Mountaintop Natural Pets

LANGHORNE, Pa., Oct 27, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ — Hundreds of thousands of dogs in the state’s commercial kennels will lead better and healthier lives now that Governor Edward G. Rendell has signed a bill that will bring sweeping reforms to Pennsylvania’s dog law.

During a visit to the Center for Animal Referral and Emergency Services today, Governor Rendell ceremonially signed House Bill 2525, which eliminates deplorable conditions in puppy breeding operations and provides for better health among dogs in kennels.

The Governor signed the bill into law on Oct. 9 to protect dogs in kennels by ensuring that the ban on owners who euthanize dogs would take effect immediately.

Governor Rendell said the new law, Act 119 of 2008, will help to improve Pennsylvania’s tarnished reputation when it comes to the treatment of dogs in commercial kennels.

“Thanks to the hard work of many dog lovers and the leadership of members of the General Assembly, there is a bright future for dogs in Pennsylvania,” said Governor Rendell. “Pennsylvania has long-suffered the label ‘Puppy Mill Capital of the East,’ primarily because of the horrific, but sadly legal, conditions in some of our state’s worst dog breeding kennels. We are changing that with this new law.

“Within one year, Pennsylvania will be a leader in the treatment of dogs in commercial breeding kennels, shedding our shameful reputation. We want to provide a measure of reassurance that when a family welcomes these lovable pets into their home, the dogs are healthy and happy.”

Act 119 addresses the health and welfare needs of the dogs housed in large commercial breeding kennels by requiring these operations to meet the new physical standards for cage size and flooring within one year, unless granted a temporary waiver by the Department of Agriculture.

Among other protections for dogs, the new law doubles the minimum floor space for dogs, eliminates wire flooring, and requires exercise that is at least as good as unfettered access to an exercise area twice the size of the primary enclosure. The previous law did not require that dogs ever be taken out of cages, much less be provided access to exercise areas. The wire flooring allowed under the previous law breaks down easily and destroys dogs’ feet over time.

The bill also requires veterinary examinations for each dog twice per year.

The requirements for other types of kennels, like sporting and hobby dog kennels, are virtually unchanged. These entities do not operate with the purpose of breeding large quantities of dogs to sell for profit.

For more information on the new act, visit www.DogLawAction.com.

The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses.

To find out more about Governor Rendell’s initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit www.governor.state.pa.us.

CONTACT:

Chuck Ardo

717-783-1116

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

 http://www.DogLawAction.com