Article avaialbe at www.lancasteronline.com "Legal killing of 80 dogs outrages / Advocates push for new legislation" by Susan E. Lindt, dated August 14, 2008

[Excerpt From Article]

Two Berks County commercial kennel operators shot and killed 80 dogs after dog wardens ordered some of the animals be examined by veterinarians, state dog law enforcement officials said Tuesday.

And because they broke no current Pennsylvania law by slaughtering the dogs, animal advocates and some lawmakers are outraged.

Elmer Zimmerman of Kutztown shot 70 dogs after an inspection last month, officials of the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement said.

His brother, Ammon Zimmerman, operator of a kennel next door, shot 10 of his own dogs, officials said.

"We went out on July 24 and inspected Elmer's kennel. There were various kennel violations we said we'd be citing them for, and the warden ordered vet checks on 39 dogs," said Jessie Smith, deputy secretary of the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement. "(Elmer Zimmerman) told the warden, 'I think I'm going out of business.' We suggested that he surrender the dogs, but he was not agreeable to that. Then he called the warden back over the weekend and said he shot the dogs."

Wardens had ordered vet checks for dogs with flea and fly bites. They also issued citations for keeping the dogs in extreme heat, with insufficient bedding and in cages with floors that could allow their paws to fall through.

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We the undersigned support immediate passage of The General Assembly of Pennsylvania's House Bill No. 2525 (a/k/a The Dog Law). The Legal slaughter of 80 dogs by the Zimmerman brothers attests to the need for state supervision of commercial dog breeders in Pennsylvania. As residents of the state of Pennsylvania, we find the cruelty and suffering that goes on in many commercial breeding establishments to be unacceptable. We respectfully request that you move to immediately pass H.B. 2525 and end the needless suffering of thousands of dogs.