Pennsylvania PFA Orders Now Cover Pets: Act 146 of 2024

Abusers frequently use pets as tools of control, threatening or harming a family’s animals to intimidate victims and discourage them from leaving. Until recently, 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. A judge can now prohibit the abuser from harming, threatening, attempting to harm, or having contact with the victim’s pets. The court can also grant temporary possession of companion animals to the victim.

This means that when a victim petitions for a PFA order, they can request protections for their animals as part of the same proceeding. There is no need for a separate action.

Why This Matters

A significant number of 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 who has companion animals, include a request for the court to award possession of the animals and prohibit the respondent from contact with or harm to the animals. 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.