2017 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
Title 18 - CRIMES AND OFFENSES
Chapter 55 - Riot, Disorderly Conduct and Related Offenses
Section 5535 - Attack of guide dog
(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.
