Abington, PA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Leash required
- whenever off owner's property, on foot
- Max leash length
- 8 feet, sturdy material
- First offense fine
- $25
- Second offense fine
- $75
- Later offenses
- up to $300 each
- Enforcement
- Township police may seize loose dogs
Summary
Abington Township requires every dog off its owner's property to be leashed at all times when on foot, with a leash no longer than eight feet, under § 58-1. Letting a dog run at large, licensed or not, without the owner or keeper present is unlawful anywhere off the owner's premises. Township police can seize and detain loose dogs, and violators face escalating fines that climb from $25 to $300 per offense.
Hereafter it shall be unlawful for any owner of any dog or dogs, licensed or unlicensed, to permit such dog or dogs to run at large off the premises of the owner or keeper, unaccompanied by the owner or keeper. When not on the premises of the owner or keeper, a dog must be leashed at all times when on foot. The leash shall be of sturdy material and not more than eight feet in length. ... Any owner, person, association or corporation who shall violate or fail or refuse to comply with any provision of this article shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding before a District Justice of the Township of Abington, be sentenced to pay a fine to the Township of Abington as follows: for a first violation, $25, for a second violation, $75, and for subsequent violations, a fine not exceeding $300 for each separate violation, plus costs of prosecution, and in default of payment thereof shall be imprisoned in the Township lockup for a period not exceeding five days or in the county jail for a period not exceeding 30 days.
Full Breakdown
Section 58-1 of the Animals chapter states the core rule plainly: it is unlawful for an owner to permit a dog, licensed or unlicensed, to run at large off the owner's or keeper's premises unaccompanied, and whenever the dog is off that property and on foot it must be leashed at all times on a leash of sturdy material no more than eight feet long. Section 58-2 backs that up with enforcement power: Township police must seize and detain any dog, licensed or not, found running at large on public streets or on someone else's property, and officers pursuing a loose dog may enter private property and buildings to catch it.
A related rule at § 58-2.1, added in 2014, separately bans tethering a dog outdoors in a way that denies it food, water, shelter, safe resting space or room to move, and lets police enter outdoor private property to investigate and remove a dog held in those conditions. Licensed dogs that are seized get a three-day claim window under § 58-4, with the owner billed $10 a day for detention costs, while unclaimed or unlicensed dogs are disposed of under § 58-3 and § 58-5.
Violations of the leash and running-at-large rules are penalized under § 58-7.1: a first offense costs $25, a second $75, and every subsequent violation up to $300, plus prosecution costs, with default jail time of up to five days in the Township lockup or 30 days in the county jail.
Violations & Fines
Section 58-7.1 sets a graduated fine schedule for any owner who lets a dog run at large or off-leash: $25 for a first violation, $75 for a second, and up to $300 for each violation after that, plus costs of prosecution. An owner who cannot pay may be jailed in the Township lockup for up to five days or the county jail for up to 30 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a dog's leash be in Abington Township?
What happens if Township police catch my dog running loose?
What is the fine for a first leash violation?
Does the leash law cover tethering a dog in my own yard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Abington
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