Kerry Flanagan went on her first kennel inspection in late December at Long Lane Kennel.

One caged dog had a tumor on the side of its face. Puppies were starving and dehydrated. Cages of matted dogs were stacked on top of each other.

"To see them in these cages, just a mass number of dogs in wire cages, was hard, very emotional," said Flanagan, managing director of operations at Humane League of Lancaster County.

Long Lane Kennel owner Joseph Blank now faces losing his kennel license, steep fines and possible jail time for animal cruelty charges and poor kennel conditions found during the Dec. 21 inspection.

When inspectors left Long Lane in December, they had documentation to file numerous charges against Blank. The bureau filed eight counts for poor kennel conditions, each of which carries a fine up to $300 and up to 30 days in prison. Filed on behalf of the Humane League were 15 counts of animal cruelty, each of which carries a fine of $50 to $750.

After consulting several times with an attorney by telephone during the inspection, Blank agreed to surrender 23 of his sickest dogs, including a pug puppy that died several days later, even after receiving medical care.

An additional 215 of Blank's breeder dogs and puppies were left behind when inspectors departed.

"To leave any behind was really hard," Flanagan said. "If we had tried to take more of his dogs, he might not have signed any of them over, and that would have hampered our ability to care for those that needed it most.

"The reality is, he has a valid kennel license to keep a certain number of animals to breed. We didn't want to overstep our authority."

The Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement is not renewing Blank's kennel license. If he wants to stay in business, he will have to appeal revocation of his license.

Blank's kennel license, which allowed him to keep more than 250 breeder dogs.

His 2006 license expired Dec. 31, and although Blank sent in a renewal application and check covering renewal fees, the bureau aims to shut down Long Lane Kennel based on unsanitary conditions, overcrowding and, now, animal cruelty charges filed through the Humane League.

"At this point, we're not renewing his license," Jessie L. Smith, who was hired by Gov. Ed Rendell in the fall as Pennsylvania's first special deputy secretary of dog-law enforcement, said.

"What happens from here depends on him. He has a right to appeal that decision and have an attorney contest the charges. It could go all the way up to the Supreme Court."

Meanwhile, of the 22 remaining dogs surrendered by Blank to Humane League officials, some have been adopted, some are waiting at the League to be adopted, some were sent to breed-rescue groups and some are battling scars from years of breeding and confinement in wire cages.

When the dogs were seized, they suffered bacterial skin infections and mange, eye and ear infections, severe matting, dehydration and emaciation and showed signs of old injuries that were never treated.

One of those dogs was Zigzag, a cuddly white dog that had one ear torn off at some point and now appears to suffer a neurological disorder that keeps him in constant motion. Humane League officials are continuing testing to determine his prognosis.

A brighter future might await Zsa Zsa, a poodle mix, and Eva, a West Highland terrier mix, who are still waiting to be adopted.

Their demeanor and physical condition show signs of years of confinement and neglect — tremors, infected ears and eyes, fear and skittishness.

But when settled, they begin to show hints of canine curiosity, sniffing corners and watching other dogs pass by.

December wasn't the first time the kennel was cited.

"The kennel had been cited earlier in the year, and we wanted to go back and see what the conditions were and see if the kennel license should be renewed," Smith said.

"The conditions of the kennel were actually worse (at the second inspection) than they were in March," Smith said. "That's what made us call the Humane League."

The state Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement is responsible for inspecting conditions at Pennsylvania kennels licensed by the state Agriculture Department, but bureau inspectors may not cite kennel operators for animal abuse or neglect, and they may not seize distressed dogs.

Humane League officers, however, may cite kennel operators only for animal neglect or abuse.

The Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement called in the Humane League for the December inspection at Long Lane after one the state performed at the 158 Blank Road kennel in March.

Flanagan said she was glad to team up with the bureau.

"Historically, that coordination hasn't happened," she said. "This is a wonderful step in the right direction. I think a big part of it was Gov. Rendell's promise to clean up the state's image. He made a lot of changes to the bureau, and there's renewed energy there. It's like new life has been breathed into the bureau."

And the noose is getting tighter for dirty kennel operators.

Four kennel compliance specialists come on board at the bureau this month. Their sole responsibility is ferreting out puppy mills.

Smith said they will target large kennels that have been cited for noncompliance in the past.

Smith also is pleased that the tag-team approach worked at Blank's kennel.

"It was a great example of cooperation," she said.

"I look forward to that kind of cooperation in this and other situations around the state."


Susan Lindt's e-mail address is slindt@lnpnews.com. blog comments powered by Disqus