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Animal activists boo Eagles’ signing of Vick
August 14, 2009
News that the Eagles had signed quarterback Michael Vick, a convicted animal abuser, was met with swift outrage last night by members of Philadelphia’s animal-welfare community.
Many said they were concerned that the move would cast a pall over a state in which animal advocates - led by Gov. Rendell, who has three rescue dogs - have fought to improve conditions for dogs, particularly those who suffer in substandard commercial kennels.
“Over the last three years, Pennsylvania has made historic strides in bringing attention to the abuse and neglect that so many dogs suffer in this state and throughout the country,” said Tom Hickey of Drexel Hill, a member of the governor’s Dog Law Advisory Board. “For the Philadelphia Eagles, knowing the heinous crimes committed by this man, to sign him is unconscionable.”
Senate GOP budget plan raids dog law fund
May 7, 2009
Seeking to slash over $1 billion from Gov. Rendell’s budget proposal, Senate Republicans have dished up a spending plan of their own that takes a sharp knife to many programs, including the restricted account that funds the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement.
The plan, announced Monday, calls for siphoning $4 million from the $15 million fund that pays for all expenses related to enforcement of the dog law, a withdrawal that would bankrupt the account by 2011, according to Dept. of Agriculture officials.
The account, funded by dog and kennel license fees and fines from enforcement actions, pays for staff salaries, purchase and maintenance of equipment.
Supporters of the legislation toughening the state dog law that was signed by Rendell last Oct. say they feel betrayed.
“I can’t believe that seven months after passing this historic bill they would want to take it away,” said Tom Hickey Sr., a member of the Dog Law Advisory Board.
Hickey added such a raid on the fund could mean fewer dog licenses are purchased since the money would not be dedicated to improving the welfare of dogs.
Senate GOP leaders say in this tough economic climate, they had no option but to go line-by-line and whittle down Rendell’s $29 billion spending plan to address revenue shortfalls. Their plan, contained in SB 850, has angered many broad-based interest groups, including education advocates, the health care community and supporters of family and children’s services - all programs that would face steep cuts.
Said Rendell’s spokesman Chuch Ardo of the Republican plan: “If they are willing to inflict hardship on children it should come as no surprise that they are willing to inflict hardship on dogs.”
Read this on the Philly Dawg Blog
Animal cruelty bill passes House
February 12, 2009
Thanks in part to the thousands of emails that you sent to your legislators, HB 39 has unanimously passed the PA House of Representatives. Now we need to make sure it passes the senate, where a similar bill stalled last year.
Click here to contact your senator and tell them to pass HB 39.
You can read more about HB 39 passing the House on the Philly Dawg blog
Wardens seize 96 dogs, shut down Pa. kennel
December 21, 2008
EPHRATA, Pa. - State dog wardens have shut down a central Pennsylvania kennel and seized nearly 100 dogs there.
Officials say the 96 dogs seized Saturday are in good condition.
The owner of the kennel in Ephrata had fought to keep his business running after the state revoked his kennel license last year.
On Dec. 6, a Lancaster County judge issued an injunction and gave Ervin S. Zimmerman 14 days to shut the kennel down.
The injunction came after wardens had cited Zimmerman for six violations of the dog law in November.
Messages left for Zimmerman by the Sunday News of Lancaster were not immediately returned.
Please Stay Tuned!
November 25, 2008
We’ll be in contact with all of you when the new Pennsylvania General Assembly session begins in January. There is much more work for us to do on behalf of dogs in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and with your help and support there is no limit to what we can accomplish.
In the meantime, if you haven’t signed the petition yet, please sign it now. If you have signed it, please invite your friends, neighbors and relatives to join you in signing it.
Thank you again for all you have you have done! We’ll be in touch soon.
Gov. Rendell’s Public Signing of New Dog Law (CBS 3 Video)
October 28, 2008
Click here to watch CBS 3’s coverage of Gov. Rendell’s ceremonial signing of HB 2525 to strengthen laws against dog abuse in Pennsylvania.
Gov. Rendell Signs Dog Overhaul Bill (WFMZ VIDEO)
October 11, 2008
Governor Rendell’s done it. A bill that calls for better conditions at dog kennels across Pennsylvania is now law. Rendell signed it late yesterday. The law imposes strict standards on commercial kennels. It requires larger cages and twice-a-year veterinary exams for dogs. Animal advocates say they hope the state will now shed its reputation as the puppy mill capital of.
Watch the video report at wfmz.com
Dog Law Passes PA Senate (WFMZ Video)
October 9, 2008
A bill to reform the state’s dog laws is ready for the governor’s signature. The Pennsylvania Senate passed the bill by a vote of 49 to one. The move comes three weeks after the House OK’d the measure. It calls for bigger cages for dogs, requires annual vet checkups and cracks down on “inhumane puppy mills.” The rules would pertain to commercial kennels that provide dogs to dealers or that traffic in at least 60 dogs a year. Dog law reform gained momentum earlier this year, when two kennel owners in Maxatawny Township shot and killed 80 dogs instead of getting the dogs medical treatment. It was legal for the kennel owners to do so but it sparked an uproar.
Click here to watch the WFMZ-TV video
Pa. governor to sign dog-law overhaul
October 8, 2008
The Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. - Gov. Ed Rendell said Wednesday he will sign a bill intended to dramatically improve the care and treatment of dogs kept in Pennsylvania’s larger commercial kennels.
(more…)
Philly.com on the Saving Puppies grassroots effort
October 6, 2008
The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Amy Worden has posted on the Commonwealth Confidential Blog about HB 2525 and a proposed amendment that almost gutted the bill in the Senate Appropriations Committee. She also writes about the grassroots lobbying effort that we launched this morning asking you to contact all 50 state senators and tell them not to weaken the bill with amendments like the one Worden mentions.
One small update to the story - as of 8pm Monday, October 6th, more than 3000 of you have sent emails to each of the senators. That’s 150,000 total emails in just 7 hours. Thank you so much for your help and support!
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