Nearly 100 dogs seized in Pa. kennel closure
A Lancaster County dog kennel that continued to operate even when denied a license was shut down Sunday by state dog wardens, who removed 96 dogs.
Ervin Zimmerman, owner of the Ephrata kennel, had fought to keep his dog breeding operation in business since the state revoked his kennel license in 2007.
On Dec. 5, a Lancaster County judge granted an injunction request from the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement and gave Zimmerman 14 days to shut down his kennel. He was to keep no more than 25 dogs, the maximum allowed without a kennel license.
Dog wardens and officers from the Humane League of Lancaster County inspected the property Sunday and removed all but five of Zimmerman’s personal farm dogs. The dogs seized during Sunday’s inspection are now with the Humane League.
“Ervin Zimmerman’s kennel has been unsatisfactory for some time, but his multiple appeals have prevented the bureau from closing him entirely until today,” said Deputy Secretary for Dog Law Enforcement Jessie Smith.
On Nov. 2, 2007, Zimmerman’s kennel license was revoked by the bureau after a series of unsatisfactory inspections. Zimmerman appealed the revocation and subsequent denial of a 2008 kennel license. In July 2008, the license refusal was upheld during an administrative hearing in Harrisburg. Zimmerman has further appealed this refusal to the Commonwealth Court.
On Feb. 8, 2008, dog wardens, a humane officer and a veterinarian entered Zimmerman’s Ephrata kennel with search warrants and reported they’d found unsatisfactory conditions and seized two Chihuahuas suffering from injuries. They again found violations during a Nov. 25 inspection, including dogs with matted fur and visible sores.
Zimmerman has been convicted of both unsatisfactory kennel conditions and cruelty, but has appealed those convictions to the Superior Court. He will also face charges of operating a kennel without a license from July 25 through Dec. 19.
To report unsatisfactory conditions at a kennel in Pennsylvania, call the state Department of Agriculture’s toll-free hotline at 1-877-DOG-TIP1.
Posted by jwoestendiek December 22nd, 2008 under Muttsblog.
Tags: agriculture, breeder, breeding, closed, court, dogs, ephrata, erviin zimmerman, humane league, inspections, kennel, lancaster county, license, operation, pennsyvlania, puppy mill, revoked, violations, zimmerman
