Vowing to tighten the rules for what he terms “puppy mills,” Gov. Ed Rendell in May worked with Rep. James E. Casorio to introduce comprehensive legislation governing large-scale breeding facilities.

The 82-page proposed law gained widespread attention amid published reports that talk show host Oprah Winfrey would appeal to viewers to back the law, following a television report on Lancaster County puppy mills that aired in April on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

House Bill 2525 is based on more than 16,000 comments to initial regulation drafts—since withdrawn—proposed in December 2006 and addresses many of the same issues, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Once new legislation is passed, changes to the existing regulations will be considered, it said.

Unlike the draft regulations, House Bill 2525 creates a new class of kennels—commercial breeding kennels—defined as those that breed and sell dogs and puppies on the wholesale market to dealers or pet stores, or that sell more than 60 dogs in a calendar year. It upgrades current housing and care standards and adds new requirements. “Space and exercise requirements in the proposed legislation specifically address commercial breeding kennels, where dogs can spend their entire lives in small cages with no exercise requirements under current law,” said Jessie Smith, the state’s special deputy secretary for dog law enforcement.

Although most of the requirements in the proposed legislation affect only commercial kennels, private kennels, such as sporting and hobby kennels, and pet stores also would be required to have fire extinguishers as well as a veterinarian-approved exercise plan for the facility.

The proposed law also would provide clear authority for the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement to enforce the law against unlicensed kennels in the same manner it enforces the law for licensed kennels.

dditional legislative initiatives aimed at improving the nature of dog breeding in Pennsylvania and preventing cruelty include House Bill 2352, to prohibit anyone other than a licensed veterinarian from performing Caesarean sections on dogs or removing their vocal cords, and House Bill 499, to increase the penalties for cruelty to animals.

KEY PROVISIONS OF NEW DOG LAW
Under House Bill 2525, commercial kennels would be required to:

• Double the minimum floor space for cages.
• Provide solid flooring with a wire-floored area for dogs to relieve themselves.
• Provide access to an outdoor exercise area twice the size of the dog’s primary enclosure.
• Implement a formal exercise plan approved by a veterinarian.
• Eliminate stacking of cages for adult dogs.
• Ensure the ambient temperature does not fall below 50 degrees F or rise above 85 degrees F.
• Clean cages daily and remove dogs first.
• Provide annual veterinary examination for all dogs and for every female at breeding.
  

The proposed legislation also gives the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement the power to:

• Deny and revoke licenses and levy civil penalties of up to $1,000 a day.
• Order the removal of dogs from kennels whose licenses have been revoked.
• Cite unlicensed kennels and provide wardens with the ability to inspect unlicensed kennels.
• Enforce the cruelty provisions of the Dog Law.
• Revoke licenses for owners convicted of cruelty.