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Dogs and people alike rallied against puppy mills in Harrisburg, Pa., Sept. 16. © Riley/The HSUS |
A day after hundreds attended a successful rally at the state Capitol, lawmakers in the Pennsylvania House passed two bills that would overhaul the state's dog law and crack down on puppy mills.
House Bill 2525 passed 181-17 and a second, related measure, House Bill 2532, passed by a vote of 198-0. The bills now move to the Senate for consideration. House Bill 2532 addresses the animal cruelty law and would require that only veterinarians conduct certain surgical procedures such as caesarian birth, debarking and tail docking.
Among its provisions, House Bill 2525 would double the minimum floor space for a dog's primary enclosure and would require solid flooring for dogs more than 12 weeks old. It also would require that dogs have access to an outdoor exercise area twice the size of their primary enclosure and have annual veterinary care. The stacking of dog cages would be eliminated if the bill is made law.
Time to Rally
Hundreds of Pennsylvanians, along with their dogs, rallied at the state Capitol Sept. 16, pressing House leaders to call for a vote of the legislation before the General Assembly recesses in October.
The event, which included a dog walk around the Capitol, was sponsored by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and The Humane Society of the United States.
"It was amazing to see hundreds of dog lovers rally at the Capitol in the middle of a work day to support H.B. 2525," said Stephanie Shain, director of the Stop Puppy Mills campaign for The HSUS. "The public support for this bill is unprecedented. Citizens of Pennsylvania are fed up with puppy mills and this bill will crack down on some of their worst abuses."
Puppy Mill Capitol No More?
On Monday, House members who supported the measures defeated many harmful amendments that opponents tried to add to the legislation. On Tuesday, Gov. Ed Rendell, along with his dog, Maggie, who was rescued from a puppy mill, addressed nearly 300 people and their dogs at the Capitol, calling for passage of the legislation. His speech was part of a rally that included national opponents of puppy mills who said people around the country are watching to see what happens in Pennsylvania. The state is considered the puppy mill capital of the East.
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"We are extremely pleased with today's vote but now know our efforts must focus on the Senate," said Sarah Speed, Pennsylvania state director for The HSUS. "We need supporters to let their senators know that this is an important bill and should be passed quickly."
In the Spotlight
Recent news put a spotlight on the conditions of dogs in so-called puppy mills—commercial breeding kennels that have no regard for dogs' well being. The animals are confined to cages their entire lives and are bred until they can no longer have puppies and are then destroyed. Puppy mill dogs can be housed in outdoor cages and exposed to weather extremes and are usually rarely given veterinary care.
In July, a Chester County, Pa. kennel was shut down after authorities seized 23 dogs. Some of the animals were missing eyes or ears, while others had painful skin conditions and abscesses. None of the conditions violated the state dog law.
Two Berks County, Pa. men surrendered their kennel licenses voluntarily in August after dog wardens discovered kennel owners shot 80 of their dogs instead of getting veterinary care for 39 dogs with flea and fly bites. Killing the dogs also did not violate the existing dog law.
A Little Help From Friends
Several high-profile animal advocates also spoke at the rally, including Annemarie Lucas, ASPCA supervisory special investigator in New York City, who is featured on the Animal Planet show "Animal Precinct;" Stephanie Shain, director of the Stop Puppy Mills Campaign for The HSUS; and Jana Kohl, who adopted a rescued puppy mill dog and wrote about her experience in the book "A Rare Breed of Love."
For more information on Puppy Mills, visit our Stop Puppy Mills website.
