Finally- Derbe “Skip” Eckhart- former owner/operator of Almost Heaven (Hell) Kennel in Upper Milford Township, Emmaus, PA- is on trial for animal cruelty charges stemming from a raid on his property October 1st, 2008 in Lehigh County Courthhouse, Courtroom 4A. A day, so many thought, including myself, would never happen.
I sat in the courtroom and listened to Kirstin Donmoyer, kennel compliance specialist, testifying to what she had seen on Eckhart’s property as the prosecutor was exhibiting photographs taken from the commercial kennel Eckhart once operated.
Donmoyer spoke of the smell she can never forget at Eckhart’s property. She said her eyes burned from that odor. Pictures showed fans were in the kennels but were not working to help alleviate that stench or to allow air to flow in the vicinity.
I watched as the fourteen jurors listened and viewed photos of these conditions. But I, personally, looked but couldn’t see any reaction in their faces to these images.
Even though I could only stay for the morning session, I was able to get a chance to listen to Eckhart’s defense attorney ask questions of Donmoyer. I have to say I thought he was good at his job and that is what he’s getting paid to do. But it’s too early to draw any conclusions.
Let’s hope the obvious evidence and the decades-long charges and convictions affect the outcome of this trial. This man who claims he loved these dogs should never be allowed to have another dog in his life.
I’ve seen the photos and the video in the previous hearings and one only has to see the outside of that kennel to know the hell those dogs endured.
The trial continues tomorrow. I can’t attend on Wednesday but I will attend again this week.
I want to see this man pay a price for what he has done to man’s best friend.