CONNOQUENESSING TWP — The Butler County Humane Society has gone to the dogs, but the organization likes it that way.

The society welcomes lost, forsaken and neglected canines.

Roughly 300 of the 550 dogs taken in annually by the group in Connoquenessing Township are strays.

Lynette Vybiral, executive director, said the dogs come from all the county's 57 municipalities.

“They're usually pretty spread out,” she said.

Allowing dogs to run loose through the community is illegal in Pennsylvania.

Abandoning dogs also is prohibited. The fine, which is levied by a district judge, is not less than $500 and not more than $1,000, depending on the situation.

The state's Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement seizes any dog unaccompanied by an owner.

Kenneth Rudisill, the state dog warden for the county, said fines typically range on the low end. But he said repeat offenders tend to receive stiffer penalties.

Once a meandering pooch is nabbed, it's taken to the Humane Society.

About 90 dogs of the 300 strays are returned to the owners.

Vybiral said some of the dogs wander off. She said a frequent scenario is a hunting dog getting lost while on a hunt.

As a consequence, the Humane Society deals with a number of beagles and hounds.

Rudisill brought in more than a fourth of the strays, or 80 dogs, to the county agency last year.

“It's not a real issue,” he said.

Rudisill only covers municipalities that don't have their own animal control officer.

He said the real problem is owners not maintaining control over their pets.

“Bottom line, dogs have to be under control,” he said.

Rudisill said dog owners can become complacent by letting their canines roam off their property. He pointed out that dog owners don't necessarily need to fence their yards.

“I personally like the old fashioned leash,” he said.

The fine for not confining dogs ranges between $100 and $500, depending on what a district judge rules.

Although cats don't require licenses, they must have a rabies vaccination.The county Humane Society takes in roughly 150 felines annually.Pet owners are responsible for various costs, depending on how long the society houses the animal and whether any medical treatment is required.“We get some neglect cases,” Vybiral said. “They're not as prevalent.”The agency handles about five negligence cases a year.Even if folks' critters are kept on a tight leash, all dogs at least three months old must be licensed in Pennsylvania.The fine for having an unlicensed dog is not less than $50 and not more than $300, depending on the circumstances.The county treasurer's office issues the licenses.Treasurer Diane Marburger said a common problem among dog owners is assuming the insertion of an electronic identification chip on the animal meets state regulations.“Chips don't fulfill licensing requirements,” she said.However, if a dog has such a chip, its owner receives a discounted rate for a license covering the life of the pet.For $31.45, a dog with an implanted chip is licensed for 20 years.The chip replaced the practice of tattooing a number on the dog's hind leg.Standard one-year licenses cost $8.45, or $6.45 if the dog has been spayed or neutered.Pet owners who are 65 and older or have a disability are charged reduced rates of $6.45, or $4.45 for neutered or spayed dogs.Marburger said dog license sales already have increased from 2012 with 25,574 so far this year. Last year, 25,222 licenses were sold.According to state statistics, the county has nearly 40,000 dogs.

The state dog law enforcement officer is charged with these duties:• Licensing and control of dogs• Kennel licensing and inspections• Investigating dog bites• Seizing and detaining any dog running at large• Reimbursing individuals for dog-caused damage to livestock, poultry and domestic game birds• Establishing and enforcing the quarantine of dogs in areas when required• Funding counties and humane organizations to establish dog control facilities• Providing educational services concerning dog ownership• Enforcing the state rabies law.

These regulations cover dogs in Pennsylvania:• All dogs that are at least 3 months old must be licensed through a county treasurer's office• Dogs must be under control and not be allowed to run at large• Owners are liable for damages caused by their dogs• Dogs cannot be abused or mistreated in any way• Dogs cannot be abandoned• No dog under 8 weeks old may be sold, bartered or transferred• No harmful substances may be placed where a dog may easily eat it, whether on the pet owner's property or elsewhere• Kennels must be licensed if they handle 26 or more dogs in a calendar year• Dogs and cats that are at least 3 months old must have a current rabies vaccination.