HSUS Press Release: Pennsylvania Legislators Combat Cruel Puppy Mills

Governor Backs Package of Bills to Protect Pennsylvania's Puppies

The Humane Society of the United States applauds legislators for taking a strong stand against abuses at Pennsylvania's puppy mills.

Two bills introduced yesterday by State Reps. James E. Casorio Jr., D-Westmoreland, and Thomas R. Caltagirone, D-Berks, would raise the minimum health and safety standards for all kenneled dogs and prohibit painful procedures often performed in breeding facilities without anesthesia. A bill introduced by Rep. Gene DiGirolamo, R-Bucks, would also increase penalties for animal cruelty. At a capitol news conference today, Gov. Ed Rendell expressed his support for all three of these measures.

"The Humane Society of the United States is grateful to Governor Rendell and Representatives Casorio, Caltagirone, and DiGirolamo for working to crack down on the cruelty of Pennsylvania's notorious puppy mills," said Sarah Speed, Pennsylvania state director for The Humane Society of the United States. "This collection of bills would be a measurable step forward for man's best friend here in Pennsylvania. Dogs must be protected as family pets, not treated like a cash crop."

Rep. Casorio introduced H.B. 2525 yesterday, which would overhaul Pennsylvania's Dog Law to address problems inherent in large-scale commercial dog breeding facilities, or "puppy mills." This bill would define "commercial kennels" as any facility that sells dogs to a dealer or pet shop or sells more than 60 dogs per year. It also establishes additional protections for the dogs raised in commercial kennels, including requirements about food and water, shelter, vet care, and housing. This bill establishes stronger protections for breeding dogs, and puppies over the age of 12 weeks, prohibiting stacking of cages, wire flooring, and requiring increased space, exercise, and annual vet care.

Presently, breeders may legally perform a surgical birth, debarking by cutting a dog's vocal cords, and tail docking, all delicate and extremely painful procedures often performed without anesthesia or sanitary conditions. Rep. Caltagirone's bill (H.B. 2532), introduced today with the support of 90 cosponsors, will prohibit these procedures unless performed under anesthesia by a veterinarian. The bill will also allow dog wardens to file charges of cruelty, within the scope of their duties relating to inspecting kennels, if there is no county humane society police officer to do so.

H.B. 499, introduced by Rep. DiGirolamo, would increase the penalties for misdemeanor and felony animal cruelty. It also would require an owner who has been charged with animal cruelty to pay for the costs of caring for the animal pending the disposition of the charge.

Puppy mills are mass dog-breeding operations that house dogs in shockingly poor conditions. Life is particularly bad for "breeding stock," dogs who live their entire lives in cages and are continually bred for years, without human companionship and with little hope of ever becoming part of a family. These dogs receive little or no veterinary care and never see a bed, a treat or a toy. After their fertility wanes, breeding animals are commonly killed, abandoned or sold to another mill. The annual result of all this breeding is hundreds of thousands of puppies, many with behavior and/or health problems.

The Humane Society of the United States is working in conjunction with The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Pennsylvania Legislative Animal Network to pursue this important legislative effort in Pennsylvania.

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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at humanesociety.org.

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