HARRISBURG -- Proposed state legislation to crack down on "puppy mills" is turning out to be all bark and no bite.

The state House has no plans to vote on the controversial proposal, House Bill 2525, before legislators recess for the summer, which will probably happen either late today or tomorrow, Democratic leaders said yesterday.

More than 100 amendments have been proposed to the bill, which would require commercial kennel owners to treat dogs more humanely by giving them larger cages, forbid the stacking of cages on top of each other and require more exercise for the dogs.

The bill got strong support from the Humane Society and some pet owners, but was opposed by some commercial kennels, which said it would increase their costs.

House leaders said it would take two or three days to debate all the amendments and there simply isn't enough time, with debate over the new $28.2 billion state budget the most important item remaining on the House calendar before the summer break.

Jessie Smith, the state Agriculture Department's special deputy secretary for dog law enforcement, said, "Many of the things that are bad for dogs are legal. We can't do anything about small cages, the lack of exercise or veterinary care, unless this legislation were to pass."

Some sportsmen's groups and commercial kennel owners expressed concern about government over-regulation.

"Treating all licensed kennels the same [with fines] would mean financial ruin to many, if not all, kennels," said Rob Sexton of the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, whose members raise hunting dogs.

The bill resulted from Gov. Ed Rendell's focus on dogs in kennels in Pennsylvania, which has been criticized for being "the puppy mill capital of the East." Mr. Rendell has sought to bolster staffing and enforcement efforts of the state's Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, which oversees the inspection and licensing of kennels.

Pennsylvania Legislative Correspondents Association intern Christopher Wink contributed.