Posted on 09/14/2010 11:46:17 AM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines
A commercial kennel owner in New York destroyed 93 dogs using a hose connected to a farm engine and pumping carbon monoxide into a makeshift "gas chamber."
David Yoder, owner of Black Diamond Acres kennel in Romulus, told a U.S. Department of Agriculture inspector during a July 15 inspection that he killed the dogs to "depopulate" the kennel.
Yoder said he created an airtight chamber out of a wood whelping box (where nursing puppies are typically housed with their mothers) by fitting the opening with a metal door with a small hole for an exhaust pipe which was attached to a 3 horsepower farm engine.
Then he gassed "approximately" 78 adult dogs and 15 puppies in groups of five or six. Yoder said he left the barn during the gassing because he had a headache from the fumes. He also said he used a stethoscope to make sure the dogs had stopped breathing before burying them, according to the inspection report.
It is against federal law for a licensed kennel owner to perform their own euthanasia. The inspector, Andrea D'Ambrosio, also noted that dogs not immediately gassed likely suffered from inhaling the excess fumes.
"The manner of mass euthanasia caused potentially high levels of behavioral stress and unnecessary discomfort to all the dogs in the kennel," the report said.
Mary Anne Kowalski, a board member of the Seneca County SPCA, said she was not aware of anyone from the USDA reporting what she believes is a clear case of animal cruelty to local authorities.
The dogs were killed sometime after a June 29 inspection where Yoder had been ordered to get his dogs tested and treated for Brucellosis (after earlier tests indicated some of his dogs had the contagious disease) and before the inspector returned on July 15.
The case bears an eerie resemblance to the 2008 mass shooting at a Berks County, Pa., kennel after the owner was told to treat his dogs for flea infestation. That incident helped propel the passage of the new state dog law and the immediate prohibition of euthanasia by any means other than by a licensed veterinarian.
Romulus, located 60 miles southeast of Rochester in Seneca County, may have been the first municipality in the nation to ban puppy mills when it passed an ordinance last year outlawing commercial kennels.
Seneca County has a sizeable Amish population, and many are involved in dog breeding, Kowalski said. Yoder, who is Amish, bred poodles, Bichons, Maltese and Boston Terriers. He was allowed to continue operating his kennel in Romulus despite the ban because it was grandfathered under the new ordinance.
Kowalski, who discovered the report of the gassing on the USDA website while updating her files today, said she was stunned at what she read. "I just lost it," she said.
Kowalski said she reported the incident to the sheriff and district attorney in the hope that cruelty charges will be brought against Yoder.
"I hope these dogs did not die in vain," she said.
That would be the TWO extremes. Yes. But, the truth is in between. The law.
Being a dumbass hayseed is not illegal.
Note, I am not defending this man’s actions. He’s clearly a scumbag.
I am, however, surprised at supposed conservatives acting like liberals and wanting to throw a man in prison for 93 years because he put down diseased animals that had to be put down.
It happens. Part of life.
I shot my own dog when it was run over by my daughter coming into the garage too fast. Sucks and broke my heart, but he was going to die and was howling.
They were diseased because of his inability to care for them.
good.
I totally get the point. Yes. At some place in time. Someone who had their reasons, got the law passed for dogs to be treated in such a way and form. Same for ranchers. They lobbied to get laws favorable to their interests. Why do school buses stop at railroad crossings and cars full of kids don't? Simply different statutes.
In this case, to destroy dogs, requires a professional. Shoot, Shovel and Shut up is a violation of the law. He got a notice from an inspector and when they went back said "hey were are all the dogs"?
He was a dumbass for not following the rules he very clearly knew and tried to save a buck. Now it will cost him even more. And it should.
And if some illegal cannot get insurance, and hits your car, oh well? Sounds like he was just doing the best he could? Either we have laws and uphold them, or we don't and shouldn't bother.
You know, I'm really at a bit of a loss about this (if this is what you are referring to). You can treat for brucellosis, but they will not really be cured, so you will not be able to return them to the breeding population. In addition people CAN also get it.
On another thread. A freeper just shot a dog who tried to bite her. All well and good.
In this case we have a business which broke the rules required to operate that business. Very different.
I think that about 18-24 months and big fat 'FELON' sign to go on the front of his Amish sawn-off Abe Lincoln hat ought to be enough... that, and the surrender to authorities of his puppy mill operation.
I'm also not a liberal city-slicker for the most part, either. I've had to shoot a dog too, a puppy in fact.
I’m sorry, and I bet that was traumatic for your daughter.
I wish I could say that was funny. But with the way our Usurper is taking things, yours might be the most accurate post on this whole thread.
I think it’s the “and it should” where you and I may disagree.. I suspect the special interest here is vets.
I am sure he would get out after a year or two, on probation, and of course never be granted a license for this type of business again.
I called that BS I have had to put 2 dogs down and it took all of 3 seconds. One time I had them come to the car and the other time I wasn't expecting to have to have the dog put down, but she had a spontaneous leg fracture and the fracture was at the point of a large shoulder tumor, DX was cancer...but again it took 3 seconds. From every one I know that stayed with their dogs/cats when put down say the same thing, 3 seconds at most and then continue the injection until the syringe is empty.....Sorry you had such a back experience...
Seriously? Jail time?
I suspect that it would be a good guess. And you and GA may have some common ground on that, as it could very well be a case where the Vet's lobbied for laws that benefit them, and not the animals or producers. But, that would be the "next" debate. This guy IS guilty of this crime. A jury will decide the rest.
“So you advocate killing him...?”
At the moment.. yes. But the saner part of me would take over.
They ironic thing is I’ve had other dogs PTS and held other people’s dogs for the procedure (when I worked for a vet, many people don’t want to be there and all dog deserve to have someone hold them and comfort them). Never had anything but a peaceful end except for my one dog.
From now on, I will spend the extra to have mine knocked out first. Just in case. It was just too too hard. But truthfully, people should be prepared for it, because it is a potential thing. My last 2 died on their own. And I thank them for it.
Again, a Jury will determine the FACTS. I usually just start by putting a BIG stake in the ground so I know where the debate is. That would be the ONE marking point. The actual result would be some degree lessor, but without BEING in that jury, I couldn't say HOW lessor. But, if it IS as the article says, a FEDERAL LAW. Yeah, there are no misdemeanor federal laws. He will do time or pay out the arse.
Yep. I knew what you meant. Just like I said 1 year PER count. Knowing of course that was the furthest out on the limb I could go. We negotiate from there. LOL
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