Fwd: UPDATE: 09-25-08 -- NPPMW's Take on the Senate Amendments to HB-2525

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09-25-08 -- Our Take on the Senate Amendments to HB-2525

By:  North Penn Puppy Mill Watch

 

It is terribly disappointing that our state Senate, in an attempt to avoid making decisions for which they would be held accountable, has decided instead to create a "Canine Health Board" to do their work for them and thereby avoid the overwhelming sentiment and demand of their constituents to immediately protect dogs trapped in Pennsylvania's commercial breeding kennels.

 

The amendments now tacked onto House Bill 2525 strip the majority of provisions that will benefit dogs in commercial breeding kennels by offering a waiver to those kennel operators who have a "clean inspection re

cord" for three years.  Kennel operators falling into this category will not have to implement any of the new provisions that would improve the health and welfare standards for the dogs.

 

In light of the kennel inspection reports for those kennels raided over the summer and the kennel that shot its 80 breeder dogs, some of which had "clean inspection records" this exemption is not only inappropriate but detrimental to the lives of tens of thousands of dogs trapped in the mills.

 

Furthermore, that the implementation of this legislation is to be delayed by more than one year, should it pass, only ensures the probability that hundreds of dogs will once again freeze to death this coming winter and/or expire from heat exhaustion over the course of next summer.  Thanks to the Senate, there will be no immediate relief for dogs who have already been suffering for years and this is shameful.

 

In 2007 the PA Deptment of Agriculture, via the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, licensed approximately 1,667 commercial kennels.  The original and more stringent portions of House Bill 2525 were created to ensure the health and welfare of canines kept in breeding facilities housing more than 60 dogs.  Inasmuch as HB

-2525 would actually affect only 875 kennels, it is clear that the Senate is catering to a very small special interest group, instead of its constituents, and allowing them to dictate how dogs will be kept in this Commonwealth. 

 

Our House of Representatives spoke loudly and clearly: PASS THIS LEGISLATION WITHOUT ADMENDMENT but, by way of unfriendly amendments, the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee has not only damaged this legislation but reinstated amendments that were opposed and soundly defeated in the House.

 

While advocates clearly do not have the ability to stop this now amended legislation, it should be noted for the record that we oppose these changes and would sincerely hope that every state senator who cares about dogs, and also values the opinions of her or his constituents, will work to undo the damage done by the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee when this bill comes for a vote on the Senate floor.