Abington, PA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Article V, adopted in 1989, creates a complaint-driven process rather than a breed list. Under § 58-28A, a person attacked by an animal, or the owner of a household pet seriously wounded or killed by one, may bring a trespass complaint before a District Justice charging the animal's owner or keeper with harboring a vicious animal. If the District Justice finds after a hearing that the animal viciously and without cause attacked a person or seriously harmed a household pet, the owner must keep it securely confined in a building or secure covered enclosure on the owner's premises, and post a bond sufficient to cover damages the animal might cause.

Once that order issues, § 58-28A(2) makes it unlawful for the owner to let the animal off the premises unless it is leashed and muzzled, and any dog found running loose after that order may be killed by a constable, police officer or State Dog Warden without liability. If a declared vicious animal attacks again, § 58-28A(3) lets an officer order it destroyed immediately, and the owner remains liable for damages either way. Separately, § 58-28B bans keeping any animal for fighting or training it to attack people or pets.

Section 58-28C requires every owner of a vicious animal to register it with the Township, at no fee, disclosing the owner's name and address, the animal's breed, sex, color, rabies certificate and Montgomery County tag number, and proof of liability insurance of at least $50,000. Police dogs are exempt under § 58-29, and the Animal Control Officer and police enforce the article under § 58-30.