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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. James E. Casorio, Jr. |
    
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Casorio legislation tackles Pennsylvania 'puppy mills'
HARRISBURG, May 13 – State Rep. James E. Casorio Jr., D-Westmoreland, introduced legislation today that would establish minimum standards for the safety, health and care of dogs raised by and housed at commercial kennels in Pennsylvania.
Casorio said the legislation would eliminate the substandard conditions and abuse that has been documented at some of Pennsylvania's large-scale dog breeding operations. The bill currently has 90 co-sponsors.
"Pennsylvania has become notorious for these so-called 'puppy mills,'" Casorio said. "Our current dog law does not enable the state to address the longstanding problems at these commercial kennels. My legislation would strike a balance between protecting the dogs at large-scale breeding operations while ensuring that people who raise and breed dogs for show, sport and other purposes are not adversely impacted."
Casorio's legislation (H.B. 2525) would, for the first time in state law, make clear distinctions between commercial kennels and other types of dog breeding and care facilities, such as pet shops; sporting, hobby and research kennels; and rescue kennels. The bill would define commercial kennels as those that sell or transfer dogs to dealers or pet shops, or those that sell or transfer more than 60 dogs a year.
For these commercial kennels, the bill would put in place specific standards of care and protection for dogs, including provisions to ensure that dogs are protected from injury and inclement weather; are housed in clean, adequately sized and heated enclosures; and that kennels are equipped with smoke alarms and fire extinguishers. Moreover, even better standards would be required for dogs over 12 weeks old, including more floor space in each primary enclosure, access to an exercise area, a prohibition on the stacking of enclosures and enclosures with wire flooring, and a requirement that dogs receive an annual exam by a veterinarian.
"In Pennsylvania, some breeding dogs in large kennels are forced to live their entire lives in cages the size of dishwashers, stacked on top of one another without adequate heat, sanitation or care," Casorio said. "Some of them are never exercised. Ending this kind of inhumane treatment is a priority of my legislation."
Casorio's bill would also introduce changes in other aspects of the state's dog law. For instance, all kennels would have to develop exercise plans for their dogs. The legislation would also clarify the authority of the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement to enforce the law against unlicensed kennels while protecting due process rights for owners. It would also implement a fee structure that would allow the state to assess higher kennel licensing fees for larger-volume kennels.
"Pennsylvania's reputation as the leader in the nation's puppy mill industry is embarrassing, and unnecessary," Casorio said. "Holding commercial kennels to a humane standard of treatment for the dogs they breed and house would remove Pennsylvania from the top of the nation's puppy mill list and, more importantly, save thousands of dogs a year tremendous suffering and neglect."
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