Labradoodle & Goldendoodle Forum
UPDATE ALMOST HEAVEN KENNELS
This article can be found in the Morning Call paper at
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a13_5heaven.6891772may08,0,4448...
The state secretary of agriculture this week upheld a ruling denying a 2009 kennel license to Derbe ''Skip'' Eckhart, the embattled owner of Almost Heaven Kennel in Emmaus.
The department Thursday announced that Secretary Dennis Wolff upheld the decision of the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, which refused the license application in January. That decision followed an Oct. 1, 2008, inspection that showed ''significant violations'' of the dog law, according to a department statement.
''The secretary's decision to uphold the license refusal will hopefully mean a swift end to Almost Heaven Kennel and will help ensure that the owner never operates a kennel in Pennsylvania again,'' said Jessie Smith, the state's special deputy secretary for dog law enforcement.
Eckhart faces charges of animal cruelty and failure to keep the kennel in good shape.
Wolff's decision is significant because it reinforces the tougher kennel standards signed into law last year. Under previous law, kennels could operate unchanged for years while appealing the bureau's orders.
Eckhart has 30 days to appeal Wolff's decision to Commonwealth Court, but must follow strict rules and submit to unannounced inspections during that time, the department said. If no appeal is entered within 30 days, the bureau will close the kennel and seize any dogs beyond the 25 allowed without a kennel license, the department said.
Eckhart's attorney, Kevin Fitzgerald of Olyphant, Lackawanna County, said Eckhart ''certainly'' would appeal.
He also noted a federal lawsuit filed by the Professional Dog Breeders Council, an association of 325 dog breeders based in Royersford, Montgomery County. According to an agreement after that complaint was filed, the department lifted a ban prohibiting Eckhart from selling dogs. He is prohibited from buying or bringing more dogs into the kennel.
On May 1, a district judge ordered Eckhart to face trial on charges of violating terms of his kennel license refusal order, which barred him from operating a boarding kennel, among other restrictions. Eckhart was found to be boarding dogs on Feb. 11 when state dog wardens inspected the kennel, the department said.
In the latest kennel inspection, inspectors on March 16 found four dogs that showed signs of illness or lameness out of 348 in the kennel. Eckhart was ordered to get medical treatment for the animals. No other violations were noted.
This is why it is so important to email Gov. Rendell. This kennel needs to be shut down and the dogs removed from there. Please also write to Gov. Rendell and get this kennel closed once and for all.
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a13_5heaven.6891772may08,0,4448...
The state secretary of agriculture this week upheld a ruling denying a 2009 kennel license to Derbe ''Skip'' Eckhart, the embattled owner of Almost Heaven Kennel in Emmaus.
The department Thursday announced that Secretary Dennis Wolff upheld the decision of the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, which refused the license application in January. That decision followed an Oct. 1, 2008, inspection that showed ''significant violations'' of the dog law, according to a department statement.
''The secretary's decision to uphold the license refusal will hopefully mean a swift end to Almost Heaven Kennel and will help ensure that the owner never operates a kennel in Pennsylvania again,'' said Jessie Smith, the state's special deputy secretary for dog law enforcement.
Eckhart faces charges of animal cruelty and failure to keep the kennel in good shape.
Wolff's decision is significant because it reinforces the tougher kennel standards signed into law last year. Under previous law, kennels could operate unchanged for years while appealing the bureau's orders.
Eckhart has 30 days to appeal Wolff's decision to Commonwealth Court, but must follow strict rules and submit to unannounced inspections during that time, the department said. If no appeal is entered within 30 days, the bureau will close the kennel and seize any dogs beyond the 25 allowed without a kennel license, the department said.
Eckhart's attorney, Kevin Fitzgerald of Olyphant, Lackawanna County, said Eckhart ''certainly'' would appeal.
He also noted a federal lawsuit filed by the Professional Dog Breeders Council, an association of 325 dog breeders based in Royersford, Montgomery County. According to an agreement after that complaint was filed, the department lifted a ban prohibiting Eckhart from selling dogs. He is prohibited from buying or bringing more dogs into the kennel.
On May 1, a district judge ordered Eckhart to face trial on charges of violating terms of his kennel license refusal order, which barred him from operating a boarding kennel, among other restrictions. Eckhart was found to be boarding dogs on Feb. 11 when state dog wardens inspected the kennel, the department said.
In the latest kennel inspection, inspectors on March 16 found four dogs that showed signs of illness or lameness out of 348 in the kennel. Eckhart was ordered to get medical treatment for the animals. No other violations were noted.
This is why it is so important to email Gov. Rendell. This kennel needs to be shut down and the dogs removed from there. Please also write to Gov. Rendell and get this kennel closed once and for all.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jacquie Yorke (DRC) on
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It's rumored that the man is already looking for property in Virginia......
A conviction and/or denial of a licence in PA is ONLY VALID AND ENFORCEABLE IN PA..........
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Permalink Reply by HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08 on
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And thats why its important people like you and I follow his trail and when he gets there start indating those states with this information to there Dept of Agriculture and Governor's...if they allow him to have a kennel there (other states) after they are notified of his baning in PA...than it falls on that state. Laws need to be passed Federally if your banned in one state, don't bring it to another.
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Permalink Reply by Adrianne Matzkin on
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I emailed the White House to beg someone to bring the Skip and his kind to the attention of President Obama. Jacquie, can you start a virtual petition to send to the President to beg him to start Federal Regulations? Your computer skills outweigh mine big time!!! It could be posted on Facebook, the White House has a page.
Any other suggestions to get this out there into the public's face????
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Yes Jacquie, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, please if you can set up some sort of Petition to the White House that would be fantastic. We so need federal laws that go state to state so this does not continue anymore. What a fantastic idea Adrianne. Is there a way we could set it up to accept names but our address and personal info be hidden from others signing it. We need to be sure that everyone who does sign is that person signing.
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Permalink Reply by Beth and Gang on
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You are right, Jacquie!! This weasel of a 'man' will simply relocate his kennel to another state and continue his 'business' there. Virginia or anywhere BUT Pa...
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