While other prosecutors (including Attorney General Tom Corbett who successfully closed down the infamous CC Pets in 2009) fight the good fight and protect Pennsylvania's dogs, Craig Stedman has failed to close down one puppy mill in a county with the highest concentration of puppy mills anywhere in the world. How does Craig Stedman measure up against district attorneys in other counties... read more

Lancaster County DA Stedman refused to prosecute breeders on Oprah show. As the world watched as breeding dogs suffered and hoped that the guilty had been prosecuted - Stedman's office sits on evidence and does nothing. read more

Every week, we'll post a dog rescued from a puppy mill in Lancaster County; another dog abused or neglected by a breeder Craig Stedman will never prosecute.
"Gem" came to MLAR dripping blood with a high fever. Our vets discovered a mummified puppy inside her infected, deteriorating uterus. A commercial breeder performed a Caesarian on Gem and later told us "I guess I didn't get 'em all out." This is now illegal in Pennsylvania (one of our new dog laws), but who will enforce this law? Who will prosecute him? Not Craig Stedman, that's for sure.

Considering Lancaster County is often called the "Puppy Mill Capital of the East Coast," we need a DA willing to prosecute commercial breeders who abuse their dogs. What's the use of passing stronger laws to protect Pennsylvania's breeding dogs if one man (Craig Stedman) can single-handedly stop the dogs from getting the help they so desperately need.

The Bureau of Dog Law should also be citing for lack of veterinary care if they see a sick or injured dog during routine kennel inspections. They have refused to do this - no matter how serious the injuries or illness. The PSPCA and Main Line Animal Rescue would not have been forced to travel to Ohio, if the Bureau of Dog Law had cited the breeders for lack of veterinary care or called in local cruelty officers while the dogs were still in Lancaster County kennels prior to the Ohio auction.

If you would like to comment on this site or share your experiences, please email: NOMOREPUPPYMILLS@aol.com

If the good people of Lancaster want their puppy mills closed down or cleaned up, if the continued coverage in the press is hurting tourism, and if Stedman steadfastly refuses to prosecute individuals who abuse animals, then we need to push for change. When everyone wants more, why are we settling for less? Contact the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office and tell Craig Stedman to either step up or step aside. We need a DA in Lancaster who is going to help Pennsylvania's dogs and prosecute those who abuse these poor animals. Be polite, but resolute. Accept no excuses.




Craig Stedman

District Attorney of Lancaster County    

Lancaster County Courthouse

50 North Duke Street

Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17608

(717) 299-8100

stedman@co.lancaster.pa.us