PRINTER'S NO. 1423
No. 1193 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY READSHAW, CASORIO, CIVERA, COSTA, COY, DALEY,
DeWEESE, LAUGHLIN, LEACH, MAHER, PISTELLA, SAINATO, SHANER
AND WASHINGTON, APRIL 16, 2003
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON URBAN AFFAIRS, APRIL 16, 2003
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of July 28, 1953 (P.L.723, No.230), entitled,
2 as amended, "An act relating to counties of the second class
3 and second class A; amending, revising, consolidating and
4 changing the laws relating thereto," establishing a lost and
5 found pet program.
6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 hereby enacts as follows:
8 Section 1. Article XXI of the act of July 28, 1953 (P.L.723,
9 No.230), known as the Second Class County Code, is amended by
10 adding a subdivision to read:
11 Article XXI
12 Special Powers and Duties of the County
13 * * *
14 (y) Special Programs
15 Section 2199.21. Lost and found pet program.--(a) (1) The
16 county treasurer shall establish, administer and maintain a
17 World Wide Web site to assist owners of lost pets in the county
18 to locate their lost pets. The World Wide Web site shall consist
19 of digital photographs of each lost pet reported to the county
1 treasurer by animal shelters and animal control organizations,
2 including pertinent information specific to each lost pet,
3 including, but not limited to:
4 (i) The approximate weight, color and a brief physical
5 description of the lost pet.
6 (ii) The date and time that the lost pet was taken into
7 custody by the animal shelter or animal control organization.
8 (iii) The name, address and telephone number of the animal
9 shelter or animal control organization that made the report of
10 the lost pet.
11 (2) The county treasurer shall post the digital photograph
12 of and information relating to each lost pet on the World Wide
13 Web site for at least 72 hours from the time the report required
14 by subsection (b) is received from the animal shelter or animal
15 control organization.
16 (3) After posting the report of a lost pet on the World Wide
17 Web site, the county treasurer shall submit an acknowledgment to
18 the animal shelter or animal control organization that submitted
19 the report. The acknowledgment shall confirm receipt of the
20 report and state the date and time that the information from the
21 report was posted on the World Wide Web site.
22 (4) If the county treasurer receives a report of a
23 euthanized lost pet under subsection (d), it may update the
24 information relating to that lost pet on the World Wide Web
25 site.
26 (b) An animal shelter or animal control organization that
27 accepts a lost pet into its custody shall submit a report of the
28 lost pet to the county treasurer in such form and medium as
29 required by the county treasurer. The report shall consist of:
30 (1) A digital photograph of the lost pet.
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1 (2) The approximate weight, color and a brief physical
2 description of the lost pet.
3 (3) The date and time that the lost pet was taken into
4 custody by the animal shelter or animal control organization.
5 (4) The name, address and telephone number of the animal
6 shelter or animal control organization.
7 (5) Such other information as required by the county
8 treasurer.
9 (c) No animal shelter or animal control organization may
10 euthanize a lost pet taken into its custody unless:
11 (1) An electronic report on the lost pet has been submitted
12 to the county treasurer in accordance with subsection (b).
13 (2) The animal shelter or animal control organization has
14 received an acknowledgment from the county treasurer as provided
15 under subsection (a)(3).
16 (3) A period of 72 hours has expired from the time that the
17 report was posted on the World Wide Web site.
18 (d) The county treasurer may require that an animal shelter
19 or animal control organization that euthanizes a lost pet in
20 accordance with subsection (c) notify the county treasurer of
21 the euthanization. The notification shall be in such form and
22 medium as required by the county treasurer.
23 (e) An animal shelter or animal control organization in a
24 county shall be entitled to receive from the Department of
25 Agriculture for each lost pet that is taken into its custody the
26 following amounts:
27 (1) Fifteen dollars ($15) for a lost pet for which a report
28 is submitted in accordance with subsection (b) and that is
29 reunited with its owner.
30 (2) Ten dollars ($10) for a lost pet that is euthanized in
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1 accordance with subsection (c).
2 (f) Each animal shelter and animal control organization in
3 the county shall keep detailed records of all lost pets brought
4 into its facility. These records shall be forwarded quarterly to
5 the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement. The Bureau of Dog Law
6 Enforcement and the animal shelter or animal control
7 organization shall make the following information available for
8 public inspection on a quarterly basis:
9 (1) the number of lost pets brought into the facility;
10 (2) the number of lost pets adopted from the facility;
11 (3) the number of lost pets returned to the owner;
12 (4) the number of lost pets euthanized at the facility;
13 (5) the method used to euthanize lost pets;
14 (6) the manner in which the remains of euthanized lost pets
15 were disposed;
16 (7) the number of lost pets which died naturally at the
17 facility;
18 (8) the number and method of other dispositions for lost
19 pets which do not fall under paragraphs (4) and (7); and
20 (9) the holding capacity for lost pets at the facility.
21 (g) This section shall be enforced by any person authorized
22 by the county to enforce the dog laws of this Commonwealth on
23 behalf of the county, any person authorized by the Department of
24 Agriculture or any police officer trained pursuant to 53 Pa.C.S.
25 Ch. 21 Subch. D (relating to municipal police education and
26 training).
27 (h) A person who violates this section shall, upon
28 conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of:
29 (1) Three hundred dollars ($300) for a first offense.
30 (2) Not more than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500)
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1 for a second offense.
2 (3) Not more than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500)
3 and/or revocation of license to operate as an animal shelter or
4 animal control organization in the county, or both, for a third
5 or subsequent offense.
6 (i) As used in this section, the term "lost pet" means a cat
7 or dog that is not under control by its owner in a public place
8 and that a reasonable person would conclude is lost. The term
9 does not include a seriously ill, injured or feral cat or dog.
10 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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