Senator Doug Mastriano and other legislators are set to introduce animal protection legislation at an event titled “Beagles and Bagels” on May 6. The event will take place at 10 a.m. in the Capitol Media Center, located within the Capitol Complex in Harrisburg.
Joining Senator Mastriano will be Senator Carolyn Comitta and Representatives Ryan Bizzarro, Melissa Shusterman, and Jeanne McNeill. Shelter partners will also be present, along with beagles that were adopted after being bred and tested by Envigo. Envigo is a company that admitted to violating the Animal Welfare Act while using animals for research purposes.
The focus of the legislative briefing will be on the Beagle Bills, aimed at protecting dogs, cats, and other animals used in experiments. Senate Bill 381, introduced by Mastriano, seeks to halt funding for painful dog and cat testing in Pennsylvania when alternative methods are available. It also proposes minimum care standards for dogs bred for testing.
House Bill 294 aims to extend protections under the Cruelty to Animals Statute to animals bred for research or held by testing labs not engaged in legitimate scientific or medical research. House Bill 295 would ban the sale or import of dogs from facilities cited for Animal Welfare Act violations as pets or for medical experimentation.
House Bill 296 would mandate that breeders and testing facilities offer dogs and cats for adoption once they are no longer needed, provided there is no risk involved to either the animal or the public.
“Animal testing needs to be conducted humanely, absent any cruel or dangerous methods. The animals should not be subjected to pain and suffering in the name of research,” said Mastriano. “Our package of bills would safeguard these creatures of God, which deserve our care.”
Miss Central Pennsylvania, Madelyn Rowan, will attend as a special guest supporting this legislation.
Shelter partners include:
CONTACT: Don Beishl at 717-787-6701
