|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
State
Rep. Bryan Lentz
|
  
|
Lentz praises passage of bill that would protect dogs from inhumane conditions
HARRISBURG, Oct. 8 – State Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-Delaware, said the House passed a widely supported bill (H.B. 2525) today that would eliminate the substandard conditions and abuse that has been documented at some of Pennsylvania's large-scale dog breeding operations.
The bill, which the Senate approved earlier today 49-1, now goes to the governor, who is expected to sign it into law.
"This bill was too important to let languish
at the end of session," Lentz said. "Hundreds of people in my
district alone came out in support of this measure, which would help hundreds
of dogs who suffer in brutal conditions each day for the benefit of commercial
interests. They asked me how anyone could not support a bill that would end the
horrendous conditions they read about in newspapers and saw on television."
Over the summer, Lentz held a series of town hall meetings on the dog
legislation, which were widely attended by supporters of the legislation.
"My constituents told me they wanted nothing less than to see this bill law," Lentz said. "I don't think there is a person out there, who if they saw the conditions at these types of kennels, would be able to erase the sight of innocent dogs being victimized in the cruelest way for human profit.
"Quite frankly, it was an embarrassment when Pennsylvania became the face of dog cruelty on national television on programs like the Oprah Winfrey Show. I am ecstatic we were able to deliver on this legislation tonight. It was the right thing to do."
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.
The bill requires commercial kennel owners to provide regular exercise and semiannual veterinary exams for dogs; doubles the minimum cage size for dogs; prohibits the stacking of cages; requires adequate heating, lighting and ventilation; prohibits wire flooring in cages; and prohibits commercial kennel owners from euthanizing their dogs.
The final version of the legislation gives most commercial kennel owners up to a year to make the required improvements at their kennels.
"I am proud that my colleagues in the House and Senate were able to come together to get this bill passed and on the governor's desk at the eleventh hour," Lentz said. "This was a huge personal victory for me, and every other dog lover in Pennsylvania."
###ac/2008/bfg l:'print'releases'dog law passage.161