Kennel neglect, 20 dogs in deplorable conditions
Monroe, NJ (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006
County: Gloucester
Disposition: Not Charged
Person of Interest: Denise Rhodes
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
A local dog kennel known for breeding Great Danes could be shut down this week after state and county health inspectors found it to be in "deplorable" condition.
The township board of health has scheduled a hearing for tonight to consider revoking the kennel license for Denise Rhodes, owner of Rhodes-End Kennel on Whitehall Road.
Rhodes is also scheduled to be in municipal court on April 18 to answer to allegations she violated about 40 animal cruelty statutes, according to the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Nancy Marino, board of health secretary, said 20 dogs Great Danes and German shepherds are housed in run-down sheds and sleeping in their own feces at the Rhodes-End Kennel.
The kennel has been given numerous chances since July 2006 to comply with state and local codes, but conditions have only worsened, Marino said.
"It was just a really bad situation dog droppings all over the place, a lot of dogs confined to one kennel," Marino said. "Every violation that could have been had, they were in violation of."
The township gave Rhodes a kennel license in 1990, when there were only eight dogs on the 2.7-acre lot.
Joe DiLolle, the board of health's code enforcement officer, has inspected the property every year before the license was renewed, Marino said.
"They never got the license right away," Marino said. "They always had to clean up first."
However, the township did not realize Rhodes increased the number of dogs at the kennel, Marino said.
With 20 dogs, Rhodes-End Kennel must comply with state regulations.
The state health inspectors became involved when they were contacted in March 2006 by New Jersey Consumers Against Pet Shop Abuse, (NJCAPSA), a non-profit group that helps people who unknowingly purchase sick dogs.
Libby Williams of NJCAPSA said a Jackson Township woman came to her for help after purchasing a dog from Rhodes-End that had a genetic kidney disease and was treated by Rhodes with expired vaccines.
State and local health officials inspected the kennel in July and revisited it in August.
Monroe Township police were called to the facility in August when the owners refused to let the inspectors on the property.
Through an open public records request, Williams obtained copies of the inspection reports.
"The water had algae in it. There was fecal matter everywhere. There was an extreme odor of feces," Williams said. "No adequate lighting; no adequate shade; three dead rats found in several kennels."
Mike Lowe, senior field representative for the Gloucester County Department of Health, said he could not give specific comments on the kennel's condition because the case is open.
However, Lowe said "there were multiple sanitary violations, as well as structural ones."
"The conditions were so horrendous and virtually unchanged, we felt it was best to proceed to the hearing," Lowe said.
State and county health inspectors are expected to testify at the hearing on April 11.
Rhodes and her attorney are expected to attend. Rhodes did not return a request for comment.
The board of health will decide whether to revoke the kennel license.
Case UpdatesThe township Board of Health revoked a local dog lover's license to operate a private kennel on Whitehall Road in the Williamstown section of the township late Wednesday evening.
Denise Rhodes, who is accused of animal cruelty and negligence, said she felt helpless as the board voted unanimously to revoke her license.
"I love my dogs," she said after the meeting. "I just want to comply, but I don't know how."
The state Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals issued 42 violations, citing negligence to provide adequate housing for the two spaniels, 10 German shepherds and seven Great Danes housed on the property.
The state Department of Health and Human Services recommended the township revoke Rhodes' license because the facility did not meet state standards during three separate inspections.
A report presented by state inspector Heather Bialy on Wednesday night to the board cited fecal matter in the cages, traces of rodents in the kennel area and flies on the property as reasons why Rhodes' kennel must close.
The first inspection, in July, was considered a random visit prompted by an anonymous phone call. The second inspection, several months later, noted the kennel had not been improved.
The third inspection, on March 31, reached the same conclusions, Bialy said.
Marsha Phillips, the attorney representing the Rhodes family Wednesday night, said illness forced the Rhodes family to postpone major renovations to the 15-year-old kennel.
"Denise's husband underwent open heart surgery around the same time as the inspection," Phillips said. "There are some improvements that need to be made, but the dogs are not in danger. They are healthy and happy."
Phillips believes a misunderstanding among the state, the township and the Rhodeses has led to the revocation of the license.
"I have bought my dogs from Denise. I have trained them with Denise," Phillips said. "Denise wants to comply. She wants to fix the kennel, but the violations are unclear and she has not been instructed as to what she needs to do to fix it."
The state regulations that dictate the requirements for the renewal of a kennel license changed five years ago, Phillips said. Rhodes said she was not informed of the more stringent requirements, many of which she is cited as violating, she said.
The township renewed Rhodes' kennel license after the state conducted its first inspection, which Rhodes failed.
The township has given no indication as to when Rhodes must have her dogs removed or transferred off the property or when the kennel must close.
Rhodes first applied for a license to operate the private kennel, named Rhodes-End Kennel, in 1990. Since then, her license has been renewed annually.
For the Rhodes family, the loss of the kennel license represents a heartache that cannot be fixed.
"My mom lives for those dogs, night and day," said her son, Victor Rhodes, 28. "She's with them in the morning before work, in the evening after work. She knows every dog she has ever owned. This is going to break her heart."
The township Board of Health solicitor could not be reached for comment Thursday.
The family is considering appealing the decision, Phillips said Wednesday. | Source: Courier-Post Online - April 13, 2007
Update posted on Apr 15, 2007 - 11:41PM |
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