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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is celebrating the Agency’s many successful efforts to prevent African swine fever (ASF) from reaching the United States and prepare for a possible introduction of the disease.  In honor of ASF Action Week, APHIS is recognizing the continuing efforts to prevent this deadly swine disease from reaching our shores. “Keeping U.S. animals healthy is our top priority,” said Dr. Rosemary Sifford, U.S. Chief Veterinary Officer. “The United States has always had a system of interlocking safeguards in place to...

Pet owners will soon find updated packaging and labels when shopping for pet food and specialty pet food products, including treats and supplements -- the first major update in more than 40 years. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) approved the new suggested labeling guidelines that include standardized nutrition information, clear ingredient statements, and storage and handling instructions. The modern design and updated information will ensure consistency and transparency, so consumers can easily make more informed buying decisions for their pets....

Written by Robert Swift, Capitolwire.com Staff Reporter HARRISBURG (July 19) – Dog oversight legislation five years in the making will have to wait longer to be enacted with the state budget impasse changing session schedules. The legislation -- Senate Bill 746 -- to increase the dog license fee for the first time in more than 25 years and address other enforcement issues is close to final passage. The Senate approved it 43-7 last month. The bill cleared the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee with no amendments by a 17-3 vote on June...

HARRISBURG –Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23) recently announced the reintroduction of legislation to create an Animal Welfare Board in Pennsylvania. Senate Bill 785 would create an 18-member Animal Welfare Board to review existing laws and regulations and make recommendations to the General Assembly for action. The board would meet at least once each legislative session or at closer intervals to fulfill the duties outlined in the legislation. “It would be sensible to establish a group of experts, from various disciplines across the board, to take a look at the laws we have and make...

On behalf of the of The Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association, we want to thank Governor Shapiro’s Office for their quick action to hear our concerns and their willingness to work with us regarding the scheduling of xylazine as a Schedule III controlled substance. Xylazine is an FDA-approved prescription sedative with pain-relieving and muscle relaxing properties for use in animals. It is one of the most widely used veterinary drugs across many species, including cats, dogs, horses, cattle, deer, elk, rats, mice, wildlife, and zoo animals....

Illicit xylazine has been found to be an adulterant in illicit fentanyl and heroin and can contribute to overdose deaths and the development of chronic sores in drug users. Xylazine is an important veterinary sedative used to facilitate the safe handling of many species and is particularly important in livestock. Sedation of fractious animals is essential to keep people and the animals on which they work safe....

February 16, 2023 – This correspondence comes to inform you of the requirements of the Dog Law, specifically as it pertains to boarding kennel licensing. The statutory requirements of the Dog Law Act necessitate that all veterinarians who board a dog, regardless of whether the boarder is a client or not, must have a kennel license....

January 25, 2023 - The Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement (BDLE) has been operating in a deficit for several years and annually requires a transfer of funds to maintain operations.  This has prevented the BDLE from hiring a new warden when a position is vacated, thus resulting in the Bureau being understaffed.  It is for this reason that in 2022 the Department of Agriculture reached out again asking for increases to both dog and kennel license fees.  Representative Eddie Day Pashinski plans to introduce legislation to return the BDLE to...

January 20, 2023 – For many Pennsylvanians, pets are chosen family who deserve all the love, affection and care their human family receive. As a proud parent — to two humans and two dogs — state Rep. Mike Schlossberg takes that seriously....

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