Changes to Pennsylvania's Animal Cruelty Law

After years of hard work, the governor signed into law my legislation, H.B. 39, which strengthens Pennsylvania's animal cruelty law by establishing clear and concise guidelines for dog owners and breeders when performing common surgeries, such as ear cropping or tail docking.

Under the law, it will be illegal for breeders and owners to personally perform painful and unnecessary procedures on the dogs in their care, including debarking (cutting or destroying a dog’s vocal cords) and caesarean sections.

Several additional changes were made to the law under my bill, such as permitting dog wardens to file cruelty charges against kennels when there is no Humane Society police officer to do so.

Owning a dog can make our lives whole. They become members of our families, bringing unwavering loyalty and companionship with them wherever they go.

By preventing the surgeries that border on torture and putting into place some guidelines for those that help preserve the many beautiful canine breeds, we can ensure the safety of both the dog and the breeder from this point forward.

What You Can Do To Help Prevent Animal Cruelty

Animal cruelty comes in many forms, among them, abuse and neglect. If you suspect an animal is being neglected or abused in your community, below are several resources to guide you through reporting suspected abuse:

The Humane Society of the United States

• Click here to learn how to spot and report animal abuse

Pennsylvania Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

• PSPCA toll-free animal cruelty hotline: 1-866-601-SPCA (7722)
• PSPCA e-mail to report incidents: cruelty@pspca.org
• Click here to visit the PSPCA Web site