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The Dog LawReport to the Pennsylvania General AssemblyAct 225 of 1982, as amended by Act 119 of 2008March 2018

Table of ContentsOverview . 2Dog Licenses . 2Kennel Licenses. 2Out-of-State Dealers . 3Dog Law Inspection and Enforcement Activities . 3Citation Issuance . 3Dogs Seized and Impounded and Total Reimbursements . 3Payments Made from the Dog Law Restricted Account. 3Licensing Fees . 4Accomplishments . 4Operations . 4Training . 4Marketing and Public Relations . 4Partnerships . 5Appendices .A: Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement regions and supervisors . 6B: State dog wardens by county . 7C: Dog licenses issued in each class by county and license fees collected . 9D: Kennel licenses issued in each class by county and license fees collected . 11E: Out-of-state dealer licenses issued and license fees collected . 15F and G: Kennel inspections performed by kennel class, including the number of dogskept at each inspected kennel and the county of location. 16H: Citations issued by county . 20I: Dogs seized and impounded and reimbursements made by the department for thetransportation, care and feeding of such dogs. 22J: Addressing enforcement by independent political subdivisions . 231

OverviewAct 225 of 1982, as amended by Act 119 of 2008 charged the Pennsylvania Department ofAgriculture with enforcing the commonwealth’s Dog Law.The Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement (BDLE), under the Pennsylvania Department ofAgriculture, enforces all Dog Law-related regulations, including licensing individual dogs,licensing and inspecting kennels, humanely capturing dogs found running at large, investigatingdangerous dog incidents, and processing claims for livestock damage caused by dogs andcoyotes.As required by Section 906 of the Dog Law, this report to the General Assembly provides: Total payments made by the department from the Dog Law Restricted Account and thereasons for such payments – Page 3Appendix A - Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement regions and supervisorsAppendix B - State dog wardens by countyAppendix C - Dog licenses issued by countyAppendix D - Kennel licenses issued in each class by county and license fees collectedAppendix E - Out-of-state dealer licenses issued and license fees collectedAppendix F and G - Kennel inspections performed by kennel class, including the numberof dogs kept at each inspected kennel and the county of locationAppendix H - Citations issued by countyAppendix I - Dogs seized and impounded and reimbursements made by the departmentfor the transportation, care, and feeding of such dogsAppendix J - Enforcement by independent political subdivisionsDog LicensesCounty treasurers sell dog licenses to Pennsylvania residents. Revenues from the sale ofannual and lifetime licenses are directed to the Dog Law Restricted Account. In accordance withthe Dog Law, Philadelphia County and the cities of Altoona, Erie, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh andScranton administer their own dog license sales, retain all income and information generated,and do not report dog licensing sales income to the department (reference Appendix J forSection 1201 of the Dog Law, which addresses enforcement by independent politicalsubdivisions). Therefore, this report does not include sales or revenue generated within thosecities.In 2017, there were 936,497 individual dog licenses sold, including 882,781 annual and 53,716lifetime licenses, generating 6,119,917 in revenue (Appendix C).Kennel LicensesThe bureau licensed 2,428 kennels in Pennsylvania in 2017, garnering 435,225 in license feesdirected to the bureau’s restricted account (Appendix D).Kennel license revenue increased by 4.8 percent from calendar year 2016.2

Out-of-State DealersIn 2017, 144 out-of-state dealers were licensed, generating 15,175 in revenue for the restrictedaccount (Appendix E).Dog Law InspectionsA total of 5,214 kennel inspections were completed in 2017 (Appendix F). All kennels wereinspected at least two times as required by the Pennsylvania Dog Law.More inspections occurred in 2017 due to a greater volume of licensed kennels as compared tocalendar year 2016.Enforcement ActivitiesThe bureau refused and/or revoked 11 kennel licenses/applications in 2017, an increase of 37.5percent from calendar year 2016.Fifty-five citations were issued for operating a kennel without a license in 2017.In 2017, the bureau collected 18,500 through administrative actions (settlements and civilpenalties) and 108,980 in Dangerous Dog registration fees. These totals represent increasesof 63.5 percent and 9.2 percent, respectively, over 2016 collections.Citation IssuanceIn 2017, the bureau issued 3,198 summary citations and 115 misdemeanor complaints forkennel and other Dog Law violations, including, but not limited to, failure to license, dogsrunning at large or abandoned, and dangerous dogs (Appendix H).The volume of citations filed in calendar year 2017 increased by 6.7 percent over calendar year2016.Dogs Seized and Impounded and Total ReimbursementsThe bureau plays a critical role in managing stray dogs by assisting with the humane captureand transport of dogs to shelters. Shelters and municipalities receive payments to help coverthe costs associated with transporting, feeding, and caring for stray dogs. The bureau paid 180,800 for 4,520 dogs statewide (Appendix I).Payments Made from the Dog Law Restricted AccountAll activities of the Bureau of Dog Law are funded by a restricted account; all revenue andexpenses related to the bureau are credited and disbursed from the Dog Law RestrictedAccount, as required by Section 1001 of the Dog Law.3

Dog Law Restricted Account payments for 2017:Personnel CostsAdministrative OverheadOperating Expenses (including Holding and Disposing Payments)Domestic Animal Damage ClaimsPurchase of Fixed AssetsTotal Costs 5,379,479.86 0 1,512,918.64 24,345.20 0 6,916,743.70Balance as of 12/31/17 394,141.61Licensing FeesThe primary source of revenue for the Dog Law Restricted Account is the sale of individual doglicenses. This is supplemented by kennel licenses and fines that are capped at approximately 70,000 annually. Individual dog license sales generated approximately 6,119,917 in 2017.AccomplishmentsThe focus of the bureau in 2017 was to continue to restore the solvency of the Dog LawRestricted Account through advances and ongoing initiatives in operations, training, marketingand public relations, and partnerships.Operations: The bureau continues to maintain and update the standard operating procedure manual,which outlines procedures for the day-to-day operations of field staff. To date, there are 43 dog wardens covering all 67 counties, in addition to two kennelcompliance specialists, seven supervisors, and one full-time veterinarian. This is downfrom 60 dog wardens in 2010. Because of vacancies and prior personnel reductions, the bureau now has 20 wardens— nearly a third of the bureau’s complement — covering two or more counties. The bureau continues to consult internal and external stakeholders to improveoperations, streamline procedures, and reduce expenses. The bureau developed focusgroups within the Dog Law Advisory Board to evaluate and make recommendationsregarding the bureau’s finances, education and outreach efforts, and shelteringchallenges.Training: Newer dog wardens receive Humane Society Police Officer Training and DefensiveDriver Training. The bureau works closely with police departments and provides training to officers onthe Dog Law. The bureau hosted an infectious disease symposium focused on Canine Parvo Virus(CPV) for kennel owners, shelters, and veterinary staff. The bureau created a comprehensive information packet to be used as a guide for policewhen handling a Dog Law complaint. A quick reference sheet was created for 911 call centers to help dispatchers directcallers to the correct agency with ease (e.g. police, Dog Law bureau, humane society).4

Marketing and Public Relations: Emphasis remains on dog license sales, including a dog owner education campaign thatincluded press releases, news articles, op-ed pieces, public service announcements,vehicle magnets, signs, brochures, a poster contest, billboards and displays for use atfairs, events and public appearances. Dog wardens played a vital part in communicating the dog licensing message throughpublic education at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, Penn State’s Ag Progress Days,National Night Out and other local events throughout the state. To help dog owners understand Pennsylvania’s dog laws, particularly those related tolicensing, the bureau created www.licenseyourdogPA.com, which also hosts an onlinetreasurer tool kit with sample press releases, op-eds, posters and speaking points. Social media outreach promotes the sale of licenses and educates consumers about theimportance of licensing dogs. March is Dog License Awareness Month. April through December are licensingenforcement months, when dog wardens conduct statewide license and rabiescompliance checks.Partnerships: The bureau continues to work closely and foster relationships with county treasurers,legislators, township supervisors, the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association,United States Postal Service, and shelters to bring awareness to the importance of doglicensing. The bureau has developed relationships with United States Department of Agriculture’sAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service counterparts to support one another’s effortsas they relate to kennel operations. Most USDA-licensed kennels are also Pennsylvanialicensed, and we collaborate on record keeping and compliance.Looking ahead to 2018, the bureau remains focused on maintaining the Dog Law RestrictedAccount’s financial solvency. Approximately 87 percent of all funds in the restricted account aregenerated by dog license sales, but fees for dog licenses have not changed in nearly 22 years,while costs have increased significantly.The Dog Law Restricted Account will go negative as early as June of 2018. If that happens, thebureau will not have the resources it needs to keep dogs and the public safe. That means fewerdog wardens to pick up strays, inspect kennels, or investigate dog bites. It also means thebureau will no longer be able to track dangerous dogs, leaving the public without the informationthey need to know whether there is a dangerous dog in their neighborhood.Two bills currently in the General Assembly would go a long way toward solving this problem.Senate Bill 738 and House Bill 1463, sponsored by Senator Judy Schwank and RepresentativeEddie Day Pashinski, respectively, would raise dog license fees at a rate commensurate withinflation since the last fee adjustment in 1996. In addition, the legislation would also institutemuch-needed reform measures that would allow the Bureau to modernize its operations toprovide better services to Pennsylvanians and realize greater efficiencies.5

Appendix APennsylvania Department of AgricultureBureau of Dog Law Enforcement2301 North Cameron Street, Room 408Harrisburg, PA OGAPOTTERWAYNEReg. IWYOMINGFORESTELKVENANGOLYCOMINGCAMERONMERCERReg. IIISULLIVANLACKAWANNACLARIONPIKEDunmoreReg. LKILLNORTHAMPTONLEHIGHBLAIRDAUPHINReg. ONHUNTINGDONMONTGOMERYReg. IVCUMBERLANDWASHINGTONReg. ORDFULTONFRANKLINADAMSGREENEYORKREGION I Brad Shields-Supervisor13410 Dunham RdMeadville, PA 16335(814) 935-1567REGION II Ned Lucas-Supervisor542 County Farm Rd, Suite 102Montoursville, PA 17754(814) 932-1294REGION III Ellen Howarth-SupervisorRt. 92 South, PO Box CTunkhannock, PA 18657(570) 350-2563REGION IV Tom Wharry-Supervisor226 Donohoe RdGreensburg, PA 15601(412) 973-2539REGION V Kristen Penn-Supervisor403 E Christiana StMartinsburg, PA 16662(717) 756-5107REGION VI Rickee Miller-Supervisor2301 N Cameron StHarrisburg, PA 17110(717) 514-1422DELAWAREREGION VII Megan Horst -Supervisor1015 Bridge RdCollegeville, PA 19426(717) 418-0284