Pa. bill to hike dog license fee after 27 years heads to governor’s desk

A bill increasing the cost of dog licenses in Pennsylvania for the first time in more than a quarter century is heading to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk for enactment.

The House on Wednesday, with no debate, voted 143-60 to approve the bill that passed the Senate in June, aimed at shoring up the bureau tasked with enforcing the state dog law and strenghtening consumer protection.

The bill would raise the base license fee for dogs three months and older from $5 to $7 in the first year, to $9 in the second year and finally, to $10 by 2027, not including the $1, plus the cost of postage, fee that county treasurers charge.

It eliminates the spay and neuter discounts and sets the lifetime license fee at $49, up from $30, plus a $3 fee that goes to county treasurers for processing. Seniors and individuals with disabilities would be eligible for a $2 discount on the base license and a $16 break on the cost of a lifetime license. The measure also increases the fees kennels pay for a license.

The Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, which relies on license fees to cover its costs, including salaries of its dog wardens who enforce the dog law, has been hobbled by financial woes for years.

According to the House, the legislation is expected to generate more than $3.5 million that will help increase the number of dog wardens who inspect licensed kennels, investigate reports of unlicensed kennels and respond to dog-related complaints such as strays and dangerous dogs.

According to the state Department of Agriculture, the number of wardens shrunk from 60 to 39 over the past decade due to lack of funding to cover its basic operations and mandatory duties. Over the past five years, the department has had to rely on taxpayer funds to help support the bureau’s work.

The Humane Society of the United States has supported the legislation because the bill also contains provisions that allow consumers to make more informed decisions in pet purchases.

Pet shops and kennels selling dogs would have to post dog identifying information, including where the dog’s breeder is, along with their state or federal license number, documentation of vaccinations and medical treatment and any known bite history.

It also strengthens a provision in the dog law that allows the state to revoke a kennel license or refuse to issue one to anyone convicted of animal cruelty and adds bestiality to the cruelty crimes.

The agriculture department would also create a website to allow dog licenses to be purchased online. And it increases the fines for a dog law violation from a minimum of $100 for a first offense to a minimum of $500, while subsequent offenses would carry a minimum of a $1,000 fine.