A rally on May 14, 2008 introduced three new bills to improve laws governing PA dogs. Learn about the new laws below or visit www.doglawaction.com.

Photos taken at the rally in Harrisburg on September 16 in support of HB2525 can be seen here.

United Against Puppy Mills and other animal advocacy groups in PA support HB2525, but do NOT support the PA Senate's Amendments to the Bill. Click here to read the text of the September 29 letter sent to Governor Rendell by United Against Puppy Mills and other PA animal advocacy groups.

One of the most important steps we can take is to let our representatives in Harrisburg know that the welfare of our best friends is important to us as voters.

To locate your state representative and/or to read proposed bills in their entirety, visit www.legis.state.pa.us. Phone calls and/or letter writing along with faxes are acceptable forms of communication. Simply state that you are a Pennsylvania constituent.

Below are some of the important bills that are currently active:

An act amending Title 18 (crimes & offenses). A person commits a summary offense if he tethers a dog outside between the hours of 10pm and 6am.

Contact:

Majority Chair:

Hon. Thomas R. Caltagirone
645 Penn Street, 2nd Floor
Reading, PA 19601
(610) 376-1529
Fax: (610) 378-4406

Hon. Thomas R. Caltagirone
106 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202127
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2127
(717) 787-3525
Fax: (717) 772-5401
E-Mail: tcaltagi@pahouse.net
Home Page: www.pahouse.com/caltagirone

Minority Chair:

Hon. Ron Marsico
4401 Linglestown Road, Suite B
Harrisburg, PA 17112
(717) 652-3721
Fax: (717) 652-6276

Hon. Ron Marsico
218 Ryan Office Building
PO Box 202105
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2105
(717) 783-2014
Fax: (717) 705-2010
E-Mail: rmarsico@pahousegop.com

An Act amending the act of December 7, 1982 (P.L.784, No.225), known as the Dog Law, further providing for definitions, for issuance of dog licenses, for applications for dog licenses, for kennels, for requirements for kennels, for out-of-state dealer license, for bills of sale, for revocation, suspension or refusal of kennel licenses, for transportation of dogs, for health certificates for importation, for inspections of premises and dogs and for additional duties of department; providing for refusal of entry; further providing for seizure and detention of dogs, for confinement of dogs, for dog bites, for registration, for certain requirements, for control of dangerous dogs, for public safety, for selling, bartering or trading dogs, for damages caused by coyotes, for burdens of proof, for enforcement, for rules and regulations and for violations; providing for exemption; further defining "releasing agency"; and making editorial changes.

Referred to AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, May 13, 2008.

Contact:

Majority (Room 302 MC):

• Hon. Michael K. Hanna (Chairman)
• Hon. Gary Haluska (Vice Chairman)
• Hon. David R. Kessler (Secretary)

• Hon. Mike Carroll
• Hon. Mark B. Cohen
• Hon. H. Scott Conklin
• Hon. Peter J. Daley
• Hon. Richard T. Grucela
• Hon. Harold James
• Hon. Babette Josephs
• Hon. Tim Mahoney
• Hon. John Myers
• Hon. Frank Louis Oliver
• Hon. Tomothy J. Solobay
• Hon. Tom Yewcic
• Hon. Rosita C. Youngblood

Minority (Room 202 ROB):

• Hon. Art Hershey (Chairman)
• Hon. Bob Bastian (Vice Chairman)
• Hon. Mike Fleck (Secretary)

• Hon. Karen Boback
• Hon. Michele Brooks
• Hon. Jim Cox
• Hon. Gordon Denlinger
• Hon. David S. Hickernell
• Hon. Rob W. Kauffman
• Hon. Mark K. Keller
• Hon. David R. Millard
• Hon. Dan Moul
• Hon. Tina Pickett

An Act amending Title 18 (crimes & offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for cruelty to animals.

Referred to JUDICIARY, May 14, 2008.

Contact:

Majority (Room 106 IOB):

• Hon. Thomas R. Caltagirone (Chairman)
• Hon. Daylin Leach (Secretary)
• Hon. Kathy Manderino (Subcommittee Chairman on Family Law)
• Hon. John E. Pallone (Subcommittee Chairman on Crime and Corrections)
• Hon. Don Walko (Subcommittee Chairman on Courts)

• Hon. Lisa Bennington
• Hon. Dan Frankel
• Hon. Harold James
• Hon. Deberah Kula
• Hon. Bryan R. Lentz
• Hon. Joseph A. Petrarca
• Hon. Sean M. Ramaley
• Hon. Greg Vitali
• Hon. Chelsea Wagner
• Hon. Jesse White
• Hon. Jewell Williams

Minority (Room 218 ROB):

• Hon. Ron Marsico (Chairman)
• Hon. Tom C. Creighton (Subcommittee Chairman on Courts)
• Hon. Will Gabig (Subcommittee Chairman on Crime and Corrections)
• Hon. Glen R. Grell (Subcommittee Chairman on Family Law)

• Hon. Craig A. Dally
• Hon. John R. Evans
• Hon. Kate Harper
• Hon. Beverly Mackereth
• Hon. Carl W. Mantz
• Hon. Bernie O'Neill
• Hon. Tina Pickett
• Hon. Todd Rock
• Hon. Katie True

An act amending Title 18 pertaining to cruelty to animals. This act would increase fines and make provisions so that humane societies will be reimbursed for the care of animals held in connection with various charges under this statute.

Contact:

Majority Chair:

Hon. Thomas R. Caltagirone
645 Penn Street, 2nd Floor
Reading, PA 19601
(610) 376-1529
Fax: (610) 378-4406

Hon. Thomas R. Caltagirone
106 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202127
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2127
(717) 787-3525
Fax: (717) 772-5401
E-Mail: tcaltagi@pahouse.net
Home Page: www.pahouse.com/caltagirone

Minority Chair:

Hon. Ron Marsico
4401 Linglestown Road, Suite B
Harrisburg, PA 17112
(717) 652-3721
Fax: (717) 652-6276

Hon. Ron Marsico
218 Ryan Office Building
PO Box 202105
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2105
(717) 783-2014
Fax: (717) 705-2010
E-Mail: rmarsico@pahousegop.com