FINALLY!-ALMOST HEAVEN IS NO MORE!

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

Just got the call .....Skip Eckhart's appeal was denied for the last time this morning and at 12:00 this afternoon HSUS was there with the Bureau Of Dog Law Enforcement, Emmaus law enforcement, volunteers, trucks, triage tents and a court order to seize dogs........ As I type, they are in the process of seizing 250 dogs .....Almost Heaven is out of business for good in PA!....The dogs are being treated in an emergency shelter located at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg and will be with various rescue organizations in the area to be placed for adoption. Some will be available for adoption within the next week.........Please keep in mind that whille yes justice is finally served, this does not prevent Eckhart from relocating to another state,applying for a USDA licence and starting all over again.....Check out the news tonight and tomorrow morning for details.

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

All I can say is......Denise...Feel free to spay Hannah!...You're contract is officially null and void!

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

Raid Permanently Shutters Almost Heaven Kennel

Pennsylvania Working to Shed 'Puppy Mill Capitol' Designation


HARRISBURG, Pa., June 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An afternoon raid by Pennsylvania state dog wardens today has permanently closed Almost Heaven Kennels LLC, in Emmaus, Lehigh County.


Dog wardens and agents with the Humane Society of the United States removed approximately 250 dogs from the property owned by Derbe Eckhart. The dogs will be cared for at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center in Harrisburg and examined by veterinarians prior to being offered for adoption at shelters and rescues across the state.


Wardens removed all but 25 dogs from the property -- the maximum number allowed by law without a kennel license.


"Today's raid closes Almost Heaven, and provides a new opportunity for better lives to the dogs we removed," said Jessie Smith, the state's special deputy secretary for dog law enforcement. "Mr. Eckhart will never again operate a dog kennel in Pennsylvania, and we will see that the dogs removed from the kennel today are cared for before they are offered for adoption."


Smith thanked the Humane Society and the volunteers from across the state for helping to remove and care for the dogs.


The Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement refused Eckhart's 2009 kennel license application after an October 2008 inspection and several subsequent inspections showed significant violations of the Dog Law. Eckhart appealed the bureau's decision, but Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff upheld the refusal on May 5, 2009.


Eckhart failed to appeal the secretary's decision within 30 days, effectively ending his bid to continue operating a kennel. Through his attorney, Eckhart sought to stop dog wardens from seizing his dogs by petitioning the Commonwealth Court. The court ruled in favor of the Department of Agriculture, allowing dog wardens to close the kennel today.


"The Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement is committed to fully enforcing Pennsylvania's recently-improved Dog Law, and will take legal action, including permanent closure, against any kennel not meeting their responsibility to the health and safety of the dogs they keep," said Smith.


Smith said the closing of Almost Heaven was evidence that the new Dog Law, Act 119 of 2008, signed by Governor Edward G. Rendell last October, is working as intended.


"Previous versions of the Dog Law allowed kennel owners to operate for extended periods of time even after having their kennel license revoked or refused," said Smith. "The new law prohibits kennels in that situation from obtaining new dogs, breeding or boarding, so they cannot operate as usual during a lengthy appeal process.


"In addition, the new law is very specific about the appeal process, gives dog wardens clear authority to continue to inspect and to seize dogs when appeals are exhausted and allows a prior closure by the state to prevent issuance of a new license upon reapplication."


Smith said the new law, and aggressive actions like the closure of Almost Heaven, are helping Pennsylvania shed its reputation as an epicenter for puppy mills, large-scale dog breeding operations where profits are placed above the welfare of the dogs they bred and sold.


"Pennsylvania law previously allowed dogs to be kept in cramped, stacked cages their entire lives with no opportunity for exercise and minimal care," said Smith. "The new law allows us to ensure that even large breeding operations are housing dogs in a humane manner."


In addition to making much needed enforcement improvements, Act 119 addresses the health and welfare needs of dogs housed in large commercial kennels by requiring these operations to meet new physical standards for cage size and flooring.


Among other protections for dogs, the new law doubles the minimum floor space for dogs, eliminates wire flooring, and requires exercise that is at least as good as unfettered access to an exercise area twice the size of the primary enclosure. The previous law did not require that dogs ever be taken out of cages, much less be provided access to exercise areas.


The law also requires veterinary examinations for each dog twice per year.

To report unsatisfactory conditions at a kennel confidentially, or

if a kennel is suspected of being illegal, call the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's toll-free hotline at 1-877-DOG-TIP1.


CONTACT:
Chris L. Ryder
[phone]







SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

[Adina P]

YAHOOOO...what heavenly news =)

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

If you would like to participate in Bill White of The Morning Call's Blog about Almost Heaven click the link below.
http://blogs.mcall.com/bill_white/2009/06/heavenly.html

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

He must be so relieved, too!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

What a glorious day!! Almost Heaven is kaput and the sun came out - all in the same day!!
Whoever had a hand in any way shape or form in getting this accomplished - WAY TO GO!!!

[Tricia, Shiloh, Fenway & Tessie]

Yay! You guys got some sun, that is AWESOME! And that guy won't be feeling very sunny anytime soon.

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

Here's the link to raw footage of Almost Heaven shot today...Want to see what this place is like?.....

http://wfmz.dayport.com/htm/PopUpPlayer-v3.htm?articleID=1217234

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

Link to tonights newscast

http://wfmz.dayport.com/htm/PopUpPlayer-v3.htm?articleID=1217234

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

Did you see how many were doodles and poodles? Unbelievable. He should be put in a cage.

[Jeannine]

...And stay there in a wire cage with all people who did help him and eat his own feces.

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

The raw footage is unbelievable! Look at all those doodles.