HARRISBURG -- Lots of dogs filled the Capitol steps today as their owners, joined by many state politicians, called for support for three new bills that would punish owners of improperly run commercial breeding kennels, also known as "puppy mills."

Thousands of dogs each year are bred at such kennels and the dogs are not treated humanely, said Jessie Smith, special state deputy secretary for dog-law enforcement.

Sometimes too many dogs are shoved into a wire cage that is too small for one dog, let alone two or three, she said. Overcrowded cages are often stacked two, three or four atop each other, with no cleaning or protection from excrement.

Gov. Ed Rendell, who has two large dogs of his own, has called Pennsylvania the "puppy mill capital of the East" and has vowed to change things. Many of the commercial breeders are in Lancaster County, critics say.

The bills introduced today increase the size of allowable cages, give county dog wardens more power to shut down poorly run breeding operations, require that only a certified veterinarian perform medical operations on a dog, increase requirements for daily exercise, and increase fines and jail time for breeders who treat dogs inhumanely.

One of the leaders of the movement for better dog care is Rep. James Casorio, D-Westmoreland. He said state officials have spent months working on the bills, trying to focus on puppy mill breeders without unfairly punishing smaller, caring breeders or sportsmen's groups that properly raise hunting dogs.

Mr. Casorio said he hopes for final legislative action on the three bills before the House and Senate recess for the summer in late June or early July. The bills already have 90 House co-sponsors, with at least 102 votes needed in the House for passage.