This what they are proposing:
- developing a public registry of licensed pet breeders that would allow the public to easily locate reputable breeders prior to purchasing a family pet
- requiring pet stores to be licensed including provisions that would require stores to keep records of the breeders from whom they purchase their pets
- requiring veterinarians to report suspected cases of animal neglect or abuse
- giving the chief veterinary officer authority to issue orders that would require owners to take action to relieve an animal in distress or to carry out their duties under the act toward their animals
- providing expanded powers to enter and inspect premises
- providing animal protection officials with specific authority to take abandoned animals into custody including animals left behind in rental properties, animals not retrieved from kennels and other temporary caregivers, and animals that are apparently ownerless
- increasing the maximum penalties for offences to $10,000 from $5,000 for a first offence and to $20,000 from $10,000 for a second or subsequent offence, and the maximum term of imprisonment to 12 months from six months for a second offence
- increasing the limitation period for prosecution of offences under the act to two years from six months
- implementing restrictions, as part of new licensing requirements, on the number of animals a breeder may have, based on individual breeding facilities.
Read the article by Jon Hendricks here.
Things are a little different in Pennsylvania
SOURCE: Last Chance for Animals
5th Annual Puppy Mill Awareness Day to Be Held in "The Puppy Mill Capital of the East Coast"
Last Chance for Animals President, Chris DeRose and Adopt-A-Pet Join Forces With Activists, Actors, and Musicians to Put an End to Puppy Mills
LANCASTER, PA--(Marketwire - September 18, 2008) - Last Chance for Animals (LCA) and Adopt-A-Pet are proud to announce their 5th annual Puppy Mill Awareness Day, Saturday, September 20th, 2008 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, "The Puppy Mill Capital of the East Coast." Lancaster County is home to the largest concentration of dog breeders in the United States. It is estimated that 50% of the breeders in Lancaster are unlicensed, and therefore unregulated. Each year, approximately 500,000 puppies are bred in puppy mills nationally, facilities known for their filthy, overcrowded conditions and the unhealthy animals they produce. Only half of these animals make it to pet stores; the others die from the mill's squalid conditions, hypothermia, starvation or other horrors of transport.
LCA's Special Investigations unit has located and exposed numerous puppy mills around the country from Lancaster, PA to Lancaster, CA. Recently, LCA's investigations led to the release of several hundred puppy mill dogs and the closing of two Los Angeles based pet stores that sold dogs to the public from local puppy mills.
"It is extremely important for Americans to know what the cute puppy in the pet shop has endured to be sold," said Chris DeRose, LCA President. "There are so many adoptable and wonderful pets at shelters and rescues throughout the country. The purchase of a puppy through a pet store is simply irresponsible. If someone wants a specific breed or a young dog, they're all available without going to a pet store."
What: 5th Annual Puppy Mill Awareness Day
Where: Intercourse Community Park, Intercourse, PA 17534
At the corner of Old Philadelphia Pike and Royal Circle.
500 feet east of Intercourse
When: Saturday 9/20/08 11am - 5pm
Who: Special guests include LCA President and Founder Chris DeRose,
Rescue Ink and more.
For more information, visit www.banpuppymills.com
Last Chance for Animals (LCA), a national animal rights organization based in Los Angeles, has been active for more than two decades. Founded and led by animal expert, author, and actor, Chris DeRose. LCA's roots began in exposing the inherent cruelty of vivisection. LCA fights for the rights of animals by conducting investigations that expose animal cruelty, launching public awareness campaigns, pushing animal friendly legislation and helping prosecute animal abusers. For more information, visit www.LCAnimal.org.
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