Source: https://pspca.org/fight-cruelty/pennsylvanias-animal-cruelty-laws/
Timestamp: 2017-09-22 09:52:48
Document Index: 559414942

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 5511', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 7', '§ 1', '§ 5', '§ 2', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 2', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1']

Pennsylvania SPCA » Pennsylvania’s Animal Cruelty Laws
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 5511. Cruelty to animals
(a.1) Guide dogs.–
(a.2) Civil penalty and restitution.–
(g) Cruelty to cow to enhance appearance of udder.–A person commits a summary offense if he kneads or beats or pads the udder of any cow, or willfully allows it to go unmilked for a period of 24 hours or more, for the purpose of enhancing the appearance or size of the udder of said cow, or by a muzzle or any other device prevents its calf, if less than six weeks old, from obtaining nourishment, and thereby relieving the udder of said cow, for a period of 24 hours.
(h) Specific violations; prima facie evidence of violation.–
(1)(i) A person commits a summary offense if the person crops, trims or cuts off, or causes or procures to be cropped, trimmed or cut off, the whole or part of the ear or ears of a dog.
(ii) The provisions of this paragraph shall not prevent a veterinarian from cropping, trimming or cutting off the whole or part of the ear or ears of a dog when the dog is anesthetized and shall not prevent any person from causing or procuring the cropping, trimming or cutting off of a dog’s ear or ears by a veterinarian.
(2)(i) A person commits a summary offense if the person debarks a dog by cutting, causing or procuring the cutting of its vocal cords or by altering, causing or procuring the alteration of any part of its resonance chamber.
(3)(i) A person commits a summary offense if the person docks, cuts off, causes or procures the docking or cutting off of the tail of a dog over five days old.
(iii) The provisions of this section shall not prevent a veterinarian from surgically removing, docking, cutting off or cropping the tail of a dog between five days and 12 weeks of age if, in the veterinarian’s professional judgment, the procedure is medically necessary for the health and welfare of the dog. If the procedure is performed, it shall be done in accordance with generally accepted standards of veterinary practice.
(4)(i) A person commits a summary offense if the person surgically births or causes or procures a surgical birth.
(5)(i) A person commits a summary offense if the person cuts off or causes or procures the cutting off of the dewclaw of a dog over five days old.
(h.1) Animal fighting.–A person commits a felony of the third degree if he:
(i) Power to initiate criminal proceedings.–An agent of any society or association for the prevention of cruelty to animals, incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth, shall have the same powers to initiate criminal proceedings provided for police officers by the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure. An agent of any society or association for the prevention of cruelty to animals, incorporated under the laws of this Commonwealth, shall have standing to request any court of competent jurisdiction to enjoin any violation of this section.
(j) Seizure of animals kept or used for animal fighting.–Any police officer or agent of a society or association for the prevention of cruelty to animals incorporated under the laws of this Commonwealth, shall have power to seize any animal kept, used, or intended to be used for animal fighting. When the seizure is made, the animal or animals so seized shall not be deemed absolutely forfeited, but shall be held by the officer or agent seizing the same until a conviction of some person is first obtained for a violation of subsection (h.1). The officer or agent making such seizure shall make due return to the issuing authority, of the number and kind of animals or creatures so seized by him. Where an animal is thus seized, the police officer or agent is authorized to provide such care as is reasonably necessary, and where any animal thus seized is found to be disabled, injured or diseased beyond reasonable hope of recovery, the police officer or agent is authorized to provide for the humane destruction of the animal. In addition to any other penalty provided by law, the authority imposing sentence upon a conviction for any violation of subsection (h.1) shall order the forfeiture or surrender of any abused, neglected or deprived animal of the defendant to any society or association for the prevention of cruelty to animals duly incorporated under the laws of this Commonwealth and shall require that the owner pay the cost of the keeping, care and destruction of the animal.
(k) Killing homing pigeons.–A person commits a summary offense if he shoots, maims or kills any antwerp or homing pigeon, either while on flight or at rest, or detains or entraps any such pigeon which carries the name of its owner.
(l) Search warrants.–Where a violation of this section is alleged, any issuing authority may, in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, issue to any police officer or any agent of any society or association for the prevention of cruelty to animals duly incorporated under the laws of this Commonwealth a search warrant authorizing the search of any building or any enclosure in which any violation of this section is occurring or has occurred, and authorizing the seizure of evidence of the violation including, but not limited to, the animals which were the subject of the violation. Where an animal thus seized is found to be neglected or starving, the police officer or agent is authorized to provide such care as is reasonably necessary, and where any animal thus seized is found to be disabled, injured or diseased beyond reasonable hope of recovery, the police officer or agent is authorized to provide for the humane destruction of the animal. The cost of the keeping, care and destruction of the animal shall be paid by the owner thereof and claims for the costs shall constitute a lien upon the animal. In addition to any other penalty provided by law, the authority imposing sentence upon a conviction for any violation of this section may require that the owner pay the cost of the keeping, care and destruction of the animal. No search warrant shall be issued based upon an alleged violation of this section which authorizes any police officer or agent or other person to enter upon or search premises where scientific research work is being conducted by, or under the supervision of, graduates of duly accredited scientific schools or where biological products are being produced for the care or prevention of disease.
(m) Forfeiture.–In addition to any other penalty provided by law, the authority imposing sentence upon a conviction for any violation of this section may order the forfeiture or surrender of any abused, neglected or deprived animal of the defendant to any society or association for the prevention of cruelty to animals duly incorporated under the laws of this Commonwealth.
(m.1) Fine for summary offense.–In addition to any other penalty provided by law, a person convicted of a summary offense under this section shall pay a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $750 or to imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both.
(m.2) Prohibition of ownership.–Notwithstanding any provision of law and in addition to any other penalty provided by law, the authority imposing sentence upon a conviction for any violation of this section may order the prohibition or limitation of the defendant’s ownership, possession, control or custody of animals or employment with the care of animals for a period of time not to exceed the statutory maximum term of imprisonment applicable to the offense for which sentence is being imposed.
(n) Skinning of and selling or buying pelts of dogs and cats.–A person commits a summary offense if he skins a dog or cat or offers for sale or exchange or offers to buy or exchange the pelt or pelts of any dog or cat.
(o) Representation of humane society by attorney.–Upon prior authorization and approval by the district attorney of the county in which the proceeding is held, an association or agent may be represented in any proceeding under this section by any attorney admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and in good standing. Attorney’s fees shall be borne by the humane society or association which is represented.
(o.1) Construction of section.–The provisions of this section shall not supersede the act of December 7, 1982 (P.L. 784, No. 225), [FN3] known as the Dog Law.
(p) Applicability of section.–This section shall not apply to, interfere with or hinder any activity which is authorized or permitted pursuant to the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1225, No. 316), known as The Game Law or Title 34 (relating to game).
(q) Definitions.–As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:
1972, Dec. 6, P.L. 1482, No. 334, § 1, effective June 6, 1973. Amended 1973, Dec. 12, P.L. 387, No. 137, § 1, imd. effective; 1978, April 28, P.L. 202, No. 53, § 7(7), effective June 27, 1978; 1980, July 10, P.L. 518, No. 107, § 1, effective in 60 days; 1984, Dec. 21, P.L. 1210, No. 230, § 5, effective in 60 days; 1986, July 8, P.L. 442, No. 93, § 2, eff. July 1, 1987; 1986, Dec. 16, P.L. 1671, No. 191, § 1, effective in 60 days; 1994, April 29, P.L. 146, No. 24, § 1, effective in 60 days; 1995, July 6, P.L. 238, No. 27, § 2, effective in 60 days; 2000, Oct. 18, P.L. 605, No. 80, § 1, effective in 60 days; 2001, June 25, P.L. 694, No. 64, § 1, effective in 60 days; 2002, Dec. 9, P.L. 1439, No. 183, § 1, effective in 60 days; 2004, Dec. 8, P.L. 1789, No. 236, § 1, imd. effective; 2009, Aug. 27, P.L. 372, No. 38, § 1; 2012, June 13, P.L. 634, No. 62, § 1, effective in 60 days [Aug. 13, 2012].
Source: http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stuspa18pacsa_5511.htm#s5511