Pictured is a gas chamber used to kill animals in PA shelters. Unfortunately, this is still currently legal. All of that could change if Senate Bill 1329 aka Daniel’s Law is passed. I attended last fall’s rally where the main sponsor, Senator Andy Dinniman, addressed the crowd and explained SB 1329- a bill that would FINALLY outlaw the use of gas chambers in PA. I was behind this bill 100%.
The bill passed in the Senate Agricultural and Rurals Committe on December 14th of last year. It will now move onto to the Senate floor for a vote as soon as this Tuesday.
Upon further inspection, a section of this bill was confusing to animal advocates, including me. A section I spoke about on my tv show with Senator Judith Schwank. I’m not sure how many animal advocates are aware of such wording that had the potential to cause a serious conflict with our Dog Law- Act 119- which forbids commercial kennel operators from killing their dogs without authorization from a veterinarian. The section below appears to give these operators and its employees the right to kill again.
The confusing section/wording can be found on page 12 of SB 1329. Look closely at number 2, part VI.
(>>>(d) Exception for dangerous small domestic animals.–Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (c), the following apply in situations with a dangerous small domestic animal:
(1) In cases where a small domestic animal under the care and control of an animal shelter or a humane society organization poses a risk or danger to a veterinarian or euthanasia technician performing euthanasia or to personnel of the animal shelter or humane society organization, such veterinarian or euthanasia technician may use any other acceptable agents and methods of euthanasia, except carbon monoxide from any source.
>>>(2) The following persons, who in the performance of their duties of employment have the responsibility for the care and control of small domestic animals, are subject to this subsection:
(i) Veterinarians.
(ii) Euthanasia technicians.
(iii) Personnel of a humane society organization.
(iv) Personnel of an animal control organization.
(v) Personnel of an animal shelter.
>>>(vi) Operators and employees of a commercial kennel, as defined in the act of December 7, 1982 (P.L.784, No.225), known as the Dog Law.
(vii) Animal control officers.
On my show, Senator Schwank agreed this section could cause confusion and perhaps would be amended when the Senate is back in session. Knowing that this bill could be voted on at any time when Senate returns to session next week, time was of the upmost importance to get this section removed. I took it upon myself to call Senator Dinniman’s office and express my concerns.
North Penn Puppy Mill Watch has fought for the change in this bill as well. Below you will find a link (at end of post) to a tv news story in which Jacki Flannigan of NPPMWatch expresses the same concerns.
An editorial by the same group states the following on this ever-important matter:
The situation is actually ironic when you think about it: a bill is created to ensure the humane euthanasia of unwanted and homeless animals in shelters across the Commonwealth but then expands the subject matter to include those who are chiefly responsible for creating Pennsylvania’s pet overpopulation problem!
Calls of inquiry to senators about this one line of text in SB 1329 were not welcomed. Some advocates were told that this language isn’t in the bill… but it is. More importantly, advocates were told that any attempt to remove this line of language could – and probably would – “kill the bill.”Why is it that in Pennsylvania companion animal advocates must constantly pick and choose which animals will be saved? It would seem that In order to help one group of animals, another group must be sacrificed. In the case of SB 1329, shelter animals will absolutely be the winners but the breeder dogs in the commercial kennels – those dogs who are unseen and live entire lives of misery – will lose…. again.There’s not one advocate we know of who doesn’t want to see SB 1329 pass but, by the same token, it’s only fair that advocates comprehend and recognize the FULL ramifications of this legislation as it is currently written. Those who are responsible for writing and lobbying this specific bill did so with the hope that advocates would never notice or question this one line of text that places commercial breeder dogs in, at best, a precarious situation. And, when the text WAS pointed out, the response received was the threat that any changes to the bill would cause its failure.And where are our national companion animal lobbying groups? Certainly HSUS and the ASPCA wouldn’t place puppy mill dogs in danger, would they? Since when has it become more important to accept accolades and donations for passing a flawed piece of companion animal legislation versus actually ensuring the safety of ALL companion animals who will be affected by any law the new legislation would create?
I have consistently been on the phone with Dinniman’s office for the last couple of weeks to discuss this one and only section with their Legislative Director. I tried to help the Senator’s office to understand the section may cause a backlash among animal advocates if passed as is. I elaborated that our new Dog Law prohibits commercial kennel operators from killing their dogs.
In fact, it was in July 2008 when two brothers, Elmer and Ammon Zimmerman of Maxatawny Township, shot and killed 80 of their puppy mill dogs after receving minor citations. I attended the vigil held for the dogs near the Zimmerman’s property. I was the first person to interview Elmer Zimmerman after the vigil.
More importantly, the killing of these dogs was the impetus for then Governor Rendell to sign HB 2525 into law now known as Act 119 which stopped commercial kennel operators from killing their dogs. That part of the bill was enacted immediately.
Today, I was informed via the phone that section 2, part VI is being removed after the Senator’s office seeked legal counsel to insure the integrity of the bill will remain the same.
A victory for the dogs!!
I want to thank Senator Dinniman and his staff for their time and efforts on listening to the concerns of the animal advocates of PA.
Dinniman’s office wanted me to reassure PA animal advocates that Senator Dinniman is on the side of the animals and their welfare in PA.
Since working with Senator Dinniman and his staff over the last couple of weeks, I feel confident that he will vote favorably on animal welfare issues in the future.
I also thank Senator Schwank for her backing of this bill. It’s about time that we have legislators who do care about the animals.
(You can click on this link to see the news story about this issue.) Dog advocates support proposed legislation, except for one line