CVAS

08-27-08 - West VA Puppy Mill Case Offers Lessons for PA Legislators, Consumers
Representative James E. Casorio, Jr. (D) Westmoreland

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HARRISBURG, Aug. 27 – State Rep. James E. Casorio Jr., D-Westmoreland, said the difficulty animal rescue groups will have in finding homes for more than 900 dogs rescued from a West Virginia puppy mill over the weekend is yet another reminder why Pennsylvania lawmakers should pass legislation that would significantly bolster the state's ability to shut down similar puppy mills in this state.

According to a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article on the weekend raid, rescue groups said finding homes for the 927 dachshunds that were rescued from the Internet-based breeding facility in West Virginia may take several months because of the dogs' breed, the fact that they are unfamiliar with and frightened of humans, and because of the physical problems some of them have. Many of them may not be able to be placed at all.

'In this case, the kennel owners simply had too many dogs to take care of properly,' Casorio said. 'The dogs were kept in small, wire-mesh cages in eight different buildings on the property, and one of the sheriff's deputies involved in the raid described the odor at the facility as 'horrendous.' The fact that the kennel was raided because the EPA found evidence of fecal matter in surrounding bodies of water indicates that the conditions these dogs lived in must have been completely unsanitary.'

Casorio said that means people, pet shops and other groups that purchased dogs from the kennel risked obtaining animals that were not only 'snappy,' 'not friendly,' and 'scared to death of everything,' as one rescuer involved in the raid put it, but also potentially diseased.

'Unfortunately, we've seen evidence over the past several weeks that similar conditions, or worse, continue to exist at large commercial kennels in Pennsylvania. Under the state's current law, many of these conditions are completely legal, and the ones that are not are hard to document and punish. The current law makes it extremely difficult to protect dogs and consumers from the irresponsible owners of these large breeding facilities.'

Casorio is sponsoring legislation (H.B. 2525) in the state House of Representatives that would improve standards for the care, safety and sanitation of dogs in large, commercial breeding kennels in Pennsylvania. The bill has nearly 100 Democratic and Republican co-sponsors in the House, and was approved by the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee in June. A full vote in the House was blocked in July, however, when a handful of Republican legislators filed scores of last-minute amendments to the bill.

'Every time one of these incidents happens in Pennsylvania or other states with a puppy mill problem, the people that have to rescue the dogs and find homes for them talk about how difficult it is to shut these operations down,' Casorio said.

'My legislation would make it much easier to do that in Pennsylvania without impacting smaller kennels, sporting dog groups and individual dog owners. Passing my legislation would not only spare the suffering and destruction of thousands of dogs, but also protect consumers who unwittingly purchase the damaged dogs bred in these kennels.'

Casorio said residents in Pennsylvania can help address the state's puppy mill problem by only adopting dogs from humane agencies and rescue shelters. Casorio also advocates contacting state representatives and senators to urge passage of H.B. 2525 when the legislature returns to session in a little over two weeks.

More information about H.B. 2525 is available at www.agriculture.state.pa.us/doglawaction.

CONTACT: Michael J. Herzing
House Democratic Communications Office
Phone: 717-787-7895
Email: mherzing@pahouse.net

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08-22-08 -- Slaughters Up Ante for Puppy-Mill Legislation
By: Richard Fellinger, Lebanon Daily Newsaily News

HARRISBURG — Dog lovers are set to unleash a fight this fall to approve their pet bill — a new state dog law aimed at cleaning up commercial breeding kennels known as “puppy mills.”

Animal-rights advocates were unhappy last month when the bill sponsored by Rep. James Casorio, D-Westmoreland, languished at the Legislature’s summer break. Now they’re frothing mad over the recent shooting of 80 dogs at two Berks County kennels whose owners didn’t want to pay for medical care.

House members return to session Sept. 15, and they are under increased pressure to move Casorio’s bill. If it does not pass before the 2007-08 term ends in November, it will have to be reintroduced in the term that begins in January.

Nancy Gardner, a member of the Governor’s Dog Law Advisory Board, said it’s legal for kennel operators to shoot dogs under current law, but Casorio’s wide-ranging bill would have prevented it. Among other things, his bill would only allow veterinarians to euthanize dogs.

“I hope they get it passed, because what happened a couple of weeks ago (in Berks County) was an atrocity,” Gardner said.

Casorio’s bill would also double the minimum floor space for dogs at kennels and require solid flooring rather than wire floors in which a dog’s feet can get stuck. It would also eliminate cage stacking at commercial breeders, require access to an outdoor exercise area and mandate regular veterinary care.

The bill has high-profile backers such as Oprah Winfrey, who aired hidden-camera footage early this year of the bad conditions at several large breeders in Lancaster and Berks counties, and Gov. Ed Rendell, who has a three-year-old golden retriever that was saved from a puppy mill.

Yet the bill went nowhere when lawmakers were scrambling to finish the 2008-09 state budget before their summer break in July.

It was bogged down by some 40 amendments from lawmakers who want a range of changes. Now, about 100 amendments are awaiting the bill on the House floor, making its fate uncertain this fall.

Rep. Art Hershey, R-Chester, ranking Republican on the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, is leading the charge to strap amendments to the bill. He did not return a message seeking comment.

While animal-rights groups say the amendments are an attempt to filibuster the bill, some lawmakers say the 92-page bill needs to be amended because certain statewide groups make solid arguments for changes. Those groups include the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association and Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.

The veterinary association opposes the provision to require solid flooring, saying that would mean some dogs sit in their urine or feces. Instead, they want language to mandate a grid of material to allow for drainage, with slots small enough so that dogs’ feet won’t get stuck.

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08-18-08 Sponsor of Dog Law Bill Calls for End to Stall Tactics
New Dog Law Would Have Prevented Killing of 80 Dogs by Kennel Owners
By: State Representative James E. Casorio, Jr.

HARRISBURG, Aug. 13

State Rep. James E. Casorio Jr., D-Westmoreland, again today called on a handful of legislators and special interest groups to end their efforts to block the passage of bipartisan legislation that would protect dogs at large commercial breeding kennels in Pennsylvania.

"Dogs continue to suffer and die in Pennsylvania because this group of legislators has chosen to protect irresponsible kennel owners at the expense of thousands of dogs who are sick, suffering and even being killed," said Casorio, who is the prime sponsor of H.B. 2525. The legislation would update Pennsylvania's dog law by introducing improved standards of care for dogs in large commercial breeding kennels in the state.

"In just the past few weeks, we have been reminded of the horrors that take place in some of these commercial kennels," Casorio said. "It is clear that the people who want my bill blocked view the dogs in their care simply as livestock ? an expendable commodity. They do not see them or treat them as the pets and loving companions that they truly are."

Most recently, the owners of two kennels in Berks County shot to death 80 healthy dogs rather than paying for repairs at their kennels and seeking veterinary care for the dogs.

"Unfortunately, under current law, kennel owners may kill their dogs for any reason, even if it is simply to save money," Casorio said. "My legislation would add language to the dog law to prohibit this practice, and to allow only veterinarians to euthanize dogs in commercial kennels."

Casorio said the Berks County killings were just the latest in a string of incidents at commercial kennels demonstrating the need for a much-improved dog law. The Philadelphia Inquirer and other media organizations recently reported that one of the largest commercial kennels in the state, which has a decades-long history of selling sick and defective dogs to the public, has apparently been advertising dogs for sale in violation of a consent decree that required the kennel to identify itself by name because of its past history. And in July, the owner of a Chester County kennel pleaded guilty to charges after he gave members of an animal rescue organization dogs with skin conditions, abscesses, severed ears and even missing eyes.

Casorio's bill, which has nearly 100 Democratic and Republican co-sponsors, was drafted over a period of several months with the input of kennel owners, sporting dog groups, animal rescue groups, dog owners and other interested parties. It was approved by the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee in June.

But a full vote by the House before the summer recess was blocked when a handful of Republican legislators filed scores of last-minute amendments to the bill. Casorio said many of the amendments are frivolous, such as several that seek to have the word "dishwasher" added to the list of illegal methods for housing dogs.

"The bill already lays out the requirements for proper housing for dogs in commercial kennels," Casorio said. "These types of amendments pertaining to specific containers are redundant, unnecessary and insincere, and an obvious attempt to simply stall a final vote."

Casorio said the Republican chairman of the committee, Rep. Art Hershey, R-Chester, alone has filed more than 40 amendments to the bill. A handful of other Republican legislators have also filed unnecessary amendments to block the bill's passage.

"A small number of lawmakers and others have spent the past several months spreading misinformation about the bill in an attempt to scare responsible dog owners, kennel owners and other groups interested in the health of dogs in Pennsylvania," Casorio said. "This legislation is aimed specifically at the large, commercial breeding kennels that have made this state notorious as a 'puppy mill' haven. The bill will not burden individual dog owners or other types of kennels."

Casorio said supporters of his legislation need to contact their state representative to urge a final vote on H.B. 2525 when the General Assembly returns to session the week of Sept. 15.

"We only have a small window of opportunity to pass this bill before the end of this legislative session, or who knows how many dogs will continue to suffer and die if we have to start all over again next year?" Casorio said. "The state's ability to protect the dogs in these kennels, shut the worst of these kennels down, and punish their owners is severely restricted under the current law.

"I believe the increasing publicity about the disgusting conditions and practices at some of these commercial kennels will generate more pressure to get my legislation passed. And, I'm sure that more and more people are beginning to realize that the argument by some that the status quo is adequate is both ridiculous and irresponsible."

Casorio said more information about H.B. 2525 and other efforts to improve the state's dog law is available online at www.agriculture.state.pa.us/doglawaction . Residents can also contact their local legislator and other legislators through the site.

CONTACT: Michael J. Herzing House Democratic Communications Office
Phone: 717-787-7895
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08-15-08
Public Opinion, Chambersburg, Pa., Editorial
- By Matthew Major, on behalf of Public Opinion's editorial board

"Why is it that animals tend to bring out the best and worst of human nature? How can the human-animal bond -- or a lack thereof -- produce such extremism?"

Read more:
www.publicopiniononline.com/ci_10209057

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Dear Pennsylvania Advocates,

On Tuesday, September 16, Harrisburg is going to the dogs! We need you and your prized pooches to join us for a very important event at the State Capitol to tell lawmakers you care about dogs—and you vote—and that it’s high time to end some of the worst puppy mill abuses.

The General Assembly reconvenes on September 15, the day before the rally. Your legislators will be back to work—so if at all possible, please try to meet with your senator and/or representative while in Harrisburg to urge them to support PA House Bills 2525 and 2532, legislation that would pro tect dogs housed in Pennsylvania’s commercial kennels.

It is vital that supporters of puppy mill reform in Pennsylvania let their voices be heard at this historic event!

        When: Tuesday, September 16, from noon to 2:00 P.M.
Where: Soldier's Grove, Capitol Complex, Harrisburg (click here for map).
What: Rally and Dog Walk around the Capitol
Speakers: Supervisory Special Investigator Annemarie Lucas (ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement), Stephanie Shain (HSUS), author Jana Kohl (A Rare Breed of Love).

If you plan to attend the rally, please take a moment to RSVP. Don’t worry—your RSVP is not a commitment; it just helps us form an idea of how many people to expect.

As always, thank you for your support!

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Pennsylvania kennel operators killed 80 dogs after vet exams were ordered

By AMY WORDEN | The Philadelphia Inquirer • Published August 12, 2008

Two Berks County kennel operators killed nearly their entire kennel population - 80 dogs - after wardens ordered veterinary exams on dozens of their animals.

After receiving a poor inspection report on July 24, Elmer Zimmerman of Kutztown shot his 70 small-breed dogs and threw them onto a compost pile on his property, according to officials with the state Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement. His brother, Ammon Zimmerman, who operated A & J Kennel next door, shot 10 dogs about the same time, they said.

It is legal for dog owners in the state to put a dog down by shooting it. Gov. Ed Rendell, as part of his effort to improve kennel conditions, is seeking legislation to allow only veterinarians to euthanize commercial kennel dogs.

Elmer Zimmerman, owner of E & A Kennel, said in an interview Tuesday that he feared the Department of Agriculture was trying to close him down and that he destroyed the dogs on his veterinarian's recommendation.

"They were old, and we were hearing that they don't want kennels anymore," said Zimmerman, who has held a commercial kennel license since at least 2003. "The best thing to do was get rid of them."

Ammon Zimmerman, reached Tuesday by phone, told a reporter his decision to destroy his dogs was "none of your business."

Jessie Smith, the dog-law bureau's special deputy secretary, said Elmer Zimmerman told dog warden Orlando Aguirre that the dogs had been shot.

Aguirre, who had cited Zimmerman for multiple dog-law violations and ordered vet checks on 39 dogs for flea and fly bites, told him he didn't believe he had shot the dogs. Zimmerman then got out the backhoe and uncovered the bodies of dogs - among them poodles, shih tzus and cocker spaniels - that had been thrown onto the compost pile, she said.

"It's horrible, but it's legal," said Smith of the shooting.

"That someone would shoot 70 dogs rather than spend money to do a vet check is extremely problematic," she said. "If the definition of a puppy mill is putting profits over care of the dogs, this is a stark example of doing that."

Smith said Aguirre ordered Zimmerman to destroy the wooden hutches that held the dogs in order that the brothers not go back into commercial breeding.

Smith said the bureau had stepped up its enforcement of current kennel regulations in an effort to improve conditions. If they don't improve, she said, kennels should "go out of business."

Ken Brandt, lobbyist for the Pennsylvania Professional Dog Breeders Association, which represents 300 commercial kennels, said his group did not support the Zimmermans' actions.

"There are others ways to take care of the situation, like in a court," he said.

Howard Nelson, chief executive officer of Pennsylvania SPCA, called the shootings inhumane and evil and said the breeder could have easily surrendered the dogs to rescue groups.

"He could have treated the dogs with medication for $40 or $50," said Nelson. "Every humane society in the state would have taken those dogs."

Elmer Zimmerman said he felt he had no alternative because business had been so bad he couldn't "give away" his puppies, let alone his older, breeding dogs.

Both men surrendered their kennel licenses and Elmer Zimmerman pleaded guilty to four charges of violating the dog law, she said.

During the inspection on July 24, wardens found, in addition to the skin infections, 19 other violations. They issued citations for maintenance, extreme heat, insufficient bedding, and wire flooring that allowed dogs' feet to fall through.

Zimmerman said he had never had problems with wardens before. Inspection reports dating to 2006 show instances where wardens noted severe matting of dogs' fur and inadequate shelter, but no citations or formal warnings were issued.

Smith said the shootings were reason for tougher legislation, under consideration by the state House, that would require that dogs be euthanized only by a vet.

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08-01-08 -- Been There, Done That... Pennsylvania's Infamous Dog Law
By: Jenny Stephens, North Penn Puppy Mill Watch

'I would like to say on this dog bill, my staff and I worked very, very hard trying to compromise with all sides. We have had many, many meetings.”

Sound Familiar? How about these:

“I think that what the department should be doing now is going out there and enforcing the law.”

A puppy mill is a place where dogs are bred on a mass scale, often under miserably cruel conditions. Consequently, it is now imperative that the Department of Agriculture be able to locate, inspect, and regulate breeding facilities to insure that dogs receive adequate food, water, shelter, sanitation, and veterinary care.”

“We could have addressed the puppy mill problem very simply with about a two-page amendment which everybody could have read and understood. We did not have to rewrite the whole Dog Law.”

Obviously this all pertains to PA House Bill 2525, right?

Wrong.

Every quote above was part of an oral argument made some 26 years ago on the PA House floor pursuant to the revision of Pennsylvania’s infamous Dog Law. As spoken by former Representatives Grieco (R-Lycoming), Stuban (D–Columbia), Greenwood (R-Bucks) and Lloyd (D-Somerset) respectively, these comments relate specifically to then HB 1459 that was originally introduced in May, 1981. The full transcript is available HERE and you’ll note that many of the arguments used approximately one quarter of a century ago are not all that different from those being used today with regard to HB 2525.

Now, with changes to the Dog Law once again on the horizon, those opposing the implementation of legislation that would create humane health and welfare standards for the state’s commercial breeding kennels have, in desperation, taken their strategies to an all time new low. In an attempt to prevent HB 2525 from ever making it to the House floor for such a discussion and vote, Representative Art Hershey and his cronies have added superfluous and redundant amendments to stall the Bill.

In case you didn’t know, commercial dog breeding in Pennsylvania is a multi-million (if not billion) dollar industry. Let’s be honest, if the financial stakes weren’t so tremendously high, do you really believe the commercial breeders would be fighting so very hard to keep the Dog Law in its current antiquated and ineffective state?

For the last several months, animal advocates have been meeting with their local representatives regarding the necessity of HB 2525. Interestingly, many have reported being told repeatedly that one of the problems with the legislation is that essential members of the canine community were not consulted during the creation of the bill.

Additionally, a recent Op-Ed commentary, written by John Gibble, a member of the Dog Law Advisory Board and past president of the Northeast Beagle Gundog Foundation and the Pennsylvania Beagle Gundog Association, ran on July 23, 2008 on PennLive.com and wherein he reiterates this sentiment. Gibble states: “Certainly changes are needed to ensure the humane treatment of dogs in commercial and other kennels. Perhaps if HB 2525 dies, the department will consult with stakeholders to construct reasonable and proactive regulations, instead of trying to 'set the dogs' on them.”

Despite the same statement from numerous legislators and Mr. Gibble’s attempt to drive home the concept that “stakeholders” were not consulted, documentation has been obtained that seems to contradict this claim.

In correspondence addressed to Governor Ed Rendell and Secretary of Agriculture Dennis Wolff, the following “stakeholders” took the opportunity to thank the administration and opine on the revamping of the Dog Law on January 11, 2008:

Walter Bebout, Director of Canine Legislation, American Kennel Club
Anne Irwin, President, Federated Humane Societies of Pennsylvania
Linda Lowney, Legislative Director, PA Association of Boarding Kennel Owners
Jared Shade, President, PA Beagle Gundog Association
Nina Schaefer, President, PA Federation of Dog Clubs
Richard Bednarczyk, President, PA State Fox and Coyote Hunter’s Association
Kenneth Brandt, Executive Director, PA Professional Dog Breeders Association
Charlene Wandzilak, Executive Director, PA Veterinary Medical Association
Michael Maddox, Counsel, Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council

In addition to the Governor, the secretary of the Department of Agriculture and the special deputy secretary of Dog Law Enforcement, an assortment of key elected officials also received copies of the letters:

Senator Dominic Pileggi (R-9th District/Chester & Delaware Counties)
Senate Majority Leader

Senator Robert J. Mellow (D-22nd District/Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe Counties)
Senate Minority Leader

Senator Michael Brubaker (R-36th District/Lancaster & Chester Counties)
Majority Chair, Senate Committee on Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Senator Michael O’Pake (D-11th District/Berks County)
Minority Chair, Senate Committee on Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Representative Dennis O’Brien (R-169th District/Philadelphia County)
Speaker, House of Representatives

Representative William DeWees (D-50th District/Fayette, Green & Washington Counties)
Majority Leader, House of Representatives

Representative Samuel Smith (R-66th District/Armstrong, Indiana & Jefferson Counties)
Leader, House of Representatives

Representative Michael Hanna (D-76th District/Centre & Clinton Counties)
Majority Chair, House Committee on Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Representative Art Hershey (R-13th District/Chester County)
Minority Chair, House Committee on Agriculture & Rural Affairs

In her response to these “stakeholders” Jessie L. Smith, special deputy secretary of Dog Law Enforcement, acknowledges the participation of these individuals and their groups in the drafting of the legislation:

“We have appreciated the willingness of all of you and the groups you represent to meet with us and discuss the preliminary draft legislation. It is apparent how much time and effort you and your colleagues devoted to this. Your input has undoubtedly led to a better product, and we are pleased to inform you that we expect this legislation to be introduced in May.”

Despite those legislators who are choosing to tell their constituents that they will not co-sponsor HB 2525 because “stakeholders” were not consulted during the drafting process, it is clear these individuals and groups were consulted as early as the beginning of this year, if not earlier.

For what it’s worth, this same tactic was utilized in 1982 when the Dog Law was revamped and, if you take the time to read the entire transcript, you may even recognize a few other little tricks currently being employed in an attempt to put the breaks on HB 2525.

Sure the names have changed and today’s attempt to rewrite the Dog Law into a meaningful piece of legislation that will actually benefit the dogs takes into account many more issues than did HB 1459 but, when you get down to brass tacks, the players and the issues are the same:

those who wish to keep the status quo because they benefit financially from breeder dogs whom they may legally abuse, neglect and treat as cheap disposable commodities versus the majority of Pennsylvanians who recognize that the current Dog Law is woefully inadequate and have decades of documentation to prove it.

It’s frequently said that those who do not learn from history are destined to repeat it. Just how many generations of breeder dogs in Pennsylvania’s puppy mills must endure a lifetime of misery and suffering before elected officials in the Commonwealth stop giving their constituents the runaround and do the right thing?

Call your elected representative today and tell him or her to pass House Bill 2525. Don't know who your representative is? Click HERE. Want to learn more about House Bills 2525 and 2532? Click HERE.

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08-01-08 --Hershey's Position on Puppy Mills is Disturbing
By: Tom Hickey,Sr. The Reporter

State Rep. Art Hershey says he feels his position was 'misrepresented' on House Bill 2525, the bill to end the abuse and cruelty currently legal and going on every day in some Pennsylvania commercial kennels.

Let's just discuss the facts.

First, it is not, as Hershey states, a 'gross generalization,' but documented fact, that horrific cruelty and abuse exists in some of the worst commercial kennels in Pennsylvania.

Hershey does not need to look any further than his own legislative district to realize this.

The recent raid of the Limestone Kennels in Cochranville clearly illustrates the problem.

This raid took place in Hershey's own backyard, where the breeder, within two weeks, pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and harassment, relinquished all of his dogs, and will never again be allowed to breed dogs.

This kennel is a perfect example of what is wrong with the current law.

Dogs not checked by a vet, because had they been, their debilitating eye injuries would have been observed and treated; dogs without ears; dogs stacked in cages, lacking clean water and food, resulting in the death of two 3-week-old puppies; and all living their entire lives on wire floors.

Neglected, abused and, sadly, perfectly legal in Pennsylvania today.

House Bill 2525 is focused entirely on improving the conditions for dogs in commercial kennels.

Rescues, small breeders, sporting groups, etc., support this bill and did so when hearings were held in June at the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee hearing, of which Hershey is minority chair.

The bill passed out of committee.

The public, and the committee, had spoken.

Another fact is that after the bill was scheduled for a vote on the floor, Hershey participated with a few other legislators in adding more than 115 amendments (many believe a record) to the bill, not in an attempt to improve it, but to kill it.

One disingenuous amendment added the word 'dishwasher' as a place that dogs cannot be kept, in a clear and disturbing response to the billboards that many see when traveling in Lancaster and Chester County on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Another sought to continue to allow commercial breeders to kill their dogs when they were no longer able to breed and no longer served a financial purpose.

I would ask readers to judge for themselves the intent of these amendments.

Quite simply, this bill will do the following:

1. Require exercise for dogs that now are forced to spend their entire lives in cramped, stacked, dangerous and dirty cages.

2. Require a veterinarian to check each dog at least one time a year, or during each pregnancy.

3. Require that floors be made of a solid surface.

4. Require water be available to them at all times.

5. Require veterinarians to administer vaccinations to dogs in commercial kennels.

6. Implement temperature standards to prevent dogs from freezing in the winter and frying in the summer.

It is a fact that when the Cochranville raid occurred, Hershey applauded the raid.

Then, four days later, when the Bureau of Dog Law went to the property to revoke the kennel license, Hershey defended the kennel owner by calling into question the actions of the PSPCA, going so far as to say that the kennel owner was 'tricked'' into selling a sick 3-week-old puppy, who died the next day.

Tricked?

Hershey has apparently decided to support the special interests of a few who want the current conditions of abuse, cruelty and neglect to continue in this multimillion-dollar industry. Profit over humane treatment.

He is part of a very small minority in this state with his position.

Facts are stubborn things. And the fact of the matter is that politics as usual by a few will not prevent this bill from passing.

Once and for all we must end the misery, cruelty and neglect that many dogs have to endure in some of Pennsylvania's commercial kennels.

This barbaric environment is finally coming to an end, with or without his support and that of this small group of six politics-as-usual legislators.

I encourage Hershey to reconsider his position on this important piece of legislation and end these disruptive tactics being used. It is not too late tojoin the overwhelming majority of the Legislature and the citizens of this commonwealth in being instrumental in ending the abuse and cruelty dogs in some commercial kennels are living under.

We as a society must act now. It is the right thing to do.

Thomas G. Hickey Sr. of Drexel Hill is a member of the PA Dog Law Advisory Board.

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Lentz Promotes Legislation Against Puppy Mills
July 24, 2008
By: Kathleen E. Carey, Delco Times

MARPLE - Allowing dogs to live in wire cages the size of a refrigerator for their entire lives, withholding food and drink from them for hours, not permitting veterinary care, allowing them to bake in searing heat or shiver in subfreezing temperatures or shooting them to death is legal in Pennsylvania.

State Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, of Swarthmore, is hoping to change that.

On Thursday night, 43 people and three dogs attended a town hall meeting at Delaware County Community College to discuss state legislation to change the state dog law.

Lentz said this legislation impacts what is known as 'puppy mills,' dog-breeding businesses that breed up to 9,000 dogs.

"They live in cages the size of dishwashers and the cages are stacked on top of each other so they can urinate or defecate on top of each other," Lentz said. "They can be kept in that small cage their entire life."

Veterinary care is nonexistent and various breeders perform procedures such as Caesarean sections sutured with twine or debarking in which steel rods are shoved down the canine's throat to crush its vocal chord, according to officials at the meeting.

Those in attendance included Bill Smith, founder of the Main Line Animal Rescue, who appeared on the 'Oprah Winfrey Show' and Jana Kohl, author of 'A Rare Breed of Love' and owner of Baby, a three-legged puppy mill survivor.

The bills, House Bills 2525, 2532 and 499, would set certain standards, such as doubling the minimum floor space for cages, providing outdoor exercise, prohibiting the stacking of cages, requiring veterinary checks and requiring flooring.

Often the wire cages are stacked so high - sometimes as high as 30 feet - the health of the dogs on top are unknown and the wire causes the dog's paws severe damage, sometimes causing the uncut nails to be pulled out, officials said.

Officials also said and showed pictures of large breed dogs being put in exercise wheels, similar to hamsters, as a venue for exercise.

The laws would also require the animals to be kept in temperatures that are 50 to 85 degrees and enclosure cleaning.

These bills would also change the current standard that dogs only need access to water six hours a day.

A plethora of pictures at the meeting showed multiple dogs in filthy cages barely able to move. Several of these animals had matted hair and various injuries.

Special Deputy Secretary of Dog Law Jessie L. Smith said wardens identified the wire flooring and the lack of water to be the two worst problems they see.

She said the wiring causes the dogs' paws to be splayed. A video of a Labrador retriever walking for the first time was shown as he took a few tentative steps and then lay down out of fear.

One woman, a self-described horsewoman, drove from Montgomery County to attend.

"I have seen how they have been mistreated for years," said Janet Gerhart of Lansdale, as she sat next to her assistance dog, Eisenhower 'Ike' Gerhart. "I know what they are capable of. I would like to see these puppy mills come to an end."

Dog Law Advisory board member Tom Hickey encouraged the public to be informed about where they get their pets.

"Odds are if you bought a dog from a pet store, they came from a puppy mill," he said.

He told attendants to call and write your state legislators to voice support of the new dog law.

"Your representative has got to hear from you," Hickey said. "He's got to hear you want this passed. The clock's going to be ticking for next year."

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Chester County Kennel License Revoked

July 22, 2008

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 22, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- New Toll-Free Tip Line to Help Public Report Kennel Problems

Dog wardens revoked the license for a Cochranville, Chester County, kennel today after finding maintenance and sanitation issues during an inspection last week.

John Blank, the owner of Limestone Kennel, will be cited for violations of the dog law and given 60 days to sell or transfer enough dogs to no longer be considered a kennel. Any kennel housing more than 25 dogs is required to be licensed and inspected.

Wardens will continue to inspect the kennel during the 60 day period to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the dogs.

The unannounced inspection occurred on Friday. The kennel was last inspected in January.

Jessie Smith, Pennsylvania's special deputy secretary of dog law enforcement, said a new toll-free hotline, 1-877-DOG-TIP1, will help anyone wishing to offer confidential tips about unsatisfactory kennels between regular inspections. The hotline will be available starting Thursday.

"Dog wardens routinely visit a kennel twice a year," said Smith. "These inspections offer snapshots of the conditions of the kennel on that particular day, but conditions can be very different between inspections. If members of the public see kennel conditions that they feel are unacceptable at any time, they can report them to the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement so a warden or a team of wardens can investigate."

Smith said all dogs in commercial breeding kennels would be better protected with passage of House Bill 2525, currently in the House Appropriations Committee.

Introduced in May, H.B. 2525 would strengthen current dog laws and provide better standards for the health and safety of dogs in commercial breeding kennels without affecting other types of kennels that house dogs.

"Raising the minimum standards for commercial breeding kennels and requiring annual veterinary checks will benefit all dogs in these types of settings," said Smith. "Current law does not require that dogs ever receive routine medical care and as a result, many go without."

The bill would require veterinary examinations for each dog at least once per year or during each pregnancy.

Among other protections for dogs, H.B. 2525 doubles the minimum floor space for dogs, eliminates wire flooring, and requires access to an outdoor exercise area twice the size of the dog's primary enclosure.

Current law does not require dogs ever be taken out of cages, much less given access to exercise areas.

Current law treats all kennels the same, regardless of size or function. The proposed legislation would allow the health and welfare needs of the dogs housed in large commercial breeding kennels to be addressed.

Requirements are virtually unchanged for other types of kennels, like sporting and hobby dog kennels, because they do not operate with the purpose of breeding large quantities of dogs to sell for profit. Instead, they operate for the purpose of sporting, hobby, boarding or finding homes for dogs.

The proposed legislation is a result of Governor Edward G. Rendell's effort to improve living conditions for dogs in Pennsylvania kennels.

Since 2006, Governor Rendell has made improvements to the staffing and enforcement efforts of the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, which oversees the inspection and licensing of kennels.

For more information on the proposed legislation overhauling Pennsylvania's Dog Law, visit www.DogLawAction.com.

CONTACT: Chris L. Ryder
(717) 787-5085

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us

Please SEND THIS PAGE to your friends and email lists! We need people to know what's going on with legislation for dogs.

THANK YOU

House Bill 2525 - legislation that will mandate breeder dogs be given larger cages, a solid surface to stand on, daily exercise and an annual physical by a licensed veterinarian - along with House Bill 2532 - legislation that will end cruel debarking and other surgical procedures in unsterile environments and without anesthesia - may come to the House floor at a moments notice for a vote. We need to contact elected representatives across the state and urge them to vote for both Bills.

The passage of House Bills 2525 and 2532 is crucial to improving the health and welfare standards for dogs in Pennsylvania's breeding kennels.

What You Can Do:

1. Politely contact your elected state representative and encourage their support and vote for both Bills.

     > Determine if your representative is co-sponsoring the Bills:
        Click HERE for HB-2525 and HERE for HB-2532 and look for their name

     > Don't know who your state representative is?
        Click HERE to find out by entering your zip code

2.   Send this page along to every animal advocate in Pennsylvania that you know and encourage them to get involved.

Talking Points:

1. Remind legislators that dogs in Pennsylvania have been suffering for far too long and deserve better conditions and protection than they are currently afforded by law;

2. Mention that House Bills 2525 and 2532 are NOT Democratic or Republican issues - the humane treatment of dogs is a concern for ALL Pennsylvanians in every part of the state;

3. If your state representative is NOT supporting one or both Bills, ask how they can possibly side with an industry that places profit over the health and welfare of innocent dogs;

If your state representative IS supporting both Bills, remind them how important the humane care and treatment of dogs in breeding kennels is to you and thank them for their continued support and anticipated vote FOR the legislation.

Each day that goes by without the passage of House Bills 2525 and 2532 represents yet another day that dogs in Pennsylvania are suffering for the sake of profit. By working together and letting our officials know how strongly we feel about both pieces of legislation we may actually make the summer of 2008 the last summer dogs in Pennsylvania spend sweltering in rabbit hutches or stacked in cages in unventilated barns.

By working together and making these calls we CAN make a significant difference in the lives of tens of thousands of dogs currently languishing in puppy mills across the Commonwealth.

Join us in this worthwhile endeavor and please, pick up the phone today!

To learn more about House Bills 2525 and 2532, click HERE