A state dog warden's keen eye landed an Earl Township dog breeder with a history of animal cruelty back in court Thursday.

In September, when Paula Hutchinson, owner of the now-defunct Hutchinson Kennel at 329 Redwell Road, New Holland, faced five counts of animal cruelty and 11 violations of state dog laws, she made a plea agreement and avoided harsher penalties.

Part of the agreement reached last year in District Judge Rodney Hartman's New Holland court was that she would forfeit all but 16 of her dogs and not acquire any additional dogs, through breeding or any other means, for 18 months. In addition, Hutchinson's license to operate a breeding kennel was revoked by the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, essentially putting her out of business.

But during a recent routine inspection of a Lehigh County pet shop, a state dog warden familiar with Hutchinson's case was shocked to see Hutchinson's name on the breeding record for a puppy at the Fogelsville shop.

On Thursday, Hutchinson's attorney, Cory J. Miller, said his client was not back in the breeding business, but she did violate her probation by signing the puppy's paperwork to help out a friend.

"There was no legitimate explanation for what she did," Miller said. "It was a terrible decision."

Miller said Hutchinson could have been jailed for more than 500 days for violating her probation, which could have exacerbated ongoing health conditions she suffers.

Instead, Miller and dog-law bureau prosecutor Jeff Paladina reached an agreement Thursday that was approved by Hartman.

Under the agreement, Hutchinson will forfeit six dogs that she owns, she must dismantle all dog kennels on her property by Sept. 28, she is subject to random inspections by cruelty officers and state dog wardens to ensure that she has no dogs on her property aside from two nonbreeding dogs owned by her husband and she may not own or acquire any dogs for the next 18 months.

Paladina said given the risks that always come with litigation, the agreement was a fair compromise for Hutchinson's case of violating her probation on summary offenses.

"There are always risks with litigation," Paladina said. "And we're getting six animals out of that situation. The dog wardens and the Humane League (of Lancaster County) were all in agreement that this was the best thing."

E-mail: slindt@lnpnews.com