Pa. Cons. Stat. » 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. (CRIMES AND OFFENSES) / Chapter 55
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5534 (2026)

 Aggravated cruelty to animal.

✓ current as of May 2026
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§ 5534.  Aggravated cruelty to animal.

(a)  Offense defined.--A person commits an offense if the person intentionally or knowingly does any of the following:

(1)  Tortures an animal.

(2)  Violates section 5532 (relating to neglect of animal) or 5533 (relating to cruelty to animal) causing serious bodily injury to the animal or the death of the animal.

(b)  Grading.--A violation of this section is a felony of the third degree.

 

Cross References.  Section 5534 is referred to in section 5560 of this title; section 5329 of Title 23 (Domestic Relations).

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases (8 in the last 5 years), 2019–2025 · leading case: In Re: Private Crim. Complaint, 271 A.3d 516 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2022).
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In Re: Private Crim. Complaint, 271 A.3d 516 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2022). · cites it 6× “Furthermore, we find that Defendants did not violate 18 Pa.C.S. § 5534 — Aggravated Cruelty to Animal, as we find no violation of Sections 5532 and 5533.”
Com. v. Hummel, A., IV, 283 A.3d 839 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2022). · cites it 4× “1 18 Pa.C.S. § 5534(a)(1). J-A19018-22 from Appellant’s criminal trial reveals the following pertinent facts regarding his role in causing the decline and eventual death of Appellant’s horse.”
In Re: Private Crim. Complaint (Pa. Super. Ct. 2022). · cites it 3× “Furthermore, we find that Defendants did not violate 18 Pa.C.S. § 5534 — Aggravated Cruelty to Animal, as we find no violation of Sections 5532 and 5533.”
Com. v. Julian, C. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2023). · cites it 2× “” 18 Pa.C.S. § 5534(a) (emphasis added). Serious bodily injury is defined as “[b]odily injury that creates a substantial risk of ____________________________________________ 6 Our standard of review for a sufficiency challenge is well-settled: A claim challenging the sufficiency…”
Com. v. Clark, E., Jr. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019). “____________________________________________ 1 18 Pa.C.S. § 5534(a)(2). 2 Anders v. California, 386 U.”
Crooker v. Tessitore (M.D. Penn. 2023). “Factual Background On October 19, 2018, Officer Tessitore filed two criminal complaints and affidavits of probable cause charging both Peters and Crooker pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. §5534(a)(2), with Aggravated Cruelty to Animal (one count); §5533(a) Cruelty to Animal (eight counts);…”
In re: Mighty Mouse, (1) Shitzu, & Henry Mason, (1) Maltese ~ Appeal of: L. Binakonsky (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2025). “) In response, the Commonwealth alleged that 2 Section 5534(a)(2) of the Crimes Code, 18 Pa. C.S. § 5534(a)(2). 2 it was no longer a party to the criminal action and that the Dogs were no longer in its possession.”
In re: Mighty Mouse, (1) Shitzu, & Henry Mason, (1) Maltese ~ Appeal of: L. Binakonsky (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2025). “) In response, the Commonwealth alleged that 2 Section 5534(a)(2) of the Crimes Code, 18 Pa. C.S. § 5534(a)(2). 2 it was no longer a party to the criminal action and that the Dogs were no longer in its possession.”
Com. v. Havican, G. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2025). “Havican was ultimately charged with 79 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals (F3) (18 Pa.C.S. § 5534(a)(2)), 19 counts of neglect of animals — causing bodily injury or placing the animal at risk of serious bodily injury (M3) (18 Pa.”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5534(a) — 3 cases
In Re: Private Crim. Complaint, 271 A.3d 516 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2022). “Furthermore, we find that Defendants did not violate 18 Pa.C.S. § 5534 — Aggravated Cruelty to Animal, as we find no violation of Sections 5532 and 5533.”
In Re: Private Crim. Complaint (Pa. Super. Ct. 2022). “Furthermore, we find that Defendants did not violate 18 Pa.C.S. § 5534 — Aggravated Cruelty to Animal, as we find no violation of Sections 5532 and 5533.”
Com. v. Julian, C. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2023). “” 18 Pa.C.S. § 5534(a) (emphasis added). Serious bodily injury is defined as “[b]odily injury that creates a substantial risk of ____________________________________________ 6 Our standard of review for a sufficiency challenge is well-settled: A claim challenging the sufficiency…”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5534(a)(1) — 3 cases
Com. v. Hummel, A., IV, 283 A.3d 839 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2022). “1 18 Pa.C.S. § 5534(a)(1). J-A19018-22 from Appellant’s criminal trial reveals the following pertinent facts regarding his role in causing the decline and eventual death of Appellant’s horse.”
In Re: Private Crim. Complaint, 271 A.3d 516 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2022). “Furthermore, we find that Defendants did not violate 18 Pa.C.S. § 5534 — Aggravated Cruelty to Animal, as we find no violation of Sections 5532 and 5533.”
In Re: Private Crim. Complaint (Pa. Super. Ct. 2022). “Furthermore, we find that Defendants did not violate 18 Pa.C.S. § 5534 — Aggravated Cruelty to Animal, as we find no violation of Sections 5532 and 5533.”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5534(a)(2) — 6 cases
Com. v. Clark, E., Jr. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019). “____________________________________________ 1 18 Pa.C.S. § 5534(a)(2). 2 Anders v. California, 386 U.”
Com. v. Julian, C. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2023). “” 18 Pa.C.S. § 5534(a) (emphasis added). Serious bodily injury is defined as “[b]odily injury that creates a substantial risk of ____________________________________________ 6 Our standard of review for a sufficiency challenge is well-settled: A claim challenging the sufficiency…”
Crooker v. Tessitore (M.D. Penn. 2023). “Factual Background On October 19, 2018, Officer Tessitore filed two criminal complaints and affidavits of probable cause charging both Peters and Crooker pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. §5534(a)(2), with Aggravated Cruelty to Animal (one count); §5533(a) Cruelty to Animal (eight counts);…”
In re: Mighty Mouse, (1) Shitzu, & Henry Mason, (1) Maltese ~ Appeal of: L. Binakonsky (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2025). “) In response, the Commonwealth alleged that 2 Section 5534(a)(2) of the Crimes Code, 18 Pa. C.S. § 5534(a)(2). 2 it was no longer a party to the criminal action and that the Dogs were no longer in its possession.”
In re: Mighty Mouse, (1) Shitzu, & Henry Mason, (1) Maltese ~ Appeal of: L. Binakonsky (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2025). “) In response, the Commonwealth alleged that 2 Section 5534(a)(2) of the Crimes Code, 18 Pa. C.S. § 5534(a)(2). 2 it was no longer a party to the criminal action and that the Dogs were no longer in its possession.”
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