Bedford Kennel Owner Faces Animal Cruelty Charges

BEDFORD, N.Y. - According to a statement issued by SPCA Westchester, a Bedford woman is facing multiple counts of animal cruelty after being arrested by the organization's Humane Law Enforcement Unit.

Penny Berk, founder of Rescue Right and owner of Northwind Kennels in Bedford, was charged with five counts of animal cruelty stemming from an investigation launched in October 2023.

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On Oct. 3, SPCA officials were notified of a situation involving four Bernese Mountain Dog puppies who were allegedly denied proper medical care at Rescue Right in Northwind Kennels, located in Bedford. The following day, the SPCA’s HLE Director, Medical Director, staff veterinary technician, and a NYS Health Department official visited the location and discovered that the puppies and their mother, Annabelle, were in critical condition, with one of the puppies reportedly barely able to breathe and unresponsive.

Officials rushed the dogs to a private veterinary hospital where all five were diagnosed with Distemper Virus.

According to a statement from SPCA Westchester, one of the puppies was humanely euthanized upon arrival due to the severity of its condition. Despite intensive veterinary care and treatment over the next week, Annabelle and the remaining puppies were euthanized to prevent further suffering.

"Distemper is highly preventable with proper vaccinations and timely medical care," SPCA Westchester explained in the statement issued on July 18. "If the dogs had not been denied veterinary treatment, their outcome could have been very different."

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Annabelle originated from an Amish Pennsylvania puppy mill and was brought to Rescue Right along with an unneutered male Bernese Mountain Dog. Sometime after their arrival at Northwind Kennels/Rescue Right the unneutered male was allegedly co-kenneled with Annabelle, who was unspayed and subsequently impregnated.

Ms. Berk’s next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 28th.

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