Posted: Oct. 6, 2008, 3 a.m. EDT
More than 56 dogs and cats were removed Thursday from a kennel in Emmaus, Pa., after investigators found severe sanitation issues.
Agents with the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Department of Agriculture raided the Almost Heaven Kennel and found conditions which they believed were violations of the dog law, said Chris Ryder, department spokesman.
The kennel owner, Derbe Eckhart, will be cited for violating the state’s dog law and will have to sell or transfer enough dogs to no longer be considered a kennel. Any kennel housing more than 25 dogs is required to be licensed and inspected.
Attempts to contact Eckhart on Friday were unsuccessful. He disputes the allegations, according to Associated Press reports.
A revocation of his license was issued. He has 10 days to appeal the claim before it is revoked, Ryder said.
“Mr. Eckhart allowed conditions at his kennel to deteriorate into a deplorable state,” said Jessie Smith, special deputy secretary for dog-law enforcement. “While we continue investigating his operations, we are taking this action to protect the health and welfare of the animals there.”