AN ACT

 

1Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
2Consolidated Statutes, further providing for the offense of
3cruelty to animals.

4The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5hereby enacts as follows:

6Section 1. Section 5511(a) of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania
7Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a paragraph to read:

8§ 5511. Cruelty to animals.

9(a) Killing, maiming or poisoning domestic animals or zoo
10animals, etc.--

11* * *

12(1.1) (i) A person commits a misdemeanor of the first 
13degree if he willfully and maliciously kills, maims, 
14disfigures, tortures or administers poison to or exposes 
15any poisonous substance with intent to administer such 
16poison or poisonous substance to any dog or cat, guide 
17dog for an individual who is blind, hearing dog for an 
18individual who is deaf or audibly impaired or service dog 

1for an individual who is physically limited, that is in 
2the care, control or supervision of a person or persons 
3who directly benefit from a protection from abuse order 
4issued under 23 Pa.C.S. Ch. 61 (relating to protection 
5from abuse) and where the person committing the harm 
6against the dog, cat, guide dog, hearing dog or service 
7dog is subject to the protection from abuse order.

8(ii) Any person convicted of violating this
9paragraph shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less
10than $2,000 and not more than $15,000 or to imprisonment
11for not more than two years, or both.

12* * *

13Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.