HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Kennels near Pennsylvania's state lines and dog rescues across the country can breathe a sigh of relief after a final piece of legislation passed Wednesday that sends a bill amending the state's dog law to Gov. Josh Shapiro for his signature.

The state Senate unanimously passed a bill on Wednesday — in line with a bill the House unanimously passed last week — that grants kennels relief from restrictions they say cause them significant business losses when they are located near state borders, since it is now more difficult for residents of those states to rehome a dog in Pennsylvania rather than in neighboring states. The bill also grants dog rescues relief from the requirement to fully quarantine dogs from other states before putting them up for adoption.

The bills were sponsored by Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York County) and Representative Tim Briggs (D-Montgomery County).

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Last year, lawmakers made major overhauls to the Commonwealth's longstanding dog law. Proponents hoped the changes would protect dogs and their owners – for example, from becoming infected by sick dogs in kennels or during rescue operations.

But after an outcry from kennels and rescue services, the initiator of the bill acknowledged that some of the changes had unintended consequences that went beyond protecting dogs and people and instead hampered kennels and rescue operations.

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