The public comment period for the proposed changes to the dog law regulations has been extended until March 16, 2007. The American Kennel Club and the Pennsylvania Federation of Dog Clubs ask concerned dog owners to mail their letters no latter than March 12, 2007 to ensure that they are received prior to the deadline. We need everyone's help to defeat this proposal!
Pennsylvania Governor Aims to Regulate Breeders
[Thursday, January 04, 2007]
Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell has established a new Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement within the Department of Agriculture. This new bureau will be staffed by a group of lawyers and will be charged with inspecting kennels.
Additionally, on December 16th, a draft of proposed changes to the dog law regulations was released. If adopted, these changes would have a profound impact on breeders in Pennsylvania. State law requires that the public be allowed to comment on regulatory changes. We are asking breeders and concerned dog owners to send a letter regarding your concerns about these changes. There is a link to a sample letter at the bottom of this post. Letters should be postmarked by March 12th and should be sent to the following address:
Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement
Attn: Ms. Mary Bender
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
2301 North Cameron Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9408
The American Kennel Club and the Pennsylvania Federation of Dog Clubs strongly support humane treatment of dogs, including an adequate and nutritious diet, clean water, clean living conditions, regular veterinary care, kind and responsive human companionship, and training in appropriate behavior. However, we do not believe that the proposed changes will achieve these aims.
Instead enactment of these regulations would burden responsible breeders. Many of the regulations are impractical, unenforceable, and costly and will not improve the quality of life for dogs in Pennsylvania.
For example, the proposed regulations would require the following;
- The definition of “temporary housing” would require thousands of small residential hobby and show breeding households to become licensed which could not possibly comply with the regulations, and which there is no reason to regulate.
- The obligations of owners of “temporary housing” which are made subject to inspection by the proposal are not enumerated or limited.
- There is no scientific or accepted husbandry basis for the amended space and exercise requirements.
- The regulations will require wholesale renovation, if not rebuilding, of many kennels already built in compliance with current federal and/or state standards. There is no scientific foundation for the arbitrary, rigid engineering standards specified.
- Smaller breeders and dog owners who maintain their dogs in their own residential premises but are covered by the Pennsylvania dog law, who provide care and conditions far superior to those required by the proposed new standards, would be unable to comply with the rigid commercial kennel standards.
- The record keeping requirements with respect to exercise, cleaning, and other aspects of kennel management are excessively burdensome and serve no useful purpose, as it would be impossible to verify their accuracy in all but the most egregious circumstances. Such egregious circumstances already violate existing regulations.
- The proposals pertaining to housing and social interaction of dogs of different sizes are contrary to good husbandry, socialization and training practices.
For additional information please contact the Pennsylvania Federation of Dog Clubs at pennafeddogclubs@aol.com or visit their website at www.paonline.com/pfdc.
The public comment period for the proposed changes to the dog law regulations has been extended…