{"data":{"id":"us-pa/18-pa.c.s.-5535","jurisdiction":"us-pa","citation":"18 Pa.C.S. § 5535","heading":"Attack of service, guide or support dog.","body":"(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 service, guide or support dog of an individual with a disability without provocation by the service, guide or support dog or the individual.\n(b) Culpability.--A person commits an offense under this section only if the person:\n(1) knew or should have known that the dog the person owns had a propensity to attack human beings or domestic animals without provocation; and\n(2) knowingly or recklessly failed to restrain the dog or keep the dog in a contained, secure manner.\n(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 service, guide or support dog and, if necessary, the cost of obtaining and training a replacement service, guide or support dog.\n(d) Civil penalty and restitution.--\n(1) A person who is the owner of a dog that kills, maims or disfigures a service, guide or support dog of an individual with a disability shall be subject to paragraph (2) if both of the following apply:\n(i) The owner knew the dog had a propensity to attack human beings or domestic animals.\n(ii) The owner failed to restrain the dog or keep the dog in a contained, secure manner.\n(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):\n(i) A civil penalty of up to $15,000.\n(ii) Reparations for veterinary costs in treating the service, guide or support dog and, if necessary, the cost of retraining the dog or of obtaining and training a replacement service, guide or support dog.\n(iii) Loss of income for the time the individual is unable to work due to the unavailability of the service, guide or support dog.","path":["Title 18 - CRIMES AND OFFENSES","PART II DEFINITION OF SPECIFIC OFFENSES","ARTICLE F OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND DECENCY","CHAPTER 55 RIOT, DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND RELATED OFFENSES","SUBCHAPTER B CRUELTY TO ANIMALS"],"source_url":"https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM\u0026ttl=18\u0026div=0\u0026chpt=55\u0026sctn=35\u0026subsctn=0","current_through":"2026-08-31 (Statute Update stamp, 18 Pa.C.S.)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-02T16:31:28Z","sha256":"7424bc59d1b13d420dadaea72ae50e63bb862e1eaa2b482b301db66a5b82747e","source_id":"us-pa","stale":false,"prev":"us-pa/18-pa.c.s.-5534","next":"us-pa/18-pa.c.s.-5536"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}