* Cruel ill treatment, over-loading, beating, or otherwise abusing ANY animal.

LEVEL I

* Cruel ill treatment, over-loading, beating, or otherwise abusing ANY animal.

* Neglecting any animal under the offender's care (whether he owns the animal or not).

* Abandoning or attempting to abandon any animal.

* Depriving any animals of food, water, shelter or necessary veterinary care.

* Depriving any animal of access to clean shelter sufficient to keep it dry, protect it from bad weather and be adequate to preserve its own body heat.

Summary Offenses:

These animal violations of the Pennsylvania State Cruelty Laws are classified as Summary Offenses. Among the scale of crimes, summary offenses are considered the least serious and therefore are tried or heard in courts of District Justices of the Peace. Conviction of a summary offense allows the District Justice to:

Penalties:

A maximum fine of $750.00 and/or imprisonment for not more than 90 days. The court may order forfeiture or surrender of an abused animal under Section 5511(m).

Although the majority of animal cruelty cases fall into the category of summary offenses, too often there are more serious cases which the humane officers must address.

LEVEL II

Second degree misdemeanors are addressed in Section 5511(a) of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code concerning Cruelty to Animals to prohibit the willful and malicious

* Killing, maiming or disfiguring of any domestic animal or fowl of another person.

* Administering poison or exposing a poisonous substance with the intent to administer the poison to any domestic animal or fowl belonging to another person.

* Harassing, annoying, injuring,attempting to injure, molesting or interfering with a guide dog, a hearing dog or a service dog.

Penalties:

Fine of not less than $500. Other serious offenses classified as misdemeanors of the second degree include killing, maiming, mutilating, torturing or disfiguring any dog or cat whether belonging to himself or otherwise, and administering poison to or exposing poisonous substances with the intent to administer such poison to any dog or cat whether belonging to himself or otherwise.

Penalties:

A fine of not less than $1,000 or imprisonment not more than two years, or both. A subsequent conviction becomes a felony in the third degree. Because these violations are more serious, the prosecution of offenders is handled by the county District Attorney.

LEVEL III

Violations of animal fighting and harming a zoo animal in captivity fall under the jurisdiction of FELONY OF THE THIRD DEGREE. Under Section 5511 ( a.2 and h.1) a person may not:

* For amusement or gain, cause allow or permit any animal to engage in animal fighting.

* Receive compensation for the admission of another person to any place kept or used for fighting.

* Own, possess, keep, train, promote, purchase or knowingly sell any animal for fighting.

* In any way knowingly encourages, aids or assists therein.

* Wagers on the outcome of an animal fight

* Pays for admission to an animal fight or attends an animal fight as a spectator.

* Knowingly permits any place under his control or possession to be kept or used for animal fighting.

In addition, the killing, maiming, and disfiguring, or administering or exposing poison to a zoo animal in captivity come under the felony level rather than misdemeanor of the Second Degree.

Penalties:

A maximum fine of $15,000.00 and/or imprisonment for not more than 7 years. When complaints of this nature are reported, the case is investigated promptly.

CALL THE HUMANE SOCIETY:

If you see an animal being mistreated, call the Humane Society. There are many things we can do. However, there are some things we cannot do. The laws of the Commonwealth clearly determine the functions of the Humane Society. If a case does not fall under the cruelty laws, we do not have the power to take action. For example, we cannot take an animal away from its owner even if the owner is accused of cruelty. Depriving a person of his property can be done only by a judge if he finds the defendant guilty after a fair trial. Our officers may check on an incessantly barking dog to make sure the barking is not being caused due to thirst. Many dogs will bark to bring attention to their situation. If no humane violation is found, this type of complaint is classified as a public nuisance and becomes a local police matter.

Complaints about a neighbor's dog running at large, damaging property, or not having a license are not within the jurisdiction of our agency. These are violations of the Pennsylvania Dog Law.

As well as handling complaints, humane officers perform other duties. Humane officers inspect circuses, petting zoos, slaughter houses, pet stores and riding stables for humane violations.

If you are not sure if your concern is one of cruelty, please call. If it is within our jurisdiction, the complaint will be accepted and an investigation will be initiated within 24 hours.