Breeder: Zimmerman, Ezra
Business name: Zimmerman Kennel
Address: 11900 State Route 304
City, State Zip: Mifflinburg, PA 17844
Year: 2007
USDA License: Pennsylvania kennel class: K5
Date of CAPS Investigation: 2007-10-29
Time of CAPS Investigation: 11:54
Breeds: Bichon Frises, Shih Tzus, Cocker Spaniels, Yorkshire Terriers, West Highland Terriers, Chihuahuas, Dachshunds
There were about 12 dogs and an unknown number of puppies in the kennel at the time of investigation.
Location and description
“Zimmerman’s Kennel” is noted as being located at 11965 State Route 304 in Mifflinburg, PA, though I found the kennel on the opposite side of the highway at 11900 State Route 304. I spoke to a Mennonite woman at 11965 who told me to go to 11900 to get dogs, where I met a man who identified himself as Ezra Zimmerman.
Ezra Zimmerman’s kennel was inside a building, with rows of elevated cages inside. Each cage contained two to three dogs of various small breeds. I was able to observe only about half of the dogs closely, though low light and dogs huddling in the backs of their cages or jumping frantically made it difficult to clearly view many of the dogs I did see.
Four rows of cages were arranged into two sets of rows, with each set containing having two rows back-to-back with each other. There were two to three dogs per cage in each of the cages in these rows, with about 10 cages per row. The cages were constructed with wooden beams to act as frames and plastic-coated wire on all sides. All of the cages in the kennel had plastic self-feeders and automatic water spigots.
Shih Tzu with infected eye
In one cage in the row closest to office space of the kennel were two shaved Shih Tzu breeders. One had a green and clear discharge from its left eye. The eyelids never completely opened and the dog constantly blinked the eye, indicating an eye infection (PA Dog Law 21.30-Condition of dog).
Bichon Frises
Another cage in the same row held three Bichon Frise breeders. All of them had hair loss on their paws, where bare pink skin was evident (21.30-Condition of dog).
Another row of about a dozen cages was used to hold whelping dogs and puppies, arranged against a wall in the kennel room that met the office area from where the kennel was accessed. Four more whelping cages were also in the office area; they were set against its wall opposite the doorway accessing the kennel from the outdoors. Each whelping cage had a fully enclosed whelping on its rear accessible via a doggie-door. One whelping cage held a single adult Bichon Frise covered in matted fur. A large clump of dried feces was stuck to the dog’s hindquarters (21.30-Condition of dog).
