Dog
and Leash Laws
Protect Your Dog and Others
Caring
for a dog is a big responsibility. Suddenly you find yourself with
another child! This responsibility extends past the proper care
and training for your dog, but also, unfortunately, to your ultimate
responsibility for the dog's behaviour (There comes a point when,
sooner or later, your kids become responsible for themselves; but
if your dog screws up, it still boils down to you.)
Basically,
all states rules follow this same pattern: All dogs must be under
control of the guardian at all times. This means when the dog
is not on your property, it must be under the direct control of
you or a handler. The best way to control your dog is with a leash.
Here
are Pennsylvania's Dog Laws:
- All
dogs three months of age or older must be licensed.
Licenses are issued by the county treasurer.
- All
dogs must be under control and may not be allowed to run at
large. Dogs are personal property and owners are responsible
for damages caused by their dogs. (Although we certainly don't
agree with calling dogs 'personal property', this is merely a
recitation of the law, not our opinion as an organization.)
- It
is illegal to mistreat or abuse any animal. Violations should
be reported to the local humane organization or police. (Dogs
Deserve Better feels that chaining a dog for life is tantamount
to abuse. Unfortunately, it's not yet considered abuse by law.)
- You
many not place any poison or harmful substance in any place
where it may be easily found and eaten by dogs whether it be your
property or elsewhere.
- It
is illegal to abandon or attempt to abandon any dogs. Fines
for abandonment range from $300 to $1000 plus court costs.
- No
dog under seven weeks old may be bartered, traded, sold or
transferred.
- You
must have a current kennel license if you operate a kennel
that keeps, harbors, boards, shelters, sells, gives away, or transfers
a total of 26 or more dogs in any one calendar year.
- It
is illegal to interfere
with an officer or employee of the Pennsylvania Department of
Agriculture engaged in enforcement of dog laws.
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