PRINTER'S NO. 1998
No. 1633 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY ZUG, BARRAR, BLAUM, BROWNE, CIVERA, M. COHEN,
CORRIGAN, DeWEESE, GEIST, HERSHEY, KENNEY, KIRKLAND, LEH,
MAHER, McGILL, MICHLOVIC, R. MILLER, NAILOR, STEELMAN, STERN,
E. Z. TAYLOR AND YOUNGBLOOD, JUNE 14, 1999
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS,
JUNE 14, 1999
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of December 7, 1982 (P.L.784, No.225),
2 entitled, as amended, "An act relating to dogs, regulating
3 the keeping of dogs; providing for the licensing of dogs and
4 kennels; providing for the protection of dogs and the
5 detention and destruction of dogs in certain cases;
6 regulating the sale and transportation of dogs; declaring
7 dogs to be personal property and the subject of theft;
8 providing for the abandonment of animals; providing for the
9 assessment of damages done to animals; providing for payment
10 of damages by the Commonwealth in certain cases and the
11 liability of the owner or keeper of dogs for such damages;
12 imposing powers and duties on certain State and local
13 officers and employees; providing penalties; and creating a
14 Dog Law Restricted Account," further providing for the
15 definition of "domestic animal" and for reimbursement for
16 damages.
17 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
18 hereby enacts as follows:
19 Section 1. The definition of "domestic animal" in section
20 102 of the act of December 7, 1982 (P.L.784, No.225), known as
21 the Dog Law, amended December 11, 1996 (P.L.943, No.151), is
22 amended to read:
23 Section 102. Definitions.
1 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
2 have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the
3 meanings given to them in this section:
4 * * *
5 "Domestic animal." Any [equine animal or bovine animal,
6 sheep, goat, pig, poultry, bird, fowl, confined hares, rabbits
7 and mink, or any wild or semiwild] animal maintained in
8 captivity.
9 * * *
10 Section 2. Section 701(a) of the act, amended December 11,
11 1996 (P.L.943, No.151), is amended to read:
12 Section 701. Reimbursement for damages; complaints.
13 (a) Reimbursement.--A person may make application to the
14 department for reimbursement for damage to a domestic animal by
15 a dog, whether or not the domestic animal is directly damaged by
16 the dog or is necessarily destroyed due to damage caused by the
17 dog, if the all of the following apply:
18 (1) The damage occurs when the domestic animal is
19 confined in a field or other enclosure adequate for
20 confinement of such animal.
21 (2) The damage was not caused by a dog owned or harbored
22 by the owner of such damaged domestic animal.
23 (3) The owner of the offending dog is unknown.
24 (4) The damage occurs to a domestic animal other than a
25 dog or cat.
26 * * *
27 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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