Probation violation

Derbe Eckhart, found guilty in 2010 of cruelty to animals in connection with his kennel business Almost Heaven Kennel in Upper Milford Township, allegedly has violated his probation and a warrant was issued Sept. 17.

According to a press release from the Lehigh County Court Administrator's office, personnel from the county probation department found multiple animals at Eckhart's property on Sept. 16.

According to court documents available on the court website and news coverage by the Associated Press, Eckhart was found guilty in a jury trial of two counts of cruelty to animals because of poor living conditions for animals at his kennel. He also was found guilty of three counts of operating a kennel after he was ordered by the state of Pennsylvania to stop running a kennel.

On Sept. 16 Lehigh County Probation Department officials, described as "wearing masks and gloves due to an unhealthy environment," found 21 dogs, three donkeys, four goats, 22 horses, 138 birds, 23 chickens, two turkeys, five peacocks, three monkeys and two geese" along with numerous cats and kittens at Eckhart's property.

In the 2010 case, after the jury verdict, Eckhart also was found guilty of summary offenses and violations focused on animal care such as providing clean bedding.

According to court documents, Eckhart's sentence in the 2010 case, in addition to jail time, was to include three years probation during which Eckhart was not to work in a job involving care of animals or obtain new animals.

Authorities removed numerous animals from the Almost Heaven Kennel facility after the investigation which led to Eckhart's trial. According to press reports, Eckhart kept as many as 800 animals on his property prior to the investigation, trial, and conviction.