Are you a dog owner? If you said yes, this will be of your interest. There are new laws that will be implemented very soon and you should know about them. They will protect both pets and people, and they will affect every dog owner in Pennsylvania and Ohio. If you continue reading this article, you will be able to save money, keep your loyal companion safe, and help protect your community. So, let’s get started.
Owning a dog in Pennsylvania
In March, state dog wardens will begin enforcing rules for every dog owner in Pennsylvania, who must make sure their pets have a license which costs $10.80 per year or $52.80 or a lifetime license. Where can you buy this license? At licenseyourdogpa.pa.gov. You must obtain this license right after buying or adopting a dog because it helps identify lost dogs and return them to their owners.
If you don’t have a license, you could face a fine of up to $500 per dog. The fees collected will go to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, which helps with animal control, public safety, and kennel inspections.
Mark Moffa, Bucks County Treasurer, shared his own experience when his loyal companion, Sox, went missing, but they could find it because it wore a license tag. Don’t confuse this license with microchips, since a license tag is visible immediately, helping neighbors or animal control officers quickly identify the owner.
Statistics show that in 2024, only 3% of stray dogs in Pennsylvania were returned directly to their owners. Officials hope the new licenses will improve this number.
What happens in Ohio?
Ohio has also introduced stricter rules to protect people and other pets from dangerous dogs. The law is called Avery’s Law, named after 11-year-old Avery Russell, who was severely injured by a dog in 2024. The law classifies dogs in two ways:
- Vicious dogs: dogs that kill or seriously injure someone.
- Dangerous dogs: dogs that attack but do not cause serious injury.
If a dangerous or vicious dog attacks again, authorities can seize the dog and may even euthanize it. Also, there are legal consequences for the owners:
- Vicious dog attack: fourth-degree felony with minimum six months in jail.
- Dangerous dog attack: fourth-degree misdemeanor.
What if your dog attacks someone? You must pay $100 per year to register the dog and carry $100,000 in liability insurance. Ohio State Representative Meredith Lawson-Rowe explained that the law had not been updated in decades, so the changes are meant to protect children like Avery and other members of the community.
Why these laws matter
These new rules are all about safety. In Pennsylvania, licensing your dog makes it easier to find your pet if it gets lost. In Ohio, stricter classifications for dangerous and vicious dogs protect the public and ensure owners take responsibility.
For dog lovers, following these laws is also part of being a responsible pet owner, I mean who doesn’t want the best for their furry best friends? So, a license tag or proper registration can save a dog’s life if it goes missing, and being aware of the risks and how to handle them can make life safer for both dogs and people.
So…
These new laws are about keeping your furry best friend safe, protecting the community, and making sure every dog has a chance to be returned home if they get lost.So, make sure your dog is licensed, stay informed, and enjoy every moment with your loyal companion—they depend on you as much as you depend on them. Will these laws be efficient enough to protect pets?