Reading Code Section 141-209 (Restraining and confinement generally) requires every dog on a street, sidewalk, public way, park, public square, or any private property without the owner's consent to be secured by a leash of sufficient tensile strength to restrain the particular dog, or to be at heel and securely muzzled. Section 141-208 separately prohibits unattended outdoor tethering except under narrow conditions. State-level licensing is administered by the Berks County Treasurer under the Pennsylvania Dog Law (3 P.S. Section 459-101 et seq.).
Reading's leash rule sits in Chapter 141 Part 2 of the Code of Ordinances at https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/readingpa/latest/reading_pa/0-0-0-6470 (Section 141-209). Dogs off the owner's property must be on a leash strong enough to restrain that particular dog, or at heel and securely muzzled. Section 141-208 at https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/readingpa/latest/reading_pa/0-0-0-6462 prohibits tethering an unattended dog outdoors to houses, trees, fences, garages, stakes, or other stationary objects, except under specific conditions involving tether duration, swivel anchors, and collar standards — Reading's tethering rule is stricter than the Pennsylvania state floor under the Libre's Law amendments to 18 Pa.C.S. Section 5533. Pennsylvania Dog Law (3 P.S. Section 459-101+ at https://www.animallaw.info/statute/pa-dog-law-chapter-8-dogs-consolidated-dog-laws) requires every dog three months or older to be licensed annually by January 1 through the county treasurer; in Reading that is the Berks County Treasurer at 633 Court Street, Reading PA 19601 (https://www.berkspa.gov/departments/treasurer/dog-license). Standard PA dog license fees are $8.50/year spayed-neutered and $10.50/year intact, with senior and disabled discounts and a $51.50 lifetime option for microchipped dogs. Reading does not provide its own animal-control field operations; the City contracts with Humane Pennsylvania (the Humane Society of Berks County) and the Animal Rescue League of Berks County (ARL) for stray response, sheltering, and humane investigations. Loose-dog complaints in Reading go to ARL at 610-373-8830 or Humane Pennsylvania at 610-921-2348.
Off-leash and at-large violations under Section 141-209 are summary offenses enforced by the Reading Police, ARL humane officers, and the City's contracted Animal Control Authority. Fines under Chapter 141 typically run $100 to $300 first offense plus impoundment, sheltering, and reclaim fees if the dog is picked up. Failing to license a dog violates 3 P.S. Section 459-201 with a separate penalty of up to $300 per day under the Pennsylvania Dog Law. Repeat off-leash incidents that result in bites can trigger dangerous-dog proceedings under 3 P.S. Section 459-502-A.
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