Penny Burke, owner of Rescue Right in Northwind Kennels, Bedford, Denies the Charges
SPCA Westchester announced that their Humane Law Enforcement Unit (HLE), under the direction of Ernest Lungaro, arrested Penny Berk of Bedford, NY and charged her with 5 counts of animal cruelty on July 17, 2024.
On October 3, 2023 SPCA Westchester officials were alerted by several witnesses to a dire situation regarding 4 sick Bernese Mountain Dog puppies who were being denied proper medical care at Rescue Right in Northwind Kennels, located in Bedford, NY. On October 4th, the SPCA’s HLE Director, Medical Director, staff veterinary technician, and a NYS Health Department official visited the location and upon inspection discovered that all 4 puppies and their mom, Annabelle, were suffering and in critical condition. One of the puppies could barely breathe and was nonresponsive.
SPCA officials immediately rushed Annabelle and her babies to a private veterinary hospital where all five were diagnosed with a serious and deadly disease known as the Distemper Virus. Sadly, one of the puppies was too far gone to be saved and had to be humanely euthanized upon arrival. Over the next six days, despite round the clock veterinary care and treatment, the remaining littermates and Annabelle were euthanized to prevent further suffering.
Distemper is highly preventable with proper vaccinations and timely medical care. If the dogs had not been denied veterinary treatment, their outcome could have been very different.
Annabelle originated from an Amish Pennsylvania puppy mill and was brought to Rescue Right along with an unneutered male Bernese Mountain Dog. Sometime after their arrival at Northwind Kennels/Rescue Right the unneutered male was co-kenneled with Annabelle, who was unspayed and subsequently impregnated.
Ms. Berk’s next court appearance is set for August 28th.
If you witness or suspect an animal is being abused or neglected, please call the SPCA’s Cruelty Hotline at (914) 941-7797.
Learn more at spcawestchester.org.
Animal rights activits, Diane Madden posted on Facebook, “This woman “Penny Berk,” deceived the public for YEARS into believing she was “saving” animals….all while USING animals for personal income. She exploited the public into raising money on Go Fund Me’s and other manipulative tactics to increase income only to keep a roof over her head while tormenting animals. She fooled a lot of naive, gullible people who have an emotional need to feel some satisfaction in animals being “rescued.”
Sound familiar? I have been highly aware of this case and even collaborated with advocates as a colleague of mine has been intricately involved in getting light shed on just another “rescuer” who tortures animals and paid herself for it. THROW AWAY THE KEY. Penny should have been shut down years ago but instead “supporters” continued to raise more money that actually caused more endless suffering.”
Berk, through her attorney, Anthony Siano, denied the charged made against her. “Ms. Smith-Berk pled not guilty today and was released on her own recognizance. She and her attorneys intend to contest vigorously the assertions made by the Office of the District Attorney.”
“Since 1921. Northwind Kennels has been Westchester County’s most prestigious and trusted pet care facility. Ms. Penelope Smith-Berk has owned and operated Northwind for over 17 vears. In that time. Ms. Smith-Berk has been committed to the care and safety of literally tens of thousands of pets and rescued animals. We look forward to refuting these accusations in Court and obtaining Ms. Smith-Berk’s acquittal,” said Siano in a statement released to the media.
