HARRISBURG — Wearing T-shirts emblazoned with "I Love Dogs and I Vote," nearly 300 Pennsylvanians and their dogs rallied at the Capitol today to remind legislators to champion the Dog Law Overhaul, House Bill 2525.
Supporters are pressing House leaders to call for a vote on the legislation tomorrow and send the bill to the Senate for a vote before the General Assembly recesses in November for the rest of the year. They said recent reports of abuse and senseless killing of kennel dogs makes action on the measure even more critical. The event, which included a dog walk around the Capitol, was sponsored by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA®) and The Humane Society of the United States.
Gov. Ed Rendell, who has been pushing for a stronger dog law, surprised the crowd by showing up to the rally with his dog Maggie, who had been rescued from a puppy mill. The governor thanked House and Senate members who also attended the rally. He said the new law is critical since so many dogs are still suffering silently in Pennsylvania puppy mills.
"Puppy mills have been able to thrive in Pennsylvania for far too long," said Cori Menkin, Senior Director of Legislative Initiatives for the ASPCA®. "The turnout today is very impressive, but it represents only a fraction of the people in Pennsylvania who are angry and shocked at the way some breeders are legally allowed to treat dogs in their kennels."
Sarah Speed, Pennsylvania state director for The HSUS, agreed. "This is a chance for legislators to see that their constituents care deeply about this issue. They are tired of seeing news reports about kennel owners allowing dogs to become so sick they lose their eyes, or ruthlessly shooting them instead of getting veterinary care."
News in recent weeks has put a spotlight on the conditions of dogs in puppy mills — the commercial kennels that put profit ahead of the dogs' well being, particularly those used for breeding. The animals in a typical puppy mill are confined to tiny cages and exposed to weather extremes their entire lives, never given veterinary care or human attention, bred until they can no longer have puppies and are then destroyed.
In July, a Chester County kennel was shut down after 23 dogs were seized by authorities. Some of the animals were missing eyes or ears; others had painful skin conditions and abscesses. However, none of the conditions violated the current state Dog Law.
In addition, last month two Berks County men surrendered their kennel licenses voluntarily after dog wardens discovered that rather than get veterinary care for 39 dogs with flea and fly bites — as the dog wardens had ordered — the kennel owners shot all 80 dogs. Killing the dogs also did not violate the current Dog Law.
"All we are asking is that kennel owners treat dogs humanely," said Bill Smith, founder of Mainline Animal Rescue near Philadelphia. "The new law will require kennel owners to seek medical care for dogs and have the animals euthanized by a veterinarian. There was no reason for those senseless killings."
Among its provisions, HB 2525 would double the minimum floor space for primary enclosures and require solid flooring for dogs more than 12 weeks old. It also requires 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 also be eliminated under the bill.
Several high-profile animal advocates also spoke at the event, 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, who is one of the nation's foremost experts on puppy mills; and Jana Kohl, who adopted a rescued puppy mill dog named Baby and wrote about her experience in the book A Rare Breed of Love.
"Puppy mills are located throughout the country, but Pennsylvania is unfortunately known as the 'Puppy Mill Capital of the East.' By passing this bill, the Legislature not only helps ensure that dogs in commercial kennels live better, healthier lives, it also helps our economy by allowing us to lose this terrible distinction with potential visitors to our state," said Janet Wall of the Pennsylvania Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau located in Lancaster County.
The ASPCA and The HSUS have joined forces in support of HBs 2525 and 2532. HB 2532 addresses the Animal Cruelty law and would require that only veterinarians conduct certain surgical procedures such as caesarian birth, debarking and docking of a dog's tail after three days of age. HB 2532 also is currently before the House.
For more information on the legislation, please go to stoppapuppymills.org.
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Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) was the first humane organization established in the Americas, and today has more than one million supporters throughout North America. A 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA's mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. The ASPCA provides local and national leadership in animal-assistance therapy, animal behavior, animal poison control, anti-cruelty, humane education, legislative services, and shelter outreach. The New York City headquarters houses a full-service, accredited animal hospital, adoption center, and mobile clinic outreach program. The Humane Law Enforcement department enforces New York's animal cruelty laws and is featured on the reality television series "Animal Precinct" on Animal Planet. For more information, please visit aspca.org.
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at humanesociety.org.
