WOULD BE DOG BREEDER'S PROPERTY UP FOR SALE

ELMER: First there are rules and regulations that dog breeders must comply to in the State of New York.  These rules are on the care, living facilities, condition, shots and more for the dogs you breed.  Let's go back on what caused the upset regarding dog breeders.  Shortly before this couple (will remain nameless, but there name is in the newspaper) applied to the Town of Gorham to open a commercial dog-breeding facility, two dog mills had been found. - one in Ontario County and one in a near by county. One of these was Englisher owned and the other Mennonite owned.  These both hit the front page of the local newspaper.  The dogs were starved, had not been taken care of, stuffed together in kennels, and more I will not describe.  Many of the dogs had to be destroyed they were in such bad condition and could not be saved.  The rest went to dog SPCA and Humane Society's.  When this was settling down an Amish breeder who had many dogs that had caught some diease and had to be put down.  Rather than taking them to the vet and having him doing it, he did it himself in a way that did not comply with the State of New York.  Again, this hit the front page of our local papers.  Now, the couple that caused the new zoning law had purchased a farm in the town and had applied to open the commercial dog-breeding facility for some 600 dogs.

JEAN: Previously, I had a post on Amish Stories when this first started.  What got the people in our little, quaint town upset, was not that they people were dog breeders, but that they wanted permission to have 600 dogs.  Would they take care of these dogs as they should?  This caused a town meeting.  So many people came that it couldn't be held in town hall, they had to move it to the High School as that had more room and even then it was filled out the door.  This meeting, some how, went nationwide.  The next day there were so many calls coming in on the Town Hall phone that the phone system wouldn't work and the telephone company had to be called in.  If I remember correct, a temporary freeze was put on for all dog breeding permits until this matter could be decided. At the time this started, David and I lived on the farm we sold.  It wasn't that we, like others didn't want a dog breeder near us, but with 600 dogs would they be properly take care of.  Last March, after numerous public hearings, it was decided that the new zoning law limits the number of breeding dogs to 20.  The people that purchased the farm said it was two restrictive to operate their business and has put their farm up for sale.

ELMER: Anna, my wife,  and I have been dog breeders for over 20 years, in three states: Pennsylvania, Indiana and New York.  There are rules and regulations in each state, that dog breeders MUST comply with.  The problem is that, the State, does not have as many people to inspect breeders to make sure they are complying with these rules and regulations as they should have.  Most of the breeders comply these rules and regulations, us included, but there are a few people that do not.  Those that do not comply with these, ruin it for the rest of us when they are found out.  People, when buying, their pet want a healthy, love able  dog that will fit into their family.  Us, who work hard to comply with the laws are sometimes hurt because of what others have done.

I know that there are some people especially, Englishers who will not buy a dog from me because of what other Amish have done.  They think because one Amish person has a dog mill or does not treat their dogs well, I don't either, which is not true.  After that article appeared in the paper about that Amish man that put his dogs down the wrong way, I couldn't give one of my puppies to an Englisher.  That was the time, I gave the puppies to the school children.  I did sell some of the puppies to Amish and Mennonite that knew us, but the rest I gave away.

What number is correct for breeding?  I don't know, but I know that even when our children all lived at home, we couldn't handle 600 dogs. We never tried.  Not and give them the time, food, love, vet bills and more that they need.

Before we went into breeding, Anna and I, went to many breeders to see what they did and get advice.  Being Amish, we were allowed into more Amish kennels than others would be.  Most of them were beautiful dog breeding kennels that complies with the laws.  We also have been to dog mills, where the animals are just bred for the money.  They are in kennels where their feet never touch the ground until they are shown to you.  They are not fed anymore than they have to be.  Female dogs are bred at every heat.  Only get their shots when they have been sold to you.  Many of them are stuck in kennels together until there is hardly any room.  When a female can't breed anymore, they are just thrown out.  These are Amish, Mennonite and Englisher owners.  They are in the business just for the money.

We were asked to come to one of the dog mills when it was found my our local SPCA.  As we were dog breeders we helped them get the puppies on the trucks and to check them over.  Anna and I worked with tears in our eyes, seeing these poor helpless animals.  We adopted one of the dogs.  For the first time, she runs free on our farm.  With our help and that of our grandchildren, she has learned to love and trust people.

I didn't mean to go on so, but I could go on a lot more.  Like I said, most breeders, Amish, Mennonite or Englisher, comply with the rules.  In fact, some go above and beyond these rules.  But there are some, that don't and these people are the big animal problem.

We believe that all animals are God's creations.  When they are in our ownership and / or care, they are a gift from God to us.  How would God want us to treat these animals?

Trust God's Wisdom,
Elmer