Montgomery County has no separate hoarding ordinance, but Pennsylvania's animal-cruelty statutes cover neglect and hoarding conditions statewide. Cases are investigated by the Montgomery County SPCA's humane officers and prosecuted by the District Attorney; municipalities enforce related property and nuisance codes.
Animal hoarding is addressed through Pennsylvania's cruelty-to-animals laws (18 Pa.C.S. §5531 et seq., the 'Libre's Law' provisions), which make it an offense to fail to provide necessary food, water, shelter, and veterinary care — the framework used to prosecute hoarding cases. There is no distinct Montgomery County hoarding ordinance. Enforcement falls to state-appointed humane society police officers, in this county primarily those of the Montgomery County SPCA, working with municipal police and the District Attorney. Unsanitary conditions that accompany hoarding may also trigger municipal property-maintenance and health-nuisance code action. A suspected hoarding or neglect situation should be reported to the Montgomery County SPCA or local police.
Neglect is a summary offense; aggravated cruelty can be a misdemeanor or felony under 18 Pa.C.S. §5533–5534, with fines, forfeiture of animals, and possible jail.
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See how Montgomery County's animal hoarding rules stack up against other locations.
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