Founder of Bedford kennel arrested for animal cruelty

The founder of a Bedford kennel was arrested Wednesday as SPCA's Humane Law Enforcement unit found five dogs in critical condition in her care in October.

SPCA Westchester spokesperson Lisa Bonanno said Penny Berk, owner and founder of Rescue Right at Northwind Kennels in Bedford, was charged with five counts of animal cruelty after witnesses alerted the SPCA to four sick Bernese Mountain Dog puppies and an adult dog at the kennel who were being denied proper medical care.

On October 4, the humane enforcement unit and state Health Department officials visited the kennel and discovered all four puppies, and their mother, Annabelle, were suffering and in critical condition. Bonanno said one of the puppies "could barely breathe and was nonresponsive."

The mother and the puppies were rescued from the location and rushed to a private veterinary hospital where all five were diagnosed with the Distemper virus, a serious and deadly disease that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous system of dogs and causes seizures, muscle twitching, fever and loss of appetite.

Bonanno said one of the puppies had to be humanely euthanized upon arrival due to its deteriorating condition. The remaining puppies and their mother were all euthanized after six days of treatment.

"Distemper is highly preventable with proper vaccinations and timely medical care," Bonanno said. "If the dogs had not been denied veterinary treatment, their outcome could have been very different."

Berk's next court appearance is scheduled for August 28.

Anyone who witnesses or suspects animal cruelty or abuse is asked to call SPCA’s Cruelty Hotline at 914-941-7797.