Six Lancaster County dog breeders got an early Christmas present this week when a state organization withdrew animal-cruelty charges against them.
The Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals withdrew charges that it filed last month, after its agents and other animal-welfare advocates bought the breeders' dogs at an auction in Ohio.
The PSPCA said at the time that the dogs were ill, neglected or mistreated.
But after the breeders' attorney came forward with information showing that the breeders would have been found not guilty of the charges, the PSPCA withdrew the charges.
Charges were withdrawn against: Loren Nolt of East Earl; James Zimmerman of Ephrata; Nathan Myer of Lititz; Ella Mae Zimmerman of New Holland; Steve Stoltzfus of Lititz; and John S. Fisher of Gordonville.
The breeders' attorney, Jeff Conrad, said Wednesday, "There was no factual basis that rose to the level of probable cause for those (PSPCA) officers to do what they did."
Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman said Conrad showed that the breeders' dogs had been checked by at least one licensed veterinarian before being sent to the Ohio sale.
Conrad said the kennel operators who were charged "are the cream of the crop. They're good people. It's terrible their name got associated with illegal conduct when in fact there was not one little bit."
The PSPCA filed the charges without the approval of his office, Stedman said. After Conrad came forward, the organization consulted with the DA's office, and the two groups reviewed the cases together.
"They decided to withdraw the charges," Stedman said of the PSPCA.
As the case was being reviewed, a top PSPCA official involved in the case resigned.
Harrise Yaron, president of the organization's board, sent out a resignation letter saying it was time for her to move on.
In a story in the Philadelphia Daily News, Yaron denied a claim she had been forced out at the PSPCA.
Calls to the PSPCA and its legal counsel were not returned by presstime.
Bill Smith, executive director of the Chester County-based Main Line Animal Rescue, also was involved in the case. He had gone to Ohio with the PSPCA to see and purchase the breeders' animals.
Smith said Wednesday the case is not over.
"We have one year to refile the charges," he said Wednesday. "It's very complicated."
Stedman said Smith is not a member of the law-enforcement community and that cases like this need to be handled properly.
"This office is committed to stamping out animal cruelty," Stedman said, "but it's going to be done in accordance with the law and mindful of the rights of everybody, including those of the accused."
The breeders took dogs to Ohio to downsize their operations to comply with new state dog laws. The laws require breeders to do things such as increase cage sizes and provide exercise areas, as well as require kennels housing 25 dogs during a year to be licensed and inspected.
Many breeders reportedly are getting out of the business.