Pennsylvania Act 1990-45 — DOG LAW - AMEND EXEMPTING CERTAIN LICENSING

Act text

DOG LAW - AMEND EXEMPTING CERTAIN LICENSING
                  Act of May 31, 1990, P.L. 211, No. 45               Cl. 03
                             Session of 1990
                               No. 1990-45

                                  AN ACT

     HB 159

     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
        assessment of damages done to livestock, poultry and domestic
        game birds; 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," exempting certain puppies being trained as dog
        guides for the blind from licensing requirements; and further
        providing for offenses relating to dogs used for law
        enforcement.

        The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     hereby enacts as follows:

        Section 1.  Sections 217 and 602 of the act of December 7,
     1982 (P.L.784, No.225), known as the Dog Law, are amended to
     read:
      Section 217.  Guide dogs, hearing dogs, aid dogs for the
                            handicapped and dogs used by municipal or
                            State Police departments.
        (a)  Fee exemptions.--The provisions of this act relating to
     the payment of fees and other charges shall not apply to any
     blind person owning a guide dog or any deaf person owning a
     hearing dog or any handicapped person who uses a 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 dog guides for the blind, hearing
     dogs for the deaf, aid dogs for the handicapped 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.
        (b)  Licensing exemption for puppies being trained to be dog
     guides for the blind.--Notwithstanding the provisions of section
     201 or any other provisions of this act, puppies that are
     brought into this Commonwealth for a period of less than 18
     months as part of a formalized training to be dog guides for the
     blind shall be exempt from the licensing requirements of this
     act.
      Section 602.  Dogs used for law enforcement.
        (a)  Illegal to taunt law enforcement dogs.--It shall be
     unlawful for any person to willfully and maliciously taunt,
     torment, tease, beat, kick or strike any dog used by any
     municipal or State police department or agency in the
     performance of the functions or duties of such department or
     agency or to [interfere with or meddle] commit any of the stated
     acts in the course of interfering with any such dog used by the
     department or agency or any member thereof in the performance of
     the functions or duties of the department or agency or of such
     officer or member. Any person who violates any of the provisions
     of this subsection commits a misdemeanor of the second degree.
        (b)  Illegal to torture certain dogs.--It shall be unlawful
     for any person to willfully or maliciously torture, mutilate,
     injure, disable, poison or kill any dog used by any municipal or
     State police department or agency in the performance of the
     functions or duties of the department or agency or to [interfere
     with or meddle] commit any of the stated acts in the course of
     interfering with any such dog used by the department or agency
     or any member thereof in the performance of any of the functions
     or duties of the department or agency or of such officer or
     member. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this
     [section is guilty of a summary offense] subsection commits a
     misdemeanor of the first degree.
        (c)  Illegal to deny facilities or service due to police dog
     use.--It shall be unlawful for the proprietor, manager or
     employee of a theater, hotel, motel, restaurant or other place
     of entertainment, amusement or accommodation to refuse, withhold
     from or deny to any person, due to the use of a working police
     dog used by any State or municipal police department or agency,
     either directly or indirectly, any of the accommodations,
     advantages, facilities or privileges of the theater, hotel,
     motel, restaurant or other place of public entertainment,
     amusement or accommodation. Any person who violates any of the
     provisions of this subsection commits a misdemeanor of the third
     degree.
        [(c)] (d)  Quarantine of certain dogs not required.--
     Quarantine of dogs as required by law shall not apply to dogs
     owned by any municipal or State police department or agency when
     such dogs are under the direct supervision and care of a police
     officer and subject to routine veterinary care.
        Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.

     APPROVED--The 31st day of May, A. D. 1990.

     ROBERT P. CASEY