Miriam J. Winkler
is 71
years old and operates
the kennel with 46-year-old
James Robert Deppen. Mimi is AKC approved
for Bichon
and is apparently
judging the National this year. Jim Deppen
is approved for several Working breeds and
Shar Pei, and he’s
provisional for nearly a dozen more Non-Sporting breeds. He grooms in
nearby NJ during the week.
Pennsylvania State Police filed 23 citations against Deppen
and Winkler. That’s a big story but the reports bring up
more questions than they answer. There was an announced
inspection in April by dog wardens listed as Orlando
Aguirre, Diane Buhl and Kathy Andrews.
Newspapers reported there were 18 Bichons "living in
unsanitary conditions” with “heavily matted
coats, long nails and open tumors on some of the dogs that
were untreated” but after examination of the
citations we were unable to discern any reference to
conditions or tumors. The more than forty citations
consistently noted the dogs “incurred substantial veterinary
& grooming care & bills.”
Perhaps the vet discovered “open tumors” along with the
“whip, hook & roundworms” in the Border Collie that “tested
high for Lyme Disease after veterinary care provided by PA
dog warden, upon reimbursement.” If you are following Dr.
Jordan’s Vaccine series, you will read that sentence again.
One might wonder how an expected inspection could
reveal dogs so desperately in need of veterinary care which
was ordered less than a month previous to the return
inspection. That would indicate grievous disregard for both
the laws of PA and the dogs themselves.
One of the citations stated that they “conspired” and
“agreed to engage in conduct constituting cruelty by failing
to provide adequate veterinary care causing (illegible) to
22 dogs.”
What we don’t yet know is; were some of the dogs crated?
Would same-day feces in an outside run constitute unsanitary
conditions? Which dog (s) had open tumors? Had they been
seen by a vet? What was the age of the “sick” dogs?
And what are the circumstances surrounding the death of the
Neapolitan Mastiffs, one of which was noted as having
“severe skin and foot conditions” and one had a “chronic eye
condition”. They were ordered to receive veterinary care
but one report says police said “the wardens returned June 7
to find ‘two of the Neapolitan mastiffs were deceased, one
of which was disposed of outside of the kennel in a
wheelbarrow.’” So far we are unable to find reference to the
cause of death.
Deppen and Winkler relinquished all the dogs to animal
control dog wardens but police filed 22 citations for animal
cruelty. Each citation carries a penalty of up to 90 days
in prison or a fine between $50 and $750. The case is before
District Judge Rod Beck.
The 44 or more citations show a charge of $23.50 each but
even if they “pled out” by having turned the dogs over to
officials, they could still face jail time and be liable for
fines and vet bills estimated to be thousands of dollars.
Police said Winkler and Deppen plan to close the kennel. If
there are no dogs left on premises, they have no choice even
though they may co-own dogs elsewhere. That seems more than
sad, it represents loss of a lifetime breeding program for
Mimi Winkler and is no doubt a terrible loss for Jim Deppen.
None of our subscribers would ever tolerate animal cruelty,
including medical neglect. Grooming? Coated dogs can matt
quickly and easily and we have no way of knowing how badly
matted the Bichons actually were. People who know Mimi,
including a former handler, were shocked at this news. A
judge friend said “that doesn’t sound like Mimi and her
kennels and home were always lovely.”
No one has been able to reach Mimi Winkler or Jim Deppen.
We would like to talk to them. The Neos were his breed and
to the average person, any Neapolitan Mastiff might appear
to have eye or skin problems. Why did they die?
We have covered several stories wherein dog owners, even
bird owners were coerced into giving their animals to
authorities. In one case of which I am personally aware,
healthy show quality purebred dogs were confiscated under
abuse charges but then “adopted out” within 72 hours after
they were shown that evening on local television. Adoption
fees were equal to pet prices for the dogs. In another
case we covered, 20/20 Undercover and John Stossel revealed
SPCA Steals Valuable animals. Arabian horses being
removed for lack of care and then taken immediately to
auction. It happens, sometimes good people do bad
things.
We will follow this PA
bust in hopes there is another side to a tragic story.
http://www.thedogpress.com/SideEffects/Cruelty-Judges-Charged-1007_Andrews.asp
Editor's Note: We
believe these highly respected judges to be unfairly
accused. But prepare to be shocked by one of the most
horrific abuse stories on record. A highly favored
AKC Breeder / Handler, supposedly AKC inspected as a
known puppy mill. Michael Wolf may have been the
catalyst for unfair and illegal animal seizures by radical
animal rights / Animal Control Officers in Pennsylvania.
Read
The Big Bad Wolf
Related Coverage:
Attorney On Animal Control
Judges Charged With Animal Cruelty
Big Bad Wolf - Mike-Mar Puppy Mill
Busted
SPCA Confiscates Birds & Animals
20/20 Undercover - SPCA Steals Dogs
