Governor Edward Rendell of Pennsylvania today proposed sweeping changes to the state's dog law and related state regulations that are designed to improve the conditions under which dogs are bred and sold in Pennsylvania.

Rendell stated, "We are taking strong steps to protect consumers, reputable breeders
and kennels, and the defenseless animals whose health and welfare is at the heart of this important issue."

To oversee the state's effort, the Governor named Jessie Smith, a 20-year veteran of the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, as "special deputy secretary for dog law enforcement" in the Department of Agriculture.

Smith, who owns four dogs, will serve as dog law enforcement liaison with municipalities, courts, law enforcement, dog welfare organizations, veterinarians, kennel licensees, constituent groups and the general public.

Additionally, Smith has served as president of the board of directors for the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area since 2003. She has also worked as an adjunct faculty member at Dickinson Law School and as a Dauphin County arbitrator.

The Governor also named Jeffrey Paladina, who most recently served as the assistant district attorney in Beaver County, as special prosecutor for dog law enforcement, one of six new positions in the Agriculture Department's Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, who will work to make sure current laws are being enforced.

Furthermore, Rendell also created a special enforcement team comprised of four kennel compliance specialists, who will be dispatched throughout the state to enforce the kennel provisions of the dog law.

Governor Rendell also announced the appointment of a special team to improve enforcement of Pennsylvania's dog law and also named 16 individuals to the state's Dog Law Advisory Board. The advisory board members represent various categories of organizations that are mandated in law.

Read the full news release here.

What's interesting about all this is that the Governor didn't just propose some new laws, but actually spent the money on "law enforcement", by appointing a special prosecutor to try violators of dogs laws, and hired code enforcement teams to go around inspecting breeders and kennels.

This is unlike how other states have tried to solve the problem of puppy mills. Many other states simply enacted new laws that make it tougher to breed puppies, but didn't bother addressing enforcement of the laws. So in the end, honest breeders got squeezed out of business, while dishonest breeders simply ignored the new laws.

If other states actually spent money enforcing the laws we already have, organizations like HSUS and PETA wouldn't have half the voice they have now.