2016 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
Title 18 - CRIMES AND OFFENSES
Chapter 55 - Riot, Disorderly Conduct and Related Offenses
Section 5511.2 - Police animals
(a) Illegal to taunt police animals.--It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully or maliciously taunt, torment, tease, beat, kick or strike a police animal. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this subsection commits a felony of the third degree.
(b) Illegal to torture police animals.--It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully or maliciously torture, mutilate, injure, disable, poison or kill a police animal. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this subsection commits a felony of the second degree.
(c) Restitution.--In any case in which a defendant is convicted of a violation of subsection (a) or (b), the defendant shall be ordered to make restitution to the agency or individual owning the animal for any veterinary bills, for replacement costs of the animal if it is disabled or killed and for the salary of the animal's handler for the period of time the handler's services are lost to the agency.
(d) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:
"Accelerate detection dog." A dog which is trained for accelerant detection, commonly referred to as arson canines.
"Bomb detection dog." A dog which is trained to locate a bomb or explosives by scent.
"Narcotic detection dog." A dog which is trained to locate narcotics by scent.
"Police animal." An animal, including, but not limited to, dogs and horses, used by the Pennsylvania State Police, a police department created by a metropolitan transportation authority operating under 74 Pa.C.S. Ch. 17 (relating to metropolitan transportation authorities), a police department created pursuant to the act of April 6, 1956 (1955 P.L.1414, No.465), known as the Second Class County Port Authority Act, the Capitol Police, the Department of Corrections, a county facility or office or by a municipal police department, fire department, search and rescue unit or agency or handler under the supervision of such department, search and rescue unit or agency in the performance of the functions or duties of such department, search and rescue unit or agency, whether the animal is on duty or not on duty. The term shall include, but not be limited to, an accelerant detection dog, bomb detection dog, narcotic detection dog, search and rescue dog and tracking animal.
"Search and rescue dog." A dog which is trained to locate lost or missing persons, victims of natural or manmade disasters and human bodies.
"Tracking animal." An animal which is trained to track or used to pursue a missing person, escaped inmate or fleeing felon.
(June 22, 1999, P.L.118, No.19, eff. 60 days; Dec. 22, 2005, P.L.483, No.96, eff. 60 days; June 26, 2014, P.L.787, No.75, eff. 60 days)
2014 Amendment. Act 75 amended subsec. (b).
2005 Amendment. Act 96 amended subsec. (d).
1999 Amendment. Act 19 added section 5511.2.
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