Public Comment Needed - Quickly!

The Canine Health Board, which was created by the passage of last year's "Dog Law," has released its proposed rules for commercial kennels. We, the public, have just 45 days to comment on them. Click here to view the document, as published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

Once you've read the standards/rules, which pertain to the ventilation (temperature, levels of ammonia and carbon monoxide, air supply & fresh air changes) lighting (prescribed mix of natural and artificial light, nighttime lighting), and flooring (solid, sloped flooring, drain maintenance, flooring materials, cleanliness, no toxic coatings) in commercial kennels, you can write to the following address to voice your support (or opposition, but we'd like everyone to support these changes so that dogs will get relief quickly):

Health Board
c/o Department of Agriculture
Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement
2301 North Cameron Street
Room 102
Harrisburg, PA 17110

In these days of email and online petitions, it seems laborious by comparison to write a letter and mail it, but PLEASE take the time.

Public comment is important for two reasons -- (A) to let them know what you think and (B) so that it's clear that MANY people care about this issue. The legislators, the governor, and the dog board people hear from the same groups and individuals all the time, but it has a huge impact if the general public makes noise on their own, one letter at a time. It really does make a difference.

Your comments can be brief, as in "I support these regulations and hope they'll be implemented quickly and enforced aggressively" or you can comment on the specifics, for any/all areas that interest/concern you. PLEASE SEND YOUR COMMENTS, and be sure they're received before the 45-day deadline (45 days from September 12th, the date of publication). If you get them in the mail by the first week of October, you'll avoid any chance of missing the deadline.

Thank you all in advance for your help!