Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement is in trouble and some state officials are seeking a small increase in fees to license a dog.
“The restricted funds for Dog Law will go negative in September,” PA Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding said. “The services are funded primarily through the sale of dog licenses since the enactment of the Dog Law. It’s $6.50 a year; which hasn’t increased in 24 years.”
The challenge of the pandemic has caused the situation with the fund balance due to the inactivity of license sales during the shutdowns but according to Redding, even without COVID the fund would have gone negative at some point this year.
“We understand that money is tight. But we also believe that this is a priority,” Redding said. “This is a moment when we have to make sure that these animals are cared for and protected, and that the services the Bureau of Dog Law is providing continues.”
Redding and others who met in Harrisburg on Wednesday would like to see state lawmakers take action now to update the law and fee structure so that all funds collected will go towards protecting dogs.