Dog Law Regs Moved to Department of Health

[melody]

SB 1126 - Dinniman
(PN 1466) Amends the Dog Law to move regulation of the Law to the Department of Health. The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee and House Health Committee would receive the required annual report under the law. Effective in 60 days.

Ok, I really don't get this one. confused-smiley-013

[melody]

Here's his co-sponsor memo:


* September 25, 2013 04:32 PM
* Sen. Andrew Dinniman
* Commonwealth Dog Law
* We will soon introduce legislation that would transfer administration
* of the Commonwealth's Dog Law from the Pennsylvania Department of
* Agriculture to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
*
*
*
* Under our legislation, it would be the Department of Health that would
* carry out all the administrative and oversight tasks currently required
* by the Dog Law, including the regulation of dog kennels; the collection
* of complaints and tips alleging violations of the Dog Law; the seizure
* of dogs from illegal, unlicensed kennels; and the collection of
* dog-license, kennel and out-of-state-dealers fees.
*
*
*
* We propose this transfer of administration to recognize Pennsylvania's
* obligation to assess and monitor dog health as it relates to human
* health: rabies and ringworm are just two examples of transmittable
* illnesses or infections. We also propose it to acknowledge generally
* the role that dogs play in so many happy and healthy Pennsylvania
* families. For these reasons, we believe the Dog Law more properly
* belongs under the auspices of the Health Department rather than
* Pennsylvania's Department of Agriculture.
*
*
*
* Furthermore, with Dog Law enforcement in the Department of
* Agriculture, dogs are treated as any other agricultural product. But
* when enforcement is with the Department of Health, the focus correctly
* changes to the health, welfare and safety of both the dogs and their
* owners.

[Deleted]

I think I understand why this is being put forth, Mel. In the past, the Dep't of Ag has been extremely lax in enforcement of the dog law as regards the regulating of puppy mills.

[johns]

The Dept of Ag has been worse than lax in their enforcement of anything they are responsible for. That is exactly why the deer and elk breeders wanted Ag to be in charge of them instead of the PGC who did their job and held their feet to the fire. Well, we all saw how that worked out when CWD reared its ugly head in PA on deer farms, they simply burried their collective heads in the sand and didn't do squat. I think the cub scouts would be a better choice for enforcement of the Dog law, so I have no problem with Health taking over, they sure as hell can't do any worse than AG, no one could.