Pennsylvania's reputation as the "Puppy Mill Capitol of the East Coast" is due to the lack of humane commercial dog breeding regulations and standards within the Commonwealth. Therefore, the mass breeding of dogs in deplorable conditions (puppy mills) exists to provide millions of puppies for the commercial markets of the east coast.

• No human socialization for the kennel dogs or the puppies,
• No exercise (a dog can be confined to a cage or tethered to a chain its entire life),
• No resting periods between litters and no limitations on the number of litters a female can produce,
• No minimum age before a dog starts breeding,
• Not required to have running water at all kennel locations,
• No heat or other environmental temperature controls,
• No solid surfaces or solid resting areas in the cage (cages have open mesh/wire floors, where dogs spend their entire lives),
• No prenatal requirements for breeding,
• No observation or physical examination of dogs during inspections,
• No monitoring of genetic defects,
• No requirements for disposal of dog waste,
• Not required to remove dogs from cages for cleaning,
• No acceptable form of euthanasia or requirements for disposal of carcasses, and
• An individual can commit an act of animal cruelty and continue to operate a kennel.

There is hope! In December 2006, The Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Dog Law proposed new kennel regulations which would make the conditions more tolerable for the dogs. To read the proposed kennel regulations click here.

We urge you to act now and contact your state legislators. Let them know that you support change to help these animals confined to those facilities for life. To find your state legislator click here. A phone call or a letter can make all the difference to the lives of these dogs.

• In 2006, Pennsylvania's Bureau of Dog Law issued commercial breeding kennel licenses to 1,653 facilities.
• Total Number of Kept Dogs in those facilities is 145,236.