Pennsylvania House Bill 608 increases criminal penalties for illegal ear cropping and trimming in animals

Original title: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, further providing for the offense of cruelty to animal.

Last action · October 27, 2025: Laid on the table, Oct. 27, 2025Sponsors: Mary Isaacson and 15 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Pennsylvania House Bill 608 reclassifies animal cruelty involving the unauthorized cropping, trimming, or cutting of an animal's ears by a non-veterinarian as a misdemeanor, taking effect in 60 days.

Why it matters

The measure changes criminal accountability for individuals performing unlicensed ear cropping on animals, elevating offenses to a second-degree misdemeanor for a first violation and a first-degree misdemeanor for subsequent offenses.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Licensed doctors of veterinary medicine

Licensed veterinarians are explicitly designated as authorized practitioners exempt from the heightened misdemeanor grading when performing ear cropping, trimming, or cutting.

Directly affected

Unlicensed individuals performing animal surgeries

Individuals who are not licensed veterinarians face increased criminal misdemeanor charges for performing ear cropping, trimming, or cutting that causes bodily injury to an animal.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the penalty if an unlicensed person crops an animal's ears and causes bodily injury?

It is a for the first violation, and a for a second or subsequent violation.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Tabled in the House.

Procedural history

6 actions

Oct 27, 2025House
Laid on the table, Oct. 27, 2025
Oct 27, 2025HouseIntroduced
First consideration, Oct. 27, 2025
Oct 27, 2025HouseCommittee
Reported as committed, Oct. 27, 2025
Mar 17, 2025HouseCommittee
Re-referred to JUDICIARY, March 17, 2025
Mar 17, 2025House
Reported with request to re-refer to JUDICIARY, March 17, 2025
Feb 12, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred to AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, Feb. 12, 2025

Version history

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