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Charges Dropped Against Ohio Amish Dog Breeder

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The Ohio Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is angry that animal cruelty charges have been dropped against an Amish dog breeder.

The group had pushed for charges against breeder Jonas Beachy after 52 dogs were removed from his central Ohio farm last fall, many with dental disease, feces-smeared coats and paws mangled by wire-mesh cages.

But on Monday, Circleville Law Director Gary Kenworthy dismissed the charges against Beachy because of problems securing the records of veterinarians scattered across Ohio who treated Beachy's dogs.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that the 58-year-old Beachy agreed not to raise dogs for sale over the next year unless supervised by a veterinarian.

Beachy's attorney, James Kingsley of Circleville, accused the animal activists of mounting a "crusade against Amish breeders."