45 dogs, 3 cats starved, removed from home
Lehighton, PA (US)

Incident Date: Sunday, Jul 31, 1988
County: Carbon

Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Derbe Eckhart

When authorities seized 45 dogs and three cats from a Lehighton area kennel in 1988, a state official said it was the worst case of animal neglect in Carbon County in recent memory. Humane Society official Frances Gribbon said, "He wasn't feeding them. � All but four are severely and grossly m alnourished, and they have a myriad of diseases. " The other four animals were in poor health, too. The raid was the culmination of a series of more than 20 citations since the kennel's operator had taken over several months earlier.  Officials said the kennel had wet bedding, dirty food and water dishes, and conditions that were a breeding ground for insects.

The kennel's owner, Derbe Eckhart , protested that he hadn't done anything wrong.  He said, "I love dogs.  I don't starve my dogs.  I ran out of food for them last week.  I took all the food out of my cabinets to feed them.  I'd feed them before me. " Later in court, he blamed bad conditions on a girl who was caring for the animals.

Eckhart was fined $100 each for 32 citations for cruelty to animals, and was sentenced to two to 10 months in Carbon County Prison for allowing unsanitary conditions at the kennel.  "What you did was a disgrace," said Judge John P. Lavelle, "and I don't think you recognize it. "

References

• « PA State Animal Cruelty Map

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