News
By Rose Strong
New dog law legislation hits
In what seems an unprecedented amount of proposed legislation regarding Pennsylvania’s dog laws, lawmakers paraded three bills before the House of Representatives during a press conference on the steps of the state capitol on May 14.
Doubling the floor space and requiring a solid floor for dog kennels is a central component of HB 2525. The bill also requires access to an outdoor exercise area that is two times the size of the dogs’ primary enclosure, as well as mandates annual veterinary care and disallows the stacking of cages.
Under HB 2532, medical procedures such as tail docking after the age of three days, debarking (cutting of vocal cords), and Cesarean section births must be performed by a licensed veterinarian.
Leveling increased fines on those charged with animal cruelty, HB 499 also requires that guardians of seized dogs be responsible for paying reasonable expenses for the boarding of their dogs while held at a Humane Society or shelter kennel, or they must surrender guardianship of their dog.
With animal rights’ groups and dogs looking on, legislative officials touted the strength of these bills.
“Dog wardens and the public continuously report situations that are bad for dogs, but comply with the current law,” says Jessie Smith, the state’s special deputy secretary for dog law enforcement.
“Under current law, a kennel owner can choose to confine dogs in small, stacked, wire-floored cages with no heat, no opportunity for exercise, and no routine medical care. No matter how distressing this is, it is completely legal under the current Pennsylvania Dog Law and regulations.”
The bills were introduced under the leadership of Representative James Casorio.
''We're putting the commercial breeder on notice,'' says Casorio. To those breeders who operate puppy mills, he says, ''We're coming after you.''
Casorio maintains that the bills have the support of Gov. Rendell, who has rescued three Golden Retrievers in recent years. Casorio says he thinks the bills could get to Rendell's desk before the end of the legislative session on June 30.
In an announcement on May 19, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, (ASPCA) launched the Philadelphia Rescue Assistance Program, otherwise known as Philly RAP.
The program will provide $70,000 in subsidy and medical reimbursement services for homeless pets who have been transferred from the Philadelphia Animal Care and Control Association (PACCA) to its recognized animal rescue partners.
On June 1, 2008, the ASPCA began implementing an animal transfer subsidy that will help PACCA’s rescue partners accept and care for the animals taken into their adoption programs. This subsidy will help increase the transfer numbers of homeless pets from PACCA and will give much needed financial assistance through the medical reimbursement program to cover medical expenses for those treatments over and above the typical preventative and routine treatments currently given to transfer animals.
“The ASPCA’s Philadelphia Rescue Assistance Program was created to save at-risk animals now,” says ASPCA President and CEO Ed Sayres. “We understand the urgent need to help save lives in Philadelphia, and with this program, we hope to have not just an immediate impact, but also increase the overall number of animal lives we can save.”
Philly RAP is divided into two groups that consist of high-risk animals at PACCA. The first is dogs 40 pounds and over and the second group consists of cats ages 6 months and older. A $25 subsidy will be paid out to a recognized rescue partner for each animal who has been transferred, spayed/neutered, and adopted from the rescue partner.
“Based on 2007 transfer numbers at PACCA, we estimate that we will have sufficient funding through 2008, with the program officially ending on November 30,” says Sandy Monterose, the ASPCA’s senior director of northeast regional outreach. “If animal transfers from PACCA increase substantially, the subsidy account could be depleted earlier.”
The ASPCA will reimburse PACCA partners $250 for medical care that costs between $500 and $2,000 and $500 for medical care that costs more than $2,000. The animals must qualify as those with severe medical conditions or injuries by PACCA and will be transferred to only a qualified rescue partner.
Specific qualification guidelines and more info are available at ASPCAPro.org.
After an original conviction of animal cruelty for Wendy Kneller of Weissport, PA, who, authorities say, told her boyfriend Randy Miller to kill her Chow/Pitbull Terrier mix, the Pennsylvania Superior Court will rehear the case.
Kneller told her boyfriend to kill the dog after the dog had bitten her 4-year old son. Miller took the dog out to the woods and hit him over the head with a shovel, then shot him with a .40-caliber pistol.
The original trial court ruled that shooting a dog with a firearm was animal cruelty.
In two separate decisions handed down earlier in 2008 by a panel of three Superior Court judges who reheard arguments of the case, it was overturned, with two judges overturning the cruelty convictions and one judge dissenting.
Gary Dobias, district attorney for Carbon County, has been granted a go-ahead to his petition for a re-argument of the case before the entire Superior Court.
Dobias gave Philly Tails the following statement: “I have requested re-argument before the entire Superior Court, which has been granted. I believe that the statute in PA provides that before a dog may be destroyed with a firearm, the dog must be injured, disabled, diseased, or unfit. To authorize [a guardian] to kill his healthy pet dog or cat for any reason or no reason as long as he uses a firearm would lead to an absurd result.”
In addition, Dobias explains that this interpretation of the law would allow someone to go to a pet store and purchase 100 puppies or kittens and shoot them with a firearm without committing a crime.
“However, the same individual would be guilty of a crime under Pennsylvania law if he ill-treats, beats, abuses, neglects. or deprives that animal of sustenance, drink, shelter, or veterinary care or access to clean and sanitary shelter,” he adds. “It is difficult to imagine that the legislature intended to punish the [guardian] of a dog who fails to provide for his dog, but not the individual who shoots the dog.”
Blues to the Rescue, a fundraiser for Animal Lifeline, took place on April 25 at Occasions at Union Square in New Hope. Roughly 300 animal lovers turned out for the event, and more than $11,000 was raised. (Pictured) Animal Lifeline President and Founder Denise Bash and board member Valerie Rice. Rescue Ink members Mike Tattoo, Big Ant, and Johnny “O” Des, “the Cat Man,” came from NYC to help raise money for the animals and make new friends.
New dog law legislation hits
PA House for passage
In what seems an unprecedented amount of proposed legislation regarding Pennsylvania’s dog laws, lawmakers paraded three bills before the House of Representatives during a press conference on the steps of the state capitol on May 14.
Doubling the floor space and requiring a solid floor for dog kennels is a central component of HB 2525. The bill also requires access to an outdoor exercise area that is two times the size of the dogs’ primary enclosure, as well as mandates annual veterinary care and disallows the stacking of cages.
Under HB 2532, medical procedures such as tail docking after the age of three days, debarking (cutting of vocal cords), and Cesarean section births must be performed by a licensed veterinarian.
Leveling increased fines on those charged with animal cruelty, HB 499 also requires that guardians of seized dogs be responsible for paying reasonable expenses for the boarding of their dogs while held at a Humane Society or shelter kennel, or they must surrender guardianship of their dog.
With animal rights’ groups and dogs looking on, legislative officials touted the strength of these bills.
“Dog wardens and the public continuously report situations that are bad for dogs, but comply with the current law,” says Jessie Smith, the state’s special deputy secretary for dog law enforcement.
“Under current law, a kennel owner can choose to confine dogs in small, stacked, wire-floored cages with no heat, no opportunity for exercise, and no routine medical care. No matter how distressing this is, it is completely legal under the current Pennsylvania Dog Law and regulations.”
The bills were introduced under the leadership of Representative James Casorio.
''We're putting the commercial breeder on notice,'' says Casorio. To those breeders who operate puppy mills, he says, ''We're coming after you.''
Casorio maintains that the bills have the support of Gov. Rendell, who has rescued three Golden Retrievers in recent years. Casorio says he thinks the bills could get to Rendell's desk before the end of the legislative session on June 30.
Philly RAP launched by ASPCA to save homeless pets
In an announcement on May 19, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, (ASPCA) launched the Philadelphia Rescue Assistance Program, otherwise known as Philly RAP.
The program will provide $70,000 in subsidy and medical reimbursement services for homeless pets who have been transferred from the Philadelphia Animal Care and Control Association (PACCA) to its recognized animal rescue partners.
On June 1, 2008, the ASPCA began implementing an animal transfer subsidy that will help PACCA’s rescue partners accept and care for the animals taken into their adoption programs. This subsidy will help increase the transfer numbers of homeless pets from PACCA and will give much needed financial assistance through the medical reimbursement program to cover medical expenses for those treatments over and above the typical preventative and routine treatments currently given to transfer animals.
“The ASPCA’s Philadelphia Rescue Assistance Program was created to save at-risk animals now,” says ASPCA President and CEO Ed Sayres. “We understand the urgent need to help save lives in Philadelphia, and with this program, we hope to have not just an immediate impact, but also increase the overall number of animal lives we can save.”
Philly RAP is divided into two groups that consist of high-risk animals at PACCA. The first is dogs 40 pounds and over and the second group consists of cats ages 6 months and older. A $25 subsidy will be paid out to a recognized rescue partner for each animal who has been transferred, spayed/neutered, and adopted from the rescue partner.
“Based on 2007 transfer numbers at PACCA, we estimate that we will have sufficient funding through 2008, with the program officially ending on November 30,” says Sandy Monterose, the ASPCA’s senior director of northeast regional outreach. “If animal transfers from PACCA increase substantially, the subsidy account could be depleted earlier.”
The ASPCA will reimburse PACCA partners $250 for medical care that costs between $500 and $2,000 and $500 for medical care that costs more than $2,000. The animals must qualify as those with severe medical conditions or injuries by PACCA and will be transferred to only a qualified rescue partner.
Specific qualification guidelines and more info are available at ASPCAPro.org.
Killing a healthy pet by gun to be reheard by PA Superior Court
After an original conviction of animal cruelty for Wendy Kneller of Weissport, PA, who, authorities say, told her boyfriend Randy Miller to kill her Chow/Pitbull Terrier mix, the Pennsylvania Superior Court will rehear the case.
Kneller told her boyfriend to kill the dog after the dog had bitten her 4-year old son. Miller took the dog out to the woods and hit him over the head with a shovel, then shot him with a .40-caliber pistol.
The original trial court ruled that shooting a dog with a firearm was animal cruelty.
In two separate decisions handed down earlier in 2008 by a panel of three Superior Court judges who reheard arguments of the case, it was overturned, with two judges overturning the cruelty convictions and one judge dissenting.
Gary Dobias, district attorney for Carbon County, has been granted a go-ahead to his petition for a re-argument of the case before the entire Superior Court.
Dobias gave Philly Tails the following statement: “I have requested re-argument before the entire Superior Court, which has been granted. I believe that the statute in PA provides that before a dog may be destroyed with a firearm, the dog must be injured, disabled, diseased, or unfit. To authorize [a guardian] to kill his healthy pet dog or cat for any reason or no reason as long as he uses a firearm would lead to an absurd result.”
In addition, Dobias explains that this interpretation of the law would allow someone to go to a pet store and purchase 100 puppies or kittens and shoot them with a firearm without committing a crime.
“However, the same individual would be guilty of a crime under Pennsylvania law if he ill-treats, beats, abuses, neglects. or deprives that animal of sustenance, drink, shelter, or veterinary care or access to clean and sanitary shelter,” he adds. “It is difficult to imagine that the legislature intended to punish the [guardian] of a dog who fails to provide for his dog, but not the individual who shoots the dog.”
First ever Blues to the Rescue event raises $11,000 for local group
Blues to the Rescue, a fundraiser for Animal Lifeline, took place on April 25 at Occasions at Union Square in New Hope. Roughly 300 animal lovers turned out for the event, and more than $11,000 was raised. (Pictured) Animal Lifeline President and Founder Denise Bash and board member Valerie Rice. Rescue Ink members Mike Tattoo, Big Ant, and Johnny “O” Des, “the Cat Man,” came from NYC to help raise money for the animals and make new friends.
