chose to enter into a Consent Order and Agreement of its own creation on January 22, 2008. This legally binding contract provides for the revocation of King's license should he infract any portion of the Dog Law.

As early as April 28, 2008 - just three months after signing the Bureau's Consent Order and agreeing to abide by every passage of Pennsylvania's Dog Law - Samuel E. King did blatantly violate seven sections of the Dog Law Regulations and breached his Consent Order and Agreement..

In response to this egregious behavior, the BDLE did absolutely nothing. Even when officials at the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement CAN legally close a kennel and revoke a license, they do nothing.

Mr. King has been given ample opportunities to comply with Pennsylvania's Dog Law yet has re

peatedly shirked his responsibilities as a licensed kennel operator much to the detriment of the dogs in his care.

It's important to point out that this particular Consent Order and Agreement supersedes the new Dog Law, any pending lawsuits against the Bureau as well as any legal stipulation the Bureau may have entered into with regard to the cease and desist provisions contained within Act 119 of 2008.

In accordance with the Consent Order and Agreement entered into between Jessie L. Smith of the PA Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement and Samuel E. King, owner of Country Lane Kennel, we respectfully request that this contract be enforced to the fullest extent of the law and cause the immediate license revocation and closure of County Lane Kennel.

To do otherwise would seemingly indicate that, as a licensed kennel operator in Pennsylvania, it doesn't matter what you do, it matters who you are.

Sincerely,

Jenny Stephens

NORTH PENN PUPPY MILL WATCH

View King's Inspection Reports, the Consent Order & Agreement and Citati

ons including Those Where King was Found/Pleaded Guilty: Visit NPPMWATCH.COM

Please help the abused and neglected dogs at King's Country Lane Kennel by contacting Governor Rendell and Secretary Wolff today. Insist that the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement be required to uphold and enforce the signed Consent Order and Agreement and immediately close Country Lane Kennel.

Call/Fax/Email Governor Rendell:

Phone: (717) 787-2500

Fax: (717) 772-8284

Email: Click HERE

Call/Fax/Email Secretary Wolff:

Phone: (717) 772-2853

Fax: (717) 705-8402

Email: dwolff

Hundreds of dogs are counting on YOU.

Be their voice, call today and please cross post this ALERT to all canine advocates and groups!

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