PRINTER'S NO. 842
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
858
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY JONES, FREEMAN, KNOWLES, NEILSON, DRISCOLL,
ZIMMERMAN, CIRESI AND CONKLIN, MARCH 10, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS,
MARCH 10, 2021
AN ACT
Amending the act of December 7, 1982 (P.L.784, No.225), entitled
"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," in licenses, tags and kennels, further providing
for transfer of dog licenses or tags and other licensing
requirements and for service dogs and dogs used by municipal
or State Police departments.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Sections 205 and 217(a) of the act of December 7,
1982 (P.L.784, No.225), known as the Dog Law, are amended to
read:
Section 205. Transfer of dog licenses or tags; other licensing
requirements.
(a) Transfer of dog license.--It is unlawful to transfer a
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dog license or dog license tag issued for one dog to another
dog, except as otherwise provided in this act. The following
apply:
(1) Whenever the ownership or possession of [any] a dog
is permanently transferred from one person to another within
the same county, the license of [such] the dog may be
likewise transferred, upon application to an agent authorized
under section 200(a)[. Such application], including a county
treasurer.
(2) An application under this section shall be
accompanied by a bill of sale or an affidavit from the owner
that ownership of the dog is to be transferred. The owner
shall provide the owner's name, address, telephone number and
other relevant contact information.
(3) A new dog license, or the transfer of a dog license
already secured, is not required when the possession of a dog
is temporarily transferred for the purpose of hunting game,
or for breeding, boarding and training, trial or show, in
this Commonwealth. The issuing agent shall charge and retain
$1 for [such] the transfer application.
(b) Dog moved to another county.--Whenever [any] a dog
licensed in one county is permanently moved to another county,
an issuing agent of the county where the dog license was issued
shall, upon the application of the owner or keeper of [such] the
dog, certify [such] the dog license to an agent of the county to
which the dog is moved. [Such] After payment of a fee of $1, the
agent shall [thereupon, and upon the payment of a fee of $1 for
the use of the agent,] issue a dog license and tag for [such]
the dog in the county to which it is moved.
(c) Owners of unlicensed dogs.--[Any] A person other than as
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exempt in section 206, becoming the owner of [any] a dog three
months old or older, which has not already been licensed shall
[forthwith] apply for and secure a license for [such] the dog
under the provisions of this act.
Section 217. Service dogs and dogs used by municipal or State
Police departments.
(a) Fee exemptions.--
(1) The provisions of this act relating to the payment
of fees and other charges shall not apply to [any person who
uses a service dog for aid or any municipal or State Police
department or agency using a dog in the performance of the
functions or duties of such department or agency. License
tags for service dogs and dogs used by any municipal or State
agency in the performance of the functions or duties of such
department or agency shall be issued without charge.]:
(i) A person who uses a service dog for aid.
(ii) A municipal or State Police department or
police agency using a dog in the performance of the
functions or duties of the department or agency.
(iii) A service dog used in the performance of
services by a police department, fire department or
sheriff's office or in the performance of rescue services
or emergency medical services.
(2) A license tag for a dog described under paragraph
(1) shall be issued without charge.
(3) For purposes of paragraph (1)(iii), a letter on
official letterhead from the respective police chief, fire
chief, sheriff or director or authorized agent of the
department, agency or office providing the services, along
with evidence that the dog is a service dog, shall accompany
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the application under section 201.
* * *
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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