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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Bryan Lentz
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Lentz reacts to stall tactics on advancing bill that would protect dogs
HARRISBURG, July 3 – State Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-Delaware, said he was extremely disappointed with action taken to stall a vote on a widely supported bill (H.B. 2525) that would eliminate the substandard conditions and abuse that have been documented at some of Pennsylvania's large-scale dog breeding operations.
Republican House members have filed more 110 amendments to the bill, Lentz said, in a deliberate attempt to keep the legislation from coming to the House floor for a vote.
"These members are acting not on behalf of
Pennsylvania residents or the dogs that suffer in brutal conditions, but
instead on behalf of a small group of commercial interests who object to
spending money to ensure the humane treatment of dogs," Lentz said.
"My colleagues in the House have received countless correspondences urging
the legislature to make this proposal law. Yet, instead of protecting the lives
of innocent dogs forced to live in puppy mills, some are more focused on political
pandering.
"Any person who walked into these types of kennels would have the indelible memory of innocent dogs being victimized in the cruelest way, simply for human profit. When Pennsylvania has become the face of puppy cruelty on national television on programs like the Oprah Winfrey show, it's obvious we need change. These tactics are inexcusable and I am deeply saddened we have reached this impasse."
Lentz said the legislation 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.
The 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.
"I applaud House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Hanna for his steady leadership on navigating this bill through the legislative channels. I will continue to work with him on this bill to outlaw puppy mills through the summer and insist that it become the law of the land when we return in the fall."
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