Kennel

Berkeley County Animal Control's kennel remains closed due to an outbreak of canine parvovirus, but Sheriff Kenneth M. Lemaster said Friday he expects the facility to reopen next week. Lemaster said officials decided to continue the quarantine through the weekend at the kennel on South Queen Street to make sure it is clear of the disease. "We were hoping to have it cleaned up by Friday," Lemaster said. The facility was put under a voluntary quarantine Monday. Sheriff's Lt. Willie Johnson, who oversees day-to-day animal-control operations, said Tuesday that about a dozen dogs had been exposed to the disease in a buildingwide infection, but was unclear how many, if any, dogs would have to be euthanized.

MERCERSBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania State Police and a Mercersburg family are seeking information about a fire that destroyed a kennel in late December. State police Fire Marshal Jeffrey Sarver said it was determined that the Dec. 28 fire at the home of Dave and Mary Baker, 12192 Fort Loudon Road, was intentionally set. A flammable substance was thrown on top of the fiberglass roof of the kennel, he said. The Bakers, who were asleep, were alerted to the fire by the barking of the three dogs in the kennel, Sarver said.

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- For the second time in 10 months, the county's zoning board rejected a request for a commercial dog kennel on Millers Church Road. The board voted 4-1 Wednesday to deny Ruth H. Martin's request. In November 2008, the board voted 5-0 against a special exception. Martin appealed. Washington County Circuit Judge Daniel P. Dwyer ruled last month that the board had to deliberate again. At issue was if the board considered the kennel's effect on the neighborhood or if the board only looked at the use of the property.

If you go... What: Washington County Board of Zoning Appeals hearing on special exception to allow a kennel on agricultural property at 21168 Millers Church Road When: Wednesday, 7 p.m. Where: 100 W. Washington St., Hagerstown, Room 227 WASHINGTON COUNTY -- A kennel operation described by Humane Society of Washington County Executive Director Paul Miller last year as a "puppy mill" is the subject of...

Berkeley County Animal Control has lifted the self-imposed quarantine it put in place last week at its kennel to contain an outbreak of the canine parvovirus, the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office announced Monday. "Casualties were very limited," Sheriff Kenneth M. Lemaster said in a brief interview. Sheriff's Lt. Willie Johnson said Monday in a news release that seven animals "caught up" in the quarantine passed an observation period and exhibited no signs of the disease. Johnson last week indicated about a dozen dogs were exposed to the buildingwide infection, but then was unclear how many, if any, would have to be euthanized due to the virus.

Ten people spoke Tuesday at a public hearing on changes to the county's animal control law, with most objecting to changes related to kennels and farm animals. The discussion, scheduled for 30 minutes, lasted about 75 minutes. cont. from front page Objections and questions raised about the ordinance, which was last revised in 1990, prompted Commissioners President Gregory I. Snook to say that a vote on the changes would not be taken within a month as he had expected.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Expenses associated with taking care of 149 dogs seized in an animal cruelty case last year totaled nearly $165,000, Berkeley County officials learned Thursday. Mara Spade, who ran the Second Chance Rescue animal shelter, was charged with one count of animal cruelty and the case still is pending, officials said. In a June 29, 2006, visit to the Second Chance Rescue shelter off Harlan Springs Road, a Martinsburg-area veterinarian reported seeing dogs exhibiting lameness, poor skin and haircoats, and open wounds in pens that had inadequate ventilation, sanitation, water and food, according to court records.

MARLOWE, W.Va. ? "I watched my best friend burn to death," Mateeka Wolford said Saturday afternoon, leaning against a makeshift kennel in which several chow-mix puppies were playing. A few yards away was the blackened rubble of what had been the mobile home of her friend, David "Spider" Clark Jr., who died less than a dozen hours earlier along with four other members of his family in a Saturday morning fire in the Sportsman's Paradise development. "He would teach me to do better in my art," the girl said of her 40-year-old neighbor.

MARLOWE, W.VA. - "I watched my best friend burn to death," Mateeka Wolford said Saturday afternoon, leaning against a makeshift kennel in which several chow-mix puppies were playing. A few yards away was the blackened rubble of what had been the mobile home of her friend, David "Spider" Clark Jr., who died less than a dozen hours earlier along with four other members of his family in a Saturday morning fire in the Sportsman's Paradise development. "He would teach me to do better in my art," the girl said of her 40-year-old neighbor.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. ? The Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter has had a full house and its hands full with an influx of dozens of dogs it has taken in because of an animal cruelty case. Scottie, a sheltie, looked nervous in his pen, but Bert the St. Bernard and Abby, a huge Newfoundland, appeared content. Five chow-mix puppies looked about curiously as potential owners visited the shelter's kennel Friday. "We took in 63 and, through rescues, we're down to about half that," said Jennifer Vanderau, the shelter's director of communications.

The Mason-Dixon Kennel Club held its annual dog show April 14 in Harrisburg, Pa., and the honor of Best in Show went to the toy group winner No. 11, Maltese Ch. Scyllas Small Kraft Re-Lit.   Reserve Best in Show was awarded to the non- sporting group winner No. 9, Tibetan Spaniel GCh. Kan Sing's Tenzin.  Both received their placements under Judge Alice Inman. The show was part of the four-day Blue and Gray Cluster at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show Building, Weis Expo Hall, in Harrisburg.

A Shepherdstown, W.Va., man who pleaded guilty last year to taking part in the 2010 armed robbery of Beck's Kennels in Berkeley County was placed on probation for five years Tuesday at his sentencing hearing in Berkeley County Circuit Court.   Ian Michael Derr, 23, who pleaded guilty in February 2012 to first-degree robbery and felony burglary, successfully completed a rehabilitative education-based program at the Anthony Correctional Center for...

The Hagerstown City Council has unanimously adopted an ordinance to update its Land Management Code for kennels and conversion districts. The changes approved Tuesday will allow more flexibility for economic development, while maintaining the quality of life for residential areas, city Planning Director Kathleen A. Maher said. The action was taken after plans were submitted to the city to open a doggy day care facility, or kennel, in a commercial district, but kennels were permitted only in industrial districts under the former code, Maher said.

The Mason and Dixon Kennel Club will hold an American Kennel Club Sanctioned B Conformation All Breed Match Saturday at Washington County Agricultural Education Center, off Sharpsburg Pike.  The event will be held rain or shine. Entries will be accepted between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. The entry fee costs $10 per dog. There is no fee for junior showmanship. Judging begins at 11:30 a.m. with junior showmanship. The all-breed judging begins at noon.  There will be a free introduction to conformation (show)

The Humane Society of Washington County is asking people to wait until after Dec. 29 to turn in dogs at its shelter, due to a recurrence of kennel cough. Kennel cough, or bordetella, is the common name for canine tracheobronchitis, the humane society said in a news release Friday. It is a highly contagious disease that affects dogs and is most commonly identified by a dry hacking cough that may resemble honking, the release said. Katherine Cooker, a spokeswoman for the humane society, said in an email that it is the second time this year that the shelter has dealt with the disease.

Berkeley County Animal Control has lifted the self-imposed quarantine it put in place last week at its kennel to contain an outbreak of the canine parvovirus, the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office announced Monday. "Casualties were very limited," Sheriff Kenneth M. Lemaster said in a brief interview. Sheriff's Lt. Willie Johnson said Monday in a news release that seven animals "caught up" in the quarantine passed an observation period and exhibited no signs of the disease. Johnson last week indicated about a dozen dogs were exposed to the buildingwide infection, but then was unclear how many, if any, would have to be euthanized due to the virus.

Berkeley County Animal Control's kennel remains closed due to an outbreak of canine parvovirus, but Sheriff Kenneth M. Lemaster said Friday he expects the facility to reopen next week. Lemaster said officials decided to continue the quarantine through the weekend at the kennel on South Queen Street to make sure it is clear of the disease. "We were hoping to have it cleaned up by Friday," Lemaster said. The facility was put under a voluntary quarantine Monday. Sheriff's Lt. Willie Johnson, who oversees day-to-day animal-control operations, said Tuesday that about a dozen dogs had been exposed to the disease in a buildingwide infection, but was unclear how many, if any, dogs would have to be euthanized.

An outbreak of canine parvovirus at Berkeley County (W.Va.) Animal Control on South Queen Street has forced the county to quarantine the kennel, the Berkeley County Sheriff's Department said Tuesday. About 12 dogs have been exposed to the disease in a “buildingwide infection,” but it is unclear how many, if any, dogs will need to be euthanized, Lt. Willie Johnson said. The sheriff's department oversees county animal control. The agency is not associated with the Berkeley County Humane Society, said Shari Persad, humane society president.

“Sit. Think. Over. Around. Yeah!” That's a conversation Renee Nappier had with her Standard Poodle Zoe during a recent training session at the Washington County Agricultural Education Center. Nappier, who grew up in Montgomery County, Md., has a soft spot for dogs, whether pure-bred or mixed breeds, enough so that she gave up her career as a girls' gymnastics coach to become a full-time dog trainer. “Dogs don't have a hidden agenda,” Nappier said. As a teen, she considered a career as a veterinarian, but a high school guidance counselor told her she would have limited college options in the 1970s, so Nappier abandoned the idea and headed to American University in Washington, D.C., where she earned a bachelor's degree in health and physical education.

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- For the second time in 10 months, the county's zoning board rejected a request for a commercial dog kennel on Millers Church Road. The board voted 4-1 Wednesday to deny Ruth H. Martin's request. In November 2008, the board voted 5-0 against a special exception. Martin appealed. Washington County Circuit Judge Daniel P. Dwyer ruled last month that the board had to deliberate again. At issue was if the board considered the kennel's effect on the neighborhood or if the board only looked at the use of the property.