Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 55 - Riot, Disorderly Conduct and Related Offenses
Section 5538 - Transporting animals in cruel manner


(a) Offense defined.--A person commits a summary offense if the person carries, or causes or allows to be carried, in or upon any cart or other vehicle whatsoever an animal in a cruel or inhumane manner. The person taking the offender into custody may take charge of the animal and of the vehicle and the vehicle's contents, and deposit the same in a safe place of custody, and the necessary expenses that may be incurred for taking charge of and keeping the same, and sustaining the animal, shall be a lien thereon, to be paid before the same can lawfully be recovered, or the expenses or any part thereof remaining unpaid may be recovered by the person incurring the same from the owner of the animal in an action therefor.
(b) Exception.--For the purposes of this section, it shall not be deemed cruel or inhumane to transport live poultry in crates so long as not more than 15 pounds of live poultry are allocated to each cubic foot of space in the crate.

Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes

Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes

Title 18 - CRIMES AND OFFENSES

Chapter 55 - Riot, Disorderly Conduct and Related Offenses

Extra - Chapter Notes

Section 5501 - Riot

Section 5502 - Failure of disorderly persons to disperse upon official order

Section 5503 - Disorderly conduct

Section 5504 - Harassment and stalking by communication or address (Repealed)

Section 5505 - Public drunkenness and similar misconduct

Section 5506 - Loitering and prowling at night time

Section 5507 - Obstructing highways and other public passages

Section 5508 - Disrupting meetings and processions

Section 5509 - Desecration, theft or sale of venerated objects

Section 5510 - Abuse of corpse

Section 5511 - Cruelty to animals (Repealed)

Section 5511.1 - Live animals as prizes prohibited (Repealed)

Section 5511.2 - Police animals (Repealed)

Section 5511.3 - Assault with a biological agent on animal, fowl or honey bees (Repealed)

Section 5512 - Lotteries, etc

Section 5513 - Gambling devices, gambling, etc

Section 5514 - Pool selling and bookmaking

Section 5515 - Prohibiting of paramilitary training

Section 5516 - Facsimile weapons of mass destruction

Section 5517 - Unauthorized school bus entry

Section 5531 - Definitions

Section 5532 - Neglect of animal

Section 5533 - Cruelty to animal

Section 5534 - Aggravated cruelty to animal

Section 5535 - Attack of service, guide or support dog

Section 5536 - Tethering of unattended dog

Section 5537 - Selling or using disabled horse

Section 5538 - Transporting animals in cruel manner

Section 5539 - Transporting equine animals in cruel manner

Section 5540 - Hours of labor of animals

Section 5541 - Cruelty to cow to enhance appearance of udder

Section 5542 - Animal mutilation and related offenses

Section 5543 - Animal fighting

Section 5544 - Possession of animal fighting paraphernalia

Section 5545 - Killing homing pigeons

Section 5546 - Skinning of and selling or buying pelts of dogs and cats

Section 5547 - Live animals as prizes prohibited

Section 5548 - Police animals

Section 5549 - Assault with a biological agent on animal, fowl or honey bees

Section 5550 - Fine and term of imprisonment for summary offense

Section 5551 - Power to initiate criminal proceedings

Section 5552 - Seizure of animals kept or used for animal fighting

Section 5553 - Search warrants

Section 5554 - Forfeiture

Section 5555 - Prohibition of ownership

Section 5556 - Civil immunity for licensed doctors of veterinary medicine, technicians and assistants

Section 5557 - Civil immunity for humane society police officers

Section 5558 - Representation of humane society by attorney

Section 5559 - Construction of subchapter

Section 5560 - Exemption of normal agricultural operations

Section 5561 - Nonapplicability of subchapter