eaglerock814
03-27-2008, 04:31 AM
A Hard Look At Pennsylvania
Animal Shelters And Rescues
by JOHN YATES
The American Sporting Dog Alliance
http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org
(This is the third in a series of special reports that will be released in the days prior to the publication of proposed kennel legislation and revised kennel regulations in Pennsylvania. These issues are of vital concern to everyone who has a kennel or owns a dog. The American Sporting Dog Alliance works at the grassroots level to protect the rights of people who own or work with dogs of the sporting breeds. Our focus is on informing people about the issues, providing a way to take direct personal action, tracking votes in the Legislature, taking legal action, and convincing elected officials to do what’s right. Please visit us on the web at http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org. Your participation and membership are very important. We maintain strict independence, and are supported solely by the donations of our members.)
HARRISBURG, Pa. – The issue of animal shelters and rescue organizations has been downplayed in debate over Pennsylvania’s proposed new kennel laws and regulations, but it has moved to front and center with recent disclosures about out-of-state programs that bring dogs to this state for adoption. An American Sporting Dog Alliance (ASDA) investigation revealed that the Pennsylvania Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement is cracking down on shelters and rescue groups from other states that bring surplus dogs here.
By definition, this is a very emotional issue that elicits strong responses on both sides of the fence. For sporting dog owners, breeders and professionals, the shelter and rescue movement has special significance as a hotbed for animal rights activism that targets us.
This ASDA analysis will take an objective look at the issue in the context of the current dog law and proposed changes in the law.
Pennsylvania truly is fortunate to have thousands of residents who care deeply about the fate of homeless dogs and cats, and are willing to donate their time, hard work, influence and money to help. This says something very nice about our state.
Like most states, many animals end up at our shelters for a variety of reasons. Philadelphia alone takes in about 30,000 animals a year at its municipal shelter, and several thousand more at other shelters that serve the metropolitan area. Many of these dogs are killed in the shelters, but many are given the chance to find a new home.
Research has identified the leading reasons why people bring dogs to shelters. The top 10 reasons in order are:
· Moving
· Landlord issues
· Cost of pet maintenance
· No time for pet
· Inadequate facilities
· Too many pets in home
· Pet illness(es)
· Personal problems
· Biting
· No homes for littermates
That research makes it clear that the reasons for dogs entering shelters are not primarily because there is an over-population of unwanted animals. Having too many pets ranks sixth on the list, and no homes for littermates ranks tenth. The major causes could be described as the realities of modern life.
Many dogs are euthanized because of disposition problems, illness or injury, old age, or because they are from an “undesirable” breed, such as pit bulls. Some shelters and rescues are advertised as no-kill, in that they euthanize only dogs that are deemed not fit for adoption. But other shelters have very high kill rates for a variety of reasons.
Many shelters work hard to find homes for as many dogs as possible, and many rescue groups were formed expressly for this worthy purpose.
Current law requires shelters and rescue kennels to be licensed by the state, with categories based on the number of dogs kept over the course of a year. Like all kennels, they are inspected at least twice a year by state dog wardens.
Many of these shelters and rescues have passed their annual inspections with flying colors, but others have not. The Philadelphia municipal facility failed an inspection last October, the Susquehanna Stray Animal Shelter closed its doors because it’s facilities couldn’t pass inspection, and numerous rescue groups have been cited and shut down under dog law and animal cruelty violations.
The database at Pet-Abuse.com lists 56 cases of rescue shelter neglect over the past 10 years, and most of those allegations occurred in the past five years. ASDA recently reported the details of many of these charges, and we will not repeat them here. Suffice it to say that problems at so-called “puppy mills” were dwarfed by the problems at rescue groups and animal shelters, according to documentation of every animal cruelty charge filed in Pennsylvania over the past three years.
A proposed revision of the state kennel law and accompanying regulations is supposed to be published in The Pennsylvania Bulletin in the near future, possibly within days. It is speculation to guess what the new law might say at this point, but preliminary drafts made available to ASDA in late January and late February may give an indication of the final form.
In both drafts, a new category of kennel was created called a “commercial kennel.” One might politely call these kennels large commercial breeding facilities, or use the derogatory animal rights group slogan and call them “puppy mills.” Regardless, they are large kennels with a high volume and high turnover of dogs.
“Commercial kennels” would face much more stringent regulation than private or boarding kennels under both drafts of the proposed new laws. The draft versions continue to regulate animal shelters and rescues as if they were small private kennels. They are not included in the “commercial” category to require more stringent regulation.
However, a reported crackdown on out-of-state shelters and rescues by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement casts this issue in a different light. An ASDA investigation revealed that letters sent to out-of-state groups this past fall, and instructions given to all of the state’s dog wardens in January, show that the Bureau is now requiring out-of-state shelters and rescues to be licensed as commercial dealers if they bring dogs into Pennsylvania.
Because of the intense demand in Pennsylvania for “adoptable” dogs, thousands of dogs are brought into Pennsylvania every year from other states and foreign countries, and placed with shelters and rescue groups here for adoption, ASDA has documented.
If out-of-state groups are considered dealers, why aren’t the same kinds of groups within Pennsylvania considered to be dealers? After all, they do the same thing, except for being on different sides of the state line.
Pennsylvania shelters and rescues are specifically excluded from dealer status in the current dog law. In draft versions of the proposed legislation, dealers are considered to be in the commercial category and required to meet tougher standard, and this would include out-of-state shelters and rescues. But it would not include Pennsylvania shelters and rescues.
Why?
If the real purpose of a tougher dog law is to make life better for dogs in Pennsylvania kennels, then it would seem that the logical place to start would be with animal shelters and rescue groups. Far more dogs pass through these facilities every year than are raised by the state’s 250 largest private commercial kennels.
Many of these shelter and rescue dogs receive excellent care, but a review of public records shows conclusively than many do not. In fact, records show, shelters and rescue kennels are cited much more often under the animal cruelty law than are large commercial kennels.
Shelters and rescue groups handle a high volume of dogs and have a high turnover rate of dogs. Because of this, they are at a much higher risk than most large commercial kennels, with relatively stable populations of dogs.
The risk of disease is much higher in rescue and shelter kennels because of the large number of dogs coming there from unknown or uncertain sources. State dogs wardens alone deliver close to 18,000 strays a year to these kennels, records show.
Data is not available in Pennsylvania to confirm the number of dogs that pass through shelter and rescue doors every year, but it is safe to say that it exceeds 100,000 animals by a wide margin. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh alone account for more than 70,000 dogs and cats entering several different shelters, and almost every county has one or more shelters or rescue groups within its borders. We think the total number would be staggering.
It also is fair to assume that most of these dogs would be exposed to a communicable disease, internal parasites, flea-borne diseases and other problems simply because the sources of many of these dogs are unknown, and many come from deplorable conditions.
This is not merely speculation.
Last year, for example, the Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania had an outbreak of canine influenza that resulted in the deaths of five dogs, and the illnesses of at least 23 more, according to an Associated Press report and local newspaper accounts.
About 80-percent of dogs exposed to the virus develop symptoms and about 8-percent of those die, said Cynda Crawford, a veterinarian at the University of Florida.
In Philadelphia, The Bulletin reported, municipal animal shelter officials conceded that there was no way that they could stop the spread of diseases because of overcrowding and poor facilities. The director was quoted to say that viruses of all kinds spread rapidly through the facility. In the facility’s kennel inspection failure report, several cleanliness issues also were cited.
There are other hazards, too. In 2004 in rural Fayette County, a fire at a Humane Society shelter killed about three dozen animals, the Associated Press reported.
(Continued as a reply).
Animal Shelters And Rescues
by JOHN YATES
The American Sporting Dog Alliance
http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org
(This is the third in a series of special reports that will be released in the days prior to the publication of proposed kennel legislation and revised kennel regulations in Pennsylvania. These issues are of vital concern to everyone who has a kennel or owns a dog. The American Sporting Dog Alliance works at the grassroots level to protect the rights of people who own or work with dogs of the sporting breeds. Our focus is on informing people about the issues, providing a way to take direct personal action, tracking votes in the Legislature, taking legal action, and convincing elected officials to do what’s right. Please visit us on the web at http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org. Your participation and membership are very important. We maintain strict independence, and are supported solely by the donations of our members.)
HARRISBURG, Pa. – The issue of animal shelters and rescue organizations has been downplayed in debate over Pennsylvania’s proposed new kennel laws and regulations, but it has moved to front and center with recent disclosures about out-of-state programs that bring dogs to this state for adoption. An American Sporting Dog Alliance (ASDA) investigation revealed that the Pennsylvania Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement is cracking down on shelters and rescue groups from other states that bring surplus dogs here.
By definition, this is a very emotional issue that elicits strong responses on both sides of the fence. For sporting dog owners, breeders and professionals, the shelter and rescue movement has special significance as a hotbed for animal rights activism that targets us.
This ASDA analysis will take an objective look at the issue in the context of the current dog law and proposed changes in the law.
Pennsylvania truly is fortunate to have thousands of residents who care deeply about the fate of homeless dogs and cats, and are willing to donate their time, hard work, influence and money to help. This says something very nice about our state.
Like most states, many animals end up at our shelters for a variety of reasons. Philadelphia alone takes in about 30,000 animals a year at its municipal shelter, and several thousand more at other shelters that serve the metropolitan area. Many of these dogs are killed in the shelters, but many are given the chance to find a new home.
Research has identified the leading reasons why people bring dogs to shelters. The top 10 reasons in order are:
· Moving
· Landlord issues
· Cost of pet maintenance
· No time for pet
· Inadequate facilities
· Too many pets in home
· Pet illness(es)
· Personal problems
· Biting
· No homes for littermates
That research makes it clear that the reasons for dogs entering shelters are not primarily because there is an over-population of unwanted animals. Having too many pets ranks sixth on the list, and no homes for littermates ranks tenth. The major causes could be described as the realities of modern life.
Many dogs are euthanized because of disposition problems, illness or injury, old age, or because they are from an “undesirable” breed, such as pit bulls. Some shelters and rescues are advertised as no-kill, in that they euthanize only dogs that are deemed not fit for adoption. But other shelters have very high kill rates for a variety of reasons.
Many shelters work hard to find homes for as many dogs as possible, and many rescue groups were formed expressly for this worthy purpose.
Current law requires shelters and rescue kennels to be licensed by the state, with categories based on the number of dogs kept over the course of a year. Like all kennels, they are inspected at least twice a year by state dog wardens.
Many of these shelters and rescues have passed their annual inspections with flying colors, but others have not. The Philadelphia municipal facility failed an inspection last October, the Susquehanna Stray Animal Shelter closed its doors because it’s facilities couldn’t pass inspection, and numerous rescue groups have been cited and shut down under dog law and animal cruelty violations.
The database at Pet-Abuse.com lists 56 cases of rescue shelter neglect over the past 10 years, and most of those allegations occurred in the past five years. ASDA recently reported the details of many of these charges, and we will not repeat them here. Suffice it to say that problems at so-called “puppy mills” were dwarfed by the problems at rescue groups and animal shelters, according to documentation of every animal cruelty charge filed in Pennsylvania over the past three years.
A proposed revision of the state kennel law and accompanying regulations is supposed to be published in The Pennsylvania Bulletin in the near future, possibly within days. It is speculation to guess what the new law might say at this point, but preliminary drafts made available to ASDA in late January and late February may give an indication of the final form.
In both drafts, a new category of kennel was created called a “commercial kennel.” One might politely call these kennels large commercial breeding facilities, or use the derogatory animal rights group slogan and call them “puppy mills.” Regardless, they are large kennels with a high volume and high turnover of dogs.
“Commercial kennels” would face much more stringent regulation than private or boarding kennels under both drafts of the proposed new laws. The draft versions continue to regulate animal shelters and rescues as if they were small private kennels. They are not included in the “commercial” category to require more stringent regulation.
However, a reported crackdown on out-of-state shelters and rescues by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement casts this issue in a different light. An ASDA investigation revealed that letters sent to out-of-state groups this past fall, and instructions given to all of the state’s dog wardens in January, show that the Bureau is now requiring out-of-state shelters and rescues to be licensed as commercial dealers if they bring dogs into Pennsylvania.
Because of the intense demand in Pennsylvania for “adoptable” dogs, thousands of dogs are brought into Pennsylvania every year from other states and foreign countries, and placed with shelters and rescue groups here for adoption, ASDA has documented.
If out-of-state groups are considered dealers, why aren’t the same kinds of groups within Pennsylvania considered to be dealers? After all, they do the same thing, except for being on different sides of the state line.
Pennsylvania shelters and rescues are specifically excluded from dealer status in the current dog law. In draft versions of the proposed legislation, dealers are considered to be in the commercial category and required to meet tougher standard, and this would include out-of-state shelters and rescues. But it would not include Pennsylvania shelters and rescues.
Why?
If the real purpose of a tougher dog law is to make life better for dogs in Pennsylvania kennels, then it would seem that the logical place to start would be with animal shelters and rescue groups. Far more dogs pass through these facilities every year than are raised by the state’s 250 largest private commercial kennels.
Many of these shelter and rescue dogs receive excellent care, but a review of public records shows conclusively than many do not. In fact, records show, shelters and rescue kennels are cited much more often under the animal cruelty law than are large commercial kennels.
Shelters and rescue groups handle a high volume of dogs and have a high turnover rate of dogs. Because of this, they are at a much higher risk than most large commercial kennels, with relatively stable populations of dogs.
The risk of disease is much higher in rescue and shelter kennels because of the large number of dogs coming there from unknown or uncertain sources. State dogs wardens alone deliver close to 18,000 strays a year to these kennels, records show.
Data is not available in Pennsylvania to confirm the number of dogs that pass through shelter and rescue doors every year, but it is safe to say that it exceeds 100,000 animals by a wide margin. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh alone account for more than 70,000 dogs and cats entering several different shelters, and almost every county has one or more shelters or rescue groups within its borders. We think the total number would be staggering.
It also is fair to assume that most of these dogs would be exposed to a communicable disease, internal parasites, flea-borne diseases and other problems simply because the sources of many of these dogs are unknown, and many come from deplorable conditions.
This is not merely speculation.
Last year, for example, the Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania had an outbreak of canine influenza that resulted in the deaths of five dogs, and the illnesses of at least 23 more, according to an Associated Press report and local newspaper accounts.
About 80-percent of dogs exposed to the virus develop symptoms and about 8-percent of those die, said Cynda Crawford, a veterinarian at the University of Florida.
In Philadelphia, The Bulletin reported, municipal animal shelter officials conceded that there was no way that they could stop the spread of diseases because of overcrowding and poor facilities. The director was quoted to say that viruses of all kinds spread rapidly through the facility. In the facility’s kennel inspection failure report, several cleanliness issues also were cited.
There are other hazards, too. In 2004 in rural Fayette County, a fire at a Humane Society shelter killed about three dozen animals, the Associated Press reported.
(Continued as a reply).