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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. James E. Casorio, Jr. |
  
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Chester County kennel case points out failings of current dog law
HARRISBURG, July 28 – State Rep. James E. Casorio Jr., D-Westmoreland, said the recent raid of a commercial kennel in Chester County demonstrates the need for a much-improved dog law in Pennsylvania.
Casorio is the prime sponsor of legislation (H.B. 2525) that would update Pennsylvania's dog law by introducing specific standards of care for dogs housed in large commercial kennels in the state. The legislation was approved by the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee in late June and sent for a floor vote in July, but the introduction of nearly 100 mostly Republican amendments forced postponement of a vote until at least the fall.
"This bill is aimed at commercial breeders, not small kennels, not sporting dog groups, not rescue shelters, and not at individual dog owners," Casorio said. "We were careful to take into consideration the concerns of all stakeholders when we were drafting the legislation and during the committee process. What's happening to the bill now is simply an attempt to stall it by those who are more interested in keeping a small group of irresponsible breeders in business than they are with the welfare of the dogs suffering in these kennels.
"Until this legislation moves forward, the disgusting conditions and suffering that were found in Chester County will continue."
Earlier this month, the Limestone Kennel in Chester County was raided by members of the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals after the owner gave a number of dogs that were suffering with skin conditions, abscesses, severed ears and even missing eyes to undercover members of a local animal rescue organization. The PSPCA was successful in getting charges brought against the owner of the kennel.
While some people have pointed to the failure of state dog wardens to identify problems at the kennel on a previous inspection as evidence that better enforcement of the current law is sufficient, Casorio said the raid demonstrates exactly the opposite.
"Unfortunately, the owner of that kennel was in compliance with the current dog law in terms of cage space, flooring, temperature control and other factors," Casorio said. "And since the current law doesn't mandate veterinary care at these large kennels, there's no assurance that dogs suffering from these ailments will get treatment.
"As for the failure to find suffering dogs during a previous inspection, under the current law, that is not hard to understand," he said. "Since inspections have to be scheduled and announced, owners of these types of puppy mills routinely hide suffering dogs, or simply kill them or give them away, as this owner was attempting to do.
"Even if these dogs were on the premises, there is no guarantee dog wardens would find them. Under the current law, the small cages these dogs are housed in can be stacked so high that inspectors cannot even see the dogs inside of them.
"There is absolutely no way under the current dog law, even with the best and most meticulous inspectors and inspections, that the suffering these dogs went through at this kennel can be assured of being discovered. This is exactly why a better dog law is needed."
Casorio's legislation would strengthen the dog law by introducing new requirements for the care and treatment of breeding dogs in commercial kennels that sell or transfer more than 60 dogs a year. The legislation includes provisions that set minimum cage size, exercise, heating and cooling, sanitation and other standards for these large commercial kennels.
The legislation also gives the state's dog law enforcement officers the authority to enforce the state's dog law with respect to non-licensed kennels.
"We have been extremely conscientious about taking into consideration how this new legislation could impact dog breeders and owners," Casorio said. "We want to address the safety, health and care of dogs in large commercial kennels in Pennsylvania without impacting responsible owners and breeders. My legislation would do that.
"In the end, the focus of the dog law must be protecting the animals," he said. "We don't want to put anyone out of business, but some kennels do not belong in business. The Chester County case, and the countless cases before that have made Pennsylvania notorious for puppy mills, demonstrate that the current law does not work. That has to change.
"I will continue working with all interested parties toward the goal of getting an effective new dog law passed before the end of this session. That should be the goal of every responsible lawmaker, dog breeder and animal owner."
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