The Pennsylvania Legislature continues to focus on sport dog hunting.
The Board of Directors continue to monitor legislation in Harrisburg..
Current Bills we are Monitoring
- The full text of these bills can be found on the website - https://www.legis.state.pa.usSearch
by letters and numbers for the bills.
- • SB 67: Sunday Hunting and retrieval of dogs. This bill is
presently on the Senate floor.
- • HB 2106: Sunday hunters must hold written landowner
permission slips. There is movement on this bill, as it is presently
at the House Committee.
- • HB 529: Would make it illegal to transport hounds in the
exterior of vehicles, unless in an insulated dog box. (Our objection
pertains to the insulation requirement which could be fatal in warmer
weather). Sent to Judiciary March 17.
- • HB 549: “All Dogs Equal” - Requires to same ventilation,
ambient temperature, heat index values and ammonia ranges monitored
and maintained by large commercial kennels be applied to all private
kennels. Sent to Agriculture March 20.
- • HB 669: Would provide for the revocation of a hunting
license if merely accused of animal cruelty, prior to any hearing,
trial or other defense afforded to the accused.
- • SB 907: (Last year’s bill number): Provides for a
reconstituted Dog Law Advisory Board. Last year we were accorded one
seat, we are requesting a second seat to represent large sporting
dogs.
- • HB 337: (last year’s bill number): Commonly referred to as
Libre’s Law, this suggested version would eliminate our exemption to
the tethering bill, requiring that hounds/sled dogs be brought indoors
if temperatures fall outside of 32-90 degrees.
- • HB 495: While at first glance, this bill seems to address
a clearly debatable issue – Monday vs Saturday deer opener, it would
set a dangerous precedent wherein the political body (Legislature)
would make wildlife decisions instead of professional wildlife
biologists and wildlife staff personnel. There is ample evidence in
seven or eight other states wherein Wildlife Advisory Boards have been
infiltrated and taken over by anti-hunting legislators. This would be
clearly against the North American Model of Wildlife Management. It
would also jeopardize Pennsylvania’s share of Pittman-Robertson
revenue ($38,340,930) for 2022). The P-R Act allows allocation of such
funds only when the fish and wildlife department of the State has
overall responsibility and accountability for the program.
- • Project Coyote: Would ban coyote tournaments. No bill
introduced in Pennsylvania to this point, however proponents have
vowed to do so. They have been successful in seven or eight states so
far.
URGENT: action requested:
- We are still firmly concerned about two Bills introduced in the
General Assembly of Pennsylvania, titled House Bill 2106 and SB 67.
Both of these bills have received a lot of attention from several
groups and organizations. We have been opposed to both of these bills
as they may impede our ability to Coyote Hunt with Hounds, which is
vital to controlling and maintaining the state's coyote population and
the balance of nature in our communities. We still oppose both of
these Bills. However, if we must choose one versus the other, then the
majority of the Board of Directors of the PSFCHA have voted to choose
the Senate Bill SB-67 dated July 2, 2024, Printer’s No. 1802. The main
reason for this choice is based on language in the House Bill 2106. It
states that a hunter may be charged with a trespassing offense on
private property if his dog should wander onto private land.
- These Bills are scheduled to be reviewed and voted on in a few days.
- URGENT: We need your help. Please take immediate action to
notify your Senator of the above position we have chosen, now.
- Below
Link to a sample letter you could use to email your representative
if you are unable to call.
Sample
Letter