I received a letter from USSA about pending legislation in pennsylvannia regarding dogs and boarding, etc.

Seems HSUS and ASPCA is fighting for a law which states that for multiple dog facilities that records must be kept on daily excercise, must be kept for daily sanitization of food and water bowls, and that no fenced kennels will be allowed separating dogs, only solid wall units.

Anyone else hear of this? I cringe to think my buddies in PA, upland fellows, could be breaking the law in the near future.

This is probably a result of some "fly-by-night" operations getting busted for bad conditions and not exercising animals, and animals getting sick from conatgious diseases. Kennels not checking for current vaccinations, etc. As far as I can tell, the kennel buisness is pretty much a self policeing deal and there are no real "standards". I moved from Montana to Oregon a couple years ago, and I can see the difference here. Every kennel I dealt with in Montana exercised dogs as a part of the deal. They required current vaccinations, and kept kennels clean. And the dog was bathed prior to pick up. Here in Oregon, I had one kennel, which was also a lab breeder/trainer facility, who did not bother with vaccination records, and when I picked up my dogs, they were so foul smelling I had to bath them when I got them home. Another facility I found required vaccination records, they were clean, but if you want your dog exercised and bathed, you pay extra. The other thing I miss about my kennel in Montana, they were staffed 24/7, and it didn't matter when you returned home you could go pick up your animal. If the kennel industry doesn't set some standards of their own, someone will do it for them, I am sure. As a side note, the costs were a quite a bit less expensive in MT than here in OR.

I truly wish that were the case. After looking at the issue more closely, it has been brought forth by the state's dept of agriculture and backed by ads and lobbying from HSUS and ASPSA.

It does not distinguish between kennels used for boarding and/or breeding and the rpivate owner. It means that private owners of more than one dog, will have to foloow the proposed rules. Walls, not fencing between kennels, daily records kept of cleaning, sanitizing, excercise, and that the excercise does not subject dogs to getting muddy or wet. (Those are the words i read from the proposal.)

AKC and UKC, among a host of others are in a grassroots campaign to try to get this proposal squashed.

I think this is something that every dog owner / hunter should be aware of. I have 2 dogs, and this is ridiculous.. But think of the upside. They would not have enough money in the budget or animal control officers to inspect EVERY household or kennel, on a regular basis, that has 2 or more dogs. And a dog not getting muddy?? Geez, I have a hard time keeping my dogs from rolling around in cow pies when I'm hunting.. These people in Aspca are in all likelihood being taken over by the left wing fruits at PETA..

That is exactly why i posted it. While I hate to be a slippery slope fellow, i see a slide down if this thing goes through.

And, while I'm fairly certain you already know this, those Peta folks joined forces a few months back with HSUS in a seriuous way. They have more money that sporting alliances and aren't afraid to spend it to spread their misinformation.

Do you belong to any conservation organizations such as Pheasant Forever or Ducks Unlimited? If so, bring this up to your local chapters. I have a feeling that once we sportsmen and women get a little riled, we can muster some serious opposition to this foolishness. And write to your state legislator to let them know your position on this.. As they say in Britannia, " We must ride to the hounds!!" Another good place is to let NRA know about this. It's not just our sport and a way of life we're talking about here. Those anarchists are going to destroy wildlife. They are as bad for wildlife as the poachers of a century ago.

Without getting into too many details I buy my ink by the gallon and some even have the audacity to print my drivel. Letters and articles have gone out, more coming.

Right now this is a Penn. only problem, but if successful I'm afraid other states are going to be headed to the ski slopes.

If you have buddies in the keystone state please let them know about this. And as they say on tv, thanks for yer support.