July 8, 2008

PA: House Recessed--Puppy Mill Reform Bills on Hold till Autumn

by ASPCA (ASPCA Bulletin - July 7, 2008)

PA HB 2525 & PA HB 2532—Changes to the Dog Law and Cruelty Law
Sponsor(s): Rep. James Casorio and more than 90 cosponsors; Rep. Thomas Caltagirone and more than 70 cosponsors.
ASPCA Position: Support
Action Needed: None at this time.

Update: 7/07/08: In the final days of the PA General Assembly’s extended legislative session before adjourning for summer recess, certain Republican representatives introduced over 100 frivolous amendments to HB 2525 to stall the bill and prevent it from being voted on by the full House. Their efforts worked. However, the fight is not over—the bill will be voted on in the fall when the Assembly reconvenes. We will also be launching a big campaign to bring both bills to the PA Senate at that time. Please stay tuned and keep checking back all summer—we will be updating you and letting you know how you can help.

On Thursday, June 26, the Pennsylvania State House Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs voted in favor of House Bill 2525. The same week, the Pennsylvania State House Committee on the Judiciary voted in favor of House Bill 2532.

Passage of HB 2525 and HB 2532 is vital if Pennsylvania is to improve conditions for dogs kept in commercial kennels and put an end to the state’s reputation as the “Puppy Mill Capital of the East.”

HB 2532 would make it illegal for non-veterinarian dog owners, including owners of commercial kennels, to perform surgeries on dogs. This will put a stop to many currently permitted brutalities inflicted on dogs by laypersons, including debarking, cesarean sections and tail docking on puppies older than 96 hours.

HB 2525 would make critical changes for dogs over 12 weeks old housed in large commercial kennels, including doubling their cage space and mandating solid flooring and annual veterinary care.

It is important to note that this legislation will not regulate any hobby breeders who keep and/or transfer fewer than 26 dogs in a calendar year. Nor will it require people who show dogs or train them for sporting or hunting events to meet unreasonable standards.

Dog Law reform in Pennsylvania is long overdue. Please support the swift passage of HB 2525 and HB 2532.