News and Events

Berks kennel owners kill their 80 dogs

PA Amish Puppy Mill Bust!!!!!!

07-18-08 -- Chesco Farmer Charged with Animal Cruelty By: Nancy Petersen, Philadelphia Inquirer A Chester County Amish farmer was arrested last night during a raid on his farm and charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty. John Blank of Cochranville, owner of Limestone Kennels, was taken into custody by Pennsylvania State Police shortly after 5 p.m. when agents from the Pennsylvania SPCA descended on his farm. In front of his crying children, he was handcuffed and placed in the back of the police cruiser. After it was determined that he wasn't a flight risk, he was allowed to spend the night on his farm. Warrants issued earlier in the day charged Blank, 54, with three misdemeanor counts and 10 summary counts of animal cruelty. By the time the raid ended after about 31/2 hours, 21 summary counts of neglect and lack of veterinary care had been filed against Blank, said PSPCA program officer Elaine Scapalla. The entire event was filmed by crews from the reality show Animal Cops, which is trailing the PSPCA during the next several weeks. Of the 100-plus dogs found on the farm, 21 dogs - five or six adults and the rest puppies - were taken to the agency's Philadelphia shelter, Scapalla said. 'All were crowded in cages, their nails were c urled under, and two had embedded collars,' she said. Some had conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the eye; others had untreated abscesses, she said. Reporters were not allowed on Blank's property and were unable to reach him for comment yesterday. The so-called puppy mill Blank operated at his 73-acre farm along Route 10 was not visible from the highway. Instead, a sign advertising brown eggs and cut flowers greeted motorists zipping along the busy road. The farm, immaculate with carefully tended fields of corn and tobacco, and a large garden in front of the farmhouse, differed little from other farms in the fertile Octorara watershed. Yesterday's raid had its origins two weeks ago with a small ad in a Lancaster newspaper for free breeder dogs that caught the attention of Bill Smith, founder of Main Line Animal Rescue in Chester Springs. Smith went to the farm, but Blank wasn't home. Volunteers visited the farm over the next two days and ended up with nine dogs, all in deplorable condition, Smith said. 'Two were missing their eyes,' he said. 'They had big gaping holes with flies in them. One of the dogs had his eye hanging out. Two were missing ears.' Teeth on one dog, a Shiba Inu, were so bad that he couldn't close his mouth, Smith said. Smith took the dogs to the PSPCA for medical evaluation. A week later, undercover investigator Ashley Mutch went to the farm and purchased a sickly puppy that Blank had said was 7 weeks old. The puppy, which was determined to be just 3 weeks old, died within 24 hours, she said. According to records from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Blank has a license to have as many as 250 dogs at his kennel. An inspection in January found no violations, although he has been cited in the past for maintenance and overcrowding. Magisterial District Judge Henry Farmer of Oxford is expected to issue penalties against Blank today, said Scapalla. Read Limestone Kennel Inspection Reports: 2006 - Click Here 2007 - Click Here 2008 - Click Here

Special Anniversary Gift: Blossom's mom

1st Anniversary Donation

Posted by: "Carol Pfeiffer" Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:42 am (PDT)

Dawn Pederson sent a $100 donation in honor of Blossom's first anniversary with her. Just thought you would like to know.


Carol and the Furkids

Blossom - Happy Ending: http://nbstr.typepad.com/new_beginnings_happy_endi/2008/07/4-5-08blossom-l.html

WI Humane Society Assumes Puppy Breeder Assets!

From the WHS Website:

Wisconsin Humane Society Agrees to Assume
Assets of State’s Largest Puppy Breeder

MILWAUKEE — In an unprecedented move locally and nationally, officials of the Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) announced today that they have reached an agreement to buy the assets of Puppy Haven Kennel in Green Lake County, located about 20 miles northwest of Waupun. The owner, Wallace Havens, who runs one of the largest dog breeding facilities in the nation, has agreed to sell his dog breeding business assets to the Wisconsin Humane Society, who will cease operations at the Green Lake facility and find homes for more than 1,200 dogs who have been residing there.
Margaret Stratton, president of the board of the Wisconsin Humane Society said, “Assuming the assets of this facility will allow us to provide wonderful homes for more than a thousand dogs. These dogs will soon enjoy the love and companionship of people who will treat them as members of their families. To our knowledge, this groundbreaking action is unique in the humane movement. This is consistent with the Wisconsin Humane Society’s mission to build a community where people value animals and treat them with respect and kindness. We are always working to educate people interested in obtaining a dog that they must consider the physical, social and emotional needs of the dog and find out as much as they can about the dog’s background.”
Havens estimates that he sells about 3,000 dogs per year. All of the dogs that the Wisconsin Humane Society obtains from Puppy Haven will be spayed or neutered, thus ending the production cycle that has kept them housed at Puppy Haven their entire lives. WHS veterinarians are currently evaluating many of the dogs and are readying them for adoption.
“Havens is proud of the fact that the dogs from his facility will be going to the Wisconsin Humane Society. He is retiring and not interested in pursuing a future breeding business. For that reason, Havens was willing to discount the sale of the kennel assets,” said Tony Enea, Wisconsin Humane Society board officer. According to Havens, “At this time in my life, selling the kennel assets to the Wisconsin Humane Society is the best choice for me and my family because the dogs that I bred will be in the best possible hands."
Victoria Wellens, executive director of the Wisconsin Humane Society, reported that the transfer of dogs will occur over several months so each dog can be provided with the best possible care while WHS continues to serve animals from the community. To date, about 300 dogs from Puppy Haven Kennel have been transferred to WHS to find homes. According to Wellens, a variety of unique resources will be required to place all of the dogs since many of them will need time to adjust and become accustomed to living closely with people. “Our employees and 900 volunteers are well prepared for this challenge to help provide a wonderful future for the dogs,” Wellens said.
Wellens also stated that PetSmart Charitiesâ has provided a generous gift of equipment to care for the animals, including leashes, collars, toys, food bowls and grooming supplies. There are many needs that still remain, which will be posted on the online WHS Wishlist.
The Wisconsin Humane Society has a 130-year history of providing leadership in the humane animal welfare field, and hopes that this action will be a catalyst for people to come together to enact stronger laws and regulations to end exploitation of breeding dogs.

Shih Tzu Shuffle Update

Here is the registration and payment page for Shih Tzu Shuffle!!

http://nbstr.typepad.com/news_and_events/shih-tzu-shuffle-registra.html

Website Beautified

Our website had a makeover! You'll love it! Check it out!!
www.nbstr.org
-lots of new features including youtube embedded videos, scrollers for off-site NB content on the home page and other pages, a complete newsletter archive with index -with links to download, and a comprehensive Help Center to help you answer your most pressing questions about NBSTR : )

Thought for the Day - 7-7-08

TODAY'S REFLECTION: 

Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense. This day is all that is good and fair. It is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on yesterdays.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson, American Poet

Foster Dog Georgie: Good News!

Answered Prayers:  Anty Barb’s foster Georgie does not need hip surgery or any other surgery for that matter.  He has had one spine adjustment, will have one more and then will be ready to go to his forever home.  Anty’s vet commented that perhaps somebody exaggerated his condition.  Prayers answered and a playful boy will soon be going to his forever home. 

Events Update 7-7-08

EVENTS: 

7/12      PETCO Kenosha                                   11:30 - 2:00 PM

7/12      PETCO: Skokie (Touhy)                         11:00-2:00 pm

7/12      PETCO: Richfield, MN                            11:00-1:00 pm

7/13      PETCO: Harwood Heights                       Noon-3:00 pm

7/13      PETCO: Greenfield                                 Noon – 2:00 p.m.

7/19-20 PETCO: Harwood Heights’ Grand Opening at new Store (Times TBA)

New Store location: 4161 N Harlem Ave, Norridge (a few blocks south of the other store)

7/19      PETCO: Lake Geneva                            Noon-2:00 pm

7/19      Wetnose Geneva                                   Noon – 3:00 p.m.

7/26      PETCO: Skokie (Old Orchard)                 Noon-3:00pm

7/27      Pet Supplies Plus,   Greenfield                Noon-2:00 pm

7/27      PETCO: Harwood Heights                       Noon-3:00 pm

7/27      Wetnose Oakbrook                                Noon – 3:00 p.m.

Photo of the Month - July 2008

"Summer Time Girl"

This is Bree - who once was a filthy, frightened puppymill dog. Bree was fostered by Joanne Folkerts. Can you tell her new mommy and daddy love her?

See below for a "before" photo

This is Bree and her brother Guiness when they first came into rescue. Could you even guess what a beautiful girl was under all that filth?