HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Pennsylvania dog boarding kennels near state lines and dog rescues everywhere in Pennsylvania can breathe a sigh of relief after a final legislative act Wednesday to send legislation amending the commonwealth’s dog law to Governor Josh Shapiro’s desk for his signature.

The state Senate Wednesday passed legislation unanimously Wednesday — aligned with a bill passed unanimously by the House last week — granting kennels relief from restrictions they said were causing them to lose significant amounts of business if they were near state lines, because of the new difficulties of boarding a dog in Pennsylvania rather than in its neighboring states for residents of those states. The bill also grants dog rescues relief from having to completely quarantine out-of-state dogs before making them available for adoption.

The bills were sponsored by Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York Co.) and Rep. Tim Briggs (D-Montgomery Co.)

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Last year, the legislature made major updates to the commonwealth’s longstanding dog law. Supporters hoped the changes would protect dogs and their owners — for example, from exposure in kennels or rescues to sick dogs.

But after kennels and rescues howled, the bill’s sponsor conceded a few of the changes caused unintended consequences, which went beyond protecting dogs and people and instead hindered dog boarding and rescuing operations.

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