Blair County dog rescue avoids closure, speaks up on licensing issues
ROARING SPRINGS, Pa. (WTAJ) — A Blair County dog rescue spoke out after problems with their kennel license almost forced them to shut down.
A Darrah Bull Bully Rescue, which is a foster network that helps find new homes for bully breeds, was cited due to issues with their kennel license. According to the rescue's president Renae Metz, a dog warden inspected the rescue and mentioned an increase in dogs being brought in, which caused the rescue to upgrade their license.
The license was originally at Kennel II, which accounted for 51 to 100 dogs brought in per year. However, the inspection had the warden count over that 100-dog threshold.
This made Metz level up to a Kennel III license, which has a maximum of 150 dogs rescued per year.
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'The end of 2023, the laws changed in the state,' Metz said. 'APA with dog law, prior to 2024, is licensing a rescue network, kennel or nonprofit could have rescued unlimited dogs for $25 a year. We gave the state $25. They come in and inspect our paperwork twice a year, and it's a done deal. Beginning with 2024, they did away with that $25 fee, and we are now treated as if we are a boarding kennel per se, just like one where you go and pay a fee to keep your dog there while you're on vacation.'
In a Facebook post, the rescue informed their followers of a citation that resulted in an additional $275 payment, which Metz says is unfair.
'To me, that just seems like it's, you know, you're you're hitting the good guys with a big fine rather than a dog loss should be taking those laws and putting them where they need to be,' Metz added. 'On the news, you're seeing all these hoarding cases, dogs being brought in from puppy mills. That's where they need to focus their attention and not on the good guys.'
In that Facebook post, she contemplated shutting down the shelter, citing mental exhaustion and no time due to her full-time job. However, the recent loss of her dog, Darrah, whom the rescue was named after when it started 14 years ago, made her reflect on that decision.
'When Darrah passed away, you start rethinking things like, 'Wait, that's her legacy. Now, I think we should go on,'' Metz said. 'I think that it's just something that we're really considering. We're we are regrouping the rest of this year. We're trying to get the 27 dogs that are in the rescue, adopted. And then next year, when it comes to do the 2026 license, we're really going to think about it and just make sure it's the step we want to take.'
However, multiple shelters and supporters have reached out in support, donating money to help pay the fine. But the support will build up a stance against the new kennel laws from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
'They all would like the state to really take another look at this and realize that us paying $25, which was like that for the past 14 years, is realistic,' Metz added. 'Paying upwards of $500, $600 and $700 just to help out dogs is a little over the top.'
WTAJ reached out to the Department of Agriculture for a comment on the situation, but they did not respond to our request.
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