Gov. Ed Rendell yesterday called on lawmakers to make changes to the state dog law after officials said operators of two Berks County kennels shot 80 dogs last month.

State officials said Elmer Zimmerman, and his brother, Ammon, shot 80 dogs at the two kennels they operated in Kutztown after wardens had ordered 39 dogs checked for insect bites and had issued citations for conditions at the kennels.

Current state law does not bar kennel owners from euthanizing their dogs with firearms, even if the dogs are healthy. At a news conference yesterday in Philadelphia, Gov. Rendell urged passage of a state House bill that would allow only veterinarians to euthanize dogs in commercial breeding kennels.

On Friday night, 100 people attended a vigil for the animals outside the Berks County property. The brothers have surrendered their kennel licenses.