National animal rights and animal welfare organizations have been praising Pennsylvania legislators for unanimously approving a bill that strengthens animal cruelty laws for dogs by imposing restrictions on tail docking, ear cropping, de-barking, dewclaw removal and "surgical births."

Gov. Ed Rendell signed the bill into law on Aug. 27.

The bill's apparent intent is to have surgeries performed by veterinarians using general anesthesia. There are a few exceptions. A veterinarian is not required to dock tails or remove dewclaws of puppies 5 days old or younger. One potential problem is with surgeries performed before the new law was passed. In some cases, owners must provide proof that a veterinarian performed the procedure.

The Humane Society of the United States praises the bill, and its primary sponsor, state Rep. Thomas R. Caltagirone, D-Berks, says the legislation will "prohibit some of the most painful and unsafe procedures commonly performed on dogs at large-scale puppy mills."

But this law applies to all dogs, not just to those born in puppy mills. So pay attention if you have purchased or adopted dogs with docked tails or cropped ears.

Dog owners "shall record the procedure and keep the record" of surgeries, the bill says. If a state dog warden or a humane officer sees a dog with an unhealed scar from tail docking, ear cropping, de-barking, dewclaw removal or a C-section birth, they can request proof that the surgery was done by a veterinarian.

The section on ear cropping goes a step beyond and has some people worried. Anyone who "shows or exhibits" a dog with cropped ears is committing a summary offense unless he or she produces a "certificate stating that the cropping was done by a veterinarian or a certificate of registration from a county treasurer showing that the dog was cut or cropped before this [law] became effective."

There are many events in Pennsylvania, including dog shows and field trials for sporting breeds, that attract competitors from all over the country. The bill says non-Pennsylvania residents can certify, under oath, to a county treasurer that the ears were cut or cropped before this law was passed.

This well-intentioned anti-cruelty legislation is causing anger or disappointment at both ends of the animal lovers spectrum. The new law isn't strong enough for people who think cropping and docking are cruel and should be outlawed.

And the law is viewed as invasive by dog owners who want their dogs to have the ears and/or the tail that their breed standard calls for. Some in this camp view it as a step down that slippery slope, leading to more invasive laws, such as mandatory spay-neuter.

Dog lovers and lifeguards as well as Dormont residents and officials were shocked -- in a good way -- by the turnout at the first Dog Swim in Dormont Pool on Labor Day.

The official tally was 230 dogs, whose owners paid $2 per canine. The event was organized late last month by Friends of the Dormont Pool. The volunteer group raises money to help pay for repairs and maintenance of the l.85-acre pool that opened in 1929.

There will be a second Dog Swim next year, said Dormont manager Gino Rizza and Kim Hoffman, a member of the borough's recreation board. The proceeds will be split between the Dormont Pool and the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society.

A memorial service for dead pets and a blessing for living pets will be at 2 p.m. tomorrow at the Peaceful Pastures Pet Cemetery & Crematory, adjacent to Woodruff Memorial Park, 2095 Washington Road (Route 19) near the Meadows Race Track in Washington County.

The event is free and offered by the Beinhauer Family Funeral Homes. This marks the 10th year for this service, which last year was attended by 150 people and 40 pets, including dogs, cats, rabbits, birds and ducks. All pets must be on leashes or in carriers.

Owners can post photos of their pets on a memory board and can share stories of beloved, departed pets.

Joseph Hirsch, assistant pastor at Christ Methodist Church in Bethel Park, will bless the animals.

There will be informational booths from rescue organizations and other pet groups.