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For Immediate
Release
10/9/08
General Assembly Makes Improvements to State
Dog Law
HARRISBURG – The Senate approved changes to the state's Dog Law on Wednesday
that would ensure a humane and healthy environment for dogs living in commercial
breeding kennels, according to Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-36).
Under
House Bill 2525, kennels would be required to double the primary enclosure
size for dogs and ensure proper exercise by providing free access to an outdoor
exercise area at least twice the size of their primary enclosure. The exercise
area may be located indoors if the local municipality prohibits an outdoor
exercise area for dogs. The bill would prohibit the use of wire flooring and
require flooring to allow for moderate drainage.
The legislation creates the Canine Health Board, made up of nine
veterinarians with expertise in treating and caring for dogs, to set standards
for lighting, ventilation, temperature and flooring options. The board would
also have the authority to review requests from kennel owners for an exercise
plan that would provide as much or more exercise than required by law.
The legislation would require dogs to be checked by a veterinarian every six
months and mandate that dogs could only be euthanized by a veterinarian.
Brubaker said that this provision was inserted in response to a recent case in
Berks County in which a kennel owner shot 80 dogs to avoid paying for necessary
veterinary care.
The new requirements would apply to kennels that breed or whelp dogs and sell
or transfer more than 60 dogs per calendar year, as well as those who sell any
dog to a dealer or pet-shop kennel, Brubaker said.
"This legislation will ensure a humane and healthy environment for all dogs
living in commercial breeding operations in the state," Brubaker said. "We are
fortunate to have a number of good and reputable breeders in Pennsylvania, and
it is the goal of this legislation to bring all commercial kennels up to these
high standards of canine treatment."
The legislation provides new tools for the Department of Agriculture to
protect the health and safety of dogs. House Bill 2525 establishes civil and
criminal penalties to failure to comply with the new law, and it creates
administrative processes to revoke or refuse a license and to identify
unlicensed kennels.
The bill also mandates that individuals convicted of animal cruelty cannot
receive a kennel license. Kennels operating without a license would be subject
to fines of up to $1,000 per day under the new law.
The bill now goes to the governor's desk to be signed into law.
Contact:
Kristin
Crawford
(717)787-4420
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