Report warns of money crunch at Pennsylvania dog law agency

HARRISBURG (AP) — Pennsylvania’s Legislature should increase licensing fees and take other steps to put the state Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement on more sound financial footing, according to a report issued Thursday by the auditor general’s office.

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said the agency could run out of money sometime this summer.

The report also recommended that lawmakers increase penalties for kennels that fail inspections but remain open while they appeal.

DePasquale said the dog protection agency has fixed issues he identified during an audit seven years ago, including lack of enforcement and use of restricted funds for other purposes.

The bureau now has 41 dog law wardens and inspects about 2,600 kennels.

Dog licenses currently cost $6.50 a year for dogs that have been spayed or neutered, or $8.50 if not.