Federal judge upholds tougher Pa. kennel law

A federal judge yesterday upheld the constitutionality of key provisions in Pennsylvania's year-old law governing commercial dog kennels.

The Professional Dog Breeders Advisory Council, which represents the state's commercial kennels, two New Jersey pet store owners, and a Pennsylvania dog breeder, sued the commonwealth on various constitutional grounds alleging, among other things, that kennel inspections constituted unlawful search and seizure and that the kennel license-revocation procedure violated kennel owners' due-process rights.

U.S. District Judge Sylvia H. Rambo of the Middle District found that the state has the authority to conduct unannounced inspections of regulated industries such as kennel operations and that the Department of Agriculture had the authority to revoke licenses under appeal.

The plaintiffs' attorney said his clients had not yet decided whether to appeal.

The law, which applies to breeders who sell 60 or more dogs a year or sell dogs to pet stores, goes into effect next month. - Amy Worden