Puppy Mills In PA--Finally, Some Progress!
 

The Pennsylvania mill bill, HB 2525, passed the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee on Wednesday by a vote of 17-12. The bill has provisions for more humane treatment in breeding facilities, including:

Commercial dog breeders would be required to provide enclosures for the dogs that "enable" them to "remain dry and clean"; are cleaned daily, and are adequately ventilated and lighted, protect them from humidity and temperatures below 50 degrees F and above 85 degrees F. and from temperatures and weather that "may be hazardous or uncomfortable" for the dog; have surfaces that are impervious to moisture, may be readily cleaned and sanitized or replaced and that protect the dogs from injury;

Dogs could continue to be kept in cages but which can be stacked in no more than 2 rows and the lowest level may be no higher than 4 ½ feet from the floor or ground;

The front of the cage must have the dogs' birth dates, rabies vaccination dates and dates of last veterinary check;

Dogs could only be euthanized by a veterinarian;

The commercial breeder must implement a program of veterinary care that must be in writing and include a schedule for physical examinations and vaccinations, disease control and prevention, pest and parasite control, nutrition, emergency care and euthanasia.

A companion bill, HB2532, has passed in the Judiciary Committee. That bill would eliminate some of the worst abuses in puppy mills - debarking, tail docking and surgical birthing without a licensed veterinarian using anesthesia.

Both bills now go to the PA House floor for a full vote! If you are in Pennsylvania, please call or email your local representative to support these bills! Email addresses are here:

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives - Representatives with E-mail Addresses

Let's take action so we don't have to be ashamed that we're the "Puppy Mill Capital of The East" anymore!

THat news just made my day!!! That is wonderful! Now how can I support this bill? or do I just need to help get the word out? I am in michigan what can I do?

Thanks for posting this!

Get the word out to anyone that you know in PA to call or write their legislator! I emailed mine a month ago and her assistant called me back within an hour and talked to me for 20 minutes about her support of the bill.

It's my understanding that the millers have been lobbying this heavily, trying to add amendments to deny inspectors from entry if they show up unnanounced, having inspectors show probable criminal cause before entry, etc., but they've been defeated in the bill that's coming up to vote.

PA has added a lot more dog law enforcement personnel in the last couple of years, but their hands have pretty much been tied under our current laws. The new one is very specific about kennel requirements and will allow a comprehensive scheme of enforcement. In hearings last week, puppy millers all but admitted it's not profitable to operate a commercial dog breeding kennel that includes humane care and treatment.

Too bad--they've subjected themselves to this and it's been a long time coming.

What a great bill

That's wonderful news!!!

It breaks my heart that it's just so hard to get bills passed that are barely minimum requirements for these dogs. The puppy mill lobby is very powerful, so I hope this passes, and perhaps other states will adopt it.

:bravo:

What fabulous news!!!

Yay that is great!!!! Thanks for posting this!

That sounds great. I hope it passes!

It's a start but nearly enough rules. We need to make a new law prohibiting the number of breeding dogs one can have, and never allow them to be kept outside PERIOD! When will it ever end??

We need that here in OK.

yay!!! someone is helping finally:)

It may be just a small step, but I'm glad at least something is finally being done!

I live in Pa. and did write my legislature. This is great news. Now - I hope it will be enforced!!!

There are so many laws on the books. - All well and good - but they need to be ENFORCED.

It is a step in the right direction, now hopefully there will be adequate resources to keep this enforced! Yea!!!!