Dangerous dog laws, including the dog bite law, vary from state to state, with different definitions and outcomes for owners.
In Pennsylvania, the Dangerous Dog Law is outlined in the Dog Law of 1982 and its subsequent amendments. Under this law, a dangerous dog is defined as one that has inflicted severe injury on a human without provocation, killed or severely injured a domestic animal while off the owner's property, attacked a human without provocation, or been used in the commission of a crime. Owners of dogs classified as dangerous must register them annually, confine them in a proper enclosure, post warning signs, spay or neuter the dog, and maintain a $50,000 liability insurance policy. Additionally, Pennsylvania's dog bite law operates under a combination of strict liability and negligence. This means that an owner may be held liable for medical costs associated with a dog bite regardless of the dog's history or the owner's knowledge of its aggressiveness, but for other damages, such as pain and suffering, the victim must prove that the owner was negligent or knew of the dog's propensity to bite.