Pennsylvania PFA Orders Now Cover Pets

Abusers frequently use pets as tools of control, threatening or harming a family’s animals to intimidate victims and discourage them from leaving. Pennsylvania’s Protection from Abuse (PFA) statute did not directly address this. Act 146 of 2024, effective January 17, 2025, closes that gap.

What the Law Does

Act 146 amends Pennsylvania’s PFA statute to allow courts to include companion animals in protection orders. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 6108(a)(9.1), a judge can now direct the abuser to refrain from possessing, contacting, transferring, or relocating the victim’s companion animal, and from contacting any person sheltering it. The court can also grant the victim possession of the companion animal.

When a victim petitions for a PFA order, they can request protections for their animals in the same proceeding. No separate action is needed.

Why This Matters

Many domestic violence victims delay leaving because they fear what will happen to their pets. By allowing PFA orders to cover animal safety, Act 146 removes one real barrier that keeps people in dangerous situations.

For practitioners, the change is straightforward. When preparing a PFA petition for a client with companion animals, include a request for the court to award possession of the animals and prohibit the respondent from contacting or harming them. The evidentiary threshold is the same as for other PFA relief.

If you need a Protection from Abuse order in Bucks County, contact our office for assistance.