Posted: October 28, 2008, 5 a.m. EDT
Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell held a public signing ceremony on House Bill 2525, now Act 119 of 2008, on Monday at the Center for Animal Referral and Emergency Services (CARES) in Langhorne, Penn.
The Governor signed the bill into law Oct. 9 aimed at improving the treatment of dogs in commercial kennels.
For example, the new law requires veterinary examinations for each dog twice per year. Jon Rappaport, DVM, director of CARES, said that the center sees a lot of puppies from such kennels in poor condition.
“We see animals that have severe pneumonia, parvovirus and other infectious diseases,” Rappaport said. “All too often people set out to get a healthy puppy and instead wind up with a very ill animal. This is both an expensive financial and emotional proposition they are not prepared for. This act will provide for healthier puppies getting to their owner and for better conditions for the animal being bred.”
Among other protections for dogs, the law increases the minimum floor space, bans wire flooring, eliminates cage stacking, and requires regular exercise.
Chris Ryder, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture spokesman, said that signing the bill into law will change the way that state kennels operate. “It’s a huge victory for dogs in Pennsylvania,” he said.