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PRINTER'S NO. 515
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
521
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY SCHLOSSBERG, BERNSTINE, BIZZARRO, DONATUCCI,
GILLEN, HILL-EVANS, HOWARD, ISAACSON, KORTZ, MARKOSEK,
McNEILL, MURT, NEILSON, READSHAW AND SCHWEYER,
FEBRUARY 19, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 19, 2019
AN ACT
Designating the "shelter pet" as the official pet of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
WHEREAS, Approximately 68% of all households in the United
States have a pet; and
WHEREAS, About 78 million dogs and about 86 million cats are
owned in the United States; and
WHEREAS, The growing pet population continues to be a problem
in this Commonwealth and across the nation, placing an
increasing strain on local animal shelters; and
WHEREAS, The Humane Society of Central Texas estimates there
are 13,600 animal shelters across the United States; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 6.5 million companion animals enter
animal shelters nationwide every year; and
WHEREAS, An estimated 1.5 million healthy, adoptable cats and
dogs are euthanized by shelters each year; and
WHEREAS, Thousands of other dogs and cats are classified as
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unadoptable and euthanized annually for reasons such as illness,
aggression and owner request; and
WHEREAS, Nationally, 23% of owned dogs and 31% of owned cats
are adopted from an animal shelter; and
WHEREAS, Most shelters perform health examinations and give
vaccinations to animals when they arrive, and most spay or
neuter them before being adopted; and
WHEREAS, Adopting a pet from an animal shelter is less
expensive than buying a pet at a pet store or through a breeder;
and
WHEREAS, The number of euthanized animals could be reduced
dramatically if more people adopted pets instead of buying them.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Official State pet.
The "shelter pet" is hereby designated as the official pet of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Section 2. Effective date.
This act shall take effect immediately.
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