Pennsylvania's SB27 exempts “not for profit kennels”.

Pennsylvania's SB27 proposes changes to the “Puppy Lemon Law”, or the Dog Purchaser Protection laws. This bill exempts “not for profit kennels”. If the intent is to protect the dog purchaser, then it should protect all of the dog purchasers, not just the dog purchasers from pet breeders. Not for profit kennels, whether they call it adoption, barter, sale or consideration have placed a value on the dog.

Not for profit kennels, shelters, rescues and Humane Societies place great numbers of dogs every year, with some of these facilities handling more dogs than most breeders even think about. These organizations are the leading advocates for dog purchaser protection, yet they are the ones being exempted from following the rules they are screaming for! They claim that dog breeders are creating the issue of too many dogs ending up in shelters. This simply is not true. Shelter intake is estimated to be 75-80% mixed breeds, and the direct result of irresponsible pet owners, not pet breeders, according to Norma Bennett Woolf, author of "A Dog Owner's Guide".

These organizations claim that pet breeders are the responsible party for unwanted dogs. Again, not true. Breeders, for the most part, raise purebred dogs, dogs that people are looking for, as many people like particular breeds. Responsible breeders work very hard to insure that the homes their dogs go to are caring and responsible owners. They provide excellent veterinary care, health records and well puppy checks. If there is a health concern with the puppy, they disclose this to the potential dog purchaser.

It does not matter what you call the “organization” that places the dog, whether it is a breeder, shelter, rescue, Humane Society, or not for profit kennel. They should all have to follow the same rules and they should all be accountable in the same manner. You cannot exclude one set of dog purchasers from protection; therefore you have to include not for profit kennels, shelters, rescues and Humane Societies in this legislation if your true intent is to protect the dog purchaser. Or is the intent really to just protect the animal rights groups?

By: Debi R***

It is about time the playing field was leveled. It seems all these regulations across America are only aimed at the breeders. Can anyone from the Animal Rights movement tell us why it is so vitally important that breeders dogs and cats have all this protection and care standards when they don't apply to Not for profit kennels, shelters, rescues and Humane Societies? Are the animals in their care and control less deserving of humane conditions? And now - the people who prefer to get their pet from a rescue don't have the same right to remedy as someone who buys a pet from a breeder? Think about for a moment....

By: Karla