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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Bill Keller |
  
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Keller calls on Pa. legislature to act, crack down on puppy mills
HARRISBURG, May 16 – State Rep. Bill Keller, D-Phila., this week joined other lawmakers to put puppy mill owners on notice and to call on the legislature to put the inhumane operations out of business.
"Unfortunately, Pennsylvania has become known as the state with lax regulations concerning animal breeders," Keller noted. "It's time for lawmakers to step up to the plate and fix this situation. It's time to put a stop to the cruel and brutal behavior in this industry."
New legislation introduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives would strengthen current dog and animal cruelty laws. It would replace previously proposed regulations, and would seek to raise standards for commercial breeding kennels without affecting other types of kennels that house dogs. The legislation was based on more than 16,000 comments received about previously proposed regulations, as well as countless meetings with interest groups, kennel owners and legislators.
"Currently, a kennel owner can detain dogs in cramped, wire cages stacked from floor to ceiling with no heat, no exercise and little medical attention. I want to make my voice heard on behalf of the animals that can't protect themselves. We need to enact stricter guidelines for breeders now," Keller said.
Keller is a co-sponsor of H.B. 2525 that would eliminate the substandard conditions and abuse that has been documented at some of Pennsylvania's large-scale dog breeding operations. Specifically, the bill would establish minimum and humane standards for the safety, health and care of dogs to ensure they are protected from injury and inclement weather and are housed in clean, adequately sized and heated enclosures.
The legislation also would ensure breeding dogs have more floor space in their cages and access to an exercise area. It would ban the stacking of cages and enclosures with wire flooring, as well as require that dogs receive an annual exam by a veterinarian.
Requirements are virtually unchanged for other types of kennels, like sporting and hobby dog kennels, because they do not operate with the purpose of breeding large quantities of dogs to sell for profit. Instead, they operate for the purpose of sporting, hobby, boarding or saving dogs. The only new requirements for these types of kennels would be the addition of fire extinguishers, as well as exercise plans approved by a veterinarian.
More information on the proposed legislation overhauling Pennsylvania’s dog law is available online at www.DogLawAction.com.
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