FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
State Rep. Mike Hanna D-Clinton/Centre www.pahouse.com/Hanna

Hanna: Bill to strengthen Dog Law goes to governor  

HARRISBURG, Oct. 8 – State Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre, said legislation to strengthen the state's Dog Law has gone to the governor for his signature.

Hanna said the governor has said he will sign the bill into law.

House Bill 2525 sets minimum cage size, exercise, sanitation and other standards for the care and treatment of dogs in commercial kennels that sell or transfer more than 60 dogs a year.

"Setting higher standards for the state's commercial kennels will improve protection for dogs and reduce problems related to inadequate care," Hanna said. "Animal lovers across the state have something to feel very good about today."  

Among other improvements, the bill:

· doubles required cage space for dogs;

· requires dogs to be examined by a licensed veterinarian at least every six months;

· prohibits the use of metal-strand flooring to protect dogs' paws and allow for drainage of fluids;

· prohibits stacking dogs' cages on top of each other;

· requires dogs to have access to an attached exercise area in almost all circumstances; and

· allows euthanization of dogs to be performed only by a veterinarian and only if it is deemed medically necessary to alleviate suffering.

As the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee chairman, Hanna shepherded the bill through his committee and worked with stakeholders, including animal advocacy groups and veterinary associations, to reach a compromise on the bill's language.

"Although the provisions in the final bill are not as far-reaching as those we had put into the House version, this is still a victory for dogs and dog lovers in Pennsylvania," Hanna said. "Kennels that do not follow appropriate standards of care need to be brought in line. This bill gives us better ability to enforce the Dog Law to keep dogs in commercial kennels safe and healthy."

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