1Amending the act of December 7, 1982 (P.L.784, No.225),
2entitled, as amended, "An act relating to dogs, regulating
3the keeping of dogs; providing for the licensing of dogs and
4kennels; providing for the protection of dogs and the
5detention and destruction of dogs in certain cases;
6regulating the sale and transportation of dogs; declaring
7dogs to be personal property and the subject of theft;
8providing for the abandonment of animals; providing for the
9assessment of damages done to animals; providing for payment
10of damages by the Commonwealth in certain cases and the
11liability of the owner or keeper of dogs for such damages;
12imposing powers and duties on certain State and local
13officers and employees; providing penalties; and creating a
14Dog Law Restricted Account," further providing for dogs used
15for law enforcement.

16The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
17hereby enacts as follows:

18Section 1. Section 602(b) of the act of December 7, 1982
19(P.L.784, No.225), known as the Dog Law, amended October 9, 2008
20(P.L.1450, No.119), is amended to read:

21Section 602. Dogs used for law enforcement.

22* * *

23(b) Illegal to torture certain dogs.--It shall be unlawful

1for any person to willfully or maliciously torture, mutilate,
2injure, disable, poison or kill any dog, including any search
3and rescue or detection dog, used by any municipal, county or
4State police or sheriff's department or agency, fire department
5or agency or handler under the supervision of such department or
6agency, in the performance of the functions or duties of the
7department or agency or to commit any of the stated acts in the
8course of interfering with any such dog used by the department
9or agency or any member or supervised handler thereof in the
10performance of any of the functions or duties of the department
11or agency or of such officer or member or supervised handler.
12Any person who violates any of the provisions of this subsection
13commits a felony of the [third] second degree.

14* * *

15Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.