PRINTER'S NO. 1572
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1449
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY SONNEY, BROOKS, CIRESI, DAVANZO, HILL-EVANS,
JAMES, MILLARD, NEILSON, ROWE AND THOMAS, MAY 20, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS,
MAY 20, 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 quarantines, dogs at large and confinement,
further providing for seizure and detention of dogs, costs
and destruction of dogs.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 302(c) of the act of December 7, 1982
(P.L.784, No.225), known as the Dog Law, is amended to read:
Section 302. Seizure and detention of dogs; costs; destruction
of dogs.
* * *
(c) Unlicensed dogs.--Except as otherwise provided by
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section 305, any police officer, State dog warden, employee of
the department or animal control officer shall cause any
unlicensed dog to be seized, detained, kept and fed for a period
of [48] 72 hours at any licensed kennel approved by the
secretary for those purposes, except any dog seriously ill or
injured or forfeited with the owner's permission. The [48-hour]
72-hour period shall not include days the approved kennel is not
open to the general public. Any person may view the detained
dogs during normal business hours. Any unlicensed dog remaining
unclaimed after [48 hours] 72 hours may be humanely killed or
given to a humane society or association for the prevention of
cruelty to animals. No dog so caught and detained shall be sold
for the purpose of vivisection, or research, or be conveyed in
any manner for these purposes.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20210HB1449PN1572 - 2 -
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