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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. James E. Casorio, Jr. |
  
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House passes legislation to strengthen Pennsylvania Dog Law
HARRISBURG, Sept. 17 – The state House of Representatives today passed legislation that would substantially strengthen Pennsylvania's Dog Law and introduce new standards of care and treatment for dogs kept in commercial breeding kennels in the state.
"This is a victory not just for the thousands of dogs who have been suffering under inhumane conditions for so long in some of Pennsylvania's worst commercial kennels, but also for the people who have been trying to enforce the state's dog laws with their hands effectively tied, and for the hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians – dog owners and others alike – who understand that dogs are not simply another commodity, and should not be treated like one," said the bill's sponsor, state Rep. James E. Casorio Jr., D-Westmoreland.
The bill (H.B. 2525) was passed, 181-17, in the House after supporters were able during debate on Monday to defeat a string of amendments that would have weakened the legislation. Most of the amendments were defeated by a more-than-2-to-1 margin. Casorio said the House did approve several changes that both Republicans and Democrats had agreed to.
"Throughout this process, we invited groups impacted by the legislation to work with us in crafting it," Casorio said. "We wanted to reduce the burden that this legislation would put on businesses and other groups as much as possible. Some of the changes we agreed to will accomplish that.
"But we were adamant from the beginning that the primary purpose of this measure is to ensure humane housing, treatment and care for dogs at commercial kennels in Pennsylvania. Efforts that would have threatened or weakened that purpose were rightly defeated."
House Bill 2525 would require solid flooring and double the size of cages for dogs in commercial kennels. It also would prohibit the stacking of cages; require an outdoor exercise area for dogs; introduce new standards for temperature control, lighting and ventilation; require annual veterinary examinations for dogs; and prohibit anyone except a veterinarian from euthanizing dogs in commercial kennels.
The legislation defines commercial kennels as those that sell or transfer dogs to dealers or pet shops, or those that transfer or sell more than 60 dogs a year. The legislation would have little or no impact on other types of kennels, such as boarding kennels, private sporting or hobby kennels, pet stores, rescue shelters or nonprofit kennels.
Casorio said supporters now need to focus on getting the Senate to vote on the legislation before the end of this year's session.
"We need to get this bill passed in the Senate and signed into law before the end of November, or we are going to have to start all over again next year," Casorio said.
"We have a tremendous opportunity to do the right thing right now," he said. "We don't want to wait any longer, and the thousands of dogs who are suffering every day in this state's puppy mills cannot afford for us to wait any longer."
Casorio said residents can contact their state Senator and Senate leaders to urge a vote by visiting www.pahouse.com and clicking on the "Action Center" link. More information and updates about H.B. 2525 and Dog Law enforcement efforts in Pennsylvania is also available at www.doglawaction.org.
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