In 2008, PA signed into law, HB 2525 now known as Act 119, that sent a message throughout the US that our state was seriously taking on puppy mills and hopefully end our dreaded title of “puppy mill capital of the East.”
Has Act 119 done its job? Probably depends on who you ask. Some feel since Act 119 has been enacted, most puppy mills are magically disappearing into oblivion. Yes, it’s true, a number of have closed up shop. The puppy millers themselves stated the expense of changing their “kennels” to meet regulations is too high and they can’t comply to meet the new standards at a Independent Regulatory Review Commission meeting I attended.
Take a deeper look into this mangled picture and you will find all is not true on the surface. Because of added amendments, some kennels received waivers to allow the extra time needed to comply. That time expired last July after the original three-year extension. Since then, Governor Corbett said these kennels need more time to meet these requirements because the economy is bad. They’ve already had three years to implement the changes. Now these people who force dogs to live in squalor and confined conditions to breed dogs for profit so you, the consumer, can buy a puppy at a pet store, are permitted more time. Three years is more than a generous amount of time to meet these standards. And to top that, many of these mills are not being currently inspected either.
What guidelines do the puppy millers have to meet: mandatory cooling, heating, ventilation, lighting, unfettered access to outdoor excercise as stated by Jenny Stephens of North Penn Puppy Mill Watch.
Do you still think PA is no longer the puppy mill capital of the East? I asked a group, A Tail to Tell to share their thoughts on this hotly-debated topic. This dedicated group of volunteers saves dogs stuck in puppy mills and gives them a second chance at a normal life. They see up close and personal the horrors these dogs are forced to live in. They are hands-on not only with the dogs but with the puppy millers themselves. Their perspective is vastly different from those who echo the sentiments of those who say PA is no longer the puppy mill capital of the East.
Cindy Myers, founder of a Tail to Tell, says Act 119 has done very little to “squelch puppy mills.” She and volunteer, Melody McFarland, agree that the law has forced the mills to go underground or find loopholes in the law. What….loopholes? Shocked? Don’t be. A perfect example is John Zimmerman of Lancaster County who was forced to close but is open again for business using his wife as the owner. This is legal!
Melody says “other mills break up their kennels into smaller lots of dogs and take them to relatives who have outbuildings for them.” By doing this, Melody continues, “they don’t have the numbers to classify as a kennel and avoid inspection.”
A Tail to Tell currently has 25 regular volunteers involved in dog care, transport, events, etc. Others participate in shows and events to showcase their group. Over the last ten years that this group has been in existence, it has saved close to 5,000 dogs. In 2011, these wonderful people took in 500 dogs.
Want to learn more about puppy mills and the great work A Tail To Tell is doing for the dogs who live in these hell holes? Look no further. They are holding a slide presentation on puppy mills on March 31st at Morgan’s Paws Pet Care Center in York. Volunteers will be on hand to answer any questions you may have. Included in the presentation will be the history of puppy mills, facs, the current state of affairs and what YOU can do to help.
I think it’s a must see for those who want to know “How much is that puppy in the window?” That puppy comes at a high price for the mothers and fathers stuck in the mills!
Do you still think PA is the puppy mill capital of the East? You better believe it!!