PSA from Snyder & Union County Dog Warden

Pennsylvania’s Dog Laws:

• If your dog is not licensed, you may be fined up to $500 per dog. Find where to purchase yours online at LicenseYourDogPa.pa.gov 

• Your dog must be under control and supervised at all times; fines range from $500-$1000 per dog. You are responsible for any damage caused by your dog on someone else’s property.

• It is illegal to mistreat or abuse animals. Report suspected abuse to your local humane organization or police.

• Purposely poisoning a dog, whether it is yours or someone else’s, is illegal.

• You may not abandon or attempt to abandon any dog. You could be fined $1,000 plus court costs.

• Puppies under eight weeks old cannot be bartered, traded, sold, or transferred.

• You must have a kennel license if you keep, sell, transfer, adopt or foster at least 26 dogs in a calendar year.

• If your dog attacks or kills a human or domestic animal without provocation, it may be considered dangerous. You may face extensive fines and restrictions.

Pennsylvania’s Rabies Law:

Ignoring Pennsylvania’s rabies vaccination law can be costly – in more ways than one. Dogs and cats are exposed to the rabies virus through wild and stray animals, posing a threat to their health and yours.

• Dogs and cats three months or older must have a current rabies vaccination

• Owners of non-vaccinated pets may be fined up to $300 plus court costs

• Licensed veterinarians can vaccinate dogs and provide a vaccination certificate

• Dog wardens perform random checks to ensure rabies vaccinations are current

License Your Dog. It’s the Law:

• All dogs three months or older or upon transfer must be licensed by Jan. 1 of each year

• Owners of non-licensed dogs can be cited with a maximum fine of $500 per dog plus court costs

• Dog wardens randomly canvass neighborhoods to ensure all dogs are licensed, violators may be fined

• If your dog gets lost, a current license is the fastest way to get your dog back home

• Licensing fees help the millions of dogs in Pennsylvania by funding the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement

• Purchase a license from your local county treasurer or issuing agent

• An annual license is $10.80, and a lifetime license is $52.80, discounts are available to older adults and people with disabilities

Find out how to purchase your 2026 dog license visit: www.LicenseYourDogPa.pa.gov  click on your county