THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY GALLOWAY, BARRAR, BEYER, BRENNAN, DiGIROLAMO, HARHAI, HENNESSEY, HORNAMAN, MELIO, MURPHY, MURT, MYERS, PALLONE, PASHINSKI, READSHAW, SANTARSIERO, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH, YOUNGBLOOD AND J. TAYLOR, JUNE 3, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, JUNE 3, 2009  

AN ACT

Amending the act of December 7, 1982 (P.L.784, No.225),

entitled, as amended, "An act relating to dogs, regulating

the keeping of dogs; providing for the licensing of dogs and

kennels; providing for the protection of dogs and the

detention and destruction of dogs in certain cases;

regulating the sale and transportation of dogs; declaring

dogs to be personal property and the subject of theft;

providing for the abandonment of animals; providing for the

assessment of damages done to animals; providing for payment

of damages by the Commonwealth in certain cases and the

liability of the owner or keeper of dogs for such damages;

imposing powers and duties on certain State and local

officers and employees; providing penalties; and creating a

Dog Law Restricted Account," further providing for

construction of article relating to dangerous dogs.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 507-A(c) of the act of December 7, 1982

(P.L.784, No.225), known as the Dog Law, added May 31, 1990

(P.L.213, No.46), is amended to read:

Section 507-A.  Construction of article.

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(c)  Local ordinances.--[Those provisions of local ordinances

relating to dangerous dogs are hereby abrogated.] A local

ordinance otherwise dealing with dogs may not prohibit or

otherwise limit a specific breed of dog. This act shall not

preclude the adoption of any local ordinance applicable to

dangerous dogs provided that the local ordinance maintains all

provisions set forth in this act and further provided that a

local ordinance dealing with dogs may not prohibit or otherwise

limit a specific breed of dog.

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Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.