§ 459-1002. County dog law programs
Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes and Consolidated StatutesTitle 3 P.S. Agriculture
3 P.S. § 459-1002
§ 459-1002. County dog law programs
(a) Dog control facilities.--Any county except counties of the first class, two or more counties which form a joint dog control agency or any humane society or association for the prevention of cruelty to animals may submit requests for funding to establish and maintain dog control facilities or other functions of dog control within the county to complement the Commonwealth dog law enforcement program. Any county or humane society or association for the prevention of cruelty to animals which receives funding under this section shall appoint one or more animal control officers who shall be subject to the training requirements under section 901(b.1) and (b.2).1 If a joint dog control agency is created, one of the counties shall act as a lead agency for the purposes of meeting the requirements of the program, including, but not limited to, recordkeeping, supervision of employees and other administrative duties as required by this act.
(1) A county may request the secretary to be authorized to perform any or all of the duties and functions of dog law enforcement under Article I; Article II, except sections 206, 207, 209, 211 and 218,2 as it pertains to kennel inspections; Article III, except section 301;3 Articles V through IX; this article; Article XI and Article XII.
(2) The secretary may also authorize a municipality within a county, except counties of the first class, which has been designated by the county to act as its representative, to perform any or all of the duties and functions of dog law enforcement as outlined in this subsection, provided that the municipality agrees to accept all obligations imposed upon the county by the guidelines and conditions of the department and the applicable regulations.
(3) A county which the secretary authorizes to perform the duties and functions of dog law enforcement under this subsection shall appoint one or more officers to be known as county animal wardens who shall have the power to enforce the portions of the dog law enumerated in paragraph (1) in the county.
(7) The secretary and a county shall agree upon the amount of funds available to a county for the purpose of this subsection, except that no agreement shall authorize the county to receive an annual amount greater than the total annual contributions to the Dog Law Restricted Account for the previous year resulting from the issuance of individual dog licenses within the county.
(b) Surplus funds.--The secretary may declare that there is a surplus of money in the Dog Law Restricted Account. The secretary may authorize additional payments to the counties, except to counties of the first class, municipalities and to humane societies or associations for the prevention of cruelty to animals from any amount declared to be surplus. Such payments shall be based on the secretary's evaluation pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated under this act.
Credits
1982, Dec. 7, P.L. 784, No. 225, art. X, § 1002, effective Jan. 1, 1983. Amended 1986, May 12, P.L. 194, No. 59, § 1, effective in 60 days; 1988, May 13, P.L. 396, No. 63, § 3, effective in 60 days; 1996, Dec. 11, P.L. 943, No. 151, § 28, effective in 60 days.
Footnotes
3 P.S. § 459-901.
3 P.S. §§ 459-206, 459-207, 459-209, 459-211 and 459-218.
3 P.S. § 459-301.
3 P.S. § 459-1002, PA ST 3 P.S. § 459-1002
Current through Act 10 of the 2024 Regular Session. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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