On Monday, June 24, 2024, the House Judiciary Committee will consider legislation aimed at addressing concerns by boarding kennels along the state borders.
Recent changes to Pennsylvania’s Dog Law (Act 18 of 2023) requires a certified certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) from a dog’s home state in order to be boarded in Pennsylvania licensed boarding kennel.
House Bill 2413 is similar to previous legislation that stalled in the House for internal reasons (See previous alert). It provides an exemption from the CVI requirement for out of state dogs entering a boarding kennel if all of the following:
(i) The dog is owned by a resident of a state which directly borders Pennsylvania.
(ii) The dog is temporarily housed in a boarding kennel for less than 30 consecutive days.
(iii) The dog is privately owned, and the owner is able to provide proof of ownership.
(iv) Ownership of the dog does not transfer to another person after the dog enters the boarding kennel.
(v) The dog will return to the owner after the end of the boarding period.
AKC appreciates the legislation, which addresses the issue with bordering states. However, it does not address or recognize the impact the CVI requirements may have on frequent travelers to the Commonwealth from other non-bordering state or travelers across the United States visiting Pennsylvania who may need to board their dog for even 1 day, or for someone traveling to the Commonwealth from beyond a bordering state to address personal emergency situations who need to temporarily board a dog.
What you can do:
Those who are impacted by both the current CVI requirements and those proposed by HB 2413 are encouraged to contact the members of the House Judiciary. Committee members contact information can be found here (scroll down and click on the member’s name). Let them know that you appreciate that the legislation addresses the issue for those in bordering states. However, remind them that the bill only helps a limited number of dog owners and ask that the bill be amended by removing the bordering state requirement, or adding language exempting those dogs owned by a resident from a state within 500 miles of the Pennsylvania border, which will at least help those in nearby states, who are more likely to travel to the Commonwealth.
For more information, contact AKC’s Government Relations Department at (919) 816-3720, or email doglaw@akc.org.
AKC GR and our partner the Pennsylvania Federation of Dog Clubs will continue to monitor this and other legislation the impact the rights of dog owners and the dogs they love.