A Feb. 28, 2012 article from The Reading Eagle highlighted the drop in funding for enforcement of the PA Dog Law throughout the Commonwealth. It estimated that it costs the Pennsylvania Agriculture Department $8,000,000.00 per year to enforce the PA Dog Law. In 2009, four million dollars was taken from the fund to balance the State’s budget. As of December 2011, the fund’s balance was approximately $2 million dollars.
The PA Dog Law Restricted Account normally takes in about $6 million dollars in licensing fees and fines from enforcement of the PA Dog Law. Less funds available to enforce the PA Dog Law will result in an additional loss of fee & fine revenues. Animal rights activists fear that the lack of funding will reduce investigations of breeding operations and kennels and encourage the rebirth of puppy mills previously shut down.
If you have been attacked by a dog, it is important that you hire a lawyer who is extremely knowledgeable regarding the PA Dog Law. Attorney Thomas J. Newell currently represents dog bite victims in 9 different counties in Pennsylvania. Call him at 800-980-4842 to set up a free home consultation. Visit his website of PADogAttackLawyer.com to learn more about how he has represented Pennsylvania personal injury victims since 1981.
