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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. James E. Casorio, Jr. |
  
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House begins debate on dog law bill
HARRISBURG, Sept. 15 – The state House is expected to begin debate today on legislation that would overhaul Pennsylvania's dog law, according to the bill's sponsor, state Rep. James E. Casorio Jr.
Casorio said a final vote on the measure could come as soon as this week.
The legislation, H.B. 2525, was introduced in May and approved by the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee in June. An effort to consider the bill in the full House in July was derailed when a handful of Republican legislators introduced a raft of last-minute amendments. But Casorio said Democratic leaders made a commitment to put the bill to a vote by the full House before the end of the current legislative session.
"The support for legislation to ensure the humane treatment of dogs in Pennsylvania's large, commercial breeding kennels has never been higher, and the momentum to get these improvements to Pennsylvania's dog law made has never been greater," Casorio said. "We simply cannot wait another year to start this process all over again; there are too many dogs suffering and dying in Pennsylvania's puppy mills."
Casorio said the legislation is aimed at improving care and conditions at Pennsylvania's commercial breeding kennels. The bill would, for the first time in Pennsylvania, define commercial kennels, and set standards for these kennels that generally mirror those required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Commercial kennels would be defined as any kennel where dogs are bred and where dogs are sold or transferred to a dealer or pet shop, or where 60 or more dogs are sold or transferred in a calendar year.
The legislation would have little, if any, impact on non-commercial kennels such as boarding kennels, private sporting or hobby kennels, pet stores, rescue shelters or nonprofit kennels. While all kennels would have to be equipped with fire extinguishers and have vet-approved exercise plans for their dogs, only about 650 of the 2,750 licensed kennels in Pennsylvania would fall under the definition of commercial kennel, and be subject to the major provisions of the bill. These new requirements for commercial breeding kennels would:
· double the current cage size for dogs and require solid flooring in cages;
· prohibit the stacking of cages;
· require that dogs be given access to an outdoor area for exercise;
· introduce new standards for temperature controls, lighting and ventilation; and
· require dogs to receive an annual exam by a veterinarian and prohibit anyone but a veterinarian to euthanize dogs in a commercial kennel.
"These changes to the dog law will not impact breeders who are not breaking the law, and are not intended to end commercial breeding in Pennsylvania," Casorio said. "But they are essential to protecting dogs in commercial kennels, and ensuring that they are treated humanely."
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