SPCA moves 56 sick animals from eastern Pa. kennel
The Associated Press
EMMAUS, Pa. - At least 56 dogs and cats have been removed for immediate medical care from an eastern Pennsylvania kennel where officials say hundreds of animals are crowded together in unsanitary and foul-smelling conditions.
Authorities are negotiating for the removal of 100 more animals from the Almost Heaven Kennels in Upper Milford Township, said Elaine Skypala, program director for the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
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About 20 agents raided the kennel Wednesday. Officials said they discovered as many as 800 animals including monkeys, miniature horses, turkeys, geese, guinea hens and swans packed into the facilities, many living in excrement amid the stench of feces and decay. A freezer contained 65 animal corpses.
"It's horrible," Skypala said.
Kennel owner Derbe Eckhart disputed the SPCA 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 told The Associated Press on 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 PSPCA to have unlimited access to the facilities for six months. Eckhart also will face cruelty charges.
During the raid, the site was besieged by vans and a helicopter carrying news crews, including one from the Animal Planet cable television network. Eckhart did not emerge, but called state police to order the media off the grass.
Eckhart was charged two years earlier with having too many monkeys and operating a menagerie without a permit because monkey cages were visible to the public. 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, of Allentown, whose dog Fern is groomed at the kennel, defended Eckhart.
"This man is never given any credit for the good things he does," she said. "They are constantly picking on this man."
Information from: The Morning Call, http://www.mcall.com
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