What Type of Kennel Is Considered a Class C Kennel in Pennsylvania?

Class C commercial kennels house or sell more than 26 dogs a year. Kennels in this class often breed, sell or transfer dogs to a pet store, or sell 60 dogs a year to individual owners. Any breeder in Pennsylvania that does not fit into this category is a casual or "backyard" breeder, and unregulated by commercial kennel laws.

  1. Kennel Restrictions

    • Class C commercial kennels in Pennsylvania are prohibited from placing dogs on wire flooring (coated or not), hog flooring, or floors with poorly spaced slats that might injure puppies and dogs. A single enclosure is restricted to hold six compatible dogs or less. Since breeds differ in size kennel dimensions are not specified; however, each dog's primary enclosure must allow room for the dog(s) to sit, stand and lie down without any part of the body, ears, tail or paws touching the sides of the enclosure. Additionally, the height of the dog's primary enclosure must 6 inches or higher than the head of the tallest dog while standing.

    Kennel Requirements

    • If slatted flooring is used in class C commercial kennels the spacing between slats must be less than half an inch with the slat dimensions at least 3.5 inches wide. Slats must run run the length or width of the kennel floor. For female dogs close to birthing or with pups, class C commercial kennels may house the female and her pups on flooring that is 50 percent solid and 50 percent wire. Commercial kennels are required to provide 12 hours of light based on natural lighting cycles and 12 hours of darkness each day.

    Unfettered Enclosings

    • Commercial kennels are required to provide a space where the dogs move unfettered for some of the day. However, these kennels are not required to provide a separate free range or unfettered space for female dogs that are birthing or nursing pups, but when they are provided females and their puppies must be exercised in a separate enclosure from mature males. The dimensions of unfettered exercise pens and enclosures must be twice the size of the dog's primary enclosure.

    Considerations

    • Class C commercial kennels are under watch because of the many cases of abuse and neglect in connection with puppy mills and commercial breeding. Main Line Animal Rescue has revealed to Pennsylvania's dog law authorities that dogs confined to a wire-bottom cage suffer broken limbs, bowed legs and splayed toes. As a result, Pennsylvania's Department of Agriculture schedules inspections of all commercial kennels by trained personnel to ensure that breeders maintain Pennsylvania dog laws for the housing and breeding of dogs. Pennsylvania's Department of Agriculture requires class C kennels to provide dogs with safe flooring and housing, routine documented medical exams, as well as safe and effective sanitation, lighting and ventilation practices.