1Designating the shelter pet as the official pet of the
2Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, Approximately 62% of all households in the United
4States have a pet; and

5WHEREAS, About 78.2 million dogs and about 86.4 million cats
6are owned in the United States; and

7WHEREAS, The growing pet population continues to be a problem
8in this Commonwealth and across the nation, placing an
9increasing strain on local animal shelters; and

10WHEREAS, There are an estimated 3,500 animal shelters across
11the United States; and

12WHEREAS, Approximately six million to eight million companion
13animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year; and

14WHEREAS, An estimated 2.7 million healthy, adoptable cats and
15dogs are euthanized by shelters each year; and

16WHEREAS, Nearly 750,000 dogs and cats classified as
17unadoptable are euthanized annually for reasons such as illness,

1aggression and owner request; and

2WHEREAS, Nationally, 21% of owned dogs and cats are adopted
3from an animal shelter; and

4WHEREAS, Twenty-five percent of dogs who enter local shelters
5are purebred; and

6WHEREAS, Most shelters perform health examinations and give
7vaccinations to animals when they arrive, and most spay or
8neuter them before being adopted; and

9WHEREAS, Adopting a pet from an animal shelter is less
10expensive than buying a pet at a pet store or through a breeder;
11and

12WHEREAS, The number of euthanized animals could be reduced
13dramatically if more people adopted pets instead of buying them.

14The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
15hereby enacts as follows:

16Section 1. Official State Pet.

17The shelter pet is hereby designated as the official pet of
18the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

19Section 2. Effective date.

20This act shall take effect immediately.