How does Pennsylvania law define a dangerous dog?
Pennsylvania law defines a dangerous dog as one that has “attacked, inflicted severe injury to, or killed a human being or a domestic animal without provocation while off an owner’s property. A dog is also considered dangerous if it was involved in committing a crime.” If a dog has been officially declared dangerous by a magisterial district justice, the owner of the dog must comply with certain requirements and responsibilities. Failure to meet these owner obligations can result in fines and criminal prosecution of the dangerous dog bites or attacks another animal or a human.
