With a mandate from Gov. Corbett, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is cracking down on illegal dog kennels across the state. The department's Dog Law Enforcement Office is aggressively enforcing one of the toughest dog laws in the nation.

This year alone, dog wardens -- equipped with advanced law enforcement training -- have conducted 2,439 inspections of the state's 2,170 kennels and have issued 2,343 citations.

The state dog law, which was written with input from animal advocates, has established strict guidelines for the operation of commercial kennels. 

The law, diligent enforcement and inspections are working. Unscrupulous commercial kennel operators have been shut down. We have gone from more than 300 commercial kennels a few years ago to only 55 today. 

The Dog Law Enforcement office remains vigilant in enforcing, protecting and prosecuting violators to the fullest extent of the law. The Department of Agriculture relies on the sale of dog licenses to keep the dog enforcement office solvent and your dogs safe.

We need your help. Please license your dogs annually.