The Lead

Two state lawmakers are proposing a package of legislative reforms that they say will better protect animals across the commonwealth by increasing oversight of kennels, breeders, and testing facilities.

The reforms, which are part of a three-pronged, companion proposal by state Sen. Carolyn Comitta, D-Chester, and Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, D-Erie, mirror a similar legislative package enacted in Virginia last year.

The lawmakers said that their proposals build on the Virginia laws with “commonsense improvements,” including whistleblower protections and an expansion of Pennsylvania’s Dog Law protections that would allow state entities to revoke the license of kennel operators who violate federal law.

“Pennsylvania can do much better in protecting animals being bred and used for research in Animal Testing Laboratories and from kennels and dealers who face serious or multiple citations under the Animal Welfare Act,” Comitta said in a memo seeking legislative support.

The first bill, dubbed a “beagle bill,” would require individuals and kennels selling dogs and cats for research purposes to keep records of those sales, submitting an annual report to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The department would then be required to submit annual reports to the state Legislature.

The bill would also require breeders to offer dogs and cats that are no longer needed for adoption, prohibit breeders and kennels who have “certain serious or numerous citations” of the Animal...

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