Pennsylvania Dog Law
What This Page Covers
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) oversees animal health and welfare through regulatory enforcement. Within the PDA, the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement (BDLE) is responsible for licensing and inspecting kennels, protecting dogs and puppies, and safeguarding consumers. On this page you will learn who needs to be licensed with the BDLE, how to read and understand inspection reports, and important questions to ask put together in easy step-by-step directions.
In Pennsylvania, some dog sellers must comply with both state and federal licensing laws. These laws do not replace one another; they work together to regulate the industry.
You can find free printables to download for your research and links to help you in your journey to responsible pet ownership. You’ll also find links to all of the resources at the bottom of the page with some frequently asked questions.
More states coming soon!
How to Start Your Research
Step 1
Do Not Impulse Buy
Know where your puppy comes from before you sign on the dotted line.
Start by learning the different kennel types and how they are classified. Different licenses come with different rules, oversight, and standards of care. Understanding these differences can help you spot red flags, ask better questions, and avoid supporting irresponsible breeding. This applies to licensed breeders and dealers, including online sellers, who are still considered kennels under Pennsylvania Dog Law.
State and federal laws can both apply, and some breeders are required to hold both a Pennsylvania license and a USDA license.
Kennel Type
Type of activity conducted during a calendar year.
Kennel Class
Number of dogs on premises during a calendar year.
Examples from an inspection report
1.) K6: A Kennel (type) with 500+ dogs/year (class). A breeder who sells 500+ puppies/dogs per year to the general public, online, to brokers or to pet stores and is categorized more on kennel size.
2.) CK5: A commercial kennel (type) with 251-500 dogs/year (class). A breeder who sells 251-500 puppies/dogs per year to the general public, online, to brokers or to pet stores but is categorized on how the business operates (higher volume, more commercial distribution).
A “kennel” classification refers to how many dogs are kept, while a “commercial kennel” refers to a higher-volume business operation. Both may sell to the public or through other channels, which is why it’s important to look beyond the label and understand how the dogs are actually bred and sold.
Step 2
Ask the Right Questions
Print the puppy buying checklist. Take it with you to the store or use it for an online seller. Verify the information before you purchase.
- Reasons to NEVER FINANCE A PET:
- You pay far more than the original purchase price because of high interest rates
- Most sellers do not accept returns, even if you cannot keep the puppy
- If the puppy dies, there is no refund. You still owe the full balance
- Missing payments can lead to fees, penalties, and credit damage
- Life changes (job loss, moving, illness) can make both care and payments difficult
- Financing a puppy on impulse can lead to financial hardship as ongoing costs like vet care, food, and emergencies make it harder to keep up with payments
2. Verify the kennel card is complete. This checklist helps confirm a puppy’s health, legality, and origin, protecting you from unethical sellers and costly mistakes.
3. Visit the breeder’s home. These questions and steps help you evaluate a breeder’s ethics, cleanliness, and care to avoid unhealthy or poorly raised puppies.
4. Check the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI). The CVI helps prevent scams by confirming the puppy’s health status, proper documentation, and seller legitimacy. Find out what a CIV is here.
Step 3
Read the Inspection Reports Before you Buy
Some sellers must have both USDA and PA kennel licenses. Use the steps below to search PA inspection records for breeders, brokers and dealers.
First, find the Inspection Report using the 7 steps below.
Next, open the PDF and learn how to read the report. Some facilities have been open for many years, so it’s important to read all of the inspection reports to look for citations and violations. The columns below explain what each section of the report means.
Top of Report
Name, address etc.
The number of dogs, if a citation was issued, the inspector’s name and date.
Dog Count
How many dogs are bred, boarded and/or transferred
It also has the previous year’s count.
*Kennel Regulations
Inspection category & results.
Is the breeder following the detailed standards under the Pennsylvania Code?
*Kennel Acts
Inspection category & results.
Is the breeder violating any of the statutes under the PA Dog Law?
Commercial Acts and Regulations
This is the same as the previous categories.
PA requires higher standards for commercial kennels.
Remarks
The bottom box allows the inspector to list any violations, number of dogs on premise during inspection and if a follow up inspection is needed.
*Kennel Regulations: Regulations are the specific, actionable standards used to check compliance with those acts
**Kennel Acts: Acts that refer to laws that establish the authority and general requirements
Laws Protecting Puppies and Consumers in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has a network of laws that work together to protect puppies and consumers.
Act 225 of 1982 is Pennsylvania’s Dog Law, the primary state law regulating dogs, kennels, breeders, dealers, and licensing.
The most recent updates came through Senate Bill 746, signed into law by Governor Shapiro on October 23, 2023, as Act 18 of 2023.
Following feedback after the passage of Act 18, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 82, which Governor Shapiro signed into law on July 8, 2024, as Act 47 of 2024.
(PA Act 10 of 2017)
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Background
➡︎Named after Libre, a Boston Terrier puppy rescued from extreme neglect in Lancaster County in 2016. His survival sparked widespread outrage and led to bipartisan legislative action.
➡︎Signed into law by Governor Tom Wolf on June 28, 2017.
Key Provisions
Felony Animal Cruelty:
➡︎For the first time in PA, aggravated cruelty (torturing, maiming, or killing an animal) can be charged as a felony of the third degree.
➡︎Neglect and cruelty are clearly defined in a tiered system of offenses.
➡︎Prior to Libre’s Law, even severe cruelty was often only a misdemeanor.
Tethering & Shelter Standards:
➡︎Dogs cannot be tethered for more than 30 minutes in temperatures above 90*F or below 32*F.
➡︎Tether must be at least 10 feet long and allow movement.
➡︎Dogs must have access to sanitary shelter, drinkable water and necessary veterinary care.
Law Enforcement Powers:
➡︎Humane officers and police gained clearer authority to seize animals in cases of cruelty or neglect.
➡︎Courts may order forfeiture of animals and prohibit future ownership by offenders.
(Introduced multiple times but not yet passed as of 2026)
______________
Background
➡︎Victoria was a German Shepherd who was rescued from a Pennsylvania puppy mill after 10 years of breeding. She became completely paralyzed as a result of a genetic, neurological disorder called Degenerative Myelopathy, often compared to ALS. This disease can be passed down to puppies.
Summary
➡︎Victoria’s Law seeks to ban the retail sale of commercially bred animals in pet stores, require breeder transparency, protect consumers and animals, and push Pennsylvania away from its reputation as a “puppy mill state.”
(Enacted law 1997)
______________
Background
➡︎ Pennsylvania was one of the firsts to enact this law. More than 20 other states have since followed.
Key Provisions
➡︎Protects consumers from purchasing unhealthy or genetically compromised puppies from pet stores or breeders.
➡︎Balances consumer rights with breeder obligations by requiring disclosure and offering remedies if the puppy is found to be ill or misrepresented.
➡︎This is why it is vitally important to research and visit the breeder before purchasing a puppy.
Research Corner
One stop shop for all of the links you need.
Need help researching?
The goal of this site is to put all of the information in one place and make it free to the public but we know researching a puppy seller, breeder, rescue, or shelter takes time and sorting through public records, inspection reports, and licensing information can be overwhelming. Fetch the Facts offers consumer research services to help make the process easier. Whether you’re looking to support a responsible breeder or want to learn more about a rescue or shelter before adopting, we’re here to help.
Fetch the Facts does not promote or discourage a consumer’s choice to select a specific dog breed, but encourages informed and responsible decisions regardless of where a dog comes from. We believe that supporting responsible breeding practices, ethical rescues, and informed pet ownership can help improve animal welfare and reduce the number of dogs entering shelters over time.
If you are interested in this service please choose from one of the options below:
Puppy Trace Report
This report traces the puppy’s path from its current seller back to the breeder using publicly available records available under federal and applicable state laws. Depending on what information is publicly available, the report may include:
- The seller’s license number
- Seller inspection reports
- The breeder’s and/or broker’s license number
- Breeder and/or broker inspection reports
- Previous business names or aliases associated with the breeder, broker, or seller
- Copies of inspections or enforcement reports
- The transporter’s USDA registration number and any publicly available transporter violations or enforcement records.
This report is based solely on publicly available information and record availability may vary by state, agency and seller.
Not sure how many reports you need?
Review the examples below before submitting your request. Puppies from the same litter and seller can often be researched together, while puppies from different litters or sellers require separate research reports.
Shelter/Rescue Transparency Report
This report reviews a rescue or shelter using publicly available records and information available under federal, state, and local laws (when applicable). Depending on what information is publicly available, the report may include:
- The organization’s registered business or nonprofit name
- State charity or nonprofit registration information
- USDA and/or state license information (if applicable)
- Inspection reports and publicly available violations
- Previous business names, aliases, or affiliated organizations
- Consumer complaints
- Enforcement actions, or legal cases that are publicly documented
This report is based solely on publicly available information and record availability may vary by state, agency, and organization type.
Frequently Asked Questions
➡️ Should I purchase the puppy, then go home and do the research?
Absolutely not! The seller should provide this information prior to selling you the puppy so you can make a responsible and informed decision. If the seller is not running a responsible operation and you purchase the puppy to “save it,” then you are contributing to the cycle of abuse. Walk away. The puppy will be saved, and so will the parents.
If you are not confident that the person is running a reputable business, please report them here.
➡️ What is the difference between a USDA and PA license?
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) enforces the federal law, the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). Breeders, Dealers, Transporters, etc. are issued a license based on which class they fall into (ex. Class A=breeder, Class B=Dealer, etc.) The standards that each licensee must meet are set to the bare minimum. They are meant to keep the animal alive. Inspections range from yearly to every 3 years based on prior violations.
Pennsylvania issues kennel licenses based on the type of business conducted and the size of the business. These licenses are issued by the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement (BDLE), which is a branch under the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Dog wardens are responsible for enforcing this law and inspecting kennels. The Pennsylvania Dog Law has higher standards of care in comparison to the AWA.
Some businesses are required to hold multiple licenses depending on their operations. This means they are inspected by both USDA inspectors and Pennsylvania Dog Wardens, and must comply with the standards of the federal Animal Welfare Act as well as the Pennsylvania Dog Law.
➡️ Do all dogs coming into PA need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI)?
Yes. Requiring a CVI prior to transport of a dog into Pennsylvania aims to prevent serious diseases from entering the state that could negatively impact both animal and public health.
➡️ Should I use the pet store kennel license number to look up the puppy I’m interested in?
No. Pennsylvania uses a different type of licensing. Think of it as each building gets its own kennel license based on the type of business it conducts. The pet store will have a ‘pet shop’ kennel license. Each puppy in the store will have a kennel license number from the kennel where it originated.
If it’s a dealer kennel, you’ll want to contact the dealer to find out who the breeder is. Then trace the puppy’s journey back to its birth to make sure you’re purchasing from responsible people.
The same goes for online sellers. Think of their website as a “store”. They should also have the proper license displayed on their website.
➡️ If my puppy came from a kennel that is not where it was born, can I ask that kennel who the breeder was?
Absolutely! Under the law, you have the right to trace the puppy back to where it was born. If any person refuses to give you this information, hesitates, or stalls prior to purchase, then you are looking at a major red flag. Some pet stores claim to source puppies from large numbers of “hobby breeders,” which can make it difficult for consumers to verify where the puppies actually originated.
➡️ How can I tell if I should be checking for both a USDA license and a Pennsylvania kennel license?
This is the tricky part with having multiple agencies overseeing operations. A good rule of thumb would be to ask for both licenses. If the seller says that the breeder/broker/transporter isn’t required to have a license under either agency, ask if you can have their name. A responsible seller will not hide under the guise of “hobby breeder” or “private breeder”.
➡️ How can I find my state legislature?
If you want to contact your representatives to advocate for stronger laws, click here.
Pennsylvania works side by side with the federal government on animal welfare laws. In most cases, federal licensing does not exempt breeders from state requirements. Both state and federal licenses may be required and enforced independently.
🗣️ Get Involved
Want to help influence animal welfare legislation in PA? The links below connect you to trusted groups leading the charge for policy change. You can also directly contact your legislatures.