HARRISBURG – Dog lovers and their canine friends converged on the Capitol steps today to support newly introduced legislation aimed at improving conditions in Pennsylvania’s commercial breeding kennels.
The three bills introduced in the House of Representatives would strengthen current dog and animal cruelty laws. The legislation would replace previously proposed regulations, and it would seek to raise standards for commercial breeding kennels without affecting other types of kennels that house dogs.
“Dog wardens and the public continuously report situations that are bad for dogs, but comply with the current law,” said Jessie Smith, the state’s special deputy secretary for dog law enforcement.
“Under current law, a kennel owner can choose to confine dogs in small, stacked, wire-floored cages with no heat, no opportunity for exercise, and no routine medical care. No matter how distressing this is, it is completely legal under the current Pennsylvania Dog Law and regulations. The proposed legislation provides, for the first time, language to take action on these situations.”
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.
Significant changes to commercial breeding kennels are needed to improve conditions for dogs that can spend their entire lives in cages, said Smith. Among other protections for dogs, House Bill 2525 doubles the minimum floor space for dogs and requires solid flooring, as well as access to an outdoor exercise area twice the size of the dog’s primary enclosure. The legislation would also mandate annual veterinary care, and eliminate the stacking of cages for adult dogs.
Smith said the current law treats all kennels the same, regardless of size or function. The proposed legislation would allow the health and welfare needs of the dogs housed in large commercial breeding kennels to be addressed.
“Space and exercise requirements in the proposed legislation specifically address commercial breeding kennels, where dogs can spend their entire lives in small cages with no exercise requirements under current law,” said Smith.
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.
Improvements to the welfare of all dogs are included in House Bill 2532. Specifically, debarking, the practice of cutting or destroying a dog’s vocal cords, would only be allowed by a veterinarian, as would surgical or Cesarean birth. Tail docking would be allowed by individual owners until the dog is three days old, after which point it must be done by a veterinarian.
“Too many times, dogs rescued from commercial breeding kennels suffer from procedures that should be done only by a veterinarian with proper anesthesia and sanitation,” said Smith.
House Bill 499 increases fines for cruelty to animals and requires owners of dogs seized for cruelty to pay reasonable expenses for the care and keep of a dog while it is held at a humane society or animal shelter – or surrender ownership of the dog.
The proposed legislation is a result of Governor Edward G. Rendell’s effort to improve living conditions for dogs in Pennsylvania kennels. Since 2006, Governor Rendell has made improvements to the staffing and enforcement efforts of the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, which oversees the inspection and licensing of kennels.
For more information on the proposed legislation overhauling Pennsylvania’s Dog Law, visit
www.DogLawAction.com
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Audio from the rally:
Jessie L. Smith, Special Deputy Secretary of Dog Law Enforcement: