Senate panel advances dog-law overhaul

HARRISBURG - A bill to overhaul the state dog law survived a last minute attempt to remove its key provisions before being unanimously approved late tonight by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The bill (H.B. 2525) which raises standards for care in commercial dog breeding kennels, passed the House last month.

It will be considered by the full Senate tomorrow, said a senior Senate aide. Because the bill was amended it must still go back to the House for a final vote.

The House could suspend the rules which require a 24-hour waiting period and vote on the bill tomorrow or it could take up the bill when it returns Nov. 12 for the final three days of the session.

Animal welfare advocates applauded the bill's passage, saying it will help thousands of dogs in commercial kennels.

The bill, championed by Gov. Rendell and the subject of intense statewide debate, bans wire flooring, doubles cage size and requires exercise and semi-annual veterinary exams for breeding dogs in large commercial kennels.

"I think it's a good bill, considering how it could have been amended," said Tom Hickey Sr., a member of the Dog Law Advisory Board. "The legislature heard Pennsylvanians and gave them what they demanded."