Pennsylvania is known as the Puppy Mill Capital of the East and with good reason. Lancaster County has the highest number of commercial breeding facilities compared to the other counties in the state. Within Lancaster county, it is the Amish who operate the most puppy mills. Samuel Lapp is looking to open a puppy mill in a neighboring county – Berks. Lapp’s brother operates a kennel in Lancaster County. The public is invited to come out and speak up for the dogs and puppies who will be affected if he gets approved this Monday night at 7 PM at the Tulpehocken Township Building, 22 Rehrersburg Road, Rehersburg, PA
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania has made the Keystone State the Puppy Mill Capital of the East. Sadly, puppy mills aren’t only relegated to this notoriously “Amish Country” of Pennsylvania and it isn’t only the Amish who operate commercial breeding facilities in PA and other states. Puppy mills is a term used to describe commercial breeding facilities where dogs are housed in filthy and small cages living with little or no vet care. They are forced to breed so their puppies can be sold in pet stores and/or over the internet.
Lancaster County has a bad reputation for the number of mills that operate both legally and illegally. Illegal puppy mills are not inspected by Dog Wardens. Many puppy mills went underground after PA’s new Dog Law in 2008- Act 119- was passed to make the lives of puppy mill dogs and puppies a bit better. The mill operators didn’t want to pay for the upgrades so they began to hide their ” breeding facilities.” I was told directly by a PA Humane Officer (who has direct knowledge of the breeding facilities and wishes to remain anonymous) that 75% of the puppy mills went underground after the new law went into effect. Because they are no longer inspected, no one can knows how the dogs and puppies are being treated.
One notable case recently received international attention when a 4- month- old puppy was found by a produce driver at a Lancaster County puppy mill. The puppy showed no movement. Because of that driver, the puppy was saved and given to a rescue. The puppy, a Boston Terrier, was found to have severe mange with open wounds. Maggots were found in the open sores. The puppy was dehydrated and emaciated and left to die by the mill owner. The puppy was named Libre. Libre was too weak to lift his head. No one knew if Libre would or could survive. With the help of a good veterinarian and lots of TLC, Libre has not only survived his harrowing ordeal, he is now thriving! In light of this, Lancaster County’s District Attorney has proposed stricter animal abuse laws which are sorely needed.
This is Dr. Pryor holding Libre today. Dr. Pryor is the veterinarian who saved Libre’s life!
Next Monday, August 22nd, a zoning hearing will be held at the Tulpehocken Township Building, 22 Rehrersburg Road, Rehersburg, PA for a man (Samuel Lapp) who is asking for a zoning variance so he can build a kennel for his puppy mill to house 60-70 puppies with 10 adults at any given time. FYI- this mill will be run by an Amish man whose his brother is operating a puppy mill in Lancaster County.
Anyone is allowed to attend this public meeting being held at 7 PM. I encourage animal advocates in PA to come out and voice their opposition to yet another puppy mill in Pennsylvania. You are allowed to speak but I suggest advocates keep it civil with valid and direct reasons why Berks County can not allow a commercial breeding facility. Officials need to know puppy mills are not acceptable and cruel in nature to man’s best friend.
Tina Evangelista-Eppenstein is a television talk show host, speaker, writer and animal advocate. She hosts the show, ” A Close-Up Look at Animal Welfare Issues.” Have a story, please email Tina at tevangelistaepp@yahoo. Like my tv page at https://www.facebook.com/ACloseUpLookAtAnimalWelfareIssues and check out AnimalWelfareIssues.com for all the tv shows you may have missed!
We are holding a rally prior to the meeting at The Wellness Center for Pets & Their People, Inc. We are a non-profit 501c3, 100% volunteer operated. We are located in the adjacent township to Tulpehocken. You are welcome to join us 87 Main Street Strausstown at 5:30. T-shirts with No Puppy Mills in Berks, All Lives Matter are available for a donation. If traveling in our group we ask that you remain respectful. On your own, do as you wish. But, please keep in mind. We have a presentation based on facts, figures, statistics. We are a community organization aiding both pets and people and while our personal views are one thing, we do not want to be labeled crazy radicals.
The fact of the matter is the laws are not sufficient. It is perfectly legal to operate as Samuel Lapp is currently, providing food, water, shelter, using the dogs as a commodity. He already has 8-10 breeding females of several breeds. He is asking for a variance to build a kennel, away from his house, on top of the neighbor, to house 50-60 puppies and 10 adults.
We need to be proactive in seeking change in the laws. We, the majority know that animals are not disposable, they are living, feeling beings. They deserve more than the necessities. I personally have a puppy mill survivor,sightless at the age of 5 due to inbreeding. The industry is appalling. Backyard breeders of any ethnicity, religion need to be held to stricter standards. Officials can only uphold the law.
I have met with the Township. Monday night’s meeting is bringing up an abundance of raw emotion, of hatred. There will be a police presence and if we are disruptive the meeting will be shut down. What Voice can we lend the Voiceless if we are silenced? Please consider that if you will be attending. Details if our rally on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/ wcpphf
Noooooo!!! What is wrong with tthese people who want to open puppy mills? How can’t they see it’s animal cruelty? This makes me mad and angry and sad.
What a difference with Libre. Doesn’t look like the same puppy. The poor thing. I hate people who run puppy mills.
This should not be allowed ever…..I fostered a dog last year that originally came from a puppy mill…the ppl whom were going to adopt dog in Lancaster. Went to a farm not knowing it was a Amish puppy mill & are totally against financially supporting anything like this …well the puppy they went to adopt”Dalton” – name at that time( male Jack Russel-Fox terrier mix) and they did was in this small cage covered in ticks & fleas….cage was filthy and dirty and was on top of other small cages crates or whatever!!!!!! ..they couldn’t leave him there like that they said in those conditions and adopted him and few mos later because of personnel matters had him adopted by another person and a yr after owner had to have him fostered and I responded to a legit fb post ; fostered “fishbone”( name new owner gave him) for three mos till owner could take care of him again and be back home …he was the most lovable furbaby..thank goodness he was rescued at an early age & recvd the proper vet care & love he so much deserved like any furbaby does..
.these puppy mills need to be shut down not built….these Amish look at them as commodity like livestock. Cirn fields..and whatever else they produce to survive…they are supposed to be so religious folks …well where is there way of living for these puppies and dogs…shame on them for even running these puppy mills in such inhumane conditions….I would love to volunteer rescuing these furbabies and aide in the help of infiltrating them and shutting them down….they are getting away with so much..yet when I adopted my dog from a shelter may 2015 I had to be screened and approved which I didn’t mind because they truelly care and make sure the furbabies are taken care of….I’m just an animal lover and furmommy speaking my mind and wish I could attend the meeting but no transportation
Shut them down. I will not support anything from the Amish. They are only interested in the almighty dollar. This is a sin in any religion.
No more of these horrible places PLEASE.
I am doing everything I can to shut them down and the pet stores that sell these sick and dying animals.
Mills are nothing but animal abuse.
Please read http://www.prisonersofgreed.org/
If this is granted to let this guy build another facility to abuse animals, Shame on you all. They all need to be put out of business. Why grant a variance for something like this?
Can you get a petition started against this? This should never be allowed to happen! This is NOT okay!
Puppy mills are legal. No petition is going to shut them down. The law has to change to make them illegal.
No more puppy mills anywhere!!!
I agree with you!
These people are supposed to be so religious. Don’t they know that dogs are Gods creatures and should be respected.
Please. Letts fight to close all puppy mills.
agreed!
Put an end to this! It’s horrible for any animal! Don’t buy, rescue!!!
Please Stop these horrendous places and the pond scum that run them It s horriblee
Shut them all down. NO MORE PUPPY MILLS!!!!!!!!!!!
Shut them down!!! This is horrible!!! How can these people get away with this. When u go to adopt dogs or cats at SPCA’S or malls u get asked/questioned/screened to make sure animal is going to have a safe home. If they’re aware or have any bad info with u with animals, they won’t let u adopt for the sake of the animals well being. How would u puppy mill people like to grow and live in these filthy conditions and no veterinarian care that causes death of the animals. This is soooo heart breaking!!?????Let’s stop this and shut them down now!!! Dogs man’s best friend. Not to be treated the way they r in puppy mills. They r our furbabies. I’m a proud furbabies owner.
If people stop buying animals and rescue them instead, these mills will be out of business. Stricter laws and enforcement are clearly needed.
I think the key to ending mills is no longer buying puppies from pet stores and over the internet. They are prolific in numbers. Shutting them down seems fruitless. More cities are adopting the idea of only allowing stores to adopt out rescue animals. It’s the way of the future.
do not allow another puppy death Mill we have so many dogs now being killed. Amish is only worried about money
Deny, deny, deny!
Yuck. Boo!
I don’t like the Amish!
Stop buying puppies from pet stores! We can stop this but we have to use our heads!
Like!! Really appreciate you sharing this blog post.Really thank you! Keep writing.