Last week, a new bill was introduced to replace the existing legislation (House Bill 2354) aimed at addresses concerns by boarding kennels along the state borders.
Recent changes to Pennsylvania’s Dog Law (Act 18 of 2023) requires a certified certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) from a dog’s home state in order to be boarded in Pennsylvania licensed boarding kennel (See previous alert).
Originally, HB 2354 was introduced and approved by the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, received both first and second consideration in the House and was reassigned to the House Appropriations Committee where it was stalled for internal reasons.
House Bill 2413 was recently introduced and assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. HB 2413 provides an exemption from the CVI requirement for out of state dogs entering a boarding kennel if all of the following:
(i) The dog is owned by a resident of a state which directly borders Pennsylvania.
(ii) The dog is temporarily housed in a boarding kennel for less than 30 consecutive days.
(iii) The dog is privately owned, and the owner is able to provide proof of ownership.
(iv) Ownership of the dog does not transfer to another person after the dog enters the boarding kennel.
(v) The dog will return to the owner after the end of the boarding period.
AKC appreciates the legislation, which addresses the issue with bordering states. However, like the previous version, it does not address or recognize the impact the CVI requirements may have on frequent travelers to the Commonwealth from other non-bordering state or travelers across the United States visiting Pennsylvania who may need to board their dog for even 1 day. Further, the bill does not address or provide exemptions for someone traveling to the Commonwealth from beyond a bordering state to address personal emergency situations and need to bring and boarder their dog.
The bill has yet to be scheduled for discussion at a House Judiciary Committee meeting, but AKC continues to work with the Department of Agriculture who agree that the current exemption language is too limited.
The bill also addresses concerns raised by breed rescues related to quarantine requirements for out of state rescues coming to Pennsylvania breed rescue network members.
What you can do:
Those who are impacted by both the current CVI requirements and those proposed by HB 2413 are encouraged to contact the bill’s sponsor, Representative Tim Biggs. When calling, thank him for sponsoring the bill but also ask that he amend the bill by removing the bordering state requirement or adding language exempting those dogs owned by a resident from a state within 500 miles of the Pennsylvania border, which will at least help those in nearby states:
Representative Tim Biggs:
repbiggs@pahouse.net
(717) 705-7011 or (610) 768-3135
Contact the members of the House Judiciary. Committee members contact information can be found here (scroll down and click on the member’s name).
For more information, contact AKC’s Government Relations Department at (919) 816-3720, or email doglaw@akc.org.
AKC GR and our partner the Pennsylvania Federation of Dog Clubs will continue to monitor this and other legislation the impact the rights of dog owners and the dogs they love.