PRINTER'S NO. 479
No. 472 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, BOSCOLA, COSTA, EARLL, HART, KUKOVICH
AND TARTAGLIONE, FEBRUARY 24, 1999
REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, FEBRUARY 24, 1999
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, further providing for cruelty to
3 animals.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Section 5511(j) of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania
7 Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
8 § 5511. Cruelty to animals.
9 * * *
10 (j) Seizure of animals kept or used for animal fighting.--
11 Any police officer or agent of a society or association for the
12 prevention of cruelty to animals incorporated under the laws of
13 this Commonwealth, shall have power to seize any animal kept,
14 used, or intended to be used for animal fighting. When the
15 seizure is made, the animal or animals so seized shall not be
16 deemed absolutely forfeited, but shall be held by the officer or
17 agent seizing the same until a conviction of some person is
18 first obtained for a violation of subsection (h.1). The officer
1 or agent making such seizure shall make due return to the
2 issuing authority, of the number and kind of animals or
3 creatures so seized by him, and it shall be the duty of the
4 issuing authority hearing the complaint, in case of a
5 conviction, to make the forfeiture of such animals or creatures
6 seized a part of the sentence. Where an animal is thus seized,
7 the police officer or agent is authorized to provide such care
8 as is reasonably necessary, and where any animal thus seized is
9 found to be disabled, injured or diseased beyond reasonable hope
10 of recovery, the police officer or agent is authorized to
11 provide for the humane destruction of the animal. The cost of
12 the keeping, care and destruction of the animal shall be paid by
13 the owner thereof. In addition to any other penalty provided by
14 law, the authority imposing sentence upon a conviction for any
15 violation of subsection (h.1) shall [order the forfeiture or
16 surrender of any abused, neglected or deprived animal of the
17 defendant to any society or association for the prevention of
18 cruelty to animals duly incorporated under the laws of this
19 Commonwealth and shall] require that the owner pay the cost of
20 the keeping, care and destruction of the animal.
21 * * *
22 Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
B12L18JS/19990S0472B0479 - 2 -