May 14, 2008                                                                         

Adolph Says Crack Down on Puppy Mills is Overdue  

Legislation will increase fines and penalties, improve humane treatment

SPRINGFIELD, PA – Representative Bill Adolph (R-165) said today a state crack down on puppy mills is long overdue and that he will work to help pass two critical pieces of legislation that will improve the humane treatment of dogs at commercial kennels by putting in place more stringent health and safety standards, accompanied by increased fines and penalties.  Adolph co-sponsored two pieces of legislation that were formally introduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives yesterday. 

“I was appalled to see recent video and to read accounts of the treatment of dogs at some of the more unsavory large kennel operations in Pennsylvania,” said Rep. Bill Adolph, who represents portions of Morton, Springfield, Marple, and Radnor.  “A crack down on puppy mills, where some dogs have been reported to spend their entire lives in a cage no bigger than dishwasher, is long overdue.”

Adolph said he has been frustrated by the slow pace of reform.  Adolph said that two years ago, Governor Ed Rendell dismissed the members of a Dog Law Advisory Board that Rendell had formed because of the lack of progress made on crafting solutions to the problem.  The new members of the Board he appointed have also been at odds with each other over the best methods to address the issue, further slowing down action on the issue.  But Adolph is optimistic that the renewed public interest in the issue, fueled by media coverage and an expose by talk show host Oprah Winfrey, will provide the boost needed to get the legislature to take action.     

“I think the spotlight on this issue will provide us with the momentum and support needed to address this problem in the legislature,” said Adolph.  “I think these bills provide the right balance of providing us the means to crack down on the unethical kennel operators and cruel treatment at some of these puppy mills, while not causing any undue hardship on legitimate dog owners and breeders.” 

Legislation co-sponsored by Adolph and introduced by Rep. James Casario (HB 2525) would require that primary enclosures for dogs provide protection from injury and inclement weather, limit the number of dogs that can be kept in each enclosure, require that dogs receive clean water at all times, and require that the dogs be housed in a facility with adequate ventilation, smoke alarms, and moderate temperatures.  For dogs over the age of 12 weeks, it would also prohibit the stacking of enclosures, provide for increased enclosure space, require that dogs have access to open areas for exercise, and require that enclosures have solid flooring as opposed to wire flooring.

Adolph has also co-sponsored legislation introduced by Rep. Thomas Caltagirone, which would strengthen the state’s animal cruelty laws.  The bill would also require that dog owners be required to bring their dogs to the veterinarian for the performance of certain medical procedures, which they are not currently required to do.  Under this legislation, serious medical procedures such as debarking (the cutting of a dogs vocal cords) and tail docking or snipping (the cutting of a dog’s tail long after it is born) would be required to be performed by a licensed professional. 

Bill Adolph represents the 165th Legislative District, which includes portions of Morton, Springfield, Marple, and Radnor.

Adolph Says Crack Down on Puppy Mills is Overdue  

Legislation will increase fines and penalties, improve humane treatment

SPRINGFIELD, PA – Representative Bill Adolph (R-165) said today a state crack down on puppy mills is long overdue and that he will work to help pass two critical pieces of legislation that will improve the humane treatment of dogs at commercial kennels by putting in place more stringent health and safety standards, accompanied by increased fines and penalties.  Adolph co-sponsored two pieces of legislation that were formally introduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives yesterday. 

 

“I was appalled to see recent video and to read accounts of the treatment of dogs at some of the more unsavory large kennel operations in Pennsylvania,” said Rep. Bill Adolph, who represents portions of Morton, Springfield, Marple, and Radnor.  “A crack down on puppy mills, where some dogs have been reported to spend their entire lives in a cage no bigger than dishwasher, is long overdue.”

 

Adolph said he has been frustrated by the slow pace of reform.  Adolph said that two years ago, Governor Ed Rendell dismissed the members of a Dog Law Advisory Board that Rendell had formed because of the lack of progress made on crafting solutions to the problem.  The new members of the Board he appointed have also been at odds with each other over the best methods to address the issue, further slowing down action on the issue.  But Adolph is optimistic that the renewed public interest in the issue, fueled by media coverage and an expose by talk show host Oprah Winfrey, will provide the boost needed to get the legislature to take action.     

 

“I think the spotlight on this issue will provide us with the momentum and support needed to address this problem in the legislature,” said Adolph.  “I think these bills provide the right balance of providing us the means to crack down on the unethical kennel operators and cruel treatment at some of these puppy mills, while not causing any undue hardship on legitimate dog owners and breeders.” 

 

Legislation so-sponsored by Adolph and introduced by Rep. James Casario (HB 2525) would require that primary enclosures for dogs provide protection from injury and inclement weather, limit the number of dogs that can be kept in each enclosure, require that dogs receive clean water at all times, and require that the dogs be housed in a facility with adequate ventilation, smoke alarms, and moderate temperatures.  For dogs over the age of 12 weeks, it would also prohibit the stacking of enclosures, provide for increased enclosure space, require that dogs have access to open areas for exercise, and require that enclosures have solid flooring as opposed to wire flooring.

 

Adolph has also co-sponsored legislation introduced by Rep. Thomas Caltagirone, which would strengthen the state’s animal cruelty laws.  The bill would also require that dog owners be required to bring their dogs to the veterinarian for the performance of certain medical procedures, which they are not currently required to do.  Under this legislation, serious medical procedures such as debarking (the cutting of a dogs vocal cords) and tail docking or snipping (the cutting of a dog’s tail long after it is born) would be required to be performed by a licensed professional. 

 

Bill Adolph represents the 165th Legislative District, which includes portions of Morton, Springfield, Marple, and Radnor.

 

Adolph Says Crack Down on Puppy Mills is Overdue  

Legislation will increase fines and penalties, improve humane treatment

SPRINGFIELD, PA – Representative Bill Adolph (R-165) said today a state crack down on puppy mills is long overdue and that he will work to help pass two critical pieces of legislation that will improve the humane treatment of dogs at commercial kennels by putting in place more stringent health and safety standards, accompanied by increased fines and penalties.  Adolph co-sponsored two pieces of legislation that were formally introduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives yesterday. 

 

“I was appalled to see recent video and to read accounts of the treatment of dogs at some of the more unsavory large kennel operations in Pennsylvania,” said Rep. Bill Adolph, who represents portions of Morton, Springfield, Marple, and Radnor.  “A crack down on puppy mills, where some dogs have been reported to spend their entire lives in a cage no bigger than dishwasher, is long overdue.”

 

Adolph said he has been frustrated by the slow pace of reform.  Adolph said that two years ago, Governor Ed Rendell dismissed the members of a Dog Law Advisory Board that Rendell had formed because of the lack of progress made on crafting solutions to the problem.  The new members of the Board he appointed have also been at odds with each other over the best methods to address the issue, further slowing down action on the issue.  But Adolph is optimistic that the renewed public interest in the issue, fueled by media coverage and an expose by talk show host Oprah Winfrey, will provide the boost needed to get the legislature to take action.     

 

“I think the spotlight on this issue will provide us with the momentum and support needed to address this problem in the legislature,” said Adolph.  “I think these bills provide the right balance of providing us the means to crack down on the unethical kennel operators and cruel treatment at some of these puppy mills, while not causing any undue hardship on legitimate dog owners and breeders.” 

 

Legislation so-sponsored by Adolph and introduced by Rep. James Casario (HB 2525) would require that primary enclosures for dogs provide protection from injury and inclement weather, limit the number of dogs that can be kept in each enclosure, require that dogs receive clean water at all times, and require that the dogs be housed in a facility with adequate ventilation, smoke alarms, and moderate temperatures.  For dogs over the age of 12 weeks, it would also prohibit the stacking of enclosures, provide for increased enclosure space, require that dogs have access to open areas for exercise, and require that enclosures have solid flooring as opposed to wire flooring.

 

Adolph has also co-sponsored legislation introduced by Rep. Thomas Caltagirone, which would strengthen the state’s animal cruelty laws.  The bill would also require that dog owners be required to bring their dogs to the veterinarian for the performance of certain medical procedures, which they are not currently required to do.  Under this legislation, serious medical procedures such as debarking (the cutting of a dogs vocal cords) and tail docking or snipping (the cutting of a dog’s tail long after it is born) would be required to be performed by a licensed professional. 

 

Bill Adolph represents the 165th Legislative District, which includes portions of Morton, Springfield, Marple, and Radnor.