Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 23 - Hunting and Furtaking
Section 2385 - Destruction of dogs declared public nuisances


(a) General rule.--A dog declared a public nuisance pursuant to section 2384 (relating to declaring dogs public nuisances) may be killed by any commission officer at any time or by any person when the dog is found to be in the act of attacking a big game animal.
(b) Reports after killing dog.--Any person who kills a licensed dog pursuant to subsection (a) and section 2384 shall notify the owner or a commission officer within 48 hours after the dog was killed. The person who killed the dog or the commission officer who receives the report shall disclose to the owner of the dog the time, place, circumstances relating to the death of the dog and the location of the dog's remains. All equipment found on the dog, including collar, name tag, license tag or any other personal property, shall be returned to the owner of the dog within ten days after conclusion of any prosecution or immediately if no prosecution is contemplated.
(c) Inapplicability of certain laws.--
(1) The provisions of 18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 55 Subch. B (relating to cruelty to animals) shall not apply to any person killing any dog pursuant to subsection (a).
(2) The provisions of 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 85 (relating to matters affecting government units) shall not apply to any agency, commission or department or any officers charged by law with enforcing the provisions of this title.
(June 28, 2017, P.L.215, No.10, eff. 60 days)

2017 Amendment. Act 10 amended subsec. (c)(1).
Cross References. Section 2385 is referred to in section 5561 of Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses).

Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes

Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes

Title 34 - GAME

Chapter 23 - Hunting and Furtaking

Extra - Chapter Notes

Section 2301 - Prima facie evidence of hunting

Section 2302 - Interference with lawful taking of wildlife or other activities permitted by this title prohibited

Section 2303 - Hunting on Sunday prohibited

Section 2304 - Ownership of carcass of game or wildlife

Section 2305 - Retrieval and disposition of killed or wounded game or wildlife

Section 2306 - Killing game or wildlife by mistake

Section 2307 - Unlawful taking or possession of game or wildlife

Section 2308 - Unlawful devices and methods

Section 2309 - Unlawful removal of game or wildlife from place of refuge

Section 2310 - Unlawful use of lights while hunting

Section 2311 - Restrictions on recreational spotlighting

Section 2312 - Buying and selling game

Section 2313 - Investigation and seizure of game or wildlife

Section 2314 - Trespass on private property while hunting

Section 2315 - Hunting on Sunday without written permission

Section 2321 - Unlawful killing or taking of big game

Section 2322 - Prohibited devices and methods

Section 2323 - Tagging and reporting big game kills

Section 2324 - Parties hunting big game

Section 2325 - Cooperation after lawfully killing big game

Section 2326 - Excess kill of big game

Section 2327 - Subsequent kill if big game unfit for human consumption

Section 2328 - Shipping or transporting big game

Section 2329 - Additional penalty for poaching (Repealed)

Section 2341 - Possession and transportation of small game

Section 2361 - Unlawful acts concerning taking of furbearers

Section 2362 - Permitted acts

Section 2363 - Trapping exception for certain persons

Section 2364 - Penalties

Section 2381 - Dogs pursuing, injuring or killing game or wildlife

Section 2382 - Training dogs on small game

Section 2383 - Dogs pursuing, injuring or killing big game

Section 2384 - Declaring dogs public nuisances

Section 2385 - Destruction of dogs declared public nuisances

Section 2386 - Penalties