PRINTER'S NO. 2657
No. 1964 Session of 1985
INTRODUCED BY GREENWOOD, SCHULER, DAWIDA, BATTISTO, JOHNSON,
DISTLER, KENNEY, MICOZZIE, HERMAN AND E. Z. TAYLOR,
DECEMBER 11, 1985
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS,
DECEMBER 11, 1985
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 abandonment of animals by
15 owner.
16 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
17 hereby enacts as follows:
18 Section 1. Section 1202 of the act of December 7, 1982
19 (P.L.784, No.225), known as the Dog Law, is amended to read:
20 Section 1202. Abandonment of animals by owner.
21 (a) Disposal.--Any animal placed in the custody of a
22 licensed doctor of veterinary medicine or a licensed kennel
23 owner for treatment, boarding, or other care which shall be
1 abandoned by its owner or his agent for a period of more than
2 ten days after written notice by registered return receipt mail
3 is [given] sent to the owner or his agent at his last known
4 address and return receipt is received by the doctor or kennel
5 owner, whether signed or unsigned, may be turned over to the
6 custody of the nearest Humane Society or dog pound in the area
7 for disposal after 48 hours as such custodian may deem proper.
8 During [such] the 48-hour period prior to disposal, the animal
9 may be released only to the owner or his agent. If the owner
10 claims the animal, he shall be liable for room and board charges
11 for the animal during the abandonment period.
12 (b) Notice.--The giving of notice to the owner, or the agent
13 of the owner, of such animal by the licensed doctor of
14 veterinary medicine or licensed kennel owner as provided in
15 subsection (a) and receipt of return receipt by the doctor or
16 kennel owner, which he shall retain for 12 days, shall relieve
17 the doctor of veterinary medicine, [and] the kennel owner or any
18 custodian to whom such animal may be given, of any further
19 liability [for disposal]. It is further provided that such
20 procedure by the licensed doctor of veterinary medicine or
21 licensed kennel owner shall not constitute grounds for
22 disciplinary procedure under this act.
23 (c) Definition.--For the purpose of this section, the term
24 "abandonment" means to forsake entirely or to neglect or refuse
25 to provide or perform the legal obligations for the care and
26 support of an animal by its owner or his agent. Such abandonment
27 shall constitute relinquishment of all rights and claims by the
28 owner to such animal.
29 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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