PRINTER'S NO. 4306
No. 3012 Session of 1990
INTRODUCED BY KASUNIC, BURD, D. F. CLARK, MELIO, ANGSTADT,
HERSHEY, CORRIGAN, VAN HORNE, YANDRISEVITS, MIHALICH, DALEY,
LAUGHLIN AND DIETTERICK, NOVEMBER 14, 1990
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS,
NOVEMBER 14, 1990
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of December 7, 1982 (P.L.784, No.225), entitled
2 "An act relating to dogs, regulating the keeping of dogs;
3 providing for the licensing of dogs and kennels; providing
4 for the protection of dogs and the detention and destruction
5 of dogs in certain cases; regulating the sale and
6 transportation of dogs; declaring dogs to be personal
7 property and the subject of theft; providing for the
8 assessment of damages done to livestock, poultry and domestic
9 game birds; providing for payment of damages by the
10 Commonwealth in certain cases and the liability of the owner
11 or keeper of dogs for such damages; imposing powers and
12 duties on certain State and local officers and employees;
13 providing penalties; and creating a Dog Law Restricted
14 Account," further providing for the destruction of certain
15 dogs; imposing civil liability and criminal penalties; and
16 making a repeal.
17 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
18 hereby enacts as follows:
19 Section 1. The heading of section 501 of the act of December
20 7, 1982 (P.L.784, No.225), known as the Dog Law, is amended and
21 the section is amended by adding subsections to read:
22 Section 501. Killing dogs; complaints in trespass before
23 district justice; vicious dogs; civil and
24 criminal liability; fines; bonds.
1 * * *
2 (e) Destruction of dog.--Any dog that has viciously attacked
3 a human being shall be destroyed immediately. The destruction of
4 the dog may be performed by any police officer or by an animal
5 control officer.
6 (f) Civil liability.--The owner of any dog that inflicts
7 severe injury or death to any human being due to a vicious
8 attack shall be civilly liable for all damages arising out of
9 such vicious attack.
10 (g) Criminal penalties.--The owner of any dog that inflicts
11 severe injury or death to any human being due to a vicious
12 attack commits a misdemeanor of the third degree if he was
13 negligent in his conduct which led to the vicious attack. If the
14 owner's conduct was grossly negligent, reckless or intentional,
15 he commits a misdemeanor of the second degree if such conduct
16 resulted in a vicious attack by his dog upon a human being.
17 Section 2. Article V-A of the act is repealed.
18 Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
J17L03JLW/19900H3012B4306 - 2 -