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 of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania
7Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subsection to read:

8§ 5511. Cruelty to animals.

9* * *

10(c.1) Prohibition of activities related to dogs and cats.--

11(1) A person commits an offense if the person does any
12of the following:

13(i) Kills a dog or cat, regardless of ownership of
14the animal, for the purpose of human consumption.

15(ii) Processes dog or cat meat for the purpose of

1human consumption.

2(iii) Breeds, keeps, sells, offers for sale or
3transfers a dog or cat for the purpose of human
4consumption.

5(iv) Offers dog or cat meat for human consumption.

6(2) Except as set forth in paragraph (3), a person that
7violates this subsection commits a misdemeanor of the first
8degree and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine
9of not less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000 or to
10imprisonment for not more than five years, or both.

11(3) A person who, after being sentenced under paragraph
12(2), violates this subsection commits a felony of the third
13degree and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine
14of not less than $2,500 nor more than $15,000 or to
15imprisonment for not more than seven years, or both.

16* * *

17Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.