Posted: July 30, 2008, 5 a.m. EDT
The owner of Limestone Kennel in Cochranville, Chester County, pleaded guilty to eight counts of animal cruelty and two violations of the Dog Law in Pennsylvania.
John Blank’s kennel license was permanently revoked and he surrendered 75 dogs to the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Blank will be on probation for two years, and he will not be allowed to own more than five pet dogs.
A recent raid at Blank’s kennel led to the multiple charges of animal cruelty and the seizure of 23 dogs. The plea comes as a result of investigations by the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement and the Pennsylvania SPCA last week.
As of July 24, a new 24-hour hotline (877-DOG-TIP1) is available for the public to report problems in kennels, said Jessie Smith, the state’s special deputy secretary of dog law enforcement.