Something's Not Kosher Here

The Forward this week talks about Mike and Paula Barber, who run a breeding kennel with up to 130 dogs in Pennsylvania, the puppy mill capital of the east coast. In an October article in The New People, I wrote about how people across Pennsylvania are taking a stand against the state's dishonorable reputation for dog-breeding.

Like many Pennsylvanians, the Barbers' neighbors are outraged over the puppy mill, and they are outspoken against its disturbing noise levels. The Barbers, who many community residents didn't even know were Jewish, then claimed to be victims of anti-Semitism--which local police and even the Anti-Defamation League seemed to doubt!

Need proof that the canine pimps can't be trusted? Alleged perseution apparently hasn't done much to strengthen the Barbers' Jewish identity, as the couple has decided to give up dog-breeding in favor of pig-farming. Oy gevalt!

Note: Opponents of PAWS (mentioned in the linked article from The New People) are trying to water down the bill. The bill's cosponsor, Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA), is being urged not to allow PAWS to be amended as such.