PA Puppy Mill Bill Passes!

News Flash!!! Hot off the Wires!!! The Puppy Mill Bill has passed in Pennsylvania!!!!

According to the Inquirer, Governor Rendell signed the new legislation on Thursday evening and a ceremonial bill signing will be scheduled at a later date. Among other things, the new law: bans wire flooring, eliminates crate stacking, doubles the size of cages required and mandates exercise and twice yearly veterinary exams. All of these are expensive measures and the hope is that the existing puppy mills will either upgrade or go out of business. In addition, the new bill states that only a veterinarian may now euthanize a dog.

The new kennel standards apply to anyone selling more than 60 dogs per year and anyone selling a dog to a pet shop or wholesaler. According to officials quoted in the Inquirer, "that's roughly 650 of the 2,750 kennels in the state."

No doubt the extra publicity on the Oprah Show payed off as did all the recent newspaper articles about kennel busts and the recent shooting of over 80 dogs by one kennel operator who did not want to pay for vet care.

Although the law takes effect immediately it does provide breeders with one year to comply with the new standards and the opportunity to seek a three year waiver if they have no prior convictions and can provide evidence of other "substantial" kennel improvements.

Of course, this is not soon enough for all the rescue organizations who have brought the plight of these animals out in the open but something is better than nothing. In addition, the bill does not provide for extra enforcement officers, but it is hoped that those who do these inspections will now have more leverage to shut down operations.

All of which requires the public to maintain its vigilance even while giving itself a pat on the back for a job well done.