Pennsylvania

PA: Pennsylvania

Summary: Pennsylvania has some of the toughest penalties: killing or injuring a police animal is a second degree felony, with mandatory restitution that includes vet bills, replacement and lost handler salary (18 Pa.C.S. § 5548). It also has a Good Samaritan immunity law for emergency care of police animals (42 Pa.C.S. § 8332(b.1), Act 60 of 2022). The K-9 Retirement Fund bill (SB 1345, 2024) died, and SB 633 (2025) on emergency care is in committee.

Body armor

• None found.

Medical & insurance

• 42 Pa.C.S. § 8332(b.1), added by Act 60 of 2022. Anyone, including emergency responders, who in good faith gives emergency care to an injured police animal at a scene, or moves it to care, is immune from civil damages except for intentional harm or gross negligence. It provides immunity only; it doesn't authorize treatment or transport.
• Restitution: § 5548 requires restitution for vet bills, replacement and lost handler salary.

Retirement & service limits

• No statute was found.

Post retirement care

• None enacted. See SB 1345.

Penalties for harming police animals

• 18 Pa.C.S. § 5548, Police animals (definitions in § 5531; Act 10 of 2017 reorganization).
• Intentionally or knowingly taunting, tormenting, teasing, beating, kicking or striking: third degree felony.
• Torturing, mutilating, injuring, disabling, poisoning or killing: second degree felony.
• Recklessly causing harm: first degree misdemeanor.
• Plus mandatory restitution.

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Pending or failed bills

• SB 1345 (2023 to 24), prime sponsor Sen. Devlin Robinson (R); cosponsors Regan, Tartaglione (D), Pennycuick, Farry, Culver. Would have created a K-9 Retirement Fund run by PCCD to reimburse retired police dogs' vet care (wellness, treatment, emergencies, end of life). Referred to Judiciary on Nov. 8, 2024, and died at the end of the session. A 2025 to 26 reintroduction was not found.
• SB 633 (2025 to 26): pending (see above).

Sources

• SB 1345: https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2023/sb1345 ; text: https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/text/HTM/2023/0/SB1345/PN1986
• SB 633: https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/sb633 ; text: https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/text/HTM/2025/0/SB0633/PN0637
• 18 Pa.C.S. § 5548: https://legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/18/00.055.048.000..HTM ; ch. 55: https://legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/18/00.055..HTM
• K9 Medic map (42 Pa.C.S. § 8332(b.1)): https://www.k9medic.com/k9-laws/