Legislation strengthening Pennsylvania’s animal cruelty laws take effect starting today.
The new laws cover five key areas: increased penalties for animal abuse, tethering rules for outside dogs, added protection for horses, civil immunity for veterinarians and those in related fields, and making it easier for those convicted of cruelty to surrender their animals.
“This marks the first significant strengthening of animal cruelty laws in the last 30 years,” Kristin Tullo, Pennsylvania State Director of the Humane Society of the United States, said.
Governor Tom Wolf, who signed the bills into law at the end of June, said they will hold pet and animal owners in Pennsylvania to a higher standard of humanity.