Legal Question in Criminal Law in Pennsylvania

dog shot by police

My dog got loose last night (early this morning) and was shot by police. The police claim that he was chasing people, but it is 3 Am and my dog is very friendly. what upsets me the most is that the police escorted my injured dog home, briefly explained safety of the people first and told me that they would send me a citation for my loose dog. If the dog did attack and required the police to shoot him, wouldn't they take him to be put down or at least test him? I am stuck with the vet bill and the fact i have to explain to my children that the police shot our family pet,


Asked on 4/18/07, 6:07 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
John Gibson John W. Gibson, Esquire

Re: dog shot by police

It does seem strange that they wouldn't have tested the dog for rabies after shooting him since if he was chasing people they could not know whether or not he had bitten anyone before they shot him. But under Pennsylvania Law anyone is permitted to kill a dog chasing human beings, the law provides:

"(a) LEGAL TO KILL CERTAIN DOGS.-- Any person may kill any dog which he sees in the act of pursuing or wounding or killing any domestic animal, wounding or killing other dogs, cats or household pets, or pursuing, wounding or attacking human beings, whether or not such a dog bears the license tag required by the provisions of this act. There shall be no liability on such persons in damages or otherwise for such killing."

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Answered on 4/19/07, 11:48 am


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