HB 1074 — An Act amending the act of December 7, 1982 (P.L.784, No.225), known as the Dog Law, in injury to dogs, providing for contracts for sale of dogs and cats.

PRINTER'S NO.     1173

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1074
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY McNEILL, HOWARD, HILL-EVANS, SANCHEZ, MALAGARI,
        GIRAL, MERSKI, MADDEN, HOHENSTEIN AND NEILSON, MARCH 31, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS,
        MARCH 31, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of December 7, 1982 (P.L.784, No.225), entitled
 2      "An act relating to dogs, regulating the keeping of dogs;
 3      providing for the licensing of dogs and kennels; providing
 4      for the protection of dogs and the detention and destruction
 5      of dogs in certain cases; regulating the sale and
 6      transportation of dogs; declaring dogs to be personal
 7      property and the subject of theft; providing for the
 8      abandonment of animals; providing for the assessment of
 9      damages done to animals; providing for payment of damages by
10      the Commonwealth in certain cases and the liability of the
11      owner or keeper of dogs for such damages; imposing powers and
12      duties on certain State and local officers and employees;
13      providing penalties; and creating a Dog Law Restricted
14      Account," in injury to dogs, providing for contracts for sale
15      of dogs and cats.
16      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
17   hereby enacts as follows:
18      Section 1.    The act of December 7, 1982 (P.L.784, No.225),
19   known as the Dog Law, is amended by adding a section to read:
20   Section 604.    Contracts for sale of dogs and cats.
21      (a)   General rule.--Except as provided in subsection (b), a
22   contract to transfer ownership of a dog or cat in which
23   ownership or repossession of the dog or cat is contingent upon
24   the making of payments over a period of time subsequent to the
 1   transfer of possession of the dog or cat is void as against
 2   public policy.
 3      (b)   Exception.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to payments
 4   to repay an unsecured loan for the purchase of a dog or cat.
 5      (c)   Leases.--A contract entered into for the lease of a dog
 6   or cat that provides for or offers the option of transferring
 7   ownership of the dog or cat at the end of the lease term is void
 8   as against public policy.
 9      (d)   Remedy.--In addition to any other remedies provided by
10   law, the consumer taking possession of a dog or cat transferred
11   under a contract or lease described in subsection (a) or (c)
12   shall be deemed the owner of the dog or cat and shall also be
13   entitled to the return of all amounts the consumer paid under
14   the contract or lease.
15      (e)   Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
16   construed to limit the enforcement of any other provision of
17   this act.
18      (f)   Definition.--As used in this section, the term
19   "consumer" shall mean an individual.
20      Section 2.    The addition of section 604 of the act shall
21   apply to contracts entered into on or after the effective date
22   of this section.
23      Section 3.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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