1**~**PA’s Puppy Mill Reform Bill Scores a Victory!**~**

On Tuesday, June 24, an important piece of ASPCA-supported, state-level legislation addressing puppy mills took a giant leap forward as Pennsylvania House Bill 2525 was passed by the House Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs. HB 2525 sets higher standards for conditions in Pennsylvania’s commercial kennels. Among other protections for dogs, the bill would double the minimum floor space for primary enclosures, require that dogs have access to an outdoor exercise area and mandate annual veterinary care.

Securing this committee’s approval was the bill’s final procedural hurdle—it is now eligible to be voted on by the full PA House of Representatives.

Cori A. Menkin, Esq., Senior Director of Legislative Initiatives at the ASPCA, testified before the House Agriculture Committee Hearing on June 12 in support of HB 2525. Aided by the steadfast and vocal support of Pennsylvania members of the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade, Menkin was instrumental in helping to secure approval of the bill.

“We are grateful to the committee for their support and are hopeful that its chairman, Michael Hanna, will move the bill to the full floor for a vote quickly,” says Menkin. “This bill is a tremendous opportunity to dramatically improve the lives of dogs in Pennsylvania's commercial kennel industry, and the ASPCA remains committed to helping push this much-needed piece of legislation through.”

To learn more about the plight of puppy mill dogs, please visit ASPCA.org/puppymills.

2**~** 4th of July Safety Tips:**~**

Fireworks Are Not a Dog's Best Friend As the country dons its red, white and blue to celebrate Independence Day, nothing says patriotism like a good old-fashioned barbecue with a side of fireworks. But what’s fun for people can often be a downright drag for our furry friends. The ASPCA offers some advice to help you keep your pets singing, “Oh Say Can You See,” all the way to the Fifth.

- Keep your pets on the wagon. Alcohol is potentially poisonous to pets, so place your wine, beer and spirits out of their reach.

- Avoid scraps from the grill. Any change in your pet’s diet can result in stomach upset. Plus, certain foods like onions, avocado, grapes and raisins can be toxic.

- Bugs biting? Avoid lathering your pet with any insect repellent or sunscreen not intended for the four-legged kind.

- Don’t let Spot start the fire. Keep your pet away from matches and lighter fluid, which, if ingested, can be extremely irritating to the stomach, lungs and central nervous system.

As the sun sets on the Fourth, remember that fireworks are not a dog’s best friend. (Clyde Hated Them!) Dr. Pamela Reid, Vice President, ASPCA Animal Behavior Center, recommends that you keep your dog at home, instead of taking him to your neighborhood display. “He’ll be much happier at home listening to classical music,” says Dr. Reid. “Also, be sure to keep him inside, instead of in the backyard, since even the most timid dog can leap a six-foot fence if he’s scared enough.”

If your dog suddenly shows signs of distress from outside noise, “relocate to the basement or another quiet part of the house,” suggests Dr. Reid. “Or try giving him a Kong toy stuffed with peanut butter. The persistent licking should calm his nerves.”

If you anticipate that your pet will be scared on the Fourth, talk to your vet. He may prescribe a mild sedative, which should be administered one hour before the festivities begin. Please read our other holiday tips, and have a safe and saucy Fourth of July!

3**~**ASPCA Aids Animal Victims of Midwest Flooding:**~**
Last Friday, June 20, the ASPCA awarded a $12,000 grant to the Morgan County Animal Shelter in Martinsville, IN, in response to urgent needs caused by devastating flooding. The grant will assist with the care and medical treatment of more than 250 dogs and cats whose owners were displaced.

According to the ASPCA's Disaster Readiness Manager, Tiffany Mahaffey, the Morgan County Animal shelter has used the PetSmart Charities Rescue Waggin' program to transfer all of its adoptable animals to other parts of the country in order to house the community's displaced pets. With the help of the ASPCA and C-Specialties, an Indiana-based animal supply company, the Morgan County Animal Shelter has been able to provide low-cost vaccines and medications to the owned animals in its care.

"In addition to helping animals whose owners have been displaced," Mahaffey explains, "the ASPCA grant will help the Morgan County Animal Shelter continue to supply pet food to local Red Cross and FEMA shelters for those who were able to take their animals with them when they evacuated."

The ASPCA is now in the process of determining how it can support shelters in other flood-ravaged Midwestern states, beginning with a plan to assist the Iowa City Humane Society through the disbursement of supplies and grants.

4**~**Help Horses: CA’s Return to Freedom Faces Tough Summer:**~**
While the Midwest region continues to be plagued by flooding, our friends out west are facing an altogether different challenge. Severely dry weather over the past two years has wreaked havoc on ranchers and farmers, with lack of water resulting in lower crop yields.

For equine rescue groups like California-based Return to Freedom, the ASPCA’s leading equine strategic partner, this has meant a substantial increase in the cost of hay—an increasingly scarce commodity across the West. Coupled with ever-rising fuel prices, the wild horses who depend on Return to Freedom are now facing real trouble.

Return to Freedom urgently needs your help, horse lovers. Please visit their website http://www.returntofreedom.org/ to learn more about the sanctuary and its donor programs.

In Clyde's Memory (Read Earlier Post)