Andrea Rosebrock 
Everyone knew that the PA Puppy Mill Bill, HB 2525, was going to be facing obstacles in the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee but what they are doing it it, amendment after amendment, is going to undo any good this bill could possibly do. And one of the comments, “It will hurt our industry. People will pay more for their dogs and buy from states that can produce more dogs,” made by Sen. John Eichelberger, R-Hollidaysburg, shows just what is really important to these politico jokers! Money, money, money… the hell with the dogs!
Here’s the latest amendments added to HB 2525, they’re really ripping this apart!
- Kennels that have not been cited for violations in the past three years are not required to make the changes required in the legislation.
- Slatted floors would be allowed. The original proposes solid flooring only.
- If local zoning prohibits outdoor runs, existing kennels are exempted from the requirement for outdoor exercise.
- The amended legislation raises maximum cage height to 30 inches, from 12 inches in the original. It could allow for stacking of cages, and dogs could be kept in rabbit hutches, according to Gardener.
- Rabies vaccinations must be given under the supervision of a veterinarian, rather than by a veterinarian.
- If the temperature in a kennel exceeds 85 degrees, the owner needs only to “make an effort” to lower the temperature. The original bill set a 50- to 85-degree temperature range and would have required air conditioning.
- Kennel owners have a year, instead of six months, to abide by the legislation.
- A Canine Health Board of seven veterinarians would review requests for exemptions to venting, flooring and lighting for breeding kennels.
Wow, doesn’t look like there are going to be many changes once they get through with it, does it??
The amendments were sponsored by committee chairman Sen. Michael W. Brubaker, R-Lititz and were passed by an 11-0 vote. The bill was passed out of committee but a 10-1 vote. Sen. John Eichelberger, R-Hollidaysburg, voted for the amendments, but was the lone committee member to vote against the amended bill. This is the nice guy who made the comment I noted above and he doesn’t think they were enough amendments.
He’s worried that the bill is gonna cost puppy millers some money… awwwwww…. They’re going to have to build outdoor runs so the dogs can actually get some exercise and must place cages only along outside walls, cutting down the amount of space they have to pack cages upon cages of neglected and abused dogs into the space they have. Awwww…. poor puppy millers! Wonder how much he’s getting out of the special interest groups supporting the industry??
Nancy Gardener, president of the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter said that exempting kennels that have not been cited for violations will not help the animals. Many existing, compliant kennels stack cages with wire floors.
“There are lot of bad, bad kennels that have had no citations, so they’re not going to have to make any changes,” Gardener said.
Below is a list of those Senators who are members of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee along with their contact information. These are the people who voted in the amendments. These are the people who don’t give a damn about innocent, defenseless animals. These are the people who are condoning animal cruelty in PA!
Brubaker, Michael W. (R), Chair
Senate District 36
Chester (part) and Lancaster (part) Counties.
ADDRESS: Senate Box 203036
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3036
ROOM: 457 Main Capitol
TELEPHONE: (717) 787-4420
FAX: (717) 783-3156
D.O. ADDRESS: 301 East Main Street
Lititz, PA 17543
(717) 627-0036
E-MAIL ADDRESS: mbrubaker@pasen.gov
INDIVIDUAL HOMEPAGE: http://senatorbrubaker.com
Waugh, Michael L. (R) , Vice Chair
Senate District 28
York (part) County.
ADDRESS: Senate Box 203028
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3028
ROOM: 9 East Wing
TELEPHONE: (717) 787-3817
FAX: (717) 783-1900
D.O. ADDRESS: 218 North George Street
York, PA 17401
(717) 846-2828
FAX: (717) 852-8478
E-MAIL ADDRESS: mwaugh@pasen.gov
INDIVIDUAL HOMEPAGE: http://www.senatorwaugh.com
O’Pake, Michael A. (D) , Minority Chair
Senate District 11
Berks (part) County.
ADDRESS: Senate Box 203011
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3011
ROOM: 11 East Wing
TELEPHONE: (717) 787-8925
D.O. ADDRESS: 1940 North Thirteenth Street
Suite 232
Reading, PA 19604
E-MAIL ADDRESS: opake@pasenate.com
INDIVIDUAL HOMEPAGE: http://www.senator-opake.com
Scarnati, III, Joseph B. (R), ex-officio
Senate District 25
Cameron, Clearfield (part), Elk,
Jefferson, Mckean, Potter,
Tioga and Warren (part) Counties.
ADDRESS: Senate Box 203025
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3025
ROOM: 292 Capitol Building
TELEPHONE: (717) 787-7084
D.O. ADDRESS: 315 Second Avenue
Suite 203
Warren, PA 16365
(814) 726-7201
E-MAIL ADDRESS: jscarnati@pasen.gov
INDIVIDUAL HOMEPAGE: http://www.senatorscarnati.com/
Eichelberger, John H. (R)
Senate District 30
Bedford, Blair, Fulton,
Huntingdon and Mifflin (part) Counties.
ADDRESS: Senate Box 203030
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3030
ROOM: 460 Main Capitol
TELEPHONE: (717) 787-5490
FAX: (717) 783-5192
D.O. ADDRESS: 309 Allegheny Street
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
(814) 695-8386
E-MAIL ADDRESS: jeichelberger@pasen.gov
Folmer, Mike (R)
Senate District 48
Berks (part), Chester (part), Dauphin (part),
Lancaster (part) and Lebanon Counties.
ADDRESS: Senate Box 203048
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3048
ROOM: 457 Main Capitol
TELEPHONE: (717) 787-5708
(877) 222-1897
FAX: (717) 787-3455
D.O. ADDRESS: 101 Municipal Building
400 S. 8th Street
Lebanon, PA 17042
(717) 274-7705
509 W. Penn Avenue
Robesonia, PA 19551
(610) 693-3200
18 East High Street
Elizabethtown, PA 17022
(717) 361-8623
FAX: (717) 367-2370
E-MAIL ADDRESS: mfolmer@pasen.gov
INDIVIDUAL HOMEPAGE: http://www.senatorfolmer.com
Madigan, Roger A. (R)
Senate District 23
Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan,
Susquehanna (part) and Union (part) Counties.
ADDRESS: Senate Box 203023
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3023
ROOM: 286 Capitol Building
TELEPHONE: (717) 787-3280
D.O. ADDRESS: 330 Pine Street, Suite 200
Williamsport, PA 17701-6243
(570) 322-6457
E-MAIL ADDRESS: rmadigan@pasen.gov
INDIVIDUAL HOMEPAGE: http://www.senatormadigan.com
Punt, Terry L. (R)
Senate District 33
Adams, Franklin and York (part) Counties.
ADDRESS: Senate Box 203033
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3033
ROOM: 16 East Wing
TELEPHONE: (717) 787-4651
D.O. ADDRESS: Kerrstown Square, Suite 2
166 South Main Street
Chambersburg, PA 17201
(717) 264-6100
E-MAIL ADDRESS: tpunt@pasen.gov
Kitchen, Shirley M. (D)
Senate District 3
Philadelphia (part) County.
ADDRESS: Senate Box 203003
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3003
ROOM: 463 Capitol Building
TELEPHONE: (717) 787-6735
D.O. ADDRESS: 1701 West Lehigh Avenue
Suite 104
Philadelphia, PA 19132
(215) 227-6161
E-MAIL ADDRESS: kitchen@pasenate.com
INDIVIDUAL HOMEPAGE: http://www.senatorkitchen.com
Logan, Sean (D)
Senate District 45
Allegheny (part) and Westmoreland (part) Counties.
ADDRESS: Senate Box 203045
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3045
ROOM: 543 Capitol Building
TELEPHONE: (717) 787-5580
D.O. ADDRESS: Ivanhoe Professional Building
Suite 107, 117 Fox Plan Road
Monroeville, PA 15146
(412) 380-2242
627 Lysle Boulevard, Suite 100
McKeesport, PA 15132
(412) 664-5200
18 Feldarelli Square
2300 Freeport Road
New Kensington, PA 15068
(724) 334-1143
E-MAIL ADDRESS: logan@pasenate.com
INDIVIDUAL HOMEPAGE: http://www.senatorlogan.com
Wozniak, John N. (D)
Senate District 35
Cambria, Centre (part), Clearfield (part),
Clinton and Somerset (part) Counties.
ADDRESS: Senate Box 203035
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3035
ROOM: 182 Capitol Building
TELEPHONE: (717) 787-5400
D.O. ADDRESS: 2307 Bedford Street
Johnstown, PA 15904
(814) 266-2277
E-MAIL ADDRESS: wozniak@pasenate.com
INDIVIDUAL HOMEPAGE: http://www.senator-wozniak.com
Pennsylvanians, which of these are YOUR Senators??
The bill is now in the Senate Appropriations Committee and is expected to come before the full Senate after Oct. 6.
Legislative leaders have called for concluding business by the Nov. 4 election to avoid a lame duck session.
Now, if this watered down piece of trash makes it through the full Senate, it goes to Gov. Rendell. He has two choice I believe, he can sign it into law or he can send it back and the fighting starts all over again and the dogs stuck in these houses of horror have nothing until possibly next year.
People, please, contact the PA Senators!! Tell them to pass this bill without all the amendments!! All the good that could be done is going to be little to nothing if these idiots get their way.
I have posted this again and again and will continue to post it….
Talk about wasting time and watering down a bill! Hypocrites! Please, I ask, beg, plead with you, contact PA Senators and ask them to pass HB 2525 without the amendments!!
I urge all Pennsylvanians to contact youR senators – you can find the list HERE, and let them know that you support the bill as it was originally written.
1. Remind your Senator that dogs in Pennsylvania have been suffering for far too long and deserve better conditions and protection than they are currently afforded by law;
2. Mention that House Bill 2525 is NOT Democratic or Republican issues – the humane treatment of dogs is a concern for ALL Pennsylvanians in every part of the state;
3. If your state Senator is NOT supporting HB 2525 in its original state, ask how they can possibly side with an industry that places profit over the health and welfare of innocent dogs;
If your state Senator IS supporting the original Bill, remind them how important the humane care and treatment of dogs in breeding kennels is to you and thank them for their continued support and anticipated vote FOR the legislation.
Each day that goes by without the passage of House Bill 2525 represents yet another day that dogs in Pennsylvania are suffering for the sake of profit. By working together and letting our officials know how strongly we feel about both pieces of legislation we may actually make the summer of 2008 the last summer breeder dogs in Pennsylvania spend sweltering in rabbit hutches or stacked in cages in unventilated barns.
For those outside Pennsylvania, you can still contact the PA Senators. You can let them know that the eyes of the country and the world are watching them. Let them know that you will not support Pennsylvania through tourism or industry and you will urge friends and family to do likewise. Where the bills are being held up, it is only because they worry about loss of revenue from special interest groups supporting this vile industry. Let them know they will lose a lot more revenue if they don’t support it!
Everyone please, this is not just a Pennsylvania problem! Don’t think the dogs bred in PA puppy mills stay in Pennsylvania. They are shipped all across the country and with the puppies come diseases and a plethora of other medical problems. We all pay the price!
So now it’s time to pick up the phones, write email, write letters… raise your voices! Be polite but be firm! Actual letter will send the strongest message. Start now and don’t stop!
Please , help to get the word out too. Send this to everyone you know, friends, family… post this on forums and groups. You may be one person and I am only one person, but together with many others, we can be a force to be reckoned with.
i’ve posted this piece on several army mom groups that i belong to. i’ve recieved numerous promises to respond and have recieved over 50 emails to be forwarded to the list of senators, which i have done already. army moms love a cause, especialy when their soldiers are deployed, it gives us something to keep us busy. so they are getting plenty of emails and letters and calls with the army mom signatures.
bernice
proud army mom
sgt. gene l. mp
66th mp co.
ft. lewis, wa.
order of the purple heart
fightin’ 66th
lead, follow or get the hell out of the way.
@bernice – Bernice, that’s wonderful! Thank you so much and thanks to all the army mom’s… for everything!
Deanna
WHAT??????????
Did I read that correctly???????
Sen. John Eichelberger said;
“IT WILL HURT OUR INDUSTRY”
I was NOT aware sir- the puppy milling was an industry! Perhaps you should rethink your statement and your attitude. You are not elected for life but perhaps you’re tired of representing your constituents which are obviously in the puppy mill business. No offense- but are you also running a puppy mill- since you think this bill will hinder and harm OUR industry. If your not involved- then look around the office and see if you can find a spine and a life and do the right thing for a change. You’ll be amazed how good it makes you feel!
@Margaret – Doesn’t it just infuriate you almost beyond words?? To him puppy milling is no different than any other ‘industy’, the hotel industry or restaurant industry or building cars… he doesn’t see the dogs as living, breathing, feeling creatures… just as ‘product producers’.
The only spine he has goes into protecting the almighty buck that he reaps from this ‘industry’ in one way or another, from all the special interest groups.
Deanna
Wow, we go from being absolutely elated that HB2585 passed the House, only to have it ripped apart by the Senate. This makes me so angry. It sounds like our politicians are being paid off, or lobbied heavily. Have they no sense of compassion for the animals? This is just killing me.
@Vicki T – It’s killing me too. I see what is being done in PA as a landmark for the rest of the county. Since PA is probably the worse state when it comes to puppy mills, although there are many close, my own state of WI being one of them, I was hoping to see strong legislation passed there as a testament to something that could be followed. That’s why I promote it as heavily as I do, aside from the fact that it is beyond necessary.
And there is no doubt people are being ‘paid off’ in one way or another… money… promises…. whatever it takes. It’s just heartbreaking!
Deanna
@Admin -
Thank god for everything that you do, Deanna! You give us the tools we need to be able to react to these situations, which takes a huge amount of work on your part and your staff. Thanks for keeping us aware of what’s going on in the dreadful country (at times, it really is the worst). Warmly, Vicki Tankersley Oh, and I have to correct my error, calling it HB2585, when it’s really HB2525 (I’m sure people knew what I meant, but I hate to be wrong on something that important).
First off, Thank you Bernice and all you army moms out there…And as always..Thank you Deanna for keeping us informed…(and the contact info!!)
That’s the end of the nice part….I will try to keep this rant short…
What a bunch of CRAP!!!!!!!!!!”Kennels that have not been cited for violations in the past three years are not required to make the changes”…What the hell does that have to do with anything??The whole point is to raise the damn bar for ALL kennels!!Ridiculous!!!
“If local zoning prohibits outdoor runs,existing kennels are exempted from outdoor exercise”…Again…Am I missing something??Does this just simply say…”Keep your dirty,noisy(but probably most are debarked) puppy mill inside and out of sight”…SICKENING!!!
“Allow stacking”…What I have to say about this is not printable..
“Temperature in kennels exceeds 85 degrees,and they only have to “make an effort”to lower the temperature”..Oh that’s perfect…So,animal cruelty and suffering is happening..and they only have to “make an effort” to stop it..I guess being cold isn’t even important enough to acknowledge..Laughable!!But it’s soooo not funny….
Is it so much to ask..Is it so hard to treat these poor creatures with some small shred of decency??!Their lives are still going to s—!!They will still be used and abused..over and over and over…They will still bring the precious “profit”…So show a small smidge of respect!!!!!Why is that so hard??!!How can people be so completely blinded by greed that suffering does not matter??!!!How do these people sleep at night??
Anyone who has a toe in amending this bill to death has blood on their hands if you ask me!!Blood and suffering on their hands!!!!!!!!!!!And “industry”..This sh– should not even be legal!!!!!With the overpopulation of pets in an absolute crisis..Millions being killed every year because there are not enough homes..The fact that this is going on….period!!Just blows me away!!And the fact the inhumane treatment will continue…beyond my ability to understand…Go find another “industry”…Go back to school for pete’s sake!!Just because certain “people” have gotten used to making their living off animal cruelty does not make it right!!!Alright…I better stop..I’m getting the blood pressure is going up headache now…Sorry so long…I have pent-up rage today I guess..