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Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

22 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3708 (2026)

 Powers and authority; jurisdiction.

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§ 3708.  Powers and authority; jurisdiction.

(a)  Authority limited to county of appointment.--An individual appointed as a humane society police officer in accordance with this chapter shall have power and authority to exercise the powers conferred under 18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 55 Subch. B (relating to cruelty to animals) in enforcement of animal cruelty laws only within the particular county whose court of common pleas issued the appointment. The individual has no power or authority to exercise the powers conferred under 18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 55 Subch. B in any other county whose court of common pleas has not issued an appointment.

(b)  Notice to district attorney.--Prior to exercising the power and authority set forth by this chapter within a county, each appointed humane society police officer shall file notice, along with a copy of the appointment granted under this chapter, with the district attorney of the county.

(c)  Shield.--Every individual appointed as a humane society police officer under this chapter shall possess a metallic shield with the words "humane society police officer" and the name of the society or association for which the individual is appointed displayed thereon.

(d)  Photo identification.--Every individual appointed as a humane society police officer under this chapter shall have a photo identification card issued by the department that contains the following:

(1)  A photo of the individual taken within the previous 24 months.

(2)  The name of the individual.

(3)  The signature of the individual.

(4)  The name of the society or association for which the individual is appointed as a humane society police officer.

(5)  The address and telephone number of the society or association for which the individual is appointed as a humane society police officer.

(6)  The date of issuance of the photo identification card.

(June 28, 2017, P.L.215, No.10, eff. 60 days)

 

2017 Amendment.  Act 10 amended subsec. (a).

Cross References.  Section 3708 is referred to in sections 3707, 3713 of this title.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 2012–2025 · leading case: Seeton v. Adams, 50 A.3d 268 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2012).
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Seeton v. Adams, 50 A.3d 268 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2012). · cites it 2× “22 Pa.C.S. § 3708(a). 1 Her enforcement tools include the authority “to initiate criminal proceedings” and civil injunction proceedings.”
Harr v. Washington Area Humane Soc'y, No. 2:21-cv-01560 (W.D. Pa. Sept. 30, 2025). · cites it 2× “Harr bases this underlying argument on Pennsylvania statutory law, citing 22 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3708 (a), which states in part, “An individual appointed as a humane society police officer in accordance with this chapter shall have power and authority to exercise the powers…”
Crooker v. Tessitore, No. 3:20-cv-01695 (M.D. Pa. Dec. 11, 2023). “22 Pa. Cons. Stat. §3708 (a); see also §3702 (defining a “humane society police officer” as “any person who holds a current appointment under this chapter to act as a humane society police officer for a society of association for the prevention of cruelty to animals”); §3703…”
Barraclough v. Animal Friends, Inc., No. 2:23-cv-00654 (W.D. Pa. Nov. 6, 2023). “See 22 Pa.C.S. § 3708(a). But, to complete the first phase within the three-step framework, we now turn to the federal rights at issue, beginning with the elements of a § 1983 claim challenging probable cause.”
Harr v. Buczak, No. 2:21-cv-01555, 2024 WL 4064139 (W.D. Pa. Sept. 5, 2024). “5 at 4 (citing 22 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3708 (a), which states, in part, “An individual appointed as a humane society police officer in accordance with this chapter shall have power and authority to exercise the powers conferred under 18 Pa.”
Com. v. Brodbeck, M., No. 1730 MDA 2014 (Pa. Super. Ct. June 5, 2015). “See 22 Pa.C.S. § 3708(a). -2- J-A14016-15, J-A14017-15, J-A14018-15 On February 19, 2014, Officer Kessler visited the property.”
In re the Humane Soc'y of the Harrisburg Area, Inc., 92 A.3d 1264 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2014). “” 22 Pa. C.S. § 3708(a). . The former Humane Society Police Officer Enforcement Act, 3 P.”
22 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3708(a): 4 cases
Seeton v. Adams, 50 A.3d 268 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2012). “22 Pa.C.S. § 3708(a). 1 Her enforcement tools include the authority “to initiate criminal proceedings” and civil injunction proceedings.”
Barraclough v. Animal Friends, Inc., No. 2:23-cv-00654 (W.D. Pa. Nov. 6, 2023). “See 22 Pa.C.S. § 3708(a). But, to complete the first phase within the three-step framework, we now turn to the federal rights at issue, beginning with the elements of a § 1983 claim challenging probable cause.”
Com. v. Brodbeck, M., No. 1730 MDA 2014 (Pa. Super. Ct. June 5, 2015). “See 22 Pa.C.S. § 3708(a). -2- J-A14016-15, J-A14017-15, J-A14018-15 On February 19, 2014, Officer Kessler visited the property.”
In re the Humane Soc'y of the Harrisburg Area, Inc., 92 A.3d 1264 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2014). “” 22 Pa. C.S. § 3708(a). . The former Humane Society Police Officer Enforcement Act, 3 P.”
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