PSPCA seizes sick dogs from unlicensed breeder

The Pennsylvania SPCA has charged a Lancaster County man with multiple counts of animal cruelty after raiding his kennel earlier this week and finding 10 dogs with untreated medical conditions living in filth.

PSPCA officers cited Elam Beiler of Leola with 10 summary counts of unsanitary confinement and failure to provide veterinary care following an investigation and a search warrant executed Tuesday afternoon.

The PSPCA seized ten Maltese and Poodle-type dogs. Beiler surrendered the dogs to the PSPCA and they are being further evaluated and treated to make them ready for adoption.

"The PSPCA is dedicated to getting justice for these animals," said Pennsylvania SPCA CEO Jerry Buckley. "We are happy that these animals have a chance to heal and recover before finding their forever homes."

Beiler, who operated Horse Shoe Kennel, which at one time sold close to 300 dogs a year closed his kennel in 2010 when the stricter commercial kennel regulations went into effect.

He will be cited with multiple violations to the state dog law including operating an illegal kennel and failure to have dogs vaccinated for rabies, said officials with the state Dog Law Enforcement Office.

The latest action comes as the PSPCA has stepped up its law enforcement in Lancaster County - home to the largest concentration of licensed commercial kennels in the state and a growing number of unlicensed kennels.

In Lancaster County, the PSPCA's humane law enforcement work is supported by the Humane League of Lancaster County. To report animal abuse, all the Pennsylvania SPCA's cruelty hotline at 1-866-601-SPCA