For Immediate Release
October 9, 2008
Contact: Kristin Crawford
(717)787-4420
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General Assembly Makes Improvements to State Dog Law

HARRISBURG – The Senate approved changes to the state's Dog Law on Wednesday that would ensure a humane and healthy environment for dogs living in commercial breeding kennels, according to Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-36).

Under House Bill 2525, kennels would be required to double the primary enclosure size for dogs and ensure proper exercise by providing free access to an outdoor exercise area at least twice the size of their primary enclosure. The exercise area may be located indoors if the local municipality prohibits an outdoor exercise area for dogs. The bill would prohibit the use of wire flooring and require flooring to allow for moderate drainage.

The legislation creates the Canine Health Board, made up of nine veterinarians with expertise in treating and caring for dogs, to set standards for lighting, ventilation, temperature and flooring options. The board would also have the authority to review requests from kennel owners for an exercise plan that would provide as much or more exercise than required by law.

The legislation would require dogs to be checked by a veterinarian every six months and mandate that dogs could only be euthanized by a veterinarian. Brubaker said that this provision was inserted in response to a recent case in Berks County in which a kennel owner shot 80 dogs to avoid paying for necessary veterinary care.

The new requirements would apply to kennels that breed or whelp dogs and sell or transfer more than 60 dogs per calendar year, as well as those who sell any dog to a dealer or pet-shop kennel, Brubaker said.

"This legislation will ensure a humane and healthy environment for all dogs living in commercial breeding operations in the state," Brubaker said. "We are fortunate to have a number of good and reputable breeders in Pennsylvania, and it is the goal of this legislation to bring all commercial kennels up to these high standards of canine treatment."

The legislation provides new tools for the Department of Agriculture to protect the health and safety of dogs. House Bill 2525 establishes civil and criminal penalties to failure to comply with the new law, and it creates administrative processes to revoke or refuse a license and to identify unlicensed kennels.

The bill also mandates that individuals convicted of animal cruelty cannot receive a kennel license. Kennels operating without a license would be subject to fines of up to $1,000 per day under the new law.

The bill now goes to the governor's desk to be signed into law.