Statutes | 18 Pa.C.S. ยง 5535 | 2025

(a) Offense defined. --

A person commits a misdemeanor of the third degree if the person is the owner of a dog that kills, maims or disfigures a guide dog of an individual who is blind, a hearing dog of an individual who is deaf or audibly impaired or a service dog of an individual who is physically limited without provocation by the guide, hearing or service dog or the individual.

(b) Culpability. --

A person commits an offense under this section only if the person knew or should have known that the dog the person owns had a propensity to attack human beings or domestic animals without provocation, and the owner knowingly or recklessly failed to restrain the dog or keep the dog in a contained, secure manner.

(c) Penalty. --

A person convicted of violating this section shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $ 5,000 and shall be ordered to make reparations for veterinary costs in treating the guide, hearing or service dog and, if necessary, the cost of obtaining and training a replacement guide, hearing or service dog.

(d) Civil penalty and restitution.

     (1) A person who is the owner of a dog that kills, maims or disfigures a guide dog of an individual who is blind, a hearing dog of an individual who is deaf or audibly impaired or a service dog of an individual who is physically limited shall be subject to paragraph (2) if both of the following apply:

         (i) The owner knew the dog had a propensity to attack human beings or domestic animals.

         (ii) The owner failed to restrain the dog or keep the dog in a contained, secure manner.

     (2) A court of common pleas may impose any of the following upon a person who is the owner of a dog under paragraph (1):

         (i) A civil penalty of up to $ 15,000.

         (ii) Reparations for veterinary costs in treating the guide, hearing or service dog and, if necessary, the cost of retraining the dog or of obtaining and training a replacement guide, hearing or service dog.

         (iii) Loss of income for the time the individual is unable to work due to the unavailability of the guide, hearing or service dog.