The records can be accessed at www.agriculture.state.pa.us/padoglaw.
"Pennsylvania is taking action to improve consumer knowledge and provide better care for dogs in kennels across the state," Rendell said. "This new access to kennel inspection records will help consumers know the conditions of kennels -- where they might purchase a dog or board their dog while they travel -- so they can make better decisions about the welfare of their pets."
At Rendell's direction, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has invested in technology to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of dog kennel inspections. The new inspection and data management tool, PA Dogs, allows more accurate and useful record-keeping and will allow the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement to better analyze the data collected than the outdated paper and electronic records used previously.
"We're bringing today's technology to dog kennel inspections and record keeping," said Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff. "We have now fully implemented this technology and trained our dog wardens to maximize its potential. Thanks to this investment, we now have the ability to post kennel inspections and analyze the data we collect."
Dog wardens now use tablet PCs to conduct their inspections, which give them immediate access to records and information relating to the kennels. The new technology also allows dog wardens to immediately file inspections using wireless internet connections and reduces the time they need to spend in the office. The inspection records are electronically updated in the kennel inspection database, which the public can now access.
