Press Release

 

ASPCA Applauds Gov. Rendell’s Proactive Steps to Improve Animal Welfare in Pennsylvania

 

October 17, 2006

ASPCA Media Contact

NEW YORK—The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today applauded Gov. Rendell’s proactive steps to overhaul animal welfare conditions in Pennsylvania, including his appointment of two key officials in specially-created positions, as well as his proposed regulatory and legislative changes to the existing Dog Law.

“The ASPCA has been working with Governor Rendell and his staff in an advisory capacity for some time now to revamp animal welfare conditions in the state of Pennsylvania,” said ASPCA President Ed Sayres. “We have been impressed by the Governor’s obvious commitment to animal welfare and to improving conditions in state-licensed kennels, which have been operating in open violation of the existing Dog Law. Both the appointments and proposed changes announced by the Governor today are an important first step in making Pennsylvania a humane community we can all be proud of, and will directly impact the quality of life of dogs all over the state.”

The ASPCA welcomed the Governor’s appointment of Jessie L. Smith to be the Special Deputy Secretary for Dog Law Enforcement, and Jeffrey Paladina to be the new Special Prosecutor for Dog Law Enforcement. Ms. Smith was formerly Chief of the Torts Litigation Section in the Office of Attorney General, and is also the former President of the Board of the Directors of the Humane Society of Harrisburg. In addition to noting the importance of these positions, the ASPCA also congratulated the Governor on the 16 new appointees to the Pennsylvania Dog Law Advisory Board.

As a member of the Governor’s appointed ad hoc committee to review the state of the Dog Law, the ASPCA made several recommendations to the Governor earlier this year, including the replacement of key officials on the Dog Law Advisory Board and Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement.

“Governor Rendell’s decisive actions are a great example for other lawmakers who are trying to improve animal welfare conditions in their states and communities,” said Bob Baker, a consultant to the ASPCA on anti-cruelty and animal welfare issues. “The Governor’s decision to infuse change from the top down is a critical step forward in improving the quality of life for these animals.”

Investigations conducted by the ASPCA and others in recent years consistently revealed state licensed kennels operating in open violation of the Dog Law throughout Pennsylvania.  The breeding dogs housed in these licensed facilities often were suffering from inadequate shelter, filthy and unsanitary living conditions, overcrowding, insufficient food and water, and lack of veterinary care.  More recently, these deplorable conditions have also been exposed by numerous media sources, resulting in increased calls for change from concerned citizens and animal welfare organizations.

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Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first humane organization established in the Americas and serves as the nation’s leading voice for animal welfare. One million supporters strong, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501 [c] [3] not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. The ASPCA, which is headquartered in New York City, offers a wide range of programs, including a mobile clinic outreach initiative, its own humane law enforcement team, and a groundbreaking veterinary forensics team and mobile animal CSI unit. For more information, please visit www.aspca.org.

 

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