Last Friday Seneca County Dog Breeder David Yoder pleaded guilty to multiple counts of inhumane destruction of a dog. USDA inspectors said Yoder admitted killing 93 sick dogs by putting them in a small chamber that he filled with carbon monoxide gas from an engine on his farm. An investigation by Seneca County's Sheriff's Department found 74 were actually gassed. Yoder was fined three hundred dollars by the Romulus town judge plus a two hundred and five dollar surcharge.
At the Beverly Animal Shelter in Waterloo, Director Dallyn Jenkins was outraged by what she saw as a slap on the wrist.
"If you don't want your animal anymore, go out and kill it. It's only going to cost you five dollars,” said Jenkins. “That's the message I see was sent and I think that sets open season on unwanted animals."
Seneca County Assistant District Attorney Mark Sinkiewicz said that the charges were appropriate for the case and that animal cruelty charges were not filed because there was "no evidence of aggravated cruelty." Sinkiewicz said Yoder pleaded guilty to the charges at his planned arraignment and the Romulus Town Justice issued the fine.
Dallyn Jenkins disagreed with Sinkiewicz and said the use of carbon monoxide gas was unquestionably cruel.
"Nobody likes to euthanize an animal. We have to do it here on occasion, we know it has to be done but the point is - they shouldn't suffer,” said Jenkins.
Jenkins is organizing what she calls a funeral procession for the dead dogs. Her shelter currently has three dogs she says are from a puppy mill and she wants more accountability for all dog breeders.
"Most of the breeders in this county are excellent people but we have to be able to inspect them and control for it and if they are overrun or overwhelmed and the animals are sick - than they need to seek the appropriate treatment for them,” said Jenkins.
The procession to remember the dogs that were killed will start at the Beverly Animal Shelter at 3pm on October 16th. Jenkins stressed that it will be a peaceful ride that will not harass anyone.
