Carolyn Kaster, Associated Press Jada Scott, 5, left, and her sister, India Scott, 3, from Camp Hill, Cumberland County, pet Aiden, a 2-year-old west highland terrier in front of the State Capitol in Harrisburg yesterday during a rally by animal activists who say Pennsylvania is the "puppy mill capital of the East Coast." Aiden, who was used for breeding in a puppy mill and lost one of his front legs there, is up for adoption by Mainline Rescue. Click photo for larger image. Related story: Man covers Mother's Day pet adoption fees to honor his mother

HARRISBURG -- Trying to rid Pennsylvania of its reputation as the "puppy mill capital of the East Coast," Gov. Ed Rendell has fired all 14 members of the state Dog Law Advisory Board.

Mr. Rendell, a pet lover who owns two golden retrievers, said the board, an advisory panel to the state Agriculture Department, was ineffective. He plans to name new members who share his concerns about poorly run breeding facilities, his spokeswoman, Kate Philips, said yesterday.

Animal welfare groups had been pressuring the governor to take action to reduce animal cruelty and improve conditions at commercial dog-breeding operations.

Groups such as the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty of Animals claim Pennsylvania dog wardens have been dissuaded from filing cruelty-to-animals charges, from closing kennels that don't meet state standards and from allowing the operation of so-called puppy mills that provide inadequate food, shelter, cages and veterinary care.

"It's well-known in the animal industry that on the East Coast, the puppy mills in Pennsylvania are the worst," said Annemarie Lucas, a special investigator with the ASPCA in New York City and star of Animal Planet's reality TV series "Animal Precinct."

Lancaster County, in particular, is notorious for such operations, characterized by mass production, inbreeding of dogs and poor kennel conditions, she said.

The firings were one step in his larger effort to improve the treatment of animals in Pennsylvania, Ms. Philips said.

"The governor is not interested in placing blame; he's interested in finding a solution ... and righting what has been a terrible situation in some parts of Pennsylvania," said Ms. Philips.

The board has no real enforcement ability and serves only to advise the Department of Agriculture.

If the board hadn't been effective enough for Mr. Rendell, it's because it wasn't called to service often, especially in recent years, said fired member Nina Schaefer, of North Huntingdon. It last met in July 2005.

"When we found out we were fired for being inactive we said, 'What? You didn't ask us our opinions in the first place," said Mrs. Schaefer, who had represented the Pennsylvania Federation of Dog Clubs on the board. "We had no opportunity. We were never called into session."

Meanwhile, animal-rights activists who rallied at the Capitol yesterday called for an enforcement overhaul.

The Agriculture Department and Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement have not provided enough dog wardens, failed to provide adequate inspections and allowed unlicensed kennels to operate, animal-rights advocates said during yesterday's rally.

Mrs. Schaefer, though, says the bureau doesn't have enough money to hire more dog wardens.

"You can't say do more unless you give them more money, and given the budget constraints, they do a pretty good job. The commercial puppy breeders have improved enormously," she said.

The current general fund budget allocates $6.8 million to the bureau, up $52,000 from the previous budget. The governor has proposed ramping up funding to $9.1 million next fiscal year.