Aug 7, 2018 3 min read

An Amwell Township woman was fined the maximum amount Monday for operating a kennel without a license after a state constable was unable to verify the number of dogs she had at her home over the weekend.

Brandy Ellerman, 45, of 592 Lone Pine Road, told District Judge Ethan Ward during a July 24 summary trial she planned to plead guilty to having more dogs than the limit at which a person is required by the state to have a kennel license. She operates Hound Haven, an animal rescue for hound breeds.

State dog warden Steven S. Stoehr, who along with dog warden John Sheldon filed charges against Ellerman, told Ward during the earlier hearing a kennel license is required for any establishment that has 25 dogs come through during a year. He estimated Ellerman had more than 60 come through the kennel in 2016 and more than 30 in 2017. Amwell Supervisor Wayne Montgomery also told Ward the township ordinance limits the number of dogs on a property to three.

Ward gave Ellerman 10 days to reduce the number of dogs on her property to three. At the July 24 trial, Stoehr estimated she had about two dozen dogs on her property. Ward had continued the hearing to allow state Constable Mark Gordon to check the property before Monday’s hearing, telling Ellerman at last month’s hearing she did not want her to come back and not be in compliance.

Gordon said he spoke with Ellerman Wednesday, making arrangements to be at her home at 11 a.m. Saturday. He said he arrived about 10:45 a.m. in his marked constable’s car and wearing a state constable uniform.

The constable said he knocked on the door and rang the doorbell several times. He also called Ellerman on the telephone twice, but got no answer. He also walked around the perimeter of the property, but was not able to ascertain how many dogs were on the property. Gordon said he was there until about 11:30 a.m.

Gordon said he missed a call from Ellerman just before 5 p.m., with her questioning why he did not keep a 1 p.m. appointment. He told the judge the appointment was at 11 a..m. and questioned why she did not call him closer to 1 p.m.

Ellerman told Ward she had been at her home from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday.

“It is almost like you are playing games,” Ward told her.

Ward said Ellerman’s attorney called Friday and again Monday, asking for a continuance, but the judge denied the request. He told Ellerman she was well aware of the hearing and he does not grant continuance requests made fewer than five days before a scheduled proceeding. Ellerman told Ward her attorney was not available Monday.

Ward set the fines and costs for the the four citations against Ellerman at $1,485.50. He told Ellerman she had 30 days to file an appeal or ask for a secondary hearing.