HARRISBURG — A Pennsylvania law regulating animal cruelty is so confusing and ambiguous that owners cannot be prosecuted for shooting and killing their dogs or cats, a state appeals court ruled Friday.

The Superior Court overturned the conviction of a northeastern Pennsylvania woman on conspiracy to commit cruelty to animals in the 2006 shooting outside Weissport of her 6-year-old pit bull-chow mix, named Bouta.

"If the Legislature wishes to make it criminal to shoot one's own dog or cat, it must do so in a clear, unambiguous manner to give reasonable notice that the act is criminal," wrote Judge Richard B. Klein for the majority. "It did not do so in this case."

It was the second time in less than a year the appeals court ruled in favor of Wendy Colleen Kneller of Carbon County. A decision last February was issued by only three judges, but the court agreed to hear it argued again and on Friday issued the 8-1 ruling.