List of current bills, their status and whether or not action is needed:
The bills listed below have been introduced in the 2013-14 session. Each has an action needed status. We will provide updates and alerts as they are introduced, move or are scheduled for votes. The best place to keep current is our Facebook page which is updated daily, or sign up for our e-newsletter, to 
receive email alerts when action is needed. Check here to see how your legislator voted on anti-cruelty bills: 2013-14 Humane PA Scorecard.
You may be the decisive factor in the way your legislator votes, so please contact your state legislators to ask for their support/oppose of these bills!
Support:
Senate Bills:
- SB 510: Live Animals as Targets - Bans the launching or tethering of live animals for target practice, including ending heinous live pigeon shoots or live turkey “block” shoots, where live turkeys are tethered to bales of hay and shot at for contests. Introduced by Senator Pat Browne + 22 Co-sponsors. Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee. Action needed: Contact Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi to ask him to run SB 510 for a vote and your state senator to ask them to support.
- SB 82: Puppy Lemon Law - amends the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, further providing for dog purchaser protection. This bill gives people who purchase sick puppies more time to discover, treat and report their puppy’s condition to the seller to demand a refund or replacement and grants greater consumer protection to people whose families purchase sick or dying puppies so that sellers can be held responsible. Introduced by Sen. Stewart Greenleaf +15 co-sponsors. Status: Passed Full Senate unanimously ! Onto the House!
- SB 340: Banning the Sale of Shark Fins – shark finning is an illegal process during which poachers catch sharks, remove their fins to sell, and then dump their bodies back into the ocean. Though the sharks are still alive, they are unable to swim without their fins and, ultimately, they suffocate, starve to death or are killed by another animal. Introduced by Senators Alloway and Leach + 11 co-sponsors. Status: Passed Senate Judiciary Committee and first consideration.
- SB 521: Exotic Animals – Eliminates the private ownership of exotic animals and restricts other types of ownership. Introduced by Sen. Richard Alloway II + 10 co-sponsors. Status: passed committee and 1st consideration.
- SB 522: Anti-Tethering - addresses tethering a dog outside and unattended to any stationary object by use of a restraint and fails to satisfy a certain number specified requirements detailed in the legislation, including tethering outside below 32 or above 90 degrees. In addition, this legislation provides for a misdemeanor of the third degree if an individual violates any offense of cruelty to animals in conjunction with the tethering of dogs. Introduced by Sen. Richard Alloway II + 16 co-sponsors. Status: Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee.
House Bills:
- HB 41: Anti-Tethering - Prohibits tethering a dog outside between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.: prohibits tethering in extreme weather; with a poke, prong, or choke collar, and limits the type of tether which may be used. Introduced by Rep. Mario Scavello + 31 co-sponsors. Status: Referred to House Judiciary Committee.
- HB 82: Cost of Care of Seized Animals. Introduced by Rep. Brian Ellis +25 co-sponsors. Status: Passed the House 163-34. See how your Representative voted here: HB 82 final passage vote.
- HB 164: Possession of Animal Fighting Paraphernalia an act that will close down any illicit operations that make or sell animal fighting paraphernalia; from the razor-sharp knives used to make cockfights bloodier, to the conditioning equipment used to prepare dogs to fight. Introduced by Rep. Todd Stephens + 55 co-sponsors. Status: Referred to House Judiciary Committee.
- HB 760: Animal Cruelty Penalties “Angel’s Law” increased penalties for violations of the animal cruelty laws in Pennsylvania. Introduced by Rep. Dom Costa +34 co-sponsors. Status: Referred to House Judiciary Committee.
- HB 850 Tax Credit An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, providing for a tax credit for adoption of dog or cat. Introduced by Representative Jesse White + 30 co-sponsors.
Oppose:
- HB 353: Oppose: Reduced Safety Zone for Waterways Trapping -amends the PA Game Code to reduce the safety zone distance for trapping within any waterway, marsh, pond or dam. It creates a larger zone of danger within minutes of family homes to allow trappers an increase in territory to use submerged traps. Introduced by Rep. Dave Reed + 9 co-sponsors. Status: passed 2nd consideration.
- HB 683: Oppose Ag-Gag - This dangerous bill would cripple the ability of investigators to expose animal abuse and/or food safety concerns. Ag-Gag bills criminalize taking photos or videos on farms to expose problems, such as animal cruelty, environmental and labor violations, and other illegal or unethical behavior. Introduced by Rep. Gary Haluska + 9 co-sponsors. Status: Referred to Judiciary Committee.
- HB 723: Will prevent the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) from shutting down canned hunts for wild boars! The PGC is finally acting to shut down these canned hunts, pursuant to a Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision, which confirmed that wild boars are considered protected wildlife under state law. Please call your state representative today and ask they vote no on SB 644 – a misguided bill! Status: HB 713 Passed House -see how your representative voted (NO is the correct vote). Find your state legislators.
- SB 644: Contact your state representative NOW to ask them to OPPOSE SB 644 - see fact sheet. On April 9th, the House version (HB 723)passed 101-100, and SB 644 is pending a vote. Confused? Read more at The Pennsylvania Boar Wars.
Not yet introduced – please ask your legislator to co-sponsor:
Fine Collections related to Dog Law Enforcement: This legislation will add an exemption to Title 42 to allow all the Dog Law fines and penalties collected to remain in the DLRA, which will help toward sustaining the operations of the Office of Dog Law Enforcement in conducting its statutory obligations of inspecting kennels, investigating dog bite incidents, and apprehending dogs running at large. To be introduced by Representative Katharine Watson and Rep. Joseph Petrarca. Status: Co-sponsors being sought.
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Great bills…hope they ALL pass.
Please don’t use this Law to exterminate animals supposedlly for their own good as PETA has a habit of doing. Make this Law protect them remember all Gods creatures want to live, very few of them wish they were dead!
Let’s work to get the law changed so that when animals are removed from a cruelty/neglect situation by humane law enforcement officers the owners can either (1) surrender the animal so that it can be medically and/or behaviorally rehabilitated and placed for adoption or (2) the owner is required to post a bond to cover the costs for the animal’s care while waiting for the case to be docketed. Under the current system, many animals languish in the shelter for years before the owner goes to court. I recently fostered a court case dog for close to two years only for the judge to return the dog to its abusive owner.
We need to educate children in schools about caring for animals. Cruelty is passed down from generation to generation. I also would like to see something done about breeding. It is out of control!!! We need to stop the overpopulation! This is why there are no nany unwwanted animals. Abandonment of animals should be a crime! Our goal should be for a world where only wanted animals exist!!!
I am especially concerned with the anti-tethering bill. No dog should be tethered to a doghouse or a tree or any other object 24/7 in this brutal winter weather. Please pass this bill.
There should be an animal cruelty offender’s list just like the sex offender’s list so that someone who abuses animals can never own one again!
can we add something about cats to this. There is no excuse for urban cats to run free. There is no excuse for frightened, unspayed cats having kittens behind city dumpsters.
The barbaric practice of using live animals as targets MUST be stopped. I cannot comprehend that live pigeon shoots can still occur in a civilized society. In my opinion all decent caring legislators must support legislation to end this horror.
I totally agree with you on this, Kim. There is a site (http://www.pet-abuse.com/database/) but I don’t know that it is used by shelters/rescues and it needs a lot of tweeking to ensure the offenders are brought to the forefront so people know.
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changes are needed!
changes are needed!
Is there a plan to introduce a bill that REQUIRES shelters to allow breed specific rescue organizations in to “pull” dogs (& cats?). Right now our shelter refuses to work w/ these organizations and ends up euthanizing more animals than they need to.
Please protect our animals. I am in favor of all of these proposals.
court cases need to be heard much quicker, not only for the current bills but for other’s as well. there should also be a limit on how many times a case can b appealed, it’s just a stall tactic.
Thank you so much for passing HB 82! Now please be smart and quickly pass the other bills to protect the rights of animals and also to introduce the other bills waiting and pass them, too. Remember, animals have feelings, too. How would you like to be tethered outside 24/7 in sub-zero weather. Be smart and act now!!!
we need change!!! I am a humane officer and have to deal with animals being returned by judges due to ATTORNEYS finding loop wholes. The attorneys have no conscience and look past the fact that thier clients have made an animal suffer and frankly they do not care, for them it is about the almighty $$$$ and not the animal. Better judges, better attorneys, better laws, PA. need to do ALOT better and focus on the real issue-abuse and neglect!
I would LOVE to see them ALL pass!!!
My main concern (and I know there are many) is the evil, money hungry people who operate puppy mills! Talk about abuse! If we are considered the “greatest country on earth”, then why…how are puppy mills allowed to exist? Why do we have to “fight” for what is right? Our government, for the most part doesn’t seem to care. There are only a handful that do
Breaks my heart. No animal, anywhere should ever suffer by the hands of humans. It’s just so wrong! Animals are God’s creatures, not an easy way to make money! I will help in any way I can to get these bills and others passed! (sorry, didn’t mean to rant, but dogs have a very special place in my heart and I would love nothing more than to see ALL puppy mill owners fined and jailed! And all those sweet doggies have a loving home.)
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Come on PA, let’s get civilized!! God will hold you accountable for every one of HIS animals!
I agree.
Why would anyone want HB 683? If you are not complying with the law you should take pictures of the abuse. I realize you can’t “trespass” but if the abuse is in plain site it should be documented (Photo’s etc.)
There should be a list of people who are cruel to animals.
There are groups who take care of feral and strays. There is a known organization called Alley Cat Allies who helps small groups tend to feral colonies and also relocate them if they are causing a problem. People are the cause of all the strays. They get kittens, then do not spay or neuter and then when they are no longer “cute” or they have to move, they just put the cat outside so it will reproduce over and over. My neighbor just told me that his sister just dumped her male cat on some farm road because she couldn’t afford to neuter him!! This is the mentality of many people. Cats should not be let out in city areas where they can get run over by cars, let alone cause problems. I suggest you contact a local rescue because many do have contacts or workers who deal with strays and may be able to help you. Passing a law is just going to get them trapped and killed which is not right. They have the right to live. They just need to be relocated and people need to stop letting cats outside or tossing out their pets to the streets.
Judy Maleski
The courts consider pets as “chattel” They are living things. Abusers never get cured and if they are caught they get a slap on the wrist. Some courts fine the abuser but you can’t get blood out of a turnip.
It’s time we all try to change these things! Every site I go to except two local one’s here just want money. If I had it I would give.
One so called Shelter here will take in a stray if you find one but you have to make an appointment and pay $60. Of course they are a corporation and tax exempt but the CEO and others there get outrageous salaries. I called to see if I could donate my time by cleaning cages etc. They said no we need money, food, and blankets. I just don’t know what to do
It should be legal for ALL PEOPLE to document the cruelty of animals at the hands of all humans. That includes farm animals and circus animals! There are bills in the state house in PA that will make it ILLEGAL for concerned citizens to use any type of equipment to “film” of camcord or take pictures of farm animals being abused!! WTH!! A lot has been found with the filming of the treatment of cows and hogs and piglets at the hands of the sadistic slaughterhouse employees. Personally, they should have background checks and YES label what it is ABUSE!! Right now there are bills that will not allow any employee to document in any way abuse of farm animals or slaughter house animals. Standing on a cows nostrils until she stops breathing? is this acceptable for a cow going to slaughter? NO HELL NO!! Tossing piglets into the air and letting them all to the ground over and over until they are dead! HELL NO!! Skinning live calves!! These people need to be stopped and those bills in the PA state houses need to be stopped. Only law enforcement will be able to film. How stupid do the creators of these bills think the citizens of PA are? Being able to document all abusive situations is our right to know. If an animal going to slaughter is too sick to stand up and walk, why would we want to eat it or feed it to our school children. Well that has happened. Call and email your representatives to stop these bills NOW!!
There should be a law passed for every animal that are abused from anyone I am totally against animal abuse I have animals my self they are my children