Pennsylvania Enacts New "Puppy Mill" Laws
On October 9, 2008, Governor Edward G. Rendell signed into law legislation that will help Pennsylvania get rid its reputation as the ‘Puppy Mill Capitol of the East.’ This law:
1. doubles the minimum floor space for dogs;2. eliminates wire flooring;3. requires access to an outdoor exercise area twice the size of the dog’s primary enclosure;4. veterinary examinations for each dog at least once per year or during each pregnancy;5. and allows for the health and welfare needs of the dogs housed in large commercial breeding kennels will be addressed.
In related action, House Bill 2532 was passed unanimously by the Judiciary Committee on October 8, 2008, and will now move to the House Floor. It addresses Pennsylvania's animal cruelty laws, and if passed, would require that only veterinarians conduct certain surgical procedures on dogs such as caesarian birth, debarking and docking of a dog's tail 96 hours after birth.
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.
Go to House Bill 2525 to read the Bill itself.
We STRONGLY recommend that you get your dog from a respectable breeder or rescue organization. Pet store puppies may get their dogs from Puppy Mills that normally breed only for profit, not quality or concern for the puppy or its eventual owner.
