HARRISBURG -- Gov. Ed Rendell yesterday named a new head of state dog law enforcement and tapped a longtime Beaver County prosecutor to help Pennsylvania shake its reputation as a haven for inhumane puppy mills.

Jessie Smith, a 20-year veteran of the state Office of Attorney General and president of the Humane Society of Harrisburg, was named to the newly created post of special deputy secretary for dog law enforcement.

Jeffrey Paladina, a Beaver County assistant district attorney, was named special prosecutor for dog law enforcement.

Also yesterday, Mr. Rendell proposed stiffer penalties for animal cruelty, created a four-member team of kennel compliance specialists, and proposed new regulations and a requirement for kennels to provide dogs 20 minutes of daily exercise.

The actions are part of a sweeping change that began over the summer when Mr. Rendell fired all 16 members of the state's Dog Law Advisory Board. He announced replacements for them yesterday.

Former board members say meetings were rare, that they were seldom asked for input and were often ignored when they offered it. Some were incensed that the governor did not consult them about the changes he is proposing, but instead in the spring handpicked an ad hoc committee to advise him.

"The new members are going to find out it's only an advisory board and somebody else actually comes up with the proposals," said fired member Nina Schaefer, who is president of the Pennsylvania Federation of Dog Clubs.

"We were only an advisory board and it wasn't within our power to do anything," said former member Ann Irwin, legislative chairwoman for the Federated Humane Societies of Pennsylvania.

"I do see the symbolism in the governor firing a voluntary board. He sent a powerful message that he would like to see a change in how things are done, and I respect that."

Newly appointed member John Weinstein, Allegheny County's treasurer, expects to focus on increasing compliance with licensing requirements statewide, just as he has in Allegheny County. The number of dog licenses issued increased 275 percent annually after he began distributing information with tax bills and at community events.

To Ms. Irwin, the most important of the governor's changes already is in motion: the hiring of Mr. Paladina to prosecute animal cruelty cases.

Currently, dog wardens, who have no formal legal training, prosecute their own cases.

Dog wardens are at a disadvantage, particularly in cases involving large commercial breeders who can afford to hire high-priced lawyers, she said.

Dotsie Keith, founder of the Delaware Valley Dalmation Club, worries that the proposed regulatory changes could put kennels and breeders out of business. The changes include provisions for doubling cage sizes in kennels, requiring more detailed records, and improving temperature control and ventilation.

Ms. Irwin, the only fired advisory board member who was included in the ad hoc committee's discussions, urged patience.

"People are sounding the alarm that terrible things are going to happen, but there's no need to panic, because after you read [the proposed regulations] you can comment on how the language would impact what you do and those comments are taken into consideration" by the state's Independent Regulatory Review Commission and by the Legislature, she said.