Four New Pennsylvania Bills Proposed for Animal Rights

Pennsylvania lawmakers have proposed four new and revised bills that are designed to "protect animals from inhumane conditions and to shut down puppy mills.

On April, 5th, State Rep. Jeanne McNeil reintroduced HB 846, also known as 'Victoria's Law", which will provide protection for animals living in inhumane conditions that are due to those housing "puppy mills".

"Victoria's Law" bill will also include:

-The protection of individuals seeking pets from misleading sales tactics

-Stop the sale of puppy mill dogs, cats, and rabbits

-Requires advertisers to include license numbers on their advertisements, so consumers have access to that information

“It is truly horrifying and upsetting to see beautiful animals that have had to endure the cruel, inhumane conditions from puppy mills,” McNeill said. “I have seen firsthand the effects puppy mills have had on animals. Dogs and cats that are weak, malnourished, neglected, subjected to overbreeding and poor or no veterinary care. It is time for action and to hold these irresponsible breeders accountable for their actions and protect those who do not have a voice.”

Other lawmakers have proposed three others bills to protect animals in PA:

The “Beagle Freedom Bill” :

· Requires those who breed dogs and cats for sale to animal testing facilities and the testing facilities themselves to offer dogs and cats for adoption once the animals are no longer needed and adoption poses no risk to the animal or to the public.

· Prohibits the sale or import of dogs or cats bred by a kennel or by a person that has received certain serious or numerous citations for violations of the Animal Welfare Act as companion animals (pets) or for research purposes.

· Requires kennels selling dogs or individuals or businesses selling cats for research purposes to maintain records for individual animals and submit an annual summary of that to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

· Offers Whistleblower protection to employees who report violations of this act, the federal Animal Welfare Act, Title 18’s Cruelty to Animals Statute or the Dog Law.

· Establishes a third-degree misdemeanor penalties.

· Requires annual reports to be submitted from the Department of Agriculture to the state legislature, with a 120-day effective date.

Amending the Dog Law:

· Prohibits the sale or import of dogs bred in kennels or by dealers from facilities that have received citations for violations of the Animal Welfare Act as pets or for medical experimentation.

· Currently the Dog Law allows kennel licenses to be revoked from violations of Pa Animal Cruelty laws or from similar violations of other state statutes. This bill extends that protection to violations of federal law.

· Offers Whistleblower protection to employees who report violations of the Dog Law, Title 18’s Cruelty to Animals provisions or federal Animal Welfare Act.

Cruelty to Animals Statute:

· Currently these provisions have a broad exemption to facilities “relating” to medical or scientific research

· Like Virginia law, this bill would narrow that exemption so that existing protections under the animal cruelty statute can be extended to animals bred for research and to animals possessed by testing labs not actively involved in bona fide scientific or medical research.

· Offers Whistleblower protection to employees who report violations of Title 18’s Cruelty to Animals statute, the Dog Law or federal Animal Welfare Act.

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